Gary Stroud: Clearly, Modesto doesn’t need more tax dollars
Every day I read The Bee and am surprised at the lack of responsibility of this city to spend taxpayers’ money wisely.
They find $5 million after Measure X failed, money they said they didn’t know they had. Soon after, the city started giving raises and hiring new employees to help the new city manager do his job. Instead of two deputy managers, how about a balanced budget or savings for unknown problems? We had enough information of this spending and land-grabbing mayor; we voted it down.
Mayor Garrad Marsh is going to try for another tax grab. No way would I vote to give the city more money when they didn’t even know they had $5 million before asking for more.
On Feb. 24, an article told about the give-away of tax dollars to Gervasoni’s. With $3,000 a month free rent and $100,000 to move, I bet every business in downtown would like to have that kind of deal.
Gary Stroud, Modesto
Editor’s note: The city is paying the owners of Gervasoni’s Restaurant to relocate its business away from its current site, which will become the new courthouse.
This story was originally published March 4, 2015 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Gary Stroud: Clearly, Modesto doesn’t need more tax dollars."