Letter: Leadership lacking

To the editor:

The fix is in! One needs around $50,000 in the bank to earn enough income at current interest rates to fund the city and county tax increases — and also the recycle fees, Black Hills and Westar levies.

Or spend from monthly income which many will not get an increase in from Social Security or private employment. Only city, county and school district employees get raises each time costs go up.

I am still waiting to know who has profited from the public/private partnership at East Hills. The county taxpayers bought the land and the city taxpayers paid for infrastructure but have your taxes been reduced with the new buildings added to the tax rolls? The land cost $750,000, and who has profited? Lots are selling for $50,000 an acre and the original $750,000 bought 300 acres as I recall.

The taxpayers of Lawrence have not seen property taxes go down even with an expanded tax base. Why expand the tax base if taxes cannot be lowered?

Our leadership is lacking! And now another sales tax. One has to wonder when the Chamber will endorse it even though the current CEO knows full well that a sales tax increase is a bad thing. Let’s see how the Chamber spins the sales tax as a “good thing.”