Raising tax burden not answer to local problems
In a recent edition of the Standard, I have seen the following headlines. On the top, one headline said ?Property owners brace for tax hike? and at the bottom another headline says ?Garbage controversy causes stink. Commissioners debate what trash county should accept.?
On June 14, I had the privilege of being addressed by several members of our county government through Leadership McMinnville.
During one of the meetings, Commissioner George Smartt addressed us. The topic of taxes was discussed and Smartt informed us our taxes would have to be raised due to government not having the funds to run Warren County.
The jail was a major topic of discussion and the expense of running it. As I remember the new jail was approved, because it would be a means of income to the county by way of bringing prisoners from other counties and charging for their incarceration.
When asked about this, Smartt informed us it wouldn?t be profitable and if I remember correctly, he stated, the costs of staffing the facility would far outpace any profitability. Smartt also informed us that because the commission hired the cheapest architect that the cost of running the jail is actually higher.
As for the second article about garbage, several years ago when the county was voting on metro I traveled the county to assist with the hearings for the voters, which were to explain what metro would mean to them. During one of these hearings I listened to Commissioner Gary Prater explain to the voters that metro was a bad idea because if it passed the city would force the county to pay for trash pick-up.
It would appear by your article that Mr. Prater believes that it is no problem for the residents of the county to pay for his trash, from his business, which he makes a profit off creating. I run a business in this community and the business pays to have a dumpster there for the purpose of trash. I don?t believe the people of Warren County should have to pay for Total Orthotic and Prosthetic System Inc.?s trash removal.
As for jobs, which was mentioned in both articles, what I believe the county needs are $15 to $20 jobs and not $6 to $10 jobs. In the last 10 years, I have watched high-paying jobs leave only to be replaced by low-paying jobs, hence the tax base has shrunk. It appears our commission believes the best way to deal with this is to increase the tax burden even more hence causing more hardship on our residents.
As a small businessman, I understand the burden placed on all of us by all levels of government. Might I suggest that instead of our commission trying to find ways to raise money, hence increasing the burden, that it might consider more ways to aid us in helping ourselves, so that we all win.
Thomas Brady
Boyd Ave.
McMinnville