Running to protect taxpayers, continue oversight of board

The U.S. Census Bureau says one-half of the households in Cedar Rapids make $55,000 or less per year, one-half of the households in Hiawatha make $44,000 or less per year, and one-half of the households in Linn County make $61,000 or less per year.

About 10 to 12 percent of the county's population lives in poverty. About 21 percent of Linn County government's employees reside outside of Linn County. I wonder if we are taxing our residents out of the county.

I am running for Linn County supervisor to protect the taxpayers from big spenders on the Board of Supervisors.

On July 1, 2009, Linn County had no debt. On July 1 this year, the county was $22,585,000 in debt. By next year, we will be over $50 million in debt. Long-term debt increases taxes.

On Sept. 9, the board handed out $233,730 in midyear pay raises to some employees, which was $133,730 more than they budgeted. Then, on Sept. 26, the board decided to spend $569,800 on the O'Brien Building when they only budgeted $290,000. Spending more than budgeted increases taxes.

How will I make a difference? I know that 59 percent of the county's population resides in Cedar Rapids, and 60 percent of the workers living in Linn County work in Cedar Rapids. If elected supervisor, I will oppose any new long-term debt except for flood control or flood protection, and I will work with the city of Cedar Rapids on both.

In an effort to reduce operating costs, I will work with cities and school districts to reduce overlapping services, with my mission to decrease overall out-of-pocket taxes paid.

My focus will be on the day-to-day operations of the county and its organization - not outside boards and groups.

Why should you vote for me? Time and time again, I have proven to be the only fiscal watchdog to question the Board of Supervisors. Unfortunately, I do not have a vote on the board.

If the independent, common-sense people in this county want a voice and a vote on the Board of Supervisors, then they need to elect me, Joel D. Miller, an independent, no party candidate, to the board.

' Joel Miller is a 'no party” candidate for Linn County Supervisor, District 2

All candidate guest columns in the Linn County Supervisor, District 2 race:

' Joel Miller

' Ben Rogers