Counting the cost

February 2, 2007

I’m not surprised.

Survey: Houston among nation’s ’stingiest’ cities – Houston Business Journal:

According to the survey, the most charitable city nationwide is Salt Lake City, with annual charitable contributions of $2,196 per taxpayer, while San Antonio ranks as the stingiest, with $717 in contributions.

Rounding out the top three most generous cities were West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce, Fla., and Washington, D.C. After San Antonio, the second and third stingiest cities, according to the survey, are Buffalo, N.Y., and Albuquerque-Santa Fe, N.M.

We rank 126th in median income just behind Little Rock, AR. and Lima, OH and ahead of Albuquerque, NM (127), Victoria, TX (130), and uhh Buffalo, NY (139), never mind.

Let’s go with per capita income that puts us at 182 and Buffalo at 117 and Albuquerque at 120. Don’t we look good now!

The fact of the matter is that San Antonio is a poor city. And it’s also full of people that aren’t interested in giving without making sure they’re recognized for every cent. Oh we say we’re for contributing to the community.

MySA.com: Roddy Stinson

As a resident of District 10, I have no problem sending money to City Hall to help improve the infrastructure and pay for programs and services in less affluent districts. In fact, I consider such “giving” a privilege â€” and I suspect most other residents of districts 8, 9 and 10 feel the same.

But the fact of the matter is that we want the people on the receiving end to be grateful for every penny and show it appropriately.

MySA.com: Roddy Stinson

Looking back over 32 years of City Hall watching, I don’t recall a single instance when a city official thanked residents and business owners in districts 8, 9 and 10 for contributing nearly half of all City Hall property tax revenue.

I would be willing to bet that if someone could rank us in anonymous giving, not only would rank dead last, our contributions would probably be near zero.

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