Part #1:  The way the city manages the tax money it collects is really quite maddening.  First, remember past tax increase initiatives.

The city INCOME tax initiative several years ago was suppositively for the schools.  It was defeated in a landslide.
The city service FEE measure, suppositively for services (pools, libraries, Choots, etc.)  was also defeated in a landslide.  This was after the city threatened deep service cuts if it didn't pass.  The threatened cuts never happened.

Then, after the latest shellacking at the ballot box, the city held several budget meetings, and swore up-and-down that the city would find a way to fund all the services.  This never happened.

The library hours were cut, park maintenance was deferred, and some of the fulltime park employees were moved to the storm water fee, which was increased.  These cuts were made because the city manager felt depleting the general fund, and relabeling these funds as "one time" dollars for the city hall...