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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,December 03,2012 Page 11 Mr. Houck stated that "Something that you as government people, and every other government entity, don't get is we're broke." Mr. Houck addressed the national debt and borrowing of the federal government to give away to other governments, when the United States couldn't fix its own problems, but instead the state built new sports arenas and the county got into the property develop- ment business at TCAAP, causing his taxes to increase by $300 in 2013. Mr. Houck opined that no one was getting an increase in their income in 2013 of $300, especially those on fixed incomes. Mr. Houck opined that what government was doing was taking money from res- idents that was needed for them to live on so government could spend more. Mr. Houck stated that "it was cute when Mr. Miller said that inflow needed to equal outflow; with Mr. Houck stated that apparently the only place that hap- pened was in the private sector, not government, since government's answer was to raise taxes and take more money from residents that they needed for liv- ing expenses so government could spend more. Mr. Houck further opined that during Mr. Miller's presentation he had not heard one mention of anything be- ing reduced,just increases. In looking at the proposed HRA levy, Mr. Houck stated that it doubled expendi- tures on twenty-nine (29) items, with a reduction in only one (1) item. Mr. Houck noted that government — whether federal, state, county, or local, all coming out of taxpayer pockets — failed to recognize that we're broke and in debt, with more debt incurred daily. Mr. Houck opined that this included the City Council; and if the Council thought the monthly amount represented noth- ing, the fact was that taxpayers didn't have any more money to give; that it all came out of taxpayer pockets and deprived them of what they needed to spend for living expenses. Mr. Houck stated "You people just don't get it; we're broke. If you can't cut your spending, take a complete, itemized budget home and find areas to cut. If not, you're not doing your job; and if not doing your job,resign and get out of it." Adam Wakefield, 1718 Maple Lane Mr. Wakefield advised that his taxes from 2012 to 2013 had increased from $703 to $1,065, a 34% increase, which represented four (4) times what staff projected as the 8%increase on the average, median household. Mr. Wakefield noted that they had done a kitchen remodel last year with no ad- ditional square footage added, further increasing the taxes on his property by 40%. Mr. Wakefield noted that these significant increases made it difficult to remain in their home. Mr. Wakefield stated that he could have lived with the percentage increase projected; however,he found a 34% increase significant.