To the editor:

Our county lawgivers have surprised us with a healthy proposed property tax increase of almost 16 percent. As a result, the county portion of our property taxes will have increased 57 percent over the last seven years.

Accordingly, it is increasing at almost triple the income of the average family. Where has the money gone? Think about it.

I remind everyone that the Kansas and Douglas County have been impacted less by the recent economic challenges than the nation at large. From where comes this pressing need? Does the large increase already experienced not show responsible effort to help others?

At the current rate of increase, in 10 years, our total local property tax burden could approach 9 percent of family income (today it is about 7 percent). How can the average family support such large local property tax bills? There are other bills to pay and they are all increasing.

Our local lawgivers are supposed to represent all of us. It would appear from this data that by seeking such a large increase — much of it from people who are not much better off then those to be served — they are not. Balance seems to be lacking.

Maybe our local community wants should march in place for a while — as the wants and needs of many of the rest of us are.