Do we know enough about our property tax statement?
Have you asked what we can do about special taxing districts or hospital tax line and school tax line and what is fiscal disparity?
Some of these appear on every tax statement and some are very specialized. All of them make up the bottom line which is what we are told is needed and what it costs to live here and they all affect all of us.
So where to begin? I’ve been very slowly educated on one called “Fiscal Disparity” and my education is ongoing – far from complete. I bring it to your attention because it is an $800,000 expense/ tax that is imposed on a specific segment of our county that does not stay in Cook County but is supposed to “bring us benefit.” The money goes to St. Louis County.
Your cost to buy groceries, recreate, get an appliance or have your lawn mower fixed are all influenced by a tax burden that a portion of our county pays directly and turns around to you in the form of the cost to do business – overhead.
Perhaps we should ask more about a tax that has dubious benefit. I’d like to see an article published with the details for all of us to analyze.
After all, $800,000 is not chump change.
Arvis Thompson
Grand Marais
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