One of the key benefits of the 1% sales tax will be the opportunity to decide for ourselves how to improve and strengthen our way of life. But it won’t be easy. I am hearing a lot of fear and mistrust of our elected officials to responsibly carry out the plan that has been created by them and the many citizens of Cook County who have worked long and hard on their individual project plans.
This is very disturbing to me, but I accept this. This is who we are: strong, independent, passionate and smart individuals (above average?). My fear is that we will let this independent willfulness get in the way of this powerful opportunity.
Our state legislators have warned us that this local sales tax opportunity will be our last chance. The state wants to control this power so that they can raise the state sales tax, keeping the control out of the hands of small communities like ours. We have only been without a local sales tax for a little over a year. We built our fine hospital with a local sales tax. In fact we paid off the bonds early, an amazing story of local control and responsibility.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to show up on behalf of families, our friends, neighbors and ourselves to strengthen our way of life. We need to vote YES for US.
Yes, once the referendum is passed there will be lots of hard work to do to make this dream (a somewhat complicated one) a reality. We can do this. We have done it before. Cook County is a very special place with extraordinary assets. Vote yes for this extraordinary opportunity to keep it that way.
Jan Sivertson
Grand Marais
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