Ashland residents are being asked to put a proposed amendment to the Ashland City Charter on the ballot to determine if they want a voice in accepting new or increased fees on our utility bills, unrelated to the operation of the utilities, to pay for city services.

It’s too bad that we have to petition for the opportunity to voice an opinion on where our money goes.  It’s too bad that Council is playing calendar games and using process to inhibit that opportunity.

But it’s not surprising.  The entire reason for this amendment is to staunch Ashland’s addiction to easy money.  When the City can create revenue with just four votes at Council and limited public input, they have very little motivation to even try and prioritize City spending.  That ratepayers were required to cough up $5 per month to avoid parks impacts, and then that money mostly went to increased staff salaries, says quite a lot about the city of Ashland’s priorities.

Ashland has a spending problem. Passing this amendment is a reasonable way for voters to assure Council will be more thoughtful before extracting dollars from ratepayers.  It’s not “horrible.”  It’s democracy.  Sadly, that is something currently in short supply.

George Kramer, M.S., HP

Ashland