Honest and Effective Budgeting

The balance of my comments at the (Nov. 5) public portion of the budget hearing were of a general nature.

The real proof of the efficacy of this budget is how does it affect the citizens of this community.

Since 1970, with every census, we find more people leaving the city.

In 1970 we were the third largest community in the state with about 95,000 people. Only Milwaukee and Madison could claim larger populations and economies. Behind us were Green Bay and Kenosha with about 79,000.

Now we have switched places the the latter two. Green Bay and Kenosha both are up to around 95,000 and we have lost 16,000 residents and are down to about 79,000, now the 5th largest community in the state.

We are the only community in Racine County that is declining in population. So I don‘t think we can blame international trade and China.

Other communities in the county have grown since 1970 and so can we.

It is taxes and regulations that businesses survey before they set up shop in a community. Potential entrepreneurs don’t drive through the alleys looking for cleanliness, check out the paint conditions on the houses, or even research the schools (otherwise no one would set up shop in Chicago). They want to know what is the expense of doing business in that community and that is determined by taxes and regulations.

And people follow jobs.

Our miserable business environment (and we had a little demonstration of that a couple of nights ago when three aldermen attempted to stop another business from starting up in Racine) has kept business at bay and people leaving the City for lack of jobs.

It is time this council

1. Get straight and honest with its constituency regarding taxes.
2. Tax and regulate so that Racine can grow economically.