I was born and raised in Austin Texas, and have gone to public schools all my life. As talks of budget crisis and cutting of jobs in education rises I feel inclined to bring up a few simple but solutions to Texas budgeting. Growing up I always heard complaints about property taxes, job security, cost of health care, it seems not much has changed.
The problem with property taxes is a lot of it goes to things people don't care for or too much goes to things they care less of. Example if 100% of your property taxes went to education, you as a property tax payer would not be happy. However if there was a way to vote on how property taxes are distributed in a micro economy more people will be happy paying for what they use. Its just like going to a diner and paying for what you ordered. No one likes to get charged for something they didn't want.
Although most public services are used by everyone; education, police/fire protection, local governments, health services, and local infrastructure. Its good to know how much of my property tax went to each and to know what the community wants. This may change over a period of time, for example a community that has invested into a solid education for the past 50 years can cut budget in education because all the main cost and policies have been set up. In the same community feels like the fire/emergency responses are slow they can manage funds towards that direction.
I am a firm believer that health care should be mandated by government just like fire protection and the police department. Its not a question about big government or small government but a moral issue to keep us safe. When health care is a moral issue and not a issue of profit or greed I believe more can be done than whats going on now. Health insurance companies strive for profit and make profit from denying policy holders, the more competition health insurance companies get, the more they will strive to deny service to the needed. If the situation is put in a fire/police point of view, its similar to police denying help to a victim, when they need it most.
Job markets will always change but jobs that require degrees, extensive education and/or experience should protect both employees and employers. I'm pretty sure everyone has heard a story of someone working for a company for 10+ years and was laid off because someone was willing to do the job for less compensation. Or a story of a employee that has worked for the same business for 10+years and leaving for a competition because of a slight increase in pay. Employees should be protected in certain circumstances. Employers should be protected as well, if a employee quits with out notice, I believe a percentage of the unemployment tax paid by employers should go back to the employer to compensate abrupt loses.
Texas is a great state, and I don't see myself leaving anytime soon. I'd just love to help the state I've grown up in, prosper in wealth, health, education, job security and continue to be the best state ever.
This is a good blog Tri and I for one can certainly relate to what you’re saying and where you’re coming from. I haven’t been in Austin my whole life but it’ll be seventeen years this summer and I certainly have seen the changes around town and watched the city grow. Austin in the 90s was certainly different then Austin at the turn of the millennium and that is even vastly different then the Austin, TX we have and love today. The restaurants and venues we have now are all very much different and more retro with a lot of hipster places having sprouted all over town. Austin has certainly become a mini metropolitan city and I for one like the way it is going, I can relate when you say you don’t see yourself leaving anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteI think you’re right though when it comes to budgeting, job security, health care costs and life certainty and security, not much of the important stuff has changed at all, especially post the .com bust of the early 2000s.
I like the solutions you’re offering, they seem thought out and I see the logic in what you’re saying. I like the notion of allowing citizens to vote on how exactly our government spends our taxes dollars, that would be nice. I personally would vote on making sure those in government weren’t using tax payer dollars foolishly and on frivolous things and that they don’t personally have any golden parachutes. They should be held accountable if they are the ones driving the direction of the ship. If our society is failing, they should be feeling it the hardest.
Anyway, great stuff, great points and opinions and an over all enjoyable article to read. Two thumbs up!