i know it's ben a while. had to take a break from all the politics, and drop dean like a hot potato. more on that later. today, it's the news of tax increases locally. from today's globe-gazette:

One of the big factors in this year’s budget is the loss of $478,000 in state funding. The result is the need to increase property taxes by 8 percent for the next year, an average of $32.55 for the average homeowner, according to City Administrator Tim Moerman.

He said investments in improvements to the water and sewer infrastructure will result in water and sewer rates going up 8.7 percent and 9.7 percent, respectively.

proof that the tax cuts aren't working as we were led to believe.