Speak Out: I Just Don’t Understand

Dear Speak Out,

I just don’t understand the new math used in calculating the 1/2 percent increase in tax levy that is proposed according to the article in this week’s paper.

According to this article on page one, this tax that is proposed will only cost each household $40 per year to bring in $550,000 dollars for a full time prosecutor, an increase in manpower for the sheriff’s department and money to operate the new jail.

I checked to see how many households are in Ripley County. There are only about 5,000 households in Ripley County which means we need 8,750 more households to only pay $40 per household.

Somebody needs to check their math. Check it out for yourselves. This is just another way to get more of the money from honest, law-abiding citizens. Who shouldn’t have to pay because others break the law.

Find some other way to raise money for the criminals to have a new jail to sleep in without raising my taxes.

*Editor’s note: Individual (property) taxes will not be raised. There will be a one-half of one percent sales tax on goods purchased within the county. There will be deep cuts to the law enforcement budget - no local prosecutor and fewer deputies means less effective law enforcement.