(In an alternate universe where I live in town and can win elections...)
Mayor Lindsay (pounding gavel following raucous discussion of Crazy/Discovery Day): We turn now to New Business, Item 1, Resolution 2013-23, "A resolution to establish a special maintenance fee for the purpose of maintaining or repairing public improvements." Is there discussion on Resolution 2013-23?
Commissioner Heidelberger: Mr. Mayor! Move to amend.
(Uneasy muttering and shifting in chairs.)
Mayor Lindsay: State your amendment.
Commissioner Heidelberger: Strike the following text from Section 4:
4. The special maintenance fee will be assessed at the rate of $1.00 per front foot
with a special 100 foot maximumper lot or lots constituting a single contiguous parcel.
...and replace with the following:
4. The special maintenance fee will be assessed at the rate of $1.00 per front foot, exempting the first 50 feet per lot or lots constituting a single contiguous parcel.
Commissioner Abraham: Second!
Mayor Lindsay: Amendment is moved and seconded. Is there discussion? Commissioner Heidelberger.
Commissioner Heidelberger: The special maintenance fee, as proposed, lays an unfair proportion of the tax burden on small landowners, who are more likely to be low-income or fixed-income residents. A working-class resident with a modest home on a 100-foot-wide lot pays as much as an industrialist or retailer with 1000 feet of frontage. The worker relies on the streets for to get to work and to bring Grandma to visit. The big business relies on the streets to bring workers, suppliers and customers to his facility each day. The fee cap fails to reflect that relative utility. It also unnecessarily limits revenue: a business expansion that acquires adjacent lots removes frontage from the fee. Exempting the first 50 feet of each parcel gives each property owner a break and makes payment somewhat more proportional to available wealth.
Commissioner Ericsson: It sounds to me like Heidelberger's trying to turn our town into Germany—
Commissioner Abraham: It sounds like an excellent idea. Move the previous question!
...and there we go. More money to fix Madison's streets, and more fairness to boot. Amend that resolution, commissioners!
