James Costello: Anti-tax movement starves public services; so vote yes on S
Re “Stop this tiny tax; no to Measure S” (Letters, Oct. 14): I am puzzled by the recent letter celebrating the benefits of Proposition 13 yet decrying Measure S, the library tax renewal measure on the November ballot.
Proposition 13 voters got property tax relief. But another benefit, coupled with the irrational anti-tax mood that persists, was the crippling of every local and state governmental agency’s ability to raise much-needed revenue by requiring a two-thirds vote of the electorate.
Why do you think citizens now pay high fees for city and county services? Why do you think all sorts of infrastructure repair and maintenance – roads, sewers, and parks – go undone for years? It is because of Proposition 13. Why do you think our county library system even needs a tax to keep it running? Proposition 13.
Simple truths: governments need money to provide adequate services for you. They acquire much of that money through taxes. No taxes, no money, no services. It is that simple. All of us need to pay our fair share of taxes.
Our library system is a jewel whose value far exceeds the tax needed to keep it operational. Vote Yes on Measure S!
James Costello, Ceres
This story was originally published October 20, 2017 at 11:43 AM with the headline "James Costello: Anti-tax movement starves public services; so vote yes on S."