No Tax Money to Dredge Lagoons

As a four-year resident of Ocean City, I am puzzled bythe City Council's willingness to spend public tax money for the benefit of 400 private slip owners.Council President Jack Thomas is quoted as saying the city won't pay for the dredging itself, just the costs to set up and take down the equipment, estimated at $1,250 per slip owner for a total of half a million dollars. This still amounts to public money spent for private benefit.The argument that improving a small group of island properties raises the tax base is interesting. But if this theory made any sense, why not pay every homeowner a subsidy to improve his property?Thomas's comparison of dredging to snow removal is just as weak. Snow removal benefits all citizens, not just a few.The most incredible argument I've heard is that slip owners pay more taxes than the rest of us because they have water views and lagoon access, therefore they should get some help from the city. Maybe these folks should just send in a claim to FEMA.

JAMES F. "MAC" McCARTHY

Ocean City

Letter printed in Press of Atlantic City, October 13, 2005

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/opinion/letters/story/5623475p-5627420c.html