Bethlehem Considering A 'Community Benefit District'

From the what the hell are they thinking department, 'The Express-Times' is reporting that Bethlehem is considering creating a Community Benefit District. The article goes on to report, "All residential properties within the district would pay a $100 a year while commercial properties would be assessed at 6.8 mills.."

This is wrong on so many levels it's hard for me to decide where to begin. First off, when someone decides to buy a home to live in for themselves they may be totally against condo or co-op fees along with their so-called community members committee. Thusly never elected to buy a property that required them. For most people, independent ownership is suppose to free from boards and/landlords who impose their preferences on them? Who would guess at the time someone bought a home it would result in the government stepping in and forcing one into some government imposed scheme a few years down the line.



Then there are the businesses themselves. It's one thing to voluntarily join the 'Downtown Bethlehem Association', 'The Chamber Of Commerce' or hire a marketing firm. Those are choices they made for themselves. It's entirely another thing for the government forcing them into joining some organizational committee that would decide what "improvements and marketing in the neighborhood" best suits them.

They call these 'fees'. These are not ''fees'. They are extra taxes, plain and simple. Why should a business or private property owner pay an extra assessment on top of the property taxes already being paid? Why would a home owner be interested in 'marketing' his/her residential property? Even if this is successful wouldn't this end up costing a home owner a higher assessment then they already have? If Bethlehem gets away with this, how long before other counties and municipalities in this area seize the opportunity to mimic Bethlehem's?

Imagine how many residential homeowners will forced out of their homes because of inadequate or fixed income.

I can't express the distain I have for a couple of yahoos who come together and through the use of government power cram their schemes down everyone's throats. I have no problem if this were made voluntary. Anything otherwise is nothing but totalitarian government. One thing is for sure. This certainly isn't the kind of government I grew up with.

KOZ, NIZ and all the others that tie up government tax revenue on existing tax dollars is one thing. Compelling folks to shell out another layer of taxes on top of all of that plus existing taxes in certain areas is just plain government running amuck. This needs to be stopped dead in it's tracks before it spreads around here like it already has out on the left coast.