To the editor
On Feb. 17, an accusing letter toward Charlie Sanow was printed. It was an error filled commentary about Charlie Sanow’s public service record, instead of the letter Mr. Sanow submitted a week prior, describing the debt level of the city of Marshall and the public school system.
The facts from Charlie’s letter were not disputed by anyone — because they were factual, unlike the letter printed on Feb. 17.
For transparency I need to share that Charlie Sanow is currently a Lyon County Commissioner, as am I. Your elected officials should be held accountable for their decisions, but based on facts. This letter is not to defend Charlie as he is quite capable that. This letter is merely to state the truth about county taxes and let the facts speak for themselves.
The fantasy “facts” of the letter in question were so far from truth they appear to be from an alternate reality. Let’s review what “facts” were printed on Feb 17 and then check with reality.
The letter came up with $100M of taxes the county approved in the past few years.
1. It stated the building renovation was $20 million. Reality, it was $10 million.
2. It implied property taxes were increasing $20M. Reality, it has remained unchanged six of the past nine years for a cumulative increase of around $1 million (Avg/yr of under 1 percent increase). The above $10 million renovation is paid from this increase.
3. It stated the county is collecting $2 million a year between the Wheelage tax and 0.5 percent sales tax. That is the one number that was close to truth. But then stated the county will collect that $2 million for 30 years to the tune of $60 million.
Reality, the wheelage tax, which is about $250,000/yr, has no date. But the 0.5 percent sales tax will only run about five years and raise $10 million in total, then end.
The sales tax is for county roads, which we all drive on. If needed repairs are put off, the combination of increasing construction costs plus annual road degradation leads to a much larger repair effort besides the growing safety issue.
Reality is, about $20 million has been approved, yet the county only has $17 million in debt because $10 million of it is actually pay-as-you-go.
We have so much to be thankful for living here in Lyon County, yet I know some are struggling – let’s not add to those struggles by creating hateful false realities.
Paul Graupmann
Marshall
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