Dear Editor:
When the the Schundler Administration ended, I urged city officials to monitor the tax abatements contracts given by various administrations, so it is disappointing to find out our government failed to give Port Liberte correct tax bills.
From 2005 to 2010, the municipal portion of taxes increased 84.87 percent, some municipal employees lost jobs, others took mandated furloughs, and taxpayers were saddled with $28 million in bonds for pension costs. The millions lost from Port Liberte, could have helped taxpayers and employees.
If the city put the same energy into the financial health of the city as it does parades and festivals, then this tax problem with Port Liberte and perhaps other abatements would not have occurred.
Yvonne Balcer