COUNTY: Consider sales tax

Looks like property owners are getting ready to get the shaft — again! We are being told county growth and more demand for services is one of the reasons for the tax hike. If the building of homes and lack of real estate “inventory” is as widespread as we are told, there should be a significant amount of new property owners to pay property taxes. Why wouldn’t new homeowners’ property taxes pay for more services?

Why are property owners the only ones responsible for funding our county government? There are many who live in Kootenai County who don’t own property. How are they taxed to support the services that most of them benefit from? Answer — they aren’t!

Solution — COUNTY WIDE SALES TAX ON GOODS PURCHASED. Everyone who buys anything contributes and property owners won’t be over-burdened with extra taxes. Many property owners are retired and on fixed incomes. They shouldn’t be penalized! Considering the influx of new residents, shoppers from out of the country and out of the county, the percentage for the sales tax should be quite small. This should generate enough funds that property taxes wouldn’t have to increase.

In The Press article Aug. 29, “Eberlein said $750,000 is planned in the budget to find answers on salary questions.” Please correct me — but it sounds as if there is a budget item for three quarters of a MILLION dollars for someone to find answers to salary questions! This must be a misprint.

We are supposed to be happy with a 1.5 percent hike instead of the allowable 3 percent. Just because it’s allowed under state law doesn’t make it right. County sales tax could be the answer.

LAGONDA McDONALD

Coeur d’Alene