It's Tax Day... a survey!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!