It is easy for me to see why
many would like to mix the term fees and taxes. If government would constrain
themselves to those essential public services which we collectively we all need
and can acquire for less cost than if they were purchased in the open market.
These items should be funded by property taxes since property is the
beneficiary. Those items which are fluff, or nice but not essential,
should be paid for with fees collected from those who receive value and use the
service and should pay for it. (Fees)
The idea that government
should supply every service and fill every need for every whim that someone
thinks is important is foolish. Those who believe in always wanting to
expand the roll of government reject what has made this country great.
The opportunity for people to achieve more as a reward for their labor is
fundamental to the success of our country producing leaders in innovation and
technology. If government is to provide all paid by a tax on all then can we
expect our work week to expand to 60 or 80 hours per weeks or will we follow a
European failing model which devalues work and is why they are becoming
irrelevant in the world.
Keep property taxes for
Police, Fire, Sewer and Water, Streets and let the fluff be fees. I know
of no person who wanted to really participate in something that didn't have the
opportunity to do so by working for it. When we start spending public
funds for the likes of Blue Herons then we must think property taxes are too
low and that LGA is to high!
Paul Double
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
Of Kelly Herold
Sent: Wednesday,
October 18, 2006 7:53 AM
To: LindaF; E Democracy
Subject: Re: [Winona] Property
Taxes Over Last Four Years: Star Tribune Article
Cost of living and inflation eat up
many of our taxes – but to be honest the tax breaks given to the top 1%
of our citizenship is the price we all pay.
In Minnesota alone around 25,000 folks making
300,000 or more have realized an overall tax decrease while those in the
shrinking middle class have seen a tax increase.
The fee based initiatives also shift much of the tax burden to the middle
class.
When CEO are retiring with 100+ million packages and other compensation
sweatheart deals the middle class continues to work itself to death.
Some would argue that the super rich create jobs and I agree. But the
overall job creation, are over the past decade, undeniably moving towards less
paying, low benefit service jobs. The productivity realize by industry
can be attributed to mainly two things – increased hours of current
workers and shipping jobs overseas.
As a result – the shared cost of sky rocketing health care, inflated
housing, and unfair tax burden continues to
erode the back bone of America, Minnesota and small
communities like Winona.
Kelly
On 10/18/06 6:47 AM, "LindaF"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
[Winona Online
Democracy]
While I don't doubt your numbers are correct I don't think
you are comparing apples to apples.
My daughter and son in law live in Onalaska. I am going to look at her
tax statement the next time I am at her house. I believe they are
paying higher taxes in Wisconsin because
more is taken out of that fund for various projects than in Minnesota.
Linda Fort
[Winona Online Democracy]
While I know that residential
property taxes have gone up, especially last year with the school
referendum, please keep in mind that homestead property taxes in
Minnesota are less than half on a comparably valued home in LaCrosse. I
checked the LaCrosse County web site this morning and a house valued at $183,000 had
taxes of $4,700. A house in Winona at that value carried a 2006 property tax of just less than
$2,000.
My point--While the increases
sure seem to be a bad trend, it could always be worse.
Stephen Hacken
Winona County Assessor
-----
_______________________________________________
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
