Opinion

Split the sales tax vote

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Dear Editor,

When trying to decide how to vote on the sales tax, I continue to ask, "How did McCook pay for streets, sidewalks, water and sewer, parks and ball fields for 117 years without a sales tax?"

Having read the sales tax ballot questions over and over, I felt like I was looking at a cross-eyed prom queen. Something just didn't seem right.

I finally put my finger on it. To address McCook's most pressing problems, the dwindling number of businesses and declining population, they are telling us we have to increase the tax from 1 percent to 11?2 percent. The half-percent increase would give the city an additional $668,000 for an annual total of over $2,000,000 in sales tax income, of that they promise to allocate a measly $325,000 to the city's biggest problem. In January the city told us they took in $540,000 more than they needed and thereby increased their cash on hand to nearly $9,000,000. If 1 percent generated $540,000 too much, why do they need another $668,000?

In my opinion, I believe we must keep 1?2 percent in reserve to cover unforeseen mandates in the future. If we give the city that 1?2 percent or another 2 or 3 percent, you can bet they will squander it.

They have not been good stewards of our money. Remember the air-base boo-boo? The paint isn't even dry on our new water plant and they had to raise our bills to cover a shortfall created by poor projections and maybe a little mis-management. I wouldn't be surprised to see my bill go up because they need light bulbs.

Red Willow County asked McCook to share in sales tax revenues. The city said NO. Aren't we supposed to share? If you work for the county, you must repay this action at the polls.

Looking at the projects paid for with the sales tax I don't see one that generated a single private sector job! While many projects benefitted us all, many benefitted the interests of a few. None helped retail.

City Council seems to think helping private enterprise would benefit "special interests." If they won't fund special interests then they must stop funding for the minority of us who use the ball parks, the minority among us who use the senior center, the small group who use the walking trails, etc.

I cry when I remember the McCook of my youth. My heart breaks when I pass the darkened Fox Theater, the once grand Keystone and vacant, deteriorating buildings all over town. Those at the helm for the past 25 years should hang their heads in shame.

Stopping this decline and turning things around is going to take millions. It must be our priority and only tax dollars can accomplish it.

I hate the 10 year sunset provision. Heck, that's longer than most marriages last these days, but unless we want to go a year with no sales tax income it's a pin we must swallow.

Time is of the essence, we can't dilly dally any more.

I feel we should vote yes on Ballot No. 2 and yes on Ballot No. 3 but NO on Ballot No. 1. This vote for 2 and 3 would keep the tax at 1 percent which generated $540,000 more than needed last year. It will direct funds to the McCook Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) who has a track record and I feel will grab the bull by the horns.

A new City Hall or another luxury SUV is not economic development. The folks at MEDC know what is.

'nuff said,

Bill Frasier

McCook

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