{"id":2150,"date":"2021-04-27T16:46:13","date_gmt":"2021-04-27T21:46:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/truthinaddison.com\/?page_id=2150"},"modified":"2021-04-27T16:47:40","modified_gmt":"2021-04-27T21:47:40","slug":"voters-keep-asking-wheres-the-beef","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/truthinaddison.com\/?page_id=2150","title":{"rendered":"Voters Keep Asking: Where\u2019s the BEEF?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Voters Keep Asking: Where\u2019s the BEEF?
(Why Voters Should Continue To Ignore Empty Rhetoric)
By Susan M. Halpern
Former Addison Councilmember (1992-1999)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fearmongering from the negative candidates continues, as they try to convince Addison residents that the sky is falling. Don\u2019t fall for their empty rhetoric. Ignore it. The sky is not falling. Addison is doing fine. In fact, Addison is doing great, as it charts a positive course forward. Put the negativity where it belongs: in the rear-view mirror. Addison is moving on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their negative tactics are par for the course. We go through this every election season. The negatives and naysayers create a faux issue, they misrepresent and misstate the facts, they claim the sky is falling, they attack anyone who isn\u2019t them, and then they claim that only they can solve the faux issue. When in TRUTH, there\u2019s no issue at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve probably noticed by now that the faux issue of the season is \u201ctaxes,\u201d an apparent reference to property taxes. Predictably, the claim is that these taxes are \u201ctoo high.\u201d And, of course, the negative candidates are the only ones who can \u201cfix\u201d this \u201cproblem.\u201d What is noticeably absent is any TRUTHFUL discussion of facts that would support the conclusion that any \u201cproblem\u201d exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m left wondering: WHERE\u2019S THE BEEF?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start with some TRUTH about Addison\u2019s property taxes. First, more than 85% of Addison\u2019s property tax revenue is paid by commercial properties. That means residents pay less than 15% of Addison\u2019s total property taxes. Second, 18 of the 31 Dallas County municipalities have higher residential property tax rates than Addison. And, if you add homestead exemptions to the analysis, Addison\u2019s position improves three more places, to where 21 of the 31 Dallas County municipalities have higher residential property taxes than Addison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, WHERE\u2019S THE BEEF when the TRUTH is that Addison\u2019s property taxes compare quite favorably to the other municipalities in Dallas County?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the TRUTH is that other communities in Dallas County don\u2019t look like Addison. They aren\u2019t as well maintained, and they don\u2019t have the amenities and superior services that are an express policy priority in Addison, around which Addison\u2019s budget is constructed. All of which is what makes Addison unique. A small-town feel, centrally located in a thriving metropolitan area, with outstanding services. It is why many businesses and residents move here, and it\u2019s why visitors come to Addison to patronize our businesses and restaurants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the other thing. The negative public statements about taxes are demonstrably uninformed and that should concern voters. For example, they\u2019ve claimed: \u201cAddison can\u2019t keep spending more money than it brings in.\u201d This is patently false. Addison doesn\u2019t engage in deficit spending, including because Addison\u2019s Charter prohibits it. Anyone making this claim simply demonstrates that they haven\u2019t read Addison\u2019s Charter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also been fearmongering about debt. I\u2019ve written lots about municipal debt, which is different from personal debt. Without it, current residents would pay for infrastructure enjoyed by future residents, and that\u2019s poor policy. The TRUTH is that Addison is managing its debt portfolio very well. And the experts agree. Addison is one of only eleven cities in Texas to enjoy the highest ratings from both Standard and Poor\u2019s (AAA) and Moody\u2019s (Aaa). Misleading voters on this important issue is inexcusable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet, the misrepresentations persist. One negative candidate actually claimed that Addison has been \u201cgoing deeper and deeper into debt to pay for basic services,\u201d a claim with absolutely no basis in fact. To no one\u2019s surprise, then, this candidate provides no specifics. He can\u2019t. Indeed, even the most cursory review of Addison\u2019s budget disproves it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So again, what we really learn from the negative candidates making such claims is that they haven\u2019t done their homework. They attack Addison\u2019s budget and its tax structure but do nothing to check the facts. They intentionally mislead Addison voters, refusing to acknowledge the TRUTH. It is disrespectful and entirely unacceptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the other side of this equation is expenses. It\u2019s not rocket science and you don\u2019t need a fancy degree to know that if you propose cutting revenue, you have to cut expenses. And for Addison, that means cutting services, programs, staff, or projects or something else. So, what are the negatives proposing to cut? Because this much is clear: claiming that they will maintain high levels of service while achieving lower taxes AND giving tax abatements, is mathematical fiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, where are the details? WHERE\u2019S THE BEEF in their position? Nowhere. It\u2019s empty rhetoric. And in my view, Addison voters deserve more than fearmongering and empty rhetoric. Voters deserve substance, not unsupported and misleading claims like those being made by these negative candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The TRUTH is that Addison is doing just fine. It doesn\u2019t need saving and it sure doesn\u2019t need candidates who mislead voters and hide their true intentions. Ignore fearmongering, ignore empty rhetoric. Let\u2019s keep Addison moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay positive Addison. Stay on the plus side, just like Addison\u2019s budgets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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