Chester White
Jefferson City
Dear Editor
Here we go again. The lights had barely gone dim at our polling place when here comes another group wanting to start yet another tax and take more of our money. Notice how they always come up with a catch phrase such as: Transform Jefferson City, or Level the Playing Field? Now we have Putting Kids First!
The Sunday News Tribune opinion column headline reads “Ill-timed tax increase?” How about “ill-conceived tax increase!” I must presume the Tribune is in favor of the tax proposal since you ran the story front page, in bold print, just days apart.
Then, there was the ad in the classified section of the paper paid for by Mr. Story listing 10 non-profit agencies that according to the Tribune; could (not would) receive funds from this proposed tax. So who decides which agencies or services receive the $2.4 million generated by this “relatively small one?” A nine-member unelected board will tell us where our money is spent. Uh, no thank you! Many of us in Cole County already donate to the United Way and some of the listed agencies. Many of us also volunteer our time and energy with these agencies.
I have a suggestion to the supporters of this new ill-conceived tax initiative: If you think one of more of these non-profit agencies are underfunded, write a check and donate money directly to them. If you really want to put kids first, then volunteer your time and energy and have direct contact with the children and become a role model. CASA, ABLE, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and others are always looking for volunteers. Or how about coaching/funding a youth sports team that doesn’t have one of your relatives on the team?
By the way, it was very cute the way they listed the tax in the referenced ad. “¼ cent sales tax/$4 purchase = 1 cent tax donation to…” Tax donation? Really? Ludicrous. That is the correct word, Mr. Clayton Hill. Absolutely ludicrous!
We think we pay too much in taxes now and we do not need an unelected board to tell us what charities or agencies to support financially or otherwise. We do not and will not support this effort.