I would agree that there need to be some tough questions asked. I for one would like to know, why we are paying high property taxes for little service, without added fees, and yet we seem to give away the store to for profit private corporations to allow them to expand their businesses and turn a nice profit.
Making a profit from the property you own should be the measure of what taxes you should pay. The property tax system is antiquated and needs an overhaul. It was set up in the days of an agrarian society when people farmed or had businesses on their property as well as their residence. If you make a living off of your land it makes sense that your tax base would be calculated based on that issue. If you just live on your property and gain no income from your property it seems interesting that you would pay high taxes and give the private corporation a free or reduced ride, when they are actually making money on the land they own. It also seems to me that the segment of society that will benefit the most from a well educated public would be the corporate sector. As education costs rise and the state continues to take money away, wouldn't it make sense to have corporations taxed in some way to educate their future work force? Anyone else? Pam Ellison Como Neighborhood Saint Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 9:12 AM Subject: [StPaul] question about subsidies All city residents should ask some hard questions of their mayor and councilmember in regards to development in St. Paul. Should public money be spent to demolish Hillcrest? Should subsidies be given to Target for a downtown store? What is going on at Lexington & University? It is time to weigh the benefit for the community and put some teeth into a Living Wage Ordinance. Bernie Hesse Midway resident ------------------------------------------------- JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- POST MESSAGES HERE: [email protected] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY: http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/ ------------------------------------------------- POST MESSAGES HERE: [email protected] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
