Nothing fair about LOST

The Gazette Editorial Board's April 10 editorial, “Sales tax vote defines future,” characterized the City Council's planned extension of the 20-year local-option sales tax as “the least painful option [that] spreads the cost more fairly … .”

The Gazette's claim of fairness is egregiously wrong. In fact, the LOST is a regressive tax that falls disproportionately on the poor, the elderly and others on a fixed income, as they are forced to pay a larger percentage of their incomes to the tax. There is absolutely nothing “fair” or “less painful” about it.

Come on, Cedar Rapids! Do we really want to put the burden of paying for flood recovery on the backs of those who can least afford it? I hope we're better than that. Vote no on May 3 to send this mayor and council back to the drawing board.

Kayt Conrad

Cedar Rapids