Our local petroleum refinery has announced that it opposes the city raising the franchise fees that our electric company pays.
The economic reality is that the electric company will pass on the increases to it’s customers. That means you and me as well as the refinery that is a major customer of the electric company.
The refinery will try to pass on the increase in it’s costs to the motoring public. Lack of serious competitive pressure probably means that they will be able to do that. Eventually the public will blame the refinery. The cause of a gasoline price increase will soon be forgotten by the public and the refinery might have to compete with products brought in from other places where they do not have to pay the city’s new fee.
City council’s action is an increase in taxes. Some will try to tell us that it is not a tax, it is an increase in fees. I googled the word tax and this is the first definition that came back:
a compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers’ income and business profits or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions
Granted it is not an increase in property taxes. State law requires that property tax increases above certain percentages must be put to a public vote. Council has once again decided to not let us vote, but their action is a tax and their actions are deplorable.
At this point they are also considering imposing a new fee on the city owned water company. That too would be a tax on the consumers.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
You’re 100% correct. Two things are rarely adjusted downward: taxes and consumer prices.
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You are so right. Instead of “seeking new revenue streams” (what a silly euphemism for sticking it to the taxpayers yet again), they need to be cutting their out of control expenses! Fix the damn streets that were supposed to be done long ago! Replace our outdated cop cars! Take care of business!
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Considering all the money Foster has spread around CC, would it surprise anyone if Western Refining were exempted from the electrical fee increase and the rest of us had to pay?
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The Politician Song goes ” I won’t Tax you and I won’t Tax me! We will TAX the fellow behind the tree…”
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Rather than taking care of the infrastructure, which really reflects a city’s financial health, these wizards spend money on nice to have, but un-necessary things like a trolley.
Think for a minute, if you were visiting, which would impress you more. Well paved streets and sharp police cars or a trolley? And for some reason, people in El Paso always “free money”. Once again, do any of you realize the “free” money comes from taxes and fees. And who pays them? YOU !
If the city and county is doing so well, according to the politicians, then why are they always looking for “free” money?
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We need to empower city activists to be the voice of taxpayers. Otherwise, our city oficials will continue to step all over us.
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