Local government has the greatest impact on residents’ financial health  through local taxes that affect not just homeowners, but renters as well. Local officials will often try to mislead voters by claiming they have “lowered your tax rate” while still increasing your final tax bill! Many local governments have gotten out of control with their taxing and spending, and we must change course.

To bring more fairness and transparency to local taxation, local governments should adopt a “no-new-revenue” tax rate, which will truly lower residents’ tax bills. After tax bills have been reduced to a reasonable level, the tax rate should be capped at a rate of inflation plus population growth.

The role of government should be limited to providing essential services such as transportation infrastructure, the judicial system, and emergency services. It’s crucial that elected officials prioritize the core responsibilities of government and avoid abusing taxpayers’ money to fund their personal agendas or expand the size of government. A bloated government not only harms taxpayers through increased spending, but also harms small businesses through added regulations and red tape.

It’s important that elected officials take a proactive approach in cutting unnecessary spending and eliminating non-essential activities. To support small businesses and promote organic economic growth, local governments should review and remove any regulations that are excessively burdensome. They should also audit their codes to identify and remove any regulations that are no longer necessary.

Transparency and accountability are essential components of a functioning democracy. When government officials are transparent and accountable, they can build trust with the community and make better decisions. By making government processes more open and accessible, citizens can have a better understanding of how their tax dollars are being used and hold officials accountable for their actions.

Too often we see local politicians unethically give preferential treatment to friends and associates in the form of contracts, grants, and other favorable votes. This undermines the fairness of our institutions, erodes public trust, and undermines the integrity of our democracy. It’s crucial that local officials maintain transparency and accountability. They must operate with integrity to ensure that the community can have confidence in their leadership and trust that their government is working in their best interest.

Without a healthy rotation of new elected representatives, incumbents who have been in office for generations get entrenched in their ways, lose touch with their constituents, and fail to understand the needs of those they serve. Allowing fresh leaders to take the place of established incumbents will bring fresh perspectives, rejuvenated passion, and more accountability to government .

Term limits ensure that power is not concentrated in the hands of a few individuals for too long and that elected officials are more accountable to the people they serve.