All of the assurances that City government is working in the best interest of citizen property owners can be thrown out the window.  Hundreds of citizens attended the three public hearings on the property re-valuation and voiced the fear that a higher budget demanding a tax bill from higher valuated properties will force single family homeowners out of town.  We reported on Round One: Uptown School Complex, Round Two: Westside School Complex, and Round Three: Atlantic City High School.

   Mayor Scott Evans proposed 2008 budget with a 6.05% increase is a huge disappointment.  The Mayor has promised to not conduct business as usual and ends up giving us more of the same.  There is not much more than home and condominium owners will take before moving to a more property owner-friendly area. 

   Micheal Clark captures a remark betraying the Mayor’s intelligence,

“Salaries, wow. Salaries are big in Atlantic City,” Evans said. “But we have to remember that Atlantic City is a service city.”

Wow, are we that unable to make spending and salary cuts?  Wow, are we that determined to make the tax bill unbearable?

   Mr. Clark continues:

…Marsh tamed the suggestions of a hiring freeze by Councilman George Tibbitt, that drew some applause from the meeting’s audience.

Here is a fiscally responsible ideas.  Rather than tame the idea of fiscal responsibility, let us embrace the idea.  Steps like the freeze suggested by Mr. Tibbitt are the good ideas that will decrease August’s property tax bill.

   The rest of Mr. Clark’s article.

   In fine, the last thing in the world that Atlantic City needs is an increased budget.  The first step that Mayor Evans makes is a budget increase.  Wow.