To the editor:

Another great weekend of news for the Lawrence taxpayer. I wonder how many of the downtown business owners will gladly pay more taxes to subsidize Eagle Bend. After getting hit with property tax increases of between 18 percent and 121 percent and the possibility of an additional mill levy on top of those increases, we are told that Eagle Bend is not making the grade in spite of cheap water, no taxes, rate increases, a favorable lease and help from the city. It’s a story likely to hold true for the T.

At a time when property owners and businesses are struggling to make ends meet and the city has to confront a impressive revenue shortfall, the city’s response seems incredulous. How many businesses have to leave downtown, or fold in town to provide low-cost golf and additional public transportation to a minority of Lawrence residents?

Eagle Bend does not seem to be substantially increasing its patronage, nor does the T. Instead, we will be asked to hand over more money to keep these amenities afloat, while delaying police and fire protection services, emergency services, road improvements, etc. Just what are they thinking at City Hall?

They don’t get it. The more we are taxed, the less we have to spend in town. The less we spend, the less revenue is generated from businesses, and more businesses have a harder time staying afloat in Lawrence. The city needs to cuts its expenses and live within its means. And if that means Eagle Bend becomes a failed experiment, so be it.

Ken Meyer,

Lawrence