[Winona Online Democracy] I agree that the City and the media need to be clear on what this increase will mean in dollars to the citizens. I would be bothered by government sneaking in a tax or fee without full disclosure and public input. If this energy fee is what it seems to be, I am not surprised the Mayor wasn't too upset with the State LGA cuts. Not all levels of government have such access to added fees and sales taxes. There is an aspect of this that is too much like property taxes in that it can hit those least able to pay. Electricity and natural gas are necessities. They are consumed, in part, to produce heat for the home. An older home is more likely to take more energy to heat. An older home, without energy saving upgrades, is more likely to be lived in by low income and fixed income individuals and families. That makes them forced to pay a fee at a higher rate than others more able to pay. I wish there was a way for local government in Minnesota to have a local income tax or for these new kind of fees to have a provision for a reduction applied to low income persons. Given what the Legislature and the Governor just did to low income citizens, this energy tax increase will just hit them more. It will expand on the momentum to take away from the poor to benefit the rich. Craig Brooks
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