City operating with right business-like approach
TO THE EDITOR:
As a taxpaying citizen of Warren County and the city of McMinnville, I feel compelled to respond to the articles by Lisa Hobbs and James Clark in Friday’s issue of the Standard.
First, my wife and I pay Warren County taxes amounting to $160 more than our city of McMinnville taxes. Now, let’s consider what we receive from each entity.
Warren County taxes fund county administration, schools, sheriff’s department, county roads, ambulance service, social services and provide allocations to many worthy services for the benefit of our citizens.
City taxes fund city administration, streets, fire and police protection, water and sewer services, recreation, planning and zoning, and provide allocations to many worthy services for the benefit of our citizens.
Now my point is this. All of these county and city services are vital, and make our county and city a better place to live and raise our children and grandchildren. Each of these entities must be administered in a business-like manner.
I believe that is being done when the city funds a service (swimming pool) and expects a fee from citizens (who didn’t pay city taxes) when they use it. I equally agree with the response from Mr. Pelham when he advised the mayor that Warren County would not be participating in building the new indoor pool.
This would mean city taxpayers, who also pay county taxes, would be paying an additional amount of taxes to fund the pool. The city should build the pool and assess a fee for its use by those who do not pay city taxes.
While I am not privy to how the amount of admission was determined, I support our city government for operating in a business-like manner by raising fees. I certainly don’t feel like the city is being ‘greedy’ or ‘soaking’ those who live outside the city.
Charles Bogle
Oak Hill Drive
McMinnville