Gomers: What's going wrong

MORE JOBLESS: The Cedar Rapids metro area's unemployment rate in January hit 7.3 percent, the first time in at least 20 years that it's been worse than 7 percent. The number of unemployed grew by 1,200 from the previous month. The Corridor's south end also worsened, as the jobless rate climbed from 4.6 percent to 5.1 percent in Iowa City. The job losses in January were primarily in local government, retail trade, transportation and construction. Clearly, post-flood problems and the sputtering national economy are still battering our region. However, Iowa's statewide unemployment rate improved slightly, from 6.6 percent to 6.5 percent - fifth lowest in the nation.

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TAX BURDEN GROWS: Property taxpayers in Cedar Rapids face an increased burden in the coming year. On a home assessed at $150,000, the owner will see a property tax bill increase up to $200 for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The biggest chunk is for the school district, which is proposing an increase up to $1.75 per $1,000 valuation. Linn County has already approved a levy increase of 12 cents per $1,000 valuation. Meanwhile, Alliant Energy is seeking its second residential electrical rate increase in a year, this one for 13.8 percent.