First published in The Manhattan Mercury

Support Strawn

To the Editor:

I am supporting Bob Strawn for City Commission. One of the reasons is his position on city property taxes. Bob supports the idea that as the city grows we should get economies of scale in regards to property taxes. As new homes come into being they will require government services. However these increased services should be provided in a cost effective way such that the per residence tax burden does not increase. The city needs to manage the mill levy such that increased valuations are not driving up the per residence actual dollar tax bill.

Mill levy management is very important. I, like everyone else in the city, have just received my 2007 tax valuation. The tax valuations of the rental properties I own in town just climbed 15%. Over the past three years the total increase has been 43%. What's worse is the higher valuations are happening to lowest value homes. So the people who least can afford these increases are paying the most. It is true the city is only one component of ones tax bill. However on my tax statement it is the biggest component. Bob Strawn has the right idea when it comes to city property taxes.

John Matta

1213 Greystone Place