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Letter to the editor

Wrong message


To the Editor:

When I read Rocky Hett's letter to the editor about the landfill being established in Harper County, I realized there are local governments that believe in the private sector, as opposed to some who think the local government is the means to strengthen the community.

Where are we headed in Marion County? A big headline in the paper recently announced a large increase in the county mill levy. At the same time, we are hearing that county commissioners (and Marion City Commission) are in the process of expanding the bureaucracy by hiring an economic development director complete with a large salary, benefits, and all that goes with it.

What is a company going to think when they read such headlines: increased mill levy, increased taxes for local government.

Sure, we're going to give them incentives, but in 10 years we're going to sock it to them!

Is that encouraging free enterprise, economic development? Are the local businesses and property owners going to carry the burden so we can give a tax break to businesses that come in here?

What is the county going to do next year? Slap another tax on? How many people or industries are going to come to our county if all they see is that we raise taxes? What kind of incentive is that? That's double-talk. It's obvious the goal is to build a bigger tax base for the benefit of the local government, not the private sector.

Jerry Plett

Lincolnville

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