TAXES: Raises at homeowners' expense
I have a few things to say, and some are embarrassing, but this is how life is for many now so I must speak up. After getting home from the Post Falls food bank, with my very few supplies but, which I am grateful for, along with the wonderful people running the place I see the Post Falls Press headline "Property taxes on the rise."
As a Post Falls homeowner, I was going to attend the City Council meeting to protest, but I know by now from Big ol' White House government all the way down to small town City Council, they do what THEY want. Just look at the opposition from Coeur d'Alene against changing McEuen Field. They didn't care one bit, so I knew it wouldn't matter what I said to change their minds. So hear me now.
I am only 44 and became disabled (not by choice mind you) at the age of 32. So I now live on a whopping $889 a month. Last year after not receiving a COLA from Social Security for the second year in a row, I had to apply for food stamps for the first time. It must be a secret from them, but my electric, water, garbage, car gas and food ALL went up. Now even my property taxes have.
Something had to give, and it was food, hence the food stamps and food bank. I won't be getting a COLA next year either I'm sure, since heck all of our checks and the military checks were held for ransom by the government. Can you imagine your paycheck being TAKEN from you because your boss wanted something and wouldn't give it to you until he got it?
I don't mind paying taxes to maintain roads, safety, etc... but how dare everyone get a raise during a time like this. Who cares that they haven't had one for two years. Be grateful you have a job! Not only a job, but one with benefits to boot! My daughter has had to work 12 days in a row to try and get 40 hours a week, and with NO benefits.
Make those with such extensive training have to be vested, so it pays off in the long run. They want big city pay, living in a nice little community? Well you can't have it both ways. Oops, I guess you can here in Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene and even Rathdrum. Hooray to you Hayden!
So to all of you with your new raises, while the rest of us struggle to get by, find/keep jobs, not lose homes to foreclosure, use food banks/stamps, buy school supplies, why don't you all pitch in and donate to the food banks and give school supplies for the kids?
Raises at the expense of us homeowners. Ridiculous.
BRANDI BYE
Post Falls