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Readers write
Dear Editor:
Do not be duked by the Aurora sales tax vote in May. I would like for all Hamilton County residents to know that this vote to add a 1.5 percent sales tax to all items from electricity, gas, sewer and sanitation, cell phones, landlines, restaurants, vehicles (no matter where purchased), furniture, household goods, hardware/construction items, and online purchases (except food and Rx) will be taxed!
This resolution of 24-05 is NOT reducing our property tax but is a direct addition of 1.5 percent tax on ourselves. The wool is getting heavy over the citizens of Aurora eyes if you think this is going to be a “tax shift” from property tax reduction. As you read the resolution it does not state that there will be any correlation to reducing your property tax. It will raise the tax base with no specific expenditure in mind and NO end date.
This tax is projected to raise $1.3 million annually for the city. The fact that it estimates “outsiders” will contribute 20 percent of the $1.3 million but what about the 80 percent or more that you and I will contribute to this $1.3 million every year. If we vote this added tax upon ourselves, we are adding this tax into our budgets and those that are on fixed incomes and low incomes to be the ones on the short end of the stick. Did not the budgets balance out this year, so why the tax? If it smells fishy, looks fishy, and tastes fishy…..it must be.
Vote NO on May 14 to the Resolution 24-05 sales tax and lid increase.
Phil Esslinger,
Aurora
