Consequences of Actions

There is a movement afoot in Greeley to force the City Council to put to a vote the issue of allowing dogs in City parks. Dogs, people claim, ought to be able to run and run and run and run through the lush greenery that is Glenmere Park. Opponents, however claim that dog owners are not responsible enough to be expected to clean up after themselves, as evidenced by the fact that most dog owners are scofflaws who refuse to register their dogs with the city. Mangy currs.

The city council ought to put this to a vote, but they ought to fund the city infrastructure necessary to clean up dog poop in the same bill. Maybe, say a .25% sales tax increase going to the Department of Offal Removal, with the excess funding, say The Bus.

For years citizens and residents of Greeley have consistently voted (with the anarchist Grover Norquist) against any and all tax increases. Last year, for example, after some fantastic winter snow and substantial road damage that came with it, the city's voters said no to a sales tax increase to pay for road maintenance. So the city has a budget shortfall of something like $9 million. And the only real recourse for growing revenues is to increase developer fees or encourage additional development, which builds roads, and increases the need for maintenance, and the budget shortfall that goes with it. Call it irresponsible governance (or whatever you like), but assign the blame not to the city council, which does what it can. Assign the blame to yourself, and every citizen of Greeley who has ever ranted that taxes are evil or too high.

You get what you pay for. If we continue to starve our government, we're simply going to lose the services that government provides. Things like parks, art, and pothole-free roads will go first, but eventually we're going to lose things like a well managed water supply or competent fire and police protection.

It's outlandish that people cannot put 2+2 together and understand that dog-treat cleanup services are simply not on the table financially for the city council. Ask people to pay for the right to have their dogs in Bittersweet park.

It'll be a disgrace if that kind of bill passes, though. Passing a tax increase for such a frivolous, luxury item like dogs in the park, when we refuse to fund basic needs like road repair or bus services.