Letter to the Editor

To the Editor,

As much as it hurts me to say this, it looks like our hometown Kennett, Missouri needs a couple more pennies in sales tax or some other tax income ASAP. The council is struggling to meet deficits we are having. I favor the sales tax because it seems to be the most fair because we pay according to what we're able to spend. I wouldn't mind paying a small percentage increase on our own property tax. Nobody likes paying taxes and especially the thought of paying more. Our city is in a serious desperate situation!!! Anyone can watch the 8-19-2014 council meeting on YouTube & see where I'm coming from. Search on YouTube exactly as typed--City Council 8 19 14 1, City Council 8 19 14 2, City Council 8 19 14 3 and finally City Council 8 19 14 4. You'll see our elected leaders are trying to fix this, but more income is needed.

We cannot afford to layoff or cut hours on our police officers or fire & First Responder personnel. We have more gun crimes & etc. than ever. People are breaking in on others while asleep in bed. We actually need several more night officers & police cruisers on our streets & roads.

We also need to start contracting annually with a mosquito control company next year like Vector Control. We now have to worry about contracting West Nile Virus. Ebola may be a future concern if they ever begin carrying it too.

Steve Holsten

Kennett