I was shocked at the number of candidates who thought that we could all afford higher property taxes. One mentioned their mom pays $6,000 elsewhere. Mine lives in Grand Marais off Social Security, approximately $6,000 a year, and pays Medicare out of that.
It’s not just about the rich, it’s the poor and elderly too. That’s the reality a commissioner has to face. These people can’t afford higher taxes. Have you ever seen a senior get caught stealing food, trying to eat? It’s happening in our community and it was a sad sight to witness.
TheISD 166 referendum will also greatly affect these people. In the mid ’70s we had up to 80-plus kids per grade in a much smaller high school. Today there are about half the students. We’ve lost students to charter schools and renters like WTIP and Higher Ed, all mistakes that cost tax dollars.
Theschool board needs to multi-task and seek shared space/ shared cost. Thecounty board and 1 percent sales tax should be in the conversation. Much of the Community Center expansion is youth-based; perhaps part of that project should move to the school.
At the end of the day, between 1 percent sales tax projects and funding the school, property taxes will rise; it’s just a matter of how much. Shared space/shared cost equals lower taxes. Let’s work together to achieve this.
With declining youth population and the number of seniors on the rise, seniors should always be in the conversation. Higher taxes will affect the poor, including many seniors the most.
Tod Sylvester
Grand Marais
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