Enforce speed limit, raise sales tax-
November 4, 2007

  Editor:

Two quick thoughts on the tax debate.

1. Enforce the speed limit on Highway 95. The revenue from all those speeding tickets should add up nicely.

2. Raise the sales tax. Let everyone that lives or visits here share the expense. After all the police and fire department are not here only to serve property owners.

Charles Cole
Bullhead City

Tax Revolt commentary – A sales tax increase should be a last resort only after the necessary efficiency improvements and belt tightening have been instituted. Remember Bullhead City does not collect a property tax but derives the bulk of its revenue from a 2% sales tax. A sales tax is highly visible and as such it is difficult to hide such increases from public scrutiny. But the point must be cut expenditures while providing the level of service the taxpayers are willing to pay for. At least with a sales tax the consumer can make decisions on which item to buy if including the tax it was out of his budget, not so with property taxes that can under the present system increase dramatically from year to year just because your neighbor got a great price for his home. It is no joke when people are taxed out of their homes. The record foreclosures are in part due to the tax increases. If sales taxes get too high the public will shift to out of state internet purchases which can not be taxed. There is a delicate balance between increased sales taxes and a loss of local sales which hurts business. Remember after passage of the Tax Revolt measures we taxpayers will be able to increase or decrease the amount of property tax collected by each taxing entity. With the people having the last word over the levies our public servants will once again serve “we the people” not special interests and the demands of a growing bureaucracy.