Motorcycle or Sidewalks

On this last trip back home to the states I had a nice little note from the city. It made me start to think of two great uses for my money. Not my tax money mind you, my post income tax, non-property tax, non-State Sales tax, non-County Sales Tax, and non-City Sales Tax money. My personal hard earned dollars. The choice hypothetically be between new sidewalks along my property and a used motorcycle, a used motorcycle that I been thinking a little about for years. So basically the situation is this. The side walks around my house are shoot. Anyone can see they are in bad shape. So the city has decided for me that it is time to replace these. For most people this would only be a bill for a couple of hundred dollars. But because I am on a corner lot my bill will be a couple of thousand dollars. The cost of the sidewalks would be just shy of what I was looking for a starter bike. But it really isn’t a decision, it is mandated by the city.

I always knew this could happen I have heard about from other people. There are many things in a city that you would think were paid for by taxes but are actually the responsibility of the home owner. Things that your neighbors may use more than you do, things you may not even ask for. Worst of all things you don’t get to really choose. These are of course the same sidewalks I must keep clean in the winter or be charged just under a grand if the city does it for me. That is by the way each time they would do it, not a monthly or seasonal charge, a per visit charge. It is kind of like a fine but billed as a service. So anyway my side walks have been assessed as needing to be replaced. And I will get billed several thousand dollars for the new concrete work. Last year of course I got a city ordinance situation to paint the house, and before that I got a notice to clean the alley. This year just happens to be sidewalks. I wonder what they will come up with next year.

Now of course I joke that it is a choice between the motorcycle or the sidewalks. I don’t have a choice it was made by the city for me. So I will be getting them. And in all honesty, I would like to say that it angers me and confuses me, that the city would do this to law abiding and tax paying home owners. But in reality I don’t really have an issue with it. I use the city side walks all of the time. I am surprised that it isn’t included in the property taxes but that is the decision that was made by the city planners or council members. People elected by the same people who complain that sidewalk maintenance isn’t covered in taxes. So I realize that this choice was made by due process. If I don’t like it I could run for local office and try to change it. Or just vote for people the might change it. But since I probably won’t get hit up for this again and I can afford it I will just shrug my shoulders and enjoy the new uncracked, unheaving sidewalks. Too bad they don’t throw in a used bike though.