HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-02-16 Public Comment - W. Locke - Tree Assessment Tax William Locke
21.19 Sourdough Road
Bozeman,MT 59715
W wlocke3ftmail,corn
August 2,2016
Bozeman ClAy Commission
Dear Commissioners,
This letter is to express my strong objection to Commission Resolution No 4704,which is now both
arbitrary and capricious and represents a blatantly-unfair methodology to fund maintenance of city trees.
The degree of unfairness is obvious in the fact that I,Avith no city-maintained trees on the property or
rights of way and few anywhere within sight, will be paying 25 times what an average family downtown
will be paying,and receiving Less benefit!
Decades ago(pre-GIS) the area-based assessment was arbitrary,but it was not capricious. A population-
aveighted methodology would have been constantly changing,and a benefits-based methodology was not
even possible. Now,however,I would wager that the city has a GIS layer showing every tree and
recording species,size,and health. Similarly,every dwelling unit and its capacity (if not today's residents)
is known. It would be simple to use that GIS to calculate a fair funding algorithm based on proximity to,
thus benefit from,city-maintained trees. The decision to continue with the same flawed algorithm can be
justified only by the crudest def rdtion of democracy:a methodology whereby the majority exercise
tyranny over the minority.
My three acres have been within the city limits for about two decades,and I have paid this assessment year
after year without formal complaint. However,facing not only the same flawed Methodology but a
massive rate increase,I can no longer remains silent. I request that your technical staff investigate hm",
other jurisdictions accomplish the same ends without the deliberate and unnecessary unfairness. Please
note that I ann not asking to be excused from paying this assessment,as I do benefit indirectly from trees
around city buildings,in city parks,and along city streets and parkways. I ask only that that some effort
be made to apportion the cost in a more rational manner.
Warm regards,
William Locke
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