Letter To The Editor: To All Citizens Of Mahaska County
Editors Note: The views and opinions expressed in this editorial are not necessarily the views or opinions of Oskaloosa News.
To ALL citizens of Mahaska County
The Local Option Sales Tax has been used more than once in the past for special projects in Mahaska County. Some of the main projects have been the renovation of our Library, the Mahaska County Law Enforcement Center, and the Oskaloosa Elementary School. Later this year that tax is due to expire.
On May 3rd 2016 we are being asked lo vote to keep that penny tax. This time the money is to be used to build a recreational center, preschool/daycare facility, environmental learning center, and maintenance of our roads.
There are certain groups that would like you to believe that the roads area very important part of this vote.
We are starting to see signs all over town telling us to vote “Yes for Roads”. These groups are not being entirely truthful with the citizens of this county. Yes,there is a certain amount of money to be allotted for maintenance of roads in the county. This is built into the Supervisors proposal to be voted on. What they are not telling you is that there will be more money available for the roads if you vote NO.
I have seen the notices being left in the mail boxes of the rural residents from the United States Postal Service. These people are being told that if they do not fix their road, their mail will not be delivered. It is not the resident’s place to fix their road so the mailman can deliver their mail. That is part of why we pay taxes. We have elected officials that are supposed to prioritize our taxpayer money. I realize the county is responsible for many things but our roads are a very important part of that priority.
As someone that pays taxes inside the city limits and out, I call upon the City Council to be fiscally responsible to their citizens as well. The attitude of “If we build it, they will come” is getting very tiresome. If I lived inside the city limits, I would be calling my counsel person daily to complain about the streets. The city has been way too worried about putting up new structures that only a few people in Mahaska County will use instead of fixing their streets. I travel those streets daily. There is not imeto enjoy the “green space”. I’m way too busy dodging the potholes.
In closing, I would like to remind ALL citizens of Mahaska County that this is OUR MONEY and OUR ROADS and STREETS. I urge you to vote NO on May 3rd.
From a Life-time resident of town and country,
Joyce Webb
