By Shane Goodman shane@dmcityview.com

Two cents on the penny

I have yet to meet a homeowner who doesn’t want his or her property taxes reduced. On the other hand, I have yet to meet anyone who wants to pay more in sales tax. But the Project Destiny 28E Agreement is a plan that could be a wash for the average citizen and bring many amenities to Polk, Warren and Dallas counties. Or at least that’s what we are told.

You see, the Project Destiny vote will be more about trust than anything else. The plan sounds really good, especially for large property owners and, surprisingly, the elderly, who tend to own property and make fewer taxable purchases. The vote was moved from its original date in an attempt to distant itself from the CIETC scandal and the cloud surrounding the Des Moines Public Schools. But I am afraid those issues are permanently etched in the minds of Central Iowans for years to come.

In all likelihood, Project Destiny will fail, as even the promoters acknowledge the tough road ahead. They recognize that a large faction of people will not approve any tax increase, no matter the benefit. Although, I must say, reaching out to the bicycling community was a brilliant way to encompass voters who would normally be steamed over any plan that would provide large property owners a break. If that ingenuity could be used to persuade the elderly, this plan may actually grow some legs. And, in time, I am guessing it will.

Meanwhile, we are here to show you the complete story. Our business doesn’t own acres of property, so we don’t stand to make a personal gain. We do want to see residents’ quality of life improved with cultural amenities, and we realize this comes with a cost. There’s no simple answer.

Thanks for reading.

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