Why worry, after all, "It's mostly state money." This is in regards to the City Council approving a plan to lay out $23 million for bike path improvements.

All I can do is just shake my head in disbelief. Yes, I understand that they are positioning the city to receive money in years to come, but they are still trying to obtain $400,000 of Caltrans funds by putting up $46,000.

The last time I heard, the city was unable to cut enough spending in order to balance this year's budget. And I really doubt if there are very many taxpayers in the state who do not know that the legislators in Sacramento have an even greater challenge trying to balance California's budget.

Based on projections, next year's tax revenue for the city and the state will be less than this year. I guess they plan on going after federal money to subsidize their spending habits.

In the last five years, California's budget has grown by more than 45 percent. This far outstrips any justifications based on inflation or increase in population.

In fact, the latest yearly statistics for California show a decrease in population of 160,000, which is the fourth year in a row the state had a decrease in population. Many of those who left had incomes that placed them at or above middle income, fleeing to escape the burdens of government while pursuing better jobs, better lives.

There are a great number of taxpayers who are fed up with this state's "tax and spend" mentality. This starts at the city level and escalates up through the county and state levels.

Our state and federal governments need politicians who are willing to be fiscally prudent to safeguard the public's interest.

California is the secondhighest taxed state in the nation. If legislators don't break this cycle at all levels of government (city, county and state) we will soon find ourselves in the dubious position of being number one.

The bottom line is there is no free ride—everything is paid for by average taxpayers whether it is an income or sales or capital gains or windfall profit tax. Marston D. Robertson Simi Valley