In an editorial on Sunday, the Oshkosh Northwestern points out that

“Raising taxes is an absolute last resort after all other options have been handled. A strong and solid defeat of this tax will send a message from supervisors that they understand their priorities.”

This is as true for small town USA as for state and federal government.  Unfortunately, like in Oshkosh, legislators often view raising taxes as the default first option during a budget crunch.

The editorial goes on to say, strangely enough, that if the local government continues to insist on raising taxes,

“Winnebago County will become a poster child for a Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights that will impose permanent spending freezes through the state constitution.”

And that would be bad because…?

A Taxpyer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) is exactly what is needed.  Clearly politicians need boundaries; TABOR allows citizens to play a more active role in government and make sure that their taxes are going towards needed programs that benefit everyone.

For more on how TABOR would benefit Wisconsin read Dr. Barry Poulson’s  “The Truth About TABOR in Wisconsin… and Colorado”