Next generation shouldn't be burdened with tax

If the local-option sales tax extension is approved, a baby born today will be paying it until he's at least halfway through college, all due to a flood that happened at least two years before he was conceived. Much of the flood recovery cost is attributable to the people living in the 100-year flood plain who didn't take the responsibility to insure their homes against flood. Is it fair to expect the next generation to pay for their neglect?

A large portion of the LOST is earmarked for street repair. That should be figured into the annual city budget as it will never go away, even after 20 years when the local option tax expires.

The City Council sees the citizens of Cedar Rapids (and Linn County) as an unlimited source of income. The Council should learn to live within its income the same as everyone else.

The medical mall should pay for its own parking ramp. The U.S. Cellular Center should have been sold to someone in the hotel and event center business. We don't need an amphitheater until we can afford to build it with available income. If they can find money for those things, they can find it for flood recovery without burdening the next generations.

Carol Horne

Cedar Rapids