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Friday, December 23, 2005
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OUR OPINION: TAXES-FEES A tax by any other name still costs us
Call them taxes or fees, the effect on the taxpayer's pocketbook is the same. The increased cost of government, at any level, is tough on many people. It's particularly difficult for those folks on a fixed income or whose paychecks don't keep up with the rate of inflation and increased government taxes or fees.
Brainerd City Council member Bob Olson Monday pointed out that hiking fees can hurt citizens just as much as raising taxes. He's absolutely right. Citizens should be mindful that government has a variety of ways to part people from their money - including fee hikes and property tax increases.
"If we have to raise taxes then we have to raise them but we have to bite the bullet," he said. "I don't like fees. It's a back door way of getting money from our citizens."
While specific fees are certainly legitimate ways to fund government programs they often aren't on the radar of the average citizen.
Elected officials take pride in not raising tax rates and we commend them for that. But the increased valuation of homes and businesses, and the subsequent hike in property taxes still take a bite out of family incomes. Perhaps there are more occasions when government should be frugal and actually lower the tax rate so homeowners and renters don't feel the bite of double digit increases in property taxes.
Times are tough for many families and elected officials should make every effort to cut waste and eliminate unnecessary and costly programs.
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