Wishing for more information
21/07/24 02:20
I don’t write about politics very much. When I was working as a pastor, I didn’t hide my political beliefs from the congregation I served, but I was careful to avoid changing others’ political beliefs. I would often say, “I’m glad to tell you what I believe. What I won’t do is to tell you what you should believe.” We knew that our politics were a minority point of view in the communities where we lived. For example, prior to my retirement in every presidential election of my life the electors of my state voted differently than I did in the general election. I that never bothered me to hold minority points of view. In general, however, while I care about politics and participate in the political process by voting, I haven’t written or spoken much about politics.
I still pay attention and try to remain educated and thoughtful in my political decisions. I read voter guides carefully. I study sample ballots before I vote. I vote in every election.
While I haven’t participated in governmental politics, I confess that other institutions have their own political realities as well. I lived my life fully immersed in church politics. A successful career as a pastor involves knowing how to court donations, recruit, train, and support volunteers, stand up to bullies, and pay attention to the needs and moods of a congregation. The denomination I served grew up with the United States and shared many of its governing principles with those that went into forming this country. Fourteen signers of the Declaration of Independence were members of one of the predecessor denominations that joined to form our church. The Mayflower Compact is an early document of our church that is reflected in the constitution of the United States. Our congregations retain control of local church practices. We have annual meetings where we set priorities, vote on budgets, elect leadership, adopt policy and deliberate on other important issues.
Among the issues that will be on our August 6 primary election ballot is an issue called a “levy lid lift.” If passed, the local fire district would be able to apply to increase property taxes beyond the current levels. The increase would amount to about $170 per year for a home with the value of ours. The additional money would, among other things, provide kickstarter funds for replacing the fire station that is nearest to our house. If the increase passes, it would not provide the full amount needed to tear down the existing fire station and build a new one. For that to happen the commissioners of the fire district would have to pass a bond that allows the fire district to borrow the necessary funds, a move that would authorize an additional tax increase to pay the debt. I am not an opponent of taxes. I believe that there are many things that require us to work together. Certainly fire departments are good examples of how taxes benefit a community.
Still, I am confused by the information about this particular levy lid lift. I know that tear down and rebuild is a common practice for fire departments. The fire station is a little over 40 years old. The fire district commissioners have pointed out several problems with the existing building including the need for a roof replacement, additional shower and restroom facilities to accommodate an increase in female fire fighters, and additional space for training and meeting. The existing fire training tower has structural issues that do not allow for its use at present. What the commissioners have not done so far, is to talk about what a new building would provide and how it would increase community safety. I have yet to discover a vision for the proposed structure. If I were to support a new fire station, it seems to me that we should at least plan for a building that would serve for more than 40 years. Fire departments, including this one, already replace trucks and other equipment that has seen little use. Replace seems to be the solution to small issues that other operators of equipment respond to with repairs. I know of a person who purchased a used ambulance and converted it to a camper and drove the vehicle an additional 250,000 miles after a local fire department deemed that the vehicle needed to be replaced. It is not at all uncommon for fire trucks to have more hours on the engine at idle than have been used in actual fire fighting operations.
I have yet to find any discussion about the possibility of repairing and remodeling the existing fire station. It is difficult to get the information about what would be best for the safety of our community from the existing debate. Our local newspaper devoted parts of three pages to the proposed levy lid lift without giving any information about what would be built, how long it would take to build it, how replacing costs compare to the costs of maintaining the existing building, why a 40 year old building has been allowed to deteriorate so much, and other important information. The article presents the choice as binary: either raise the amount that taxes can be raised or risk loosing the fire station. As a homeowner and as a person with a 44 year career behind him, I have experienced very few decisions that are binary. Generally there are many different options. In maintaining church buildings, for example, if funds were short, which was often the case, we sought ways to lower costs. We often looked at total cost over long periods of time as opposed to current operational costs only. As a homeowner, I have often had to balance short term needs with long term investments. I imagine that a fire district would face similar complex choices.
It is increasingly difficult to find political debate that is complex and nuanced. Choices are presented to voters as “either/or” with a lot of predicting catastrophe if the choice goes one way. Enemies are identified. Issues are presented as battles.
I still have time to contemplate how I will vote on this issue. I know, however, that getting additional information will be a challenge. I know I am not alone in my frustration. Many of us long for more informed and open discussion.
I still pay attention and try to remain educated and thoughtful in my political decisions. I read voter guides carefully. I study sample ballots before I vote. I vote in every election.
While I haven’t participated in governmental politics, I confess that other institutions have their own political realities as well. I lived my life fully immersed in church politics. A successful career as a pastor involves knowing how to court donations, recruit, train, and support volunteers, stand up to bullies, and pay attention to the needs and moods of a congregation. The denomination I served grew up with the United States and shared many of its governing principles with those that went into forming this country. Fourteen signers of the Declaration of Independence were members of one of the predecessor denominations that joined to form our church. The Mayflower Compact is an early document of our church that is reflected in the constitution of the United States. Our congregations retain control of local church practices. We have annual meetings where we set priorities, vote on budgets, elect leadership, adopt policy and deliberate on other important issues.
Among the issues that will be on our August 6 primary election ballot is an issue called a “levy lid lift.” If passed, the local fire district would be able to apply to increase property taxes beyond the current levels. The increase would amount to about $170 per year for a home with the value of ours. The additional money would, among other things, provide kickstarter funds for replacing the fire station that is nearest to our house. If the increase passes, it would not provide the full amount needed to tear down the existing fire station and build a new one. For that to happen the commissioners of the fire district would have to pass a bond that allows the fire district to borrow the necessary funds, a move that would authorize an additional tax increase to pay the debt. I am not an opponent of taxes. I believe that there are many things that require us to work together. Certainly fire departments are good examples of how taxes benefit a community.
Still, I am confused by the information about this particular levy lid lift. I know that tear down and rebuild is a common practice for fire departments. The fire station is a little over 40 years old. The fire district commissioners have pointed out several problems with the existing building including the need for a roof replacement, additional shower and restroom facilities to accommodate an increase in female fire fighters, and additional space for training and meeting. The existing fire training tower has structural issues that do not allow for its use at present. What the commissioners have not done so far, is to talk about what a new building would provide and how it would increase community safety. I have yet to discover a vision for the proposed structure. If I were to support a new fire station, it seems to me that we should at least plan for a building that would serve for more than 40 years. Fire departments, including this one, already replace trucks and other equipment that has seen little use. Replace seems to be the solution to small issues that other operators of equipment respond to with repairs. I know of a person who purchased a used ambulance and converted it to a camper and drove the vehicle an additional 250,000 miles after a local fire department deemed that the vehicle needed to be replaced. It is not at all uncommon for fire trucks to have more hours on the engine at idle than have been used in actual fire fighting operations.
I have yet to find any discussion about the possibility of repairing and remodeling the existing fire station. It is difficult to get the information about what would be best for the safety of our community from the existing debate. Our local newspaper devoted parts of three pages to the proposed levy lid lift without giving any information about what would be built, how long it would take to build it, how replacing costs compare to the costs of maintaining the existing building, why a 40 year old building has been allowed to deteriorate so much, and other important information. The article presents the choice as binary: either raise the amount that taxes can be raised or risk loosing the fire station. As a homeowner and as a person with a 44 year career behind him, I have experienced very few decisions that are binary. Generally there are many different options. In maintaining church buildings, for example, if funds were short, which was often the case, we sought ways to lower costs. We often looked at total cost over long periods of time as opposed to current operational costs only. As a homeowner, I have often had to balance short term needs with long term investments. I imagine that a fire district would face similar complex choices.
It is increasingly difficult to find political debate that is complex and nuanced. Choices are presented to voters as “either/or” with a lot of predicting catastrophe if the choice goes one way. Enemies are identified. Issues are presented as battles.
I still have time to contemplate how I will vote on this issue. I know, however, that getting additional information will be a challenge. I know I am not alone in my frustration. Many of us long for more informed and open discussion.