Cook County News Herald

1 percent tax: A referendum against the poor




In a sales pitch for the proposed community center, Commissioner Fritz Sobanja told seniors he would donate $1,000 to start a fund for the low-income, including seniors and children, who probably will not afford the projected high user fees of the proposed facility that has a price tag of $11 million.

The EDA would like 3.3 million 1 percent tax dollars but will settle for $2.2 million for their golf course most of us can’t afford to use.

Arrowhead Electric is earmarked to receive $4 million for high-speed broadband, a luxury many low-income will not afford to hook up.

That’s the better part of $17.2 million in projects the lowincome probably will not afford to use, but through operating costs, could hurt them financially in a community where it is well documented that the cost of rent vs. wages is much higher than state or national averages, putting financial strain on our low-income population, including our elderly and children.

It’s certainly clear who our elected officials are not representing!

Tod Sylvester
Grand Marais



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