Consolidation needed to save money

Sunday's Gazette Opinion section had three articles about more funds for flood recovery, schools and roads. With more than 40 cents of every dollar now going for taxes, isn't time to look at large government consolidation? Iowa needs to consolidate counties and school districts. Counties over 100,000 population need to be under one level of road, fire and law enforcement, run by the county supervisors.

Savings on a large scale must be found. The current level of government comes to us by 19th century needs, which have been out of date for over a half century. Governments have been able to get by because of a growing tax base, but that is now in question, not just in the current slow economic growth but in the long run because of several factors.

Tom Kincheloe

Cedar Rapids