Search and Rescue

There is a topic in our local politics that I find completely absurd. The city of Toledo is looking at sending a bill to anyone that uses the city fire, police, or EMS services. That means if you get in an accident, are being robbed, or having a heart attack, you will be billed by the city of Toledo if you call them for assistance. On the surface that looks like a great idea to increase revenue. The issue is that the citizens of Toledo and anyone working within the city limits are paying taxes to support these programs. Charging people for them is double taxation.

I can see people who live paycheck to paycheck (which is many Americans) not bothering to call if they have a fender bender, or if there house is being broken into. When the police show up, you will also be liable to pay an additional bill for requesting their presence. How likely are you to call the police if you know that you are going to have to pay an additional fee for them to grace your presence? If you are having a heart attack, will you call the EMS or try to get to the hospital on your own? What happens if you get in an accident while you are cluthcing your chest? Will you get two bills or maybe three if a fire truck shows up? Are we so money hungry that we are willing to put the lives of our citizens at risk?

The Toledo Blade's headline from Wednesday stated that the city of Toledo was losing population. People are moving to the suburbs or going where the jobs are. Toledo has had a unfriendly business environment with both taxes and unions fro the past decade. Businesses have been moving out, boarding up and closing or downsizing for the last 20 years. We need more ingenious tax schemes to help revive Toledo's sagging reputation and it looks like they have found a winner in the double taxation of basic services. Wahoo!

Icool

Cobb