LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: SPREAD BURDEN OF TAXES AROUND

To the editor:

What better seat could Cape Girardeau County have then the beautiful city of Jackson, with its charmingly lush parks, outstanding homes, distinguished churches and uniquely diversified community. It is no great surprise that our school system is growing at an ever-increasing pace to parallel that of the endlessly flourishing district.

Be that as it may, we are faced again with the agonizing decision of whether or not to increase our taxes, bringing about the risk of giving up our homes within this wonderful community, or to vote down this incessant bond issue and perhaps lose a diminutive measure of grandeur within our school system.

The facts remain the same. Our school system needs more money, and our real-estate owners are being taxed out of the community. Why is a large tax assault being placed on a limited group of individuals instead of a slight tax offensive being played amongst the entire district?

Will the raises in pay we receive this year, if we are given one, cover the amount our house payments will rise where this issue to pass? Will it cover the additional sum our rent payments will increase were this issue to pass? Though we are sure that the $90,000-plus salaries along with the 3 percent raises the school administrators have received for the past three years in a row will more than cover their tax increase, we are most certain that ours will not. Will yours?

Some of us cannot afford even the slightest rise in real-estate taxes. Are we going to have to move into another town to be able to afford a home? Will our children be able to afford to live in the town they grew up in while still paying this tax for their children? Is this the goal Jackson is working toward?

We agree that we need more money for our school system. Instead of beating a dead hors with this bond and levy issue four months after we turned it down, let us unite our community and endeavor to devise a better method of raising money for our schools and use that money more productively. A single small group cannot do it alone. We must work as a team to better our schools, our district, our city and our children's future.

TAMMY S. BIRI

P. RENE SMITH

Jackson, Mo.