Politicians and planners at every level believe that because the economy is so large that what Adam Smith identified as ‘the invisible hand” cannot possibly work on its own and that they must direct the economy. The truth is exactly the opposite, because the economy is so large no individual or group of individuals can dictate how the market will operate or respond, this has been proven over and over again. Just listen to the politicians and planners when an industry or their plans fail they weep that no one could have seen this coming as they run from accountability and deflect responsibility for their poor decision making.
Bradley County is now considering raising the fire tax on its citizens as much as $100 to $300 for the average home owner, according to a March 4 Cleveland Daily Banner article. The question becomes why is this tax increase necessary. It is necessary because of government involvement?State and local officials gave incentives including a PILOT Agreement to Wacker Chemical to lure them here.
Wacker is apparently going to pay their own firefighters more than what the county and city currently pay. Naturally Wacker would attract firefighters from the ranks of both the county and city. The only alternative is to raise wages to a level that is more in line with what Wacker will pay their firefighters to avoid losing firefighters.
I didn’t hear politicians complaining firefighters were underpaid before this did anyone else. So, local officials need to quit feigning concern about low wages. Did either the county or city have as much trouble finding and keeping firefighters before Wacker came to Charleston? If not then the pay was in line with what was appropriate for the market. Luring Wacker to Charleston by way of incentives and PILOT Agreements is about to cost the taxpayer.
The Chamber of Commerce as an entity and those that lead the Chamber, the mayors and all politicians that approved the incentives that brought Wacker here should be required to pay a triple portion of the tax increase that will fund the firefighters pay increase in Bradley County and Cleveland. They caused the problem and if they will pay triple the tax I will gladly pay mine.
Mike Lynn