To the Editor:
I guess we are supposed to be happy the Johnson County Council approved an increase in the county income tax structure in lieu of a wheel tax to pay for new road work. All this is happening at the beginning of a recession with costs skyrocketing and supplies limited. However, it does appear the wheel tax would have had less impact on one’s income over a yearly basis according to the numbers in the Journal. But that would mean not as much revenue for the county, so they went with the maximum tax. Remember they did say a wheel tax increase is not off the table so we may get double tax increases.
I am not against the road work needed in the county. My concern is the council has failed to do anything over the past years to address the problem. Additionally, they have failed to take any action to budget more accordingly or look at other means of allocating money. Maybe even look at the reserve funds sitting in the county coffers. Instead, their only answer is to just raise taxes. That is the council’s message every time there is a budget issue. Has anyone on there ever thought of something different?
While it was reported no one attended the council meeting to object to the increase, plenty have expressed their views to the council members directly. Seemingly, those voices have been ignored. Thank you to Melinda Griesemer, the one council member who had a little common sense and voted against the increase. I’m sure your voice was ignored equally by the other members of the council.
Bob Lynn
Greenwood
