By Robert Marsh
Anderson resident
I want to start by saying I was president of the Madison County Taxpayers group for five years. I spent many hours attending council meetings and school board meetings. I saw elected officials vote for and against the best interests of Madison County taxpayers.
I attended the County Council “public hearing” on increasing the county option income tax. It was a classic example of special interest groups controlling elected officials at taxpayers expense. First, I want to state that it was obvious that the decision to pass the COIT increase had already been made behind closed doors. The “public hearing” was a farce and was held to fool the taxpayers into believing their opinions mattered. The taxpayers against the increase in the income tax had no effect on the vote. The taxpayers against the increase were ridiculed by Anderson firemen, Mayor Ockomon, Rick Muir, and other people who stand to gain from the increase in the tax. The tax will cost most taxpayers $200 to $300 per year. Anderson Fire Chief Dave Clendenen made the ridiculous statement that the tax was $4 per month. Dave, try that math again, $240 is $20 per month not $4 per month.
Council members Larry Crenshaw, Mike Phipps and Gary Gustin voted No on the increase in the COIT. These men deserve your praise, if you are a COIT taxpayer in Madison County. Bill Savage, Larry Higgins, Buddy Patterson and John Bostic voted Yes on the increase in the tax. These men deserve your scorn, if you pay COIT in Madison County. When the next election comes around, you should remember who voted to take more of your money and who voted to let you keep your money to pay your bills.
I want to close by saying that struggling families need their money to pay their house payments, buy groceries, buy gas to go to work, send their kids to college and many other important needs. It is unfair for special interest groups and politicians to add to their burden of meeting their financial obligations.
The county option income tax is not withheld from your pension or Social Security. You must write a check when you file your state taxes. The $400 check for COIT that you have been paying now becomes $600 to $700. This is approaching the state taxes I pay. I hope you are concerned as I am about this tax increase.
Letters
Viewpoint: COIT increase not in the best interest of taxpayers
"Public hearing" was a farce
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Letter: Bill of Rights being nullified by new law
President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act on New Year’s Eve. I doubt many Americans noticed its implications because they do not yet comprehend the big picture. This law, coupled with the Patriot Act, is paving the way for America’s direction toward tyranny.
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Letter: $14 trillion debt started by previous president
I’m a proud atheist who’s lucky enough to know the difference between fact and fantasy.
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Letter: Economy putting people in the gutters
We are now getting the results of putting people in the gutters. We need to take a second look at our government and its policies. It’s not working.
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Viewpoint: Look at Creation Museum from an educational, scientific perspective
I encourage any and all who have interest in this vitally important topic to “go to the source,” to invest the time and energy into exploring The Creation Museum for themselves.
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Letter: Blame the voters for our Congress
Why is insider trading legal for Congress and illegal for the rest of us? They make and enact laws for all of us, but then exempt members of Congress. Somehow this doesn’t seem to pass the smell test.
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Letter: Smith’s firings appear vindictive
Anderson is a city of negative publicity and actions. Why else is Sears leaving? Can we stand four years of vindictive actions and negative reporting?
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Letter: Planned devaluation of dollar is coming
I’ve submitted letters regarding the existence of a global elite for years now. I’m now submitting another one in which I hope readers will take note of.
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Viewpoint: Myra Kraft inspiration for Patriots
If there was one good reason for the Patriots to win the Super Bowl, it would be because of what I had read.
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Viewpoint: Anderson a microcosm of America
Wherever I have found comments that I felt were outside the values I believe in or were plain misinformation I have spoken out. At times that has been done with a lack of eloquence.
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Viewpoint: Problems in Anderson go back to President Carter
On Jan. 21, Frank Couch of Anderson stated that political conservatives “just don’t get it.” He sort of indicates Sears’ closing in Anderson is due to the new mayor being Republican.
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Letter: Bill of Rights being nullified by new law
