Harrison City Council Proposed Tax Increase
Note: Letters to the submitted to the editor of the Harrison Daily Times by Boone County Tea Party members are the opinion of the individual author only and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Boone County Tea Party as a whole. Letters are posted here for the convenience of the general public.
January 29, 2012
Harrison Daily Times
Editor,
Your weekend edition brings to light the City administration’s desire for more taxes even after the issue was so soundly defeated last November. At Thursday’s meeting, Alderman Fitton stated the city hadn’t offering anything in return for the tax increase. He felt this was the reason for the dramatic defeat of the tax. WOW, I never thought I would hear an elected official admit that tax dollars don’t give anything back to the taxpayer. They simply go down a black hole and the citizens get nothing in return.
Of course, Alderman Fitton was referring to the city’s “marketing” (their term) idea of giving free trash pickup in return for the taxpayers’ agreement to their tax scheme.
Since the State Treasurer just released the most recent sales tax numbers for the city, it might be interesting to see what the city’s 1% sales tax increase really means.
First, let’s look at the terminology Mayor Jeff Crockett used before the failed election Remember, it’s not what you say but how you say it. Mayor Crocket was continually referring to the tax as a 1c tax. Excuse me Mayor Jeff, but if I were to buy a $10,000 used car, would I only pay 1c additional tax as you say? Not on your tintype! The tax on that transaction would have increased by $100. Surely you didn’t try to mislead us did you Mayor?
What does the state show for an increase total? The amount, based upon County Treasurer Tommy Creamer’s numbers, would amount to an increase to the city of $3,037,500 annually This is an increase of 283%. This would bring the total sales tax revenue of the city to $4,697, 075. What do they propose to give back to the city residents? They propose a bribe of $14.14 a month….free trash. And what about you voters who live in apartments where trash is included in your rent? Do you suppose your rent will go down? I doubt it. This bribe is only for residents who pay their own water/sewer/trash bills.
And so how much will this save the average family of 3. Nothing! The estimated increase in your cost of living with Jeff Crockett’s 1c tax is $65.32 annually…after factoring in your free trash.
And what about those living outside the city and shopping in Harrison? The total annual cost to those living outside the city would be about $2,095,875. This is money Mayor Crocket would get to spend without being accountable to those paying it.
Therefore, the county residents would pay the lion’s share of the $3 million increase in taxes. Those living in the city would only have to pony up $1,659,576 of the total. I guess this is a good thing for Mayor Jeff’s city government. This whole idea seems to be tax and spend government at work. By the way, the Mayor has told citizens the city was doing OK with the current sales tax income.
If you like to wager, consider this. Past history of the city council votes indicate Mayor Crockett owns the council and gets what he wants. I predict they will move ahead with another election for the new tax after a 5-3 vote.
It seems we are seeing another example of out of control government with no concern for the desires of the people they are supposed to represent. Time will tell….
Holding my breath,