Only a penny? It adds up fast

After reading the Oct. 22 Gazette article “Where's the line on tax breaks?”, I believe Scott Olson is on the right track. If city leaders keep handing out tax breaks like candy at Halloween to anyone who wants to invest in Cedar Rapids, all the residents will have to get extra jobs just to pay for the taxes the city has given away.

And the city wants us to extend the penny sales tax so they can “fix the streets” (I thought that's what our property taxes were supposed to be used for).

Maybe the city would have the money to fix the streets if we didn't keep giving tax breaks to anyone or upgrading a city-owned hotel. I know the mantra is “It's only a penny.” Well “only a penny” adds up along with franchise fees (another issue).

Mike Welsh

Cedar Rapids