On February 4, 2008, I spoke before the County Commissioners AND City Council to request adoption of a resolution for government reorganization.  This followed a several-month petitioning process led by Citizens of Delaware County for Property Tax Repeal (now Citizens of Delaware County for Good Government).  That speech follows. 

I have attended a good number of government meetings since July 2007.  This is the first time, though, that I have chosen to publicly voice an opinion.  I come today to remind you that this is serious business–as serious as cancer–and to ask you to adopt the resolution before you.

I’m a proud volunteer for the Property Tax Repeal movement.  Opponents of current tax and spending reform routinely claim that all who are associated with our group are wealthy business owners, landlords, and Republicans.

NOT true.

For my part, I am 65 years old, semi-retired after a lifetime of work.  Property taxes on my modest little home on the south side of Muncie have risen 600% since 1996–75% just last fall.  The increase in my mortgage payment translated to 10% of my monthly Social Security check.

When I saw a lack of interest on the part of government to take any action regarding either spending or taxation, I got involved.

I’ve marched, attended meetings, written letters to lawmakers, AND I’ve worked to gather signatures for multiple petitioning efforts, including the one delivered to you today.  I now consider myself an activist. 

This effort to reform current government spending and taxation has become a driving force in my life.  I have more than doubled my efforts over the past several months, and this is in spite of having been diagnosed with cancer, being required to undergo multiple procedures, and hopefully soon start cancer treatments.

Council members–There is another cancer growing within county and city governments.  It is called out-of-control spending and taxation AND political indifference.  If you ignore it–for whatever reasons–that cancer will only flourish.  This I know empirically.  I ask you today to lay aside your political affiliations and even political aspirations and adopt the resolution for government reorganization.

Just like the rest of the folks out here, my determination and activism grows with each refusal by government entities to do the people’s business. 

BE ASSURED:  WE WILL NOT GIVE UP; WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY!

I would like to think that some day I can reflect on our reform movement efforts and say, “We helped give Muncie and Delaware County back its future.” 

I hope that is your goal as well.

I encourage your courage!