Drastic measures have had to be taken by local officials because of the drawn-out property tax assessment dispute. As many as 50 teachers and staff in Michigan City may lose their livelihood, the city of La Porte has more or less closed its parks department for a season (and who knows how long after that?), the Civic Auditorium has been mostly shut down, and worst of all - La Porte city employees not only had their wages cut 5%, but had their health insurance utterly gutted - to the point that it is essentially worthless. This collapse of institutions is what happens when a government is unable to collect enough in taxes, and it only goes to show that yes, taxes are a "necessary evil" if you want civilization to function.