Letter to the Editor

Apology is needed

The article "Bollinger County road tax fails" by Linda Redeffer in the April 6 editions of the Southeast Missourian and the Banner Press was so full of false information that it should never have been printed.

The Concerned Citizens flier said nothing about how to vote on the tax issue. It was designed to inform registered voters that there was a tax issue on the ballot, especially in the north and south ends of the county. They have a right to know when a tax issue is on the ballot.

The article stated, "the Concerned Citizens claimed the Missouri Legislature raised the assessed valuation on all agriculture and forest land in the past year." That information came directly from the assessor of Bollinger County. Ms. Redeffer was in the courthouse when she received the flyer. Why didn't she ask before implying that is wasn't the truth? The information on the 2017-2018 increase on the top four land classifications came from the Missouri State Tax Commission. The article stated, "the road tax was not a property tax, but a sales tax." In Bollinger County, it all comes out of the same pockets.

The flier stated: "Question: Do you feel we need the additional tax increase? You decide and go vote April 5th, 2016." Bollinger County citizens are smart enough to make up their own minds, if given the chance.

The Banner Press, Southeast Missourian, Travis Elfrink and Linda Redeffer all owe the Concerned Citizens a public apology.

WANDA RHODES, Marble Hill, Missouri