Waste not, want not. Or not.

Imagine for a minute your home is missing a front door. While at Home Depot to buy a door, you notice that Milwaukee has 19-piece power tool kit on sale for $4,999.00. You don't have $4,999.00, but you do have a credit card. You have no use for a 19-piece Milwaukee power tool kit. But, it's so pretty in it's red and white color scheme, and you will be the envy of all your neighbors!

Imagine still: You don't work in construction. You can't afford it. There is no guarantee you will like it. And very likely, your significant other will be angry at you for purchasing it. In fact, were you to call and ask for permission, the answer would likely be "no". Likely because you cannot afford it. But you do so want it, and after all, Home Depot takes a credit card!

I will focus on the "afford" aspect, rather than the "want" aspect for now.

Not living within your means rarely leads to financial prosperity. I cannot think of anytime running up lots of debt for luxury items, like a 19-piece Milwaukee power tool set, has had any sort of payback to the purchaser. Such is the case for luxury items.

Everyone in Rockwall pays taxes, either property or sales. Tax is the city's income or "paycheck". We are expected by society (whether one does or not) to live a lifestyle that can be supported by one's income. Large purchases bought on credit (mortgage or vehicle) tend to serve utilitarian purposes. Large purchases (like a guitar-shaped swimming pool or vacation to Machu Pichu) may seem fun and great, but unwise should such a purchase jeopardize future financial stability.

Wanting is not the same as needing. Sounds simple enough.

Rockwall has several elected or appointed officials who want a lot of things. Just like a kid going through a toy catalog at Christmastime.

There are several pet projects in the hearts of several of our officials. None are things Rockwall needs, just things those officials want.

It is an irresponsible use of our taxes to fund monuments to egos:

The natatorium where only a select few get to swim.

Football stadium improvements that don't make people run faster or catch more footballs.

The twice-defeated-in-a-bond-election courthouse with gilded toilet seats atop commodes carved from Italian marble.

The "giant tub of concrete" down by the lake. (Not my words, crazy woman on Topix.)

If a wealthy individual decides he needs 15 classic cars and a 100,000 sqft home and has no trouble paying for it, god speed to him. What anyone does with his money is no concern of mine, unless sometime down the line I have to end up paying for it.

This is the case with the city. No matter what the city does, we all end up paying for it. Whether roads or services or city hall or the harbor.

The question then begs, when should the city fund our own Taj Majal? Personally, I would say never. But a different opinion might be when all the necessities (roads, sewers, services, emergency fund, etc - maybe even an area with 40 years of neglect the city heroically decided to rescue.) are fully funded and we have a mountain of surplus. Of course what is a surplus of tax money other than over taxation?

There are reasonable uses of our taxes than can fund recreational or non-vital uses, but we should never go into debt for ten's of millions of dollars every few years to fund such projects.

From Webster's:

Conserve : v. to keep in a safe or sound state; especially : to avoid wasteful or destructive use of

Also, n. a delicious jam-like concoction, usually with added nuts and whole fruit.