Increasing property taxes

On Wednesday, July 18, 2012, the Cape Girardeau County Commissioners and the Jackson Schools superintendent using Chapter 100 authority collectively increased property taxes on the residents of the county and Jackson without the courtesy of a public hearing. It was done by resolution for a bond to pay for a $300 million expansion at Procter & Gamble.

The audacity of this 2-0 vote is outrageous. "Because the commissioners were already familiar with the Chapter 100 process," the citizens' views are unimportant?

Just because Chapter 100 is a Missouri statute, it does not morally relieve elected government officials or bureaucrats from asking for the consent of the people. The actions of these elected county officials and one employee of Jackson violated two very important "Principles of Liberty" established by our Founding Fathers:

"The God-given right to govern is vested in the sovereign authority of the whole people."

And

"The burden of debt is as destructive to freedom as subjugation by conquest."

Did these servants of the citizenry consider the following questions before beginning to increase property taxes?

What is the rate of return on the taxpayers' money?

Why is a school superintendent unilaterally making tax collection decisions?

How does the county and Jackson plan to pay for "wear and tear" repair costs on the infrastructure due to heavy construction traffic?

Can the county and Jackson guarantee the lease payments from Procter & Gamble will cover the cost of the bond?

Instead of doing things right perhaps they should do the right thing. Get permission.

DAVID A. LARSON, Jackson