Rationalizing taxes with a libertarian perspective

It is now a common practice for me to view every new law passed as an example of a public failure. Obviously, the people could not come up with a way to solve [insert any political issue] so the government had to step in and do it for them. When it comes to federal governance, this philosophy is perfectly plausible. From a libertarian viewpoint, all laws regarding federal authority should fit in a container no larger than a shoe box. At the local government level, the level that an individual can have the most impact, this philosophy is suicidal.

Although I agree with most of the ideas of Tea Party Republicans, the idea of small governance, low taxes at any cost becomes a cancer at the local level. It’s common for a community to vote down a tax because, well, it’s a tax. The argument is always the same.

“We give [insert governing body] enough money. Why should we give them a dime more?”

Whether buying clothes, cars or paying rent, you get what you pay for. If the public does not want to fund something, then that whatever it is that seeks the funding tends to crumble. When it comes to the upcoming ballot proposition to levy a $5.5 million bond for a high school renovation, I find myself conflicted. Walking through the corridors of Olney High School, I can see it needs work. I’ve sat in on meetings where some potential additions. There were no big bells and whistles projects. No cappuccino machines, potato bars and ATMs, which actually exists near where I grew up at Blue Valley Northwest High School.

Part of me says this is a great capital fund improvement. But part of me also says, hey, let’s not make this a habit. The bond, if approved, would roll on at around the same time a previous bond for improvements to the junior high school were set to roll off. This is the Olney Independent School Districts greatest talking point because it would have no effect on current property tax rates. 

For the shrewd observer, however, this is its greatest threat because it would seem a never ending affair. What is the next project? Will it be a capital fund improvement or an emergency measure to counteract some future budgetary calamity, whether it comes from local or state malfeasance? Without keeping bonds perpetually rolling, how eager will property tax payers be to vote on another bond once they start writing significantly lower checks for their property taxes?

Am I for the bond? Absolutely. The high school needs work, lots of it. If the proposed improvements turn out anything like the junior high school improvements, then it was money well spent. After all, you get what you pay for. If you want nice things then the fund has to come from somewhere and I don’t see any millionaire philanthropists eager to write a check.