Can we trust city to let tax expire?

I'm voting against the one cent local-option sales tax extension because the “option” lasts for 20 years. The merits of facts that might induce me to vote for this measure are transitory and will most likely evaporate before five years expire, let alone 20.

Nor will I feel like a heartless puppy-kicker for voting against “flood relief,” because I know from experience that anything worth doing immediately has a nearly infinite supply of tricks in the guvmint grab bag to fund it. The U.S. government can afford to throw billions of dollars down the ratholes of three concurrent wars. Obviously, we can find a way to pay for Mayor Ron Corbett's pet projects. When it comes to flood control, we should - but please, let's pass an honest levy for that singular purpose.

With one exception (in Kansas City), I have never witnessed an open-ended sales tax expire and vanish, nor do I expect to see that now.

David C. Oshel

Cedar Rapids