Karen Huber for County Commissioner

We only have to look at the Federal actions on behalf of the financial markets, during the past several weeks to see that "the free market ain't so free!" (SNL quote). We taxpayers are going to be paying for the greed of Wall Street for years to come.

Meanwhile, back here in Travis County, we're faced with higher taxes because of our own version of this "free market" philosophy at work. This is happening because the explosive growth in real estate development that we have been witnessing does NOT pay for itself. The result? We taxpayers are already paying for the greed of a handful of big developers and homebuilding corporations.

Commissioner Gerald Daugherty recently voted against the Travis County budget because he believed the County shouldn't take any more money from taxpayers than it did last year. He said, "With every other taxing jurisdiction in Travis County proposing to increase their average tax bill, the accumulation of all those "small" increases becomes a burden to our citizens in today's tough economic times."

Well, this is fuzzy thinking, based on decidedly fuzzy math. The reason all other jurisdictions are raising their taxes is because of the "free market" philosophy that Commissioner Daugherty supports to its excess. Simply put, he has promoted aggressive growth - without establishing measures to see that this growth pays for itself. He has, in fact, become an active barrier to responsible growth. In its place, he has consistently supported the agenda of a handful of developers over the concerns of his constituents, who feel that West and Southwest Travis County are headed down the wrong path - a path that is already negatively impacting their homes and their families and costing them increased taxes. This unrestrained growth is rapidly ramping up the need for new schools, more teachers, more fire stations and fire and safety personnel and, most visibly, more roads and road improvements, etc. The County's capacity to cover the current needs of its law enforcement and the criminal justice system is already lagging. As for the needs that future growth will bring, the money just isn't there.

So, we will pay more in school taxes - AISD is working on increasing theirs and Lake Travis has already given notice that it will do the same next year. Our sales taxes in parts of the county are going up to cover the costs of infrastructure, like new fire stations. Lakeway has chosen to increase its sales tax to reduce the city's portion of the property taxes. Appraisals of existing homes in Precinct 3 are skyrocketing because of the impact of new high-end subdivisions on the value of real estate. In other words, we are paying a lot more in many ways (not only in Precinct 3 but in all of Austin and the County) because the Commissioners' Court is not working to see that growth pays its fair share of the bill. Other high-growth states require developers to pay their fair share, and we should, too.

Just making a statement that we need to "hold the lid" on County taxes does not begin to solve the problem, or even acknowledge that a problem exists. True fiscal responsibility to taxpayers means seeing to it that new growth carries its rightful share of the burden. When this happens, it will free up other funds within the County to assure that our public safety needs are met at a responsible level. This is the way the County can truly begin to "hold the lid" on taxes.

Travis County Commissioners must begin to look at growth in terms of all costs associated with it and its impact on current citizens' taxes and the many other out-of-pocket expenses. We want to continue to grow - to have a vibrant economy, an expanding economy - but unplanned growth has us headed down a path of higher taxes, congested and unsafe highways, threatened water supplies and public safety challenges. These conditions not only affect the environment in which we live and our quality of life but also the future vitality of the economy. This direction must change and a key place to start is in the Travis County Precinct 3 Commissioner's seat.

I offer voters the experience and leadership to make these needed changes, responsibly and fairly. With your help and your vote, we can get back on track.