I Read the JG Editorials So You Don’t Have To

Posted by Jeff Pruitt - 1/21/09 @ 10:33 am - Filed Under Uncategorized

The JG’s latest editorial regarding a Fort Wayne casino starts off making some sense:

But just as gamblers should not count on hitting the big jackpot to solve their own financial problems, Henry and other city officials would be short-sighted to rely on gambling as a solution for city government.

Instead, the mayor, the City Council and other city leaders should do what many citizens are doing in these tough financial times – look for places to cut expenses and, if that isn’t enough, ways to increase income.

At this point you might be wondering if some rational-thinking writer has hijacked the editorial staff, but if you stick with them long enough…

Henry and the council should not let the glimmer of hope of a casino keep them from seriously considering raising the local income tax, as the legislature has permitted local governments to do.

Doubling an already regressive income tax during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression - now that is the error laden thinking we’ve all come to enjoy mocking. Seriously, do they just sit around and try to come up with ways to make our local economy even worse than it already is?

Comments

4 Responses to “I Read the JG Editorials So You Don’t Have To”

  1. Tim Zumbaugh on January 21st, 2009 7:23 pm

    The JG comment on the income tax is puzzling. My understanding is that any increase in the LOIT by state statute would have to go directly to property tax relief (except for a small .25% portion that could go to public safety). Thus, no new revenues, only a shuffling of taxes. While this may or may not be a good idea, discussion of that topic doesn’t belong with the issue of the City budget crunch.

  2. Mike Sylvester on January 22nd, 2009 7:37 am

    I stopped reading the JG quite awhile ago…

    Mike

  3. Phil Marx on January 23rd, 2009 1:20 pm

    You read the JG editorials, because no one else wants to! :)

  4. timraiders on January 29th, 2009 4:20 pm

    Sooner or later this whole Casino thing will become diluted and not be the cash grab that so many cities are banking on. Especially in Indiana since we have the third most casinos in the country.

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