TAXES: No end in sight, taxpayers
The Press on Wednesday wrote, "Coeur d'Alene officials consider resort tax or local option sales tax." It goes on to say, "Either or, the Lake City is on board."
Wait a minute, just what is being referred to when it says, "...the Lake City is on board." Why not just say, "They want to raise taxes." The Coeur d'Alene chamber hasn't given its nod of approval yet, but the Post Falls chamber supports both.
The article goes on the say, "The city of Coeur d'Alene is supporting a pair of possible law changes that would give cities the authority to collect additional taxes." The operative words here folks, is "additional taxes." Then they make this claim, "But before calling the support a flat out tax increase, officials said either avenue could reduce the tax burden for locals." The operative word here is, "could" not "will" but "could" translation, "Bull C***!"
Folks, whether you get to vote on this or not; when is enough, enough? Two things come to mind; this is plain and simple just a way to tax us more. What I find interesting about the way it's being presented, is in a very subtle way this is another form of wealth redistribution and class warfare.
Think about it, once again it's businesses they want to tax, hotels, motels and tourist type attractions while those who have the money to be a tourist and those resorts, restaurants etc., will have to pay more and all of us locals, "could" have our tax burdens lifted some. Right! Do you really believe those businesses that are burdened with the new tax will pass it on to the tourists who keep them in business? Or would they more than likely pay the tax themselves and pass the cost on to local vendors they use and those local vendors in turn pass it on to us?
Most of our city council members are business people; they have to know this is how it goes. Are they going to tell you this could happen if they put it up for a vote? No! I would hope the tax idea is well intended but our local, state and Federal governments "well intentions" are slowly pushing us over a cliff that may have no return path.
My house payment went up because my homeowner's insurance went up, the same with my car insurance and health insurance; I haven't used any of those insurances but others have so businesses pass the costs on to me and you. My Internet service I use to pay bills went up, my TV went up, my trash, water, sewer, power all have gone up. So what does someone like me who lives on SS do? I cut something like accidental death insurance, food items that I like but don't need, drive my car less, whatever I can. All these businesses and government agencies who keep on raising prices and taxes remind me of when I was in Bible college all the professors seemed to hand out homework (taxes) as if they were the only professor (agency) in the college, (country) doing it. At the end of the day, many never made it; they flunked out, (bankruptcy).
When I was in management and someone came to me asking for a raise because they were in deep debt, I felt like saying, so am I; will you take a pay cut so I can continue my frivolous lifestyle? So I suggest to our government agencies, manage within the means we've given you. And I suggest to the taxpaying voter, insist that they do it in the same manner we have to. But be prepared for manipulative scare tactics when they say they will have to cut police and fire protection. How about holding off on things the city wants but doesn't need.
JERRY MARTIN
Post Falls