The deeper level of ineptitude right on the surface of the ballot measure is the mention of flood and drainage systems that are 50 years past their prime. So what has the city been doing with the consistently increasing property taxes and income and building permit fees and etc. etc. etc. that residents have been giving them for the past 50 years that they didn’t put storm maintenance and drainage improvements and updates in the budget?
A homeowner would be expected to budget for necessary repairs and long-term upgrades due to wear and tear on their property, yet, somehow when the government fails to do so for decades, it becomes a cost to be put back on the people with vague language about 3% inflationary upticks to cover a cost that could never end.
The City Council should take a new look at the budget, move funds to necessary capital improvements rather than vanity/aesthetic projects for a few years, and show an ability to actually plan and save for infrastructure rather than just tax and spend retroactively. While their lack of planning might now create our emergency, we shouldn’t be on the hook to pay for it as well.