As the city of Oakland grapples with a budget crisis, a glance over the 2009–11 budget proposal reveals a telling example of irresponsible public spending. Despite recent controversy surrounding lavish travel budgets for politicians, city officials still haven’t learned their lesson.
Significantly, the city is now set to impose a 3 percent hotel tax surcharge beginning in January, which will generate around $2.7 million annually. Voters approved the surcharge