I will support reinstating the 1% sales tax and creating a local telephone exchange (otherwise known as the “broadband initiative”) for Cook County with my vote this November. You should too. Not because people who write letters in the paper want you to. Because this revenue for our economy will directly benefit you.
The “1%” effort has been marketed by claiming it will bring “up to” $20 million into our county. By voting yes, we have the potential to bring many times that amount of revenue to our community. The broadband initiative alone, if it works out, is a $53 million project.
I know, many of those dollars will go to outside contractors that are brought in to lay fiber optic cable. Still, you can’t have a $53 million project going on around you and not net a large portion of those dollars through various means. The residents of Cook County will benefit from this. Plus, this project will actually make money, which will create dividends for our community in the future. (It will also make our community more attractive to potential new residents and businesses and how much benefit could that provide?)
Of course there are more direct benefits. A broadband infrastructure isn’t just about high-speed access for your computer. Have you ever thought of getting more options from your telephone provider? Does getting more options at a cheaper rate on your television interest you? Does paying your bills to a local provider who will, in turn, pay into our local tax base interest you? Bundling television, phone and internet service bills into one package will result in cheaper rates to the consumer.
Cheaper TV, faster internet, clear phone with more options, all for less money.
The Local Telephone Exchange will not happen without the 1% sales tax passing in November. Both ballot items need your YES vote. People keep trying to convince you of the many good reasons to vote yes. Thefact is you may only need one reason … for yourself.
Eric Kemp
Colvill
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