[Winona Online Democracy] Thumbs up for the Council being kind enough to let us vote on a proposed 15 year 1/2% added local sales tax plus a vehicle surcharge!
Thumbs down for proposing the new taxes that at best will show why Wal-Mart was important in the "master's" plan. Their revenue projections, according to the radio, are based on data that is two years old. It has so many projects thrown into the proposal on how to spend it they are now looking for more ideas. The council wants something for everyone so that it will please us or at least enough of us to give them another slush fund to dole out the money. Is the real plan to throw another tax issue on the next election cycle so that any proposal by the public schools will be shot down? Will be the city's intent to sweeten the number and type of projects so that it will pass and allow Winona to not only take money from all township residents but now we get to tap the Wisconsin residents as well. Will the city propose a toll bridge next that way Wisconsin employees and shoppers can also add to the city treasury? When will city government understand that if the investments into a community can not be drawn from the private sector the reason just may be they are bad ideas or serve special interest groups. If they were good ideas private investors would welcome the opportunity to be in on the ground floor. The so called success of Dubuque, IA was explained in an article last week. It is called casino gambling. The tourist attractions were money losers until the casino was brought to town. If public investments are to be made who will audit the books to insure that the jobs created, are not part time or at minimum wage, and meet the criteria for public investment? Without a checker of the statute required targeted expected results the process becomes a shell game and 25 million buys a lot of silence from those who want to tap the till for their pet projects! Paul Double _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
