A state lawmaker stood against tax and service fee increases proposed by city and state officials under their budget proposals.
Assemblyman Benjamín Gómez, a Tecate member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, made his statement after all public agency representatives proposed their budgets for 2017.
“We must understand that the economic situation of the country is not the appropriate one,” he said. “This is not the time to increase fees.”
Gómez said his party colleagues plan to vote against increases of water rates, property taxes and other taxes and fees.
Although state and local agencies are in dire straits in terms of funding, the lawmaker recalled the federal government has provided more funds to local coffers.
Gómez asked officials to initiate managerial changes before requesting increases.
“Cash flow is not only increased with tax increases, but with salary decreases or other ways in order to avoid residents’ impact,” he said.
The lawmaker asked officials to follow the lead set by the Assembly, whose members approved a re-engineering process that cut expenditures that will translate into $8 million in savings for next year.
