Letter to the Editor

Sweet talk on taxes

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Dear Editor,

I am amazed and appalled at the audacity of the City Council and the city manager taking away the rights of the people and spending money with no regard as to who has to pay the bills.

Every time I read of the City Council they are changing the rules so they don't have to be accountable to the people and justify the spending and added taxation the good people of McCook.

I am sorry, but every dollar the city collects and spends is tax money paid by the people they serve.

The justification they use for all of this is unbelievable. The idea that it is all right because everyone else is doing it makes it OK is outrageous.

The phone tax the mobile phone tax the tax -- yes it is a tax for someone to cut your tree down, is not for the protection of the people, it is so they have more money to spend at your expense, and I assure you to get your tree cut down, it will cost you more and it will cost at least twice the normal cost before the fee just because they had to pay it.

The great people of McCook, if you don't come together now and send your city manger packing and get a hold of your council, the great city you know now will become a ghost town. Their sweet-talking around the tax issue is nothing more than lying and trying to con the people they were elected to represent. The council needs to be reminded who elected them, and that they put their pants on just like everyone else.

The slogan says "shop local, shop McCook" -- with the way they are adding taxes, North Platte is looking closer all the time.

Don Neel,

McCook, Nebraska

Comments
View 2 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • The property tax rate for the city of north platte is .480187 which does not include the airport. McCook city levy is .319044 including the airport. Both have one and one half cent sales taxes. The latest survey of cities the size of McCook had 20 of the 30 reporting cities with higher property tax rates. The 10 with lower rates generally had more sales tax dollars than McCook McCook has not raised the property tax levy since 2001.

    -- Posted by dennis on Thu, Aug 2, 2012, at 4:05 PM
  • I fail to see what taxes are being raised that make Flat Rock look so attractive Don. I would guess that tree workers have had to show proof of insurance in N.Platte before now anyway.

    And seriously Don, when you use hyperbole that is over the top, calling the city manager and the councilpersons con men and liars, you lose all credibility with many readers. This reader for certain. Even if I would happen to agree with your position, I would then feel that you have shamed our cause.

    -- Posted by hulapopper on Fri, Aug 3, 2012, at 7:37 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: