City Payments in Lieu of Taxes Waiver agreement with Housing Authority

[dahling]

Can someone please explain the Waiver for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement between the City and the Housing Authority of Winnfield as reported in the Enterprise this last week? As of September 30th 2010, the Housing Authority owed the city $22,717.65 in PILOT. Both parties agreed that it is in the best interest of both parties to waive this debt and mutually agreed and understood that the Housing Authority would use the funds made available by this waiver to defray their operating expenses. City Council rationale was that this benefits the citizens of Winnfield and Winn Parish. Councilpersons Ball, Demery, Junkin, and Mattox voted in favor of this; Miller opposed.

As I read this, it seems to me the city turned down some income? Am I wrong? How does this benefit anyone except the Housing Authority?

[shame]

www.fwb.org/images/fwb/.../City.../ai14.12010...

Seems this must be common practice across America. I don't think it is fair, warranted, or desired by taxpayers, but this must be a federal program. Out of control big government in my estimation. I don't see how this can be justified. When government gets in the business of providing free/low cost facilities to a certain group (low income?) it has to take from productive people to give to others. Can we ever expect to have lower taxes when it is our money being taken from us and given to others, instead of all working for what they have?
This my understanding, but maybe I don't have the proper understanding of the waiver.

[owll]

I bet if one of us owed that we would have to pay. Just look at the light bill, if you don't pay it they will cut your lights off in a blink of an eye.

[shame]

owll wrote:

I bet if one of us owed that we would have to pay. Just look at the light bill, if you don't pay it they will cut your lights off in a blink of an eye.

We don't actually own anything. If we don't pay our property taxes, our property is taken, if we don't pay for a license for our vehicles, we can[t use it, etc.

[John Q Public]

Why didn't the Mayor veto this action?