It's Tax Day... a survey!

[AGDee]

Since it's April 15th and I'm seeing tea party coverage on the news, hearing people complaining about paying taxes, etc. AND I'm reading threads about health care, the space program, and other things that our taxes pay for, I'm tossing this question out there: What do you think our taxes should pay for?


My priorities for local taxes: police, fire, education, trash pickup, road maintenance, penal system
First things to drop in tough times: recreational programs, travel for local officials

My priorities for federal taxes: health care, roads (Interstates), alternative fuel source research and development, defense/homeland security, workfare type programs/programs to assist people in developing job skills, child care (assistance to those parents for whom it's a financial advantage to NOT work because child care is so expensive that too much of their income would pay for that), penal system

First things to reduce in tough times: travel for govt. employees, the arts (as much as I love them), space programs, aid to other countries.


What do you think the priorities should be for our tax dollars?

[Benzgirl]

I think it's very hard to prioritize tax dollars because what is important to some is trivial to others.

My work is funded by federal tax dollars and my job relies on extensive travel. To shell thousands of dollars a month out of my pocket is unheard of; I'm not rich. But travel is the only way for me to do an audit since you can't uncover misappropriations out of the office.

For those who complain that we are wasting tax dollars (i.e. my ultra-conservative brother), I work 70 hours a week when I'm on the road, which equates to slighly over minimum wage. This doesn't count the money I shell out of my pocket to have people mow my lawn, plow my drive, and do other maintenance that I'm unable to do when I'm not at home, or the loss of a work/life balance.

[VandalSquirrel]

Libraries.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I think it's very hard to prioritize tax dollars because what is important to some is trivial to others.

My work is funded by federal tax dollars and my job relies on extensive travel. To shell thousands of dollars a month out of my pocket is unheard of; I'm not rich. But travel is the only way for me to do an audit since you can't uncover misappropriations out of the office.

For those who complain that we are wasting tax dollars (i.e. my ultra-conservative brother), I work 70 hours a week when I'm on the road, which equates to slighly over minimum wage. This doesn't count the money I shell out of my pocket to have people mow my lawn, plow my drive, and do other maintenance that I'm unable to do when I'm not at home, or the loss of a work/life balance.

When I said travel, I was thinking of some of the conferences, senator and congressman flying all over the place, not jobs like yours, honestly.

[tri deezy]

AGD, I feel like I could have written your list! I'm pretty much on the very same page as you.

My neighbor was complaining about her daughter's job as "teen website coordinator" at a local library being cut and I was just SO ANNOYED that she was complaining calling it a "travesty" because right now the budgets for the schools, police, and fire departments are being cut to bits and pieces.

I work in the public school system and we're on a county-wide pay freeze and hiring freeze... our special education teacher had to leave, and they just replaced her with a long-term sub so they wouldn't have to pay benefits to a new special education teacher. I'm sure similar things are happening in other essential parts of local government. And to complain about the position of "teen website coordinator" being cut? I was furious.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

Libraries.

YES.

Our state cut library funding by 15% I believe (if you're an Ohioan and I'm wrong, correct me). Sad.

Other things I find important:

*higher education funding (state colleges, universities, CCs)

*mental health treatment programs and facilities, advocacy programs for individuals with mental health conditions, county board of mental health services programs.

[Kappamd]

Slight hijack....

I was on Yahoo yesterday, and saw an article about a Texas HS's plan to build a $60 million football stadium. I about died (and nearly needed to be resuscitated when I realized it was my cousins' alma mater). I am aware of the affluency in that area, but COME ON! Are there not better uses of funds (especially tax dollars!)?

I mean, seriously, my UNIVERSITY just built a $60 million dollar stadium!

[ComradesTrue]

/Continuing the hijack...

Originally Posted by Kappamd

Slight hijack....

I was on Yahoo yesterday, and saw an article about a Texas HS's plan to build a $60 million football stadium. I about died (and nearly needed to be resuscitated when I realized it was my cousins' alma mater). I am aware of the affluency in that area, but COME ON! Are there not better uses of funds (especially tax dollars!)?

I mean, seriously, my UNIVERSITY just built a $60 million dollar stadium!

Clearly you don't understand the importance of high school football in Texas. Plus, with the new JerryWorld, our standards have been raised. Gotta keep up with the "Joneses!"

End hijack/

As for the question at hand... that is a tough one. As someone already said, we all see life through our own biases and prisms. You would be hard pressed to find any funded program that doesn't sound great on paper (save for some of the outlandish research projects...). But since you said to prioritize then I would agree that space program and *some* foreign aid could be scaled back. The military is a huge part of our budget, but I confess that I would worry about cutting that too much. Too much depends on it.

In all honesty, I think billions of dollars go to waste in governmental jobs... from positions that aren't really needed, to meetings (including travel) that really aren't necessary, to supplies that could be done without, to programs that could be streamlined. I know there is an oversite office to monitor this, but I can't imagine that they are looking at all aspects of governmental spending, especially "lower level" activity. However, that "lower level" activity, spread across all offices/programs across the county, adds up. (says the person who used to work for a tax supported hospital... I saw money fly out the window on a daily basis). Same with the VA system. On the one hand, those vets deserve much, much better. On the other hand, there was little accountability on spending in the departments that I was familiar with. All that to say- I think tons of money could be re-couped by tightening up the purse strings in generic governmental offices.

I could seque that into quite the discussion on health care, but I won't go there now, and not in this thread.

Interesting topic Dee. I hope others respond, because I suspect the answers would be quite varied on what people see as important to keep. Deciding what to cut is what is hard.

[ZTA72]

Originally Posted by tri deezy

My neighbor was complaining about her daughter's job as "teen website coordinator" at a local library being cut and I was just SO ANNOYED that she was complaining calling it a "travesty" because right now the budgets for the schools, police, and fire departments are being cut to bits and pieces. I was furious.

I have so many thoughts about this. A TRAVESTY??? for a website coordinator's job going away v. emergency services and education?? WOW.

[ZTA72]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

I think it's very hard to prioritize tax dollars because what is important to some is trivial to others.

My work is funded by federal tax dollars and my job relies on extensive travel. To shell thousands of dollars a month out of my pocket is unheard of; I'm not rich. But travel is the only way for me to do an audit since you can't uncover misappropriations out of the office.

For those who complain that we are wasting tax dollars (i.e. my ultra-conservative brother), I work 70 hours a week when I'm on the road, which equates to slighly over minimum wage. This doesn't count the money I shell out of my pocket to have people mow my lawn, plow my drive, and do other maintenance that I'm unable to do when I'm not at home, or the loss of a work/life balance.

I know exactly what you mean. My former job as a health care ( hospital, nursing home, dialysis clinic) inspector for the federal government involved extensive travel and almost 24/7 work. I'm not even certain that I made minimum wage. I would wait weeks to get a *travel check* so when I hear " wasting tax dollars* my goodness...I was a bargain!

[SydneyK]

My priority for local and federal taxes is the same: Education (public, higher, adult, you name it). NCLB did very little to improve public education. Many states have enacted different versions of education reform acts - and many of those reforms are actually regressions. I'd give all my taxes to education reform if they'd let me. Unfortunately, I'm afraid they'd waste it anyway.

Are any of you familiar with TRiO programs? They're federally-funded programs that, in general, are designed to reinforce to economically disadvantaged students the advantages and benefits of education. I used to really support the TRiO programs on the campuses where I've worked. However, I recently had the opportunity to work closely with a TRiO program where I currently work. The spending is ridiculous! The waste is unbelievable! I had to pick my jaw up off the floor several times I was so shocked at what I saw. I'm afraid I'm not such a fan of TRiO anymore. At least, I'm not a fan of that particular program.

So, while my tax priority is education, I think there's some serious mis-spending (on both the federal and state levels) in regard to education.