Citizens weigh in on 1 percent tax
The following are letters to the editor about the upcoming election for a 1 percent local option sales tax. Murray and rural Clarke County will vote on the measure Nov. 3.
The Osceola Sentinel-Tribune will not print any letters to the editor about the tax the week before the election, but they will appear online. This is an effort to allow everyone to weigh in on the issue and respond to previous letters.
THE NEED FOR MORE WATER
Two water needs assessments have indicated that there is a need for an additional source of water in Clarke County to insure that there is adequate water to preclude any need for rationing during drought conditions. Prudent and feasible alternative studies have indicated that a new reservoir is both prudent and feasible.
I firmly believe that the Clarke County Reservoir will become a reality, over time. In a perfect world, all land owners would be willing sellers, but then we don't live in a perfect world, do we?
Do we sacrifice value and benefit for all citizens of Clarke County because of those disgruntled land owners, even though we empathize with them? I think not.
Should the city of Murray and rural Clarke County choose to vote "no" on the Nov. 3 special ballot, they will be voting against using the 1 percent tax BUT the lake will be built and I hope that all areas of the county will support the costs of the lake through the 1 percent sales tax.
Harold "Junior" Allen, 1104 Liberty Highway, New Virginia, Iowa
COUNCIL MEMBER WANTS CITIZENS TO BE INFORMED
As a council member of the city of Murray, I am concerned the citizens of Murray be well informed as to what the 1 percent sales tax issue they are voting on Nov. 3 means to them. We are not voting on the pros or cons of a lake project, but rather how the citizens of Murray will pay their 4.2 perent of the total cost based on the per capita of Clarke County.
Let's go back to 2002 when this started. Murray entered into a 28E agreement with other entities in Clarke County to look into a lake project. At that time, the people of Murray saw the benefits of purchasing water through SIRWA. Through the 28E agreement, they committed at the time to fund the city's share of 4.2 percent to build a lake for the future of Clarke County. That agreement is still in place today. The upcoming issue of the 1 percent sales tax option is one way to fund that 4.2 percent share.
A "yes" vote means we will collect a 1 percent sales tax on taxable items sold in Murray, which ends up being a very minimal amount since we have a small number of businesses in Murray.
A "no" vote will mean Murray will more than likely have to pay its share through property taxes. Murray will be looking at owing $1 to $2 million plus interest for several years.
I respect your thoughts either way concerning the lake project, but simply feel it is my duty as a council member to inform the citizens of Murray how voting on the 1 percent sales option on Nov.3 will affect them whichever way they choose to vote.
Dean Robins, Murray council member
CITIZEN CALLS FOR RESIDENTS TO VOTE NO IN ELECTION
Well folks, it's that time of year again. There has been a little frost on the pumpkin and the combines are humming through the corn and bean fields. The trees are putting on their fall show of rainbow colors and the birds are gathering for their annual southern migration.
Oh, and it's already time once again to vote on taxing you for the recreational Lake Boondoogle.
Certainly it is comforting to know, that just like the changing of the seasons, your government's insatiable desire for your hard earned dollar remains consistently reliable.
This will be vote number three on collecting a 1 percent local option sales tax to construct and maintain (see forever) a new recreational lake/water reservoir. The first election was county wide and the referendum passed in Osceola and Woodburn, but failed in Murray and the rural areas.
The second election was necessary to amend the working do the first referendum to include acquisition of private property (see taking). Only citizens of Osceola and Woodburn were eligible to vote in that second election. Now it's time to see if they can get you stubborn Murray residents and us pig headed rural bumpkins to step up and do our civic duty and contribute our 1 percent to their cause, hence vote number three.
Maybe a 1 percent sales tax sounds like chump change to you, but those pennies add up. As it stands the tax currently generates close to $1 million annually. You might think, due to the limited businesses, that Murray and the rural area wouldn't constitute much additional sales tax. Well let's see, do you have a cell phone, a home phone, use electricity or rural water? If so, the additional 1 percent sales tax will be added to you monthly bill. In fact, if passed, the extra ax can be legally collected on most all goods and services that are delivered directly to your doorstep.
The 1 percent tax has been collected for nearly two years in Osceola and Woodburn. To date literally hundreds of thousands of dollars have been paid out to lawyers, accountants, insurance companies, engineers, and the federal government with negligible positive achievement.
We can confirm that they still don't know where or when the lake will be constructed, what size it will be, or how much the project will ultimately cost (latest estimate well over $40 million). Heck, at this point, we can't even say they have confirmed that a new lake is the way to proceed. But hey, that's okay, don't worry about the details in the fine print, step right up, sign on the dotted line and kick in your fair share. I think that we can all rest assured, as history has already shown, that they will find some way to get the money spent.
If you are a resident of Murray or the rural area of Clarke County, I urge you not to miss this election on Nov. 3. On second thought, I would encourage you not the wait for Election Day, but instead go to the County Auditor's office today and vote by absentee ballot. SIRWA has dubbed you the silent majority, well here's your opportunity to turn up the volume.
Michael Patterson, 2091 Page St., Osceola, IA 50213
