Letter: Say no to creating Red Wing sales tax

To the Editor:

As a Red Wing taxpayer already paying almost 50 percent of every earned dollar to one level of government or the other, I adamantly oppose the city of Red Wing’s galling effort to increase the local sales tax by one-half cent.

Currently, our city ranks among the highest taxed

communities of its size in the state. Is there any other community (except Monticello) that receives an annual revenue windfall from Xcel Energy?

But according city government, these revenues are just not enough to create their bureaucratic vision of “economic development.” This appeal for even more revenue (i.e. your money) is coming from inside City Hall, not from residential or business taxpayers. If the city can’t set

aside tax revenues for future capital improvements from annual property taxes and fees, etc., then they are simply poor stewards of the taxpayer’s money.

Red Wing taxpayers, fight to keep your earnings to invest in your own and your family’s “economic development.” I urge all Red Wing voters to vote “no” on the referendum to increase the local sales tax.

Craig Livingstone

Red Wing

Tags: opinion, letters