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The right decision on property taxes

2 min read

The Washington County commissioners are to be congratulated. The board’s decision not to cut property taxes, despite a surplus in revenue, was the right thing to do.

In the 1990s, we witnessed our federal and state governments accumulate surpluses, only to lose the advantage through politically expedient tax cuts. Within a few years, a recession was in full swing and the additional tax dollars could have alleviated cuts to many critical social programs.

Commissioner Larry Maggi announced the present surplus would be utilized to address neglected infrastructure in Washington County, including buildings, bridges and roads within county parks. This approach shows leadership and a far-sighted view of the problems facing the county.

It was interesting that the day following the commissioners’ announcement, the national airlines came under attack from consumer groups for not cutting the price of tickets, while the price of jet fuel has dropped dramatically. The airline executives responded by reminding the public that the increased revenue would be used to refurbish and buy new aircraft, thereby making the industry safer for the long haul.

In both the public and private sectors, returning all revenue windfalls to the taxpayer or the consumer is often not the prudent action to take. Each of us might prefer the short-term gain from a tax or ticket-price cut, but, in the long run, basic improvements or saving for resources for when the next recession strikes are more constructive and better serve the public good.

Gary Stout

Washington

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