Editor: Don't like growth? Vote yes for Penny for Pasco on March 9, part of the money will be used to purchase development rights. No more development for that land.
Want to get some of the money back you're forced to send to the state? Vote yes. When a local option tax is passed, matching funds are available from the state. No local option, no extra money. Other parts of the state get your money. The local option money stays in the county.
Want the ambulance to come quickly when you have a medical problem? Vote yes - part of the money will be used to update and widen roads.
Want the person riding in the ambulance to be the best? Vote yes - part of the money will be used to build new schools to handle the growth that's coming right at us. More schools mean fewer portable classrooms so the children being educated will do so in an environment more conducive to learning.
Think growth should pay for itself? What about when families move into existing houses, a younger family with children that replaces a retired couple? Impact fees don't figure in there, but the impact on schools and roads is still the same as for a new house. Vote yes - part of the money will offset this kind of growth. The county already has the second highest impact fees in the state and the highest in the Tampa Bay area.
Want your millage lowered? Vote yes - the School Board is lowering its capital millage for the life of the tax. You may save more in millage than you pay in the extra penny.
Think higher taxes drive away people? Only if this is a higher tax. If the tax is the same for all counties around Pasco, it's not a higher amount, it's the same.
Think the tax is a lot of money out of your pocket? Food and medicines are not taxed under this plan. Neither are mortgage/rent, credit card or loan payments. Think of how much of your money goes to those five items.
Don't trust anyone? Look it up yourself. Research both sides of the equation and make an informed decision. Whether it's yes or no, don't believe what each side says, believe what you can find out for yourself.
-- Heiskell Christmas, San Antonio
Editor's note: The author is a San Antonio city commissioner.
Seniors, low-income folks will pay most for penny tax
Re: Making heads, tails of tax source hard, Feb. 16
Editor: The article strongly indicates that the more outsiders contribute to the total amount of increased sales taxes, should the penny tax pass, the better off we are going to be.
What baloney. Seniors, people on fixed incomes, people on low incomes and generally most average people are going to pay the increase. When you make a taxable purchase, you are going to pay 7 cents instead of 6 cents on every dollar, and it doesn't matter at all what percentage of the increased tax outsiders pay.
There may be valid points to be debated on both sides of this issue, but this is not one of them. Pasco residents will pay the increase.
-- Bill Bravick, New Port Richey
A vote for the penny tax is a vote for our schools
Editor: It is imperative that we educate our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren since they are our future members of Congress, senators, physicians and teachers.
If each individual does not pay his or her fair share of taxes for schools and teachers, who will? We must invest in the future of our county and vote yes for Penny for Pasco.
-- Elizabeth Paterno, New Port Richey
Penny for Pasco will only further devalue U.S. dollar
Editor: To devalue the buying power of a dollar by yet another penny, shouldn't be considered for anything less than a life-or-death matter. It is devalued enough already.
Consider the minimal interest paid on your savings and the surge in the price of bread and milk. There is no excuse that this money is needed for roads. The gasoline tax should be sufficient to pay for that.
There must be a better way, otherwise we risk another round of pay raises and more inflation.
-- Walter Novak, Zephyrhills
AAA South article shows way for those deciding tax issue
Editor: The January-February 2004 issue of Going Places (AAA South) has an interesting article titled "Travelers Advocate" on page 47. This should be a must read for people planning to vote for or against the Penny for Pasco bill next month.
Is this not a nod for other government agencies to do the same thing with our tax dollars? Two-hundred-million dollars diverted from the transportation fund seems like quite a sum to me, especially when the Penny for Pasco is to help fund transportation issues in our county.
-- Barbara J Stanley, New Port Richey
Boosting impact fees won't solve Pasco's current problems
Editor: The opponents of Penny for Pasco say "make growth pay for itself" and "charge the real cost of new growth" and "raise impact fees until they cover everything!"
Do they realize that even if we doubled the impact fees to $12,000 or raised them even higher that we still can't use that money on existing problems? Are they really missing that?
-- Sharon Holding, New Port Richey
Absentee ballots available to all who ask for them
Editor: The election season is under way in some states and fast approaching Florida.
I want to remind the registered voters in Pasco County that absentee ballots are available for all. To receive a ballot, please call the Pasco County Elections Department, (727) 847-8162.
America is depending on everyone to vote; that is what makes our democracy work.
-- William A. Crutchfield, New Port Richey
Kudos to judge for sentencing "hunter' who shot collared bear
Re: Hunter sent to jail for killing bear, Feb. 14
-- Editor: I would like to applaud the judge who sentenced this man. It's about time that this weak legal system of ours stood up for the rights of the defenseless and innocent and not the criminal.
I read the article and noticed that the "hunter" had a scope on his weapon. How can you mistake a collared animal for a wild hog? Have you ever seen a collar on a wild boar? That would be the first clue that this man is guilty. Being the taxidermist that he is, he should know the laws of the state that he works in.
I am quite disgusted that this man was stupid enough to think that people would fall for his crying and pity for the animal ploy. How dumb does he think people are?
-- Sonya Fulgham, Spring Hill
[Last modified February 25, 2004, 14:54:37]
