Proposed property tax increaseI have read with great interest and concern your intent to increase the property tax millage rate for funding municipal government. As founder of a fairness in property tax group, Clearwater Beach Property Tax Relief Fund (CB-PTRF), our group finds this approach totally unacceptable. We see this move as a slap in the face to all we are attempting to accomplish, and to not consider alternatives indicates a lack of sensitivity and leadership from the Administration. We realize with diminishing property tax revenues, funding for government is dramatically affected, but feel there are other measures more palatable to the community at this time. Since a significant part of the population of Clearwater is retirees who have felt the negative impact of falling property values, losses in value of 401's, IRA's and money market products, not to mention soaring gasoline prices, there is not much support or sympathy for a tax increase. Before any tax increases are implemented, we feel all municipal employees should take salary cuts before any services are even considered for reduction or elimination. Cutbacks are a way of life in the private sector, i.e. the airline industry. Municipal employees, in our opinion, do a fine job, and this proposed cut has nothing to do with good or bad performance. It is their time to share in the misery with all other sectors of our society. They are not sacred cows. We are sure these cuts can significantly make-up budget short-falls without causing job or service losses. Bill Smith, Clearwater Beach
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