Your Tax Money

San Antonio's City Manager will announce this afternoon where she'd like to spend your tax money.

Terry Brechtel will brief the City Council on her proposed 2005 budget.

There will be much ado about San Antonio "not increasing the property tax rate." Pay no attention to that. Instead, look at the man behind the curtain.

Truth is, the city won't raise the tax rate, but that's a politician trick. Property appraisals certainly do go up, so the same rate actually means paying more taxes.

Unlike the city, Bexar County actually does keep taxes the same, by cutting spending.

I'll want to see the detailed city budget to learn where the politicians plan to spend money on the arts. You can bet they'll want to spray a couple million around for painting, dancing and singing and what-all. They do every year.

One day soon, we'll get into that. There are politicians' tricks in arts funding, too.

Brad Messer, commentary, KTSA.