I don’t mind paying a fair tax. I view taxes as tithes, paying for things I believe in, such as education, social services, law enforcement and roads. But this idea of special sales tax districts is not an appropriate or fair tax. Calling these community improvement districts is, and I am being nice here, misleading. They are business subsidies with taxpayers paying for public and private improvements, including operating expenses.

How does the City Commission have the right to allow new sales taxes? I suppose the Legislature gave them that right, while barely allowing a new 1 percent sales tax to keep Kansas institutions of value for the common good from bleeding to death.

It is ludicrous to ask all businesses to post the sales tax rate they have. It will make the whole idea meaningless. If we must give these district businesses this unfair tax break, they need to be the only ones having to post it, making it easier to spot. Mr. (Mike) Dever, you are right, it wouldn’t be a scarlet letter if everybody had to post a tax sign, and you miss the point. This is a scarlet letter, and those businesses benefiting from the tax should own up to it.

Please deny all applications from businesses wanting to cash in on this subsidy. This is not a fair tax and was not approved by Douglas County residents.