Looking at the city’s report of general fund revenues, we learn that they get money from us through taxes, fees, revenues, reimbursements, forfeits, fines, licenses, penalties, revenues, and permits.
Some of us rail at the thought of being permitted to do something by our governments, so I thought I would look into what we can pay money to be permitted to do.
Permits:
Building permits
Demolition Permits
Electrical Permits
Grading Permits
Mechanical Permits
Mobile Home Placement Permits
Plumbing Permits
Roofing Permits
Sidewalk and Driveway Permits
Signs Permits
Other Permits
Charitable Solicitation Permits
Parade Permits
Paving Cut Permits
Subdivision Permits
Taxi Cab Operating Permits
Amplification Permits
Animal Permits
Hazardous Chemical Permits
Storm Drain Permits
Special Privilege Permits
Residential Building Permits
We are not permitted to know what is going on because they hide in executive session.
Permit me to point out that we have an election coming up.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
An organization I work with pays about $45 for a “Park Use permit.” We have to tell them how many tables, chairs, people, etc will be at our little fundraising event for just a few hours. We only set up a little picnic type/family gathering thing and we walk a few laps on the walking path….not like we take over the whole park, but I guess if we tried it without the permit we’d get fined. They’ll get you one way or the other.
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Quality of Life is expensive. When they ask for bond money for parks, they fail to tell you that you will have to pay again when you use them.
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What? No blogging permits? An oversight, I am sure.
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Funny!
Brutus
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Blogging is covered in Other Permits
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They are hiding in plain sight, just pay attention and ask questions. To me, most of these permits are reasonable. I certainly object to the music amplification I am subjected to by my neighbor but have yet to have the police enforce the Noise Ordinance. One officer told me there was no Noise Ordinance. My reply, I found it on the city website!
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Read this.
http://www.ktsm.com/news/star-spangled-school-design-clashes-neighborhood-must-come-down
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KTSM failed to identify Cimarron as a Hunt development. Woody Hunt gets what he wants.
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Its hard for me to imagine the American flag being inappropriate in this subdivision.
Brutus
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The real irony here is that a development company owned by a conservative Republican is reportedly demanding the removal of a U.S. flag theme from a public building. You have to chuckle, especially since a large part of the developer’s wealth was created by building housing and other facilities for the government. Maybe they are concerned about alienating Mexican homebuyers.
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Unfortunately in the absence of income tax, property tax, sales tax and HOT are the center of city finances. In theory these permits and the fees to obtain them are to ensure that various activities are carried out safely, rather than to finance the government. Readers can determine if that is in fact occurring.
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