I heartily agree with the letter in last Saturday’s paper about the one-cent sales tax instead of raising property taxes. I think it would be the fairest way since it falls on just so many to pay these taxes and not everyone. I also think it would benefit more and for a longer time because we do have so many people who come here and spend money in Bainbridge.

I would also like to say, and I say from experience, that you cannot dig your way out of debt by continuing to borrow money and expecting taxpayers to bail you out. The answer lies in learning not to spend money that you don’t have. I am in my 60s and I frankly don’t understand why you haven’t learned this by now. I do understand it takes money to run the county, but I see a lot of unnecessary spending also. It must be trickling down from Washington, huh?

In our own budget at home, in order to pay our bills, we cut and cut because we don’t have people to bail us out as you do. Between government in Washington and local government we are taxed to death and we cannot continue to dig your way out for you.

Our personal property taxes are already high as they were raised last year also. I have already inquired and found out what they would be if this 1.5-mill tax increase goes through. While it might not sound like much to you, add that to what it already is and probably will be again next year, because you’re probably already planning the 1.5-mill increase this year and another 1.5 mills next year. If something doesn’t change, you’re going to put all the hard-working taxpayers in a position where they can no longer afford to pay, and then what happens? They begin to lose their property they’ve worked so hard for, just because you can’t find a way to cut your spending habits.

If you don’t get serious, you’re going to bankrupt our government and the taxpayers.

Charlene Godwin

Bainbridge