Up here in Taxachusetts - even though my property value has decreased of late - the taxes keep going up and up.
Ain’t it neat how THAT happens? Thud
My city isn’t by any means conservative, but city council is actually represented relatively well. In the South District, which is probably 95% black, they have 2 representatives. One of them is your normal Charle Rangel type and the other is Tina Vick, aunt of Michael Vick. Vick has forged relationships with the conservative women who represent the Central and North districts and they can get her to vote pretty much how they want in exchange for a few bones downtown. The mayor is also from the South district, but has been bought and paid for by the business lobby. His campaign was funded by the white, wealthy, Episcopalian Jamestown descendants. The tax base is also pretty diverse. They have already decided not to raise the property tax rate, though some fees and the cigarette tax are going up.