LETTER: AGAINST THE SALES-TAX PLAN

To the editor:

I have listened to and read everything I could find concerning the proposed transportation sales tax. I have also considered the sunset clause which is part of the proposal. In my opinion, although the proposal is well-crafted, it is unneeded.

I live on the east side of town near the river. One of the proposals to help traffic is the Lexington project. Unfortunately, there are so many stop signs on Lexington that it is faster to use Cape Rock Drive to get across town to I-55.

I have studied the proposed fee increases in the sewer, water and trash services. It amazes me that although we were promised greater efficiency and, therefore, lower cost because the city was taking control of the water service, there have been no cost reductions. Only increases.

In addition, our trash service has become a farce. The city charges higher rates than many independent disposal services but will not let residential customers stop using the city services to take advantage of the lower rates. We are being forced by our city government to pay exorbitant rates for inferior service.

Let me conclude with the following items: (1) We do not need a rapid-transit system or bus service. Cape Girardeau is not yet that large. (2) Building new streets is a fine idea, but let us first maintain and improve our existing ones. (3) Increasing our taxes for improvements is unnecessary when the city admits that the sales tax and other taxes are already showing a surplus. (4) Stop hitting us with fee increases and actually improve water service for the same price. (5) Let other trash services submit a proposal to the city. Try one of the plans and see if it doesn't reduce costs. (6) Stop charging people twice for the same service, like water fees for bringing water to your house and sewer fees for taking it away.

Sales tax, hotel tax, restaurant tax, water tax, sewer tax, trash tax, property tax, payroll tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax and all the others too numerous to mention -- our ancestors revolted against England because of a tax of less than 10 percent. We now pay in excess of 33 percent in taxes, and the government (including our city government) wants more. Let us stop the train before we are ground beneath the wheels. Vote no on the transportation sales tax Tuesday. No more taxes.

MARK K. SLINKARD

Cape Girardeau

Editor's note: Just to make sure there is no confusion, the Lexington and Sprigg street-construction projects are separate from the sales-tax plan. They are being funded other ways. As for maintaining streets, that is what the sales tax is for. While revenue from existing city sales taxes is growing at a healthy rate, there are no surpluses. The growth in sales-tax income helps defray many municipal expenses and also keeps other taxes, including the property tax, down. Regarding fee increases, the city has adopted a policy that it cannot increase any fee more than 5 percent without a vote of the people. And services for which fees are charged are expected to be self-supporting, which also has the effect of holding down taxes. By charging fees, the city puts the burden of paying for many services on those who use those services. Concerns regarding water and trash services need to be expressed to members of the city council. If such concerns are valid and widespread, the council is likely to give such concerns the attention they deserve.