Your View: Favors 1-cent tax

According to an article in the local newspaper, the City Council will place a 1 percent sales tax increase on the ballot. This is a bold move, since no one wants an increase in taxes. But is this really an increase?

For some folks, yes. For others, no. Why? Property owners will pay 21 percent less on their real estate taxes. For example, let's say you pay $500 in real estate taxes. A 21 percent decrease in taxes would reduce your payment to $395, or produce $105 savings. Then, upon approval, everyone buying in Sikeston would have the privilege of contributing to the operating expense of our city.

I like that, as there are a lot of people spending money in Sikeston who make little or no contribution to the cost of operating our city. Approval will relieve some of the burden off property owners and spread it across all spenders. I believe the City Council has a good idea. They have my vote.

Neal Wagley