Sales-tax plan hurts poor the most

To the editor:

At the Cape Girardeau City Council meeting Wednesday, we heard a convincing plea by our county sheriff for increased funding for his deputies. These law enforcement officers provide many vital services to both city and county residents. To provide for the support of these services, we need more tax revenue. We also heard a proposal by the county commission, presented by Commissioner Jay Purcell, for a scheme to increase revenue. This involves a rollback in the property taxes assigned to county roads, and it includes a one-half percent increase in sales taxes throughout the county. Mr. Purcell maintained that this would add no additional burden to the average taxpayer, whose savings on property taxes would offset the costs of additional sales tax.

I write to give voice to those who would most certainly be adversely affected, namely those working poor and college students who do not own any property but still have to pay sales tax on their food and other necessities. Those getting most relief by this scheme are those least needing it, the property owners. This is a great political plan, as property owners are more likely to vote than the poor and students. But it is also what is known as a regressive tax, shifting tax burdens from the wealthy onto the poor. By such politically wise processes as these do we guarantee that the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer.

The Rev. BOB TOWNER, Cape Girardeau