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Taxation preferred
In early June, an editorial suggested that because federal and state funding can be unpredictable, communities should consider turning to crowdfunding for major public projects. Crowdfunding may work for personal emergencies or small creative projects, but it is not a substitute for the basic responsibilities of government.
Our taxes are not voluntary donations; they are the shared investment we all make so that essential public goods — infrastructure, safety, water systems and coastal protection — are funded reliably, equitably and at the scale required.
The argument that “uncertain tax allocations” make direct funding more attractive gets the problem backward. If federal and state leaders are politicizing or withholding funds, the solution is better governance and stable public investment, not shifting the burden onto local residents through online fundraising campaigns.
South Padre Island’s dunes, erosion control and coastal defenses are not optional amenities. They are critical infrastructure protecting lives, property and the regional economy. These projects cost millions, far beyond what any community can realistically raise through donations.
Crowdfunding also creates inequity: wealthy areas can raise money; poorer communities fall further behind. That is the opposite of what public taxation is designed to do.
Our taxes should work for us — the people who pay them. We should not be asked to pay twice: once through taxes, and again through online campaigns because higher levels of government refuse to meet their obligations. Public infrastructure requires public funding, not bake‑sale economics.
Diane Teter
Edinburg
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