Council approves Slum-Code denies Gas Allowance

The Mesa City Council has declined to increase their car allowance from $150 to $300 a month. I think this was a good move, but Nelson rightly points out the irony that the room reached hushed tones over a $12,000 expenditure but let a $26 million court house fly right by. It is not the right time for the council to be increasing their fees anyway, even if it seems like a nice nod to the future council One of the commenters named TOMO noted:

"At $3.50/gallon and assuming 20 mpg that is over 800 miles a month? Do their council jobs really require them to travel that much? Of course to and from work shouldn't count."

I was wondering if he was talking about before or after the potential increase. So I did the math and thats 800 miles BEFORE the increase - so the increase would have put them at 1600 miles a month. I doubt anyone on the council is driving that much. For those who don't think thats a fair comparison, I will do it based on the standard mileage rate as well. Now, the standard mileage rate is up to 50.5 cents a mile now (REALLY?), which would still mean that the councilmembers are getting reimbursed for about 300 miles a month on their car. That seems fair.

The recap from the Tribune focuses more on the Slum-Code which they are putting to the ballot in November. There are still some questions to be entered, but I predict that this will pass in November. Just look at some of the pictures linked in the comment section. All the proponents for this law are going to have to do is point to the horrible slum conditions and trash and couches everywhere and people are going to vote yes. Let's hope that they put some safeguards in place to make sure that this law doesn't get abused.