Orange Budget Calls for 18.6% Increase In Property Taxes!

The current worldwide financial crisis and probable recession was sparked, in part, by homeowners unable to pay their mortgage payments.  Homeowners in an already tough economy have been pushed over the edge when their payments increased as higher interest rate kicked in on their variable rate loans. Some of these defaults were due to predatory lending practices of unscrupulous lenders; some were the result of the irresponsibility of individual borrowers taking on debt that they knew they could not afford.

The homeowners of the Orange have been more responsible than those in many other areas of the country as demonstrated by this City’s high property tax collection rate.  Unfortunately, many hardworking, responsible homeowners of Orange will suffer and many will lose their homes because of the irresponsibility of those they have elected to manage their municipal government.

For many Orange homeowners, the tax component of their mortgage payment exceeds that of the principle and interest owed. In some cases, the tax owed component is double or more. Despite being responsible, Orange homeowners are burdened with an ever upward spiral of “adjustable rate” property taxes.

The fiscal 2009 Budget proposed by the Mayor contains an astounding 18.6 % increase in   spending including the addition of at least 25 new city employees. Unable to pay even for current spending, the mayor is pushing for a one million dollar bond issue to increase spending further. This bond issue is essentially taking on credit card debt; a home equity loan that homeowners will have to pay back in the future - with interest. Instead of showing leadership and fiscal responsibility, the new mayor’s first acts included redecorating his office with new furniture and quadrupling his own salary.

The City Council continues to spend indiscriminately despite the fact that there has been no City budget for the fiscal year starting last July 1st. Spending requests approved include $40,000 for improved publicity about the city. That sounds like “putting lipstick on a pig” to me. We should not have to pay people to say good things about our city. It is time to work to build a city that people want to say good things about. 

Let us hope that the City Council will take its’ judiciary responsibilities seriously in the upcoming budget hearings and cut the proposed budget no matter what the short term pain. It is time to face reality and take dramatic action. It is time for real financial planning and responsible spending.