There is a time to be liberal with money and there is a time to be conservative with money. Right now conservation of money should win. The City of SLO has granted approval for a new art museum building. In light of the recent retroactive pay increases given to police officers, which wiped out the city’s cash, and will take a major part of the future Measure Y sales tax revenue, the museum should not be built at this time. Although the modern design may be excellent for Los Angeles, it certainly does not fit the character of our town.
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Even though the construction will supposedly be done with private monies, the museum has to be maintained in the future. That will fall on the taxpayers. Furthermore, the City should be charging the museum and other tenants that occupy City-owned properties a fair market rate for rent. One dollar a year just doesn’t help the City balance its budget nor does it help pay the huge unfunded pension liabilities which will be due shortly. Be conservative with taxpayer money.
This article appears in Feb 26 – Mar 5, 2009.