Dear Editor, Your editorial
“Resounding yes on mail-in ballot” and Lisa Pampuch’s column on
the Opinion Page “Support our library, vote ‘yes’ on measures A
&
amp; B,
” both in the March 1 edition, lay out very well the reasons why
some people think a parcel tax is needed. There are some problems,
however.
Dear Editor,
Your editorial “Resounding yes on mail-in ballot” and Lisa Pampuch’s column on the Opinion Page “Support our library, vote ‘yes’ on measures A & B,” both in the March 1 edition, lay out very well the reasons why some people think a parcel tax is needed. There are some problems, however.
First, Pampuch states that last spring “the minority dictated to the majority” regarding this tax. The requirement for a two-third’s vote is to protect the minority who must pay the tax. Without that requirement, non-payers would dictate rampantly.
Second, the tax is unfair as it stands. Everyone does not pay the same. All houses are assessed the same whether they have 6,000-square-feet or 600.
Third, since all houses are assessed the same, the family of seven pays the same as a lonely widower.
Fourth, apartments are assessed three-fourths of the amount, and in many cases the dwellers are never aware of the tax.
Fifth, affordable housing (which is usually apartments) is probably owned by tax exempt organizations which are not required to pay property taxes at all.
Sixth, a rancher, whose cows never make it to the library, pays the tax for every five acres – up to 300 acres (that is sixty times).
Seventh, for the well-off among us the tax is just the price of a party as the supporters are proving with their gala event. Others may need that for groceries.
Eighth, have you ever noticed that government cuts the things people want/need and then suggests that we can increase our taxes?
And ninth, why couldn’t the Registrar of Voters put this tax vote on the web site before the time for arguments expired?
By all means, please, read your ballots, mark them carefully, and send them back. It is perfectly all right to say no.
Bob Blaine, Morgan HillLibrary tax
