The recent election points out we are a community almost equally divided. The Truth in Taxation meeting accented the differences. According to the News-Herald, most citizens in attendance were against the raise in property taxes voicing many comments, including lifelong citizens, being senior citizens, claiming they are getting taxed out of here. Then there was Jim Boyd who announced he pays $1,500, claimed he should pay double, and in Wisconsin he would pay $4,000. Does this include businesses?
Mr. Boyd is currently the executive director of the Cook County Chamber of Commerce. While Mr. Boyd suggests we should all pay double and higher, this year the Chamber lobbied the State of Minnesota to reclass numerous area businesses to severely drop their property taxes, making citizens pay more. Perhaps just most of us should pay double?
Living here, Mr. Boyd has also been employed at Higher Ed. Addressing elected officials on behalf of Higher Ed, Mr. Boyd informed the community that rent vs. wages in Cook County is higher than state and national averages and that is unsustainable. He informed us that our direction as a community, putting all of our eggs into one basket, being tourism, is unsustainable. It would seem the Chamber did not like Mr. Boyd’s eloquent speeches. With a new title and salary, Mr. Boyd sings a much different song, including higher taxes, equaling higher rent and higher local prices!
Mr. Boyd appears to be an eloquent speaker for the highest payer, not a concerned and caring citizen. If Mr. Boyd will move to Wisconsin, this would open up a job for someone who needs one, who doesn’t want to force citizens out of their homes through higher taxes, while advocating tax breaks for the wealthy, in the name of the Cook County Chamber of Commerce, a nonprofit that represents only its members, not the citizens of Cook County.
As a community, we can continue to allow our elected officials to follow Jim Boyd and the Chamber, or demand they represent the majority of the people, whom I doubt support Mr. Boyd’s proposed 166 percent rise in property taxes, which I believe is where we are headed following nonprofits.
Tod Sylvester
Grand Marais
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