In response to the article “Commissioners approve 19.9 percent preliminary tax levy” in your Sept. 23 issue, I feel compelled to crawl out from under my rock and make an observation regarding a glaring omission in the levy options presented to the board by the county administrator, albeit at the board’s lack of request for this option.
Omitted is Option D, which could reduce the levy by eliminating many of the “feel good” handouts this commission makes to an ever-growing list of non-essential services and organizations in this county. Most of which ought to support themselves by time honored methods of private funding, such as donations, fund raising events, etc. Taxpayer support of the Superior National golf club and the YMCA health club are two glaring examples of organizations which should support themselves by membership fees, etc., or fade away. The disturbing fact that the commissioners are spending a substantial sum employing an “administrator” to do the job they were elected to do is pathetic. They should “fish or cut bait” as the saying goes.
The taxpayer deserves, and should pay for basic essential services only, such as law enforcement, a court system, a highway department, a public library, a decent educational system, and utility infrastructure. In my humble opinion, that’s about it. Anything beyond that should be supported and funded by the users/ members only.
A concerned citizen,
John Ottis
Grand Marais
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