I demand that Manti City build a world class shooting range for my use! I demand that they take money from all of my fellow citizens to fulfill my personal, selfish interest! My fellow citizens have an obligation to provide this to me.
I am certain that every honest, intelligent person who reads the above paragraph knows that it is a complete lie. Yet that is exactly what our fellow citizens are doing through the city government with the city pool and the city sports park. It is legalized theft by the government. This is immoral!
It is not the proper role of government to provide recreational facilities to the citizens no matter how strong the demand from the citizens. I have no obligation to pay for other people’s recreation, yet I am being forced to by the power of the government under threat of punishment if I do not comply.
On June 16, I attended the Manti City budget hearing. The agenda contained a proposal to transfer $75,000 and $250,000 respectively from the sewer and electricity funds (for a total of $325,000) to the general fund. I asked the city council why the sewer and electrical services are making a profit so that they can be transferred the general fund. All that profit money belongs to the citizens.
The government has no right to make a profit on any service provided to the citizens. The government is not a private business. Furthermore, the government has no right to be involved in private business such as providing electricity to anyone. That is purely the realm of private sector.
The mayor responded by explaining that if those funds are not transferred to the general fund, the city would have to raise taxes. I responded by stating that the city does not need to raise taxes, it needs to reduce its budget. The mayor then asked if I had any suggestions on what expenses to reduce. Here are my suggestions. The following come directly from line items on the city budget.
Health Services………………………… $5000
Memorial Park…………………………. $56,200
Recreation-Pool…………………………$135,000
Recreation-Sports………………………$267,250
Economic Development……………..$19,000
Total Budget Reduction………………$482,450
As can be seen, eliminating these budget items would more than cover the funds transferred from the sewer and electrical funds and all Manti citizens can pay lower fees for these services. Also, the city budget has a line titled “Old City Hall.” What, if anything, does the city do with the old city hall? Why should the citizens bare this expense? Sell the property and eliminate a further $19,000 from the city budget.
Emery Kiss-Illes,
Manti
