City needs more than neighbor tax can give

Was the one-time “help your neighbor” 1 percent local-option sales tax a Trojan horse? We aren't even halfway through the life of the original tax and voters are being asked to extend it by 20 additional years. There is nothing wrong with letting the tax run its five-year life, have an accounting of the spending and explore plans for a new local tax. Perhaps a payroll tax for Cedar Rapids is the best alternative at this time.

The original sales tax wasn't enough; it has been spent outside the scope of the “help your neighbor” concept, on agendas not made public before the first vote. The 20-year extension also will fall short. Once passed, can we look for the call to vote an increase to the tax rate from shortfall 1 percent to 2, 3, perhaps 4 percent? One percent just won't be enough for the greater plans already laid to spend your money.

Local municipalities have committed to spend funds beyond their local tax base; an extension of the present local-option sales tax is a bailout. As the rhetoric and voters tempers heat up, ICED-TEA (Iowans Conserving Expenditures Democratically - Taxed Enough Already) should be served up by voters at the polls in May. If this local tax and spend is not controlled, you may end up suffering wallet fatigue.

Bert and Jean Graham

Marion