Thecity/county venture in the EDA is a good reason to vote no on the 1% sales tax referendum. “Build it and they will come”—we did that at the airport too. They didn’t come and we’re still paying.
The failed EDA is bankrupt with a bond due. Their one-business, abandoned business park is guaranteed a loss of tax dollars. Lutsen golf continually needs money and amounts are predicted to rise. Low-income housing was a joke. In the last two years two councilors and two commissioners have served on the EDA. Four of nine, bad odds!
The city’s skinny streets with no sidewalks for school kids went over so well they were scared to implement calendar parking. Parts of Second Avenue West were impassable to ambulance or fire vehicles last winter—a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Before skinny streets was the Grand Marais Rec. Park bathhouse. Bid at $180,000, the final bill pushed $500,000. Taxpayers paid because numbers mean nothing. They sell you this; you pay for that.
Many county residents have non-taxpayer paid jobs. Work’s slow, people are laid off, unemployment used up. Times are tough.
Over 450,000 Minnesotans are living below poverty level and some are our neighbors. Seniors and children in our community go without. We put millions into infrastructure to include lowincome homes, but we choose not to fund the homes and walk away. Instead we choose to vote on a historic spending bill.
While some can pass the new tax on, seniors on an income of $500 a month can’t.
City, county and school budgets equal more taxes. EDA equals more taxes. City taxpayers are paying more taxes for skinny streets. Future projects like a multi-maintenance garage and new city hall equal more taxes.
I fear we will tax the needy and elderly out of our community. Councilor Sivertson says we should “treat ourselves with Yes.” The needy can’t “treat themselves” when times are tough, obviously the councilor can.
A no vote is “no to poverty.” Please help your neighbor and donate to the Food Shelf.
Tod Sylvester
Grand Marais
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