TO THE EDITOR:

Very seldom do I respond to articles appearing in our local newspapers, but remarks reported in the Dec. 14 article covering the county boardís actions relating to the 2006 levy really caught my attention.

Commissioner Robinson is entirely correct. It is a fact that state aid roads in Dist. 5, historically, have not received badly needed gravel, ditching, culverts, etc., while at the same time, believe it or not, our ìnorthernî traffic count is increasing.

During his 8-year tenure as 5th District commissioner, Phil Leier worked hard to dispel the political rivalry between the northern and southern parts of Chisago County. He naturally always looked out for the 5th District, but the big picture was what was best for the county as a whole. I am greatly disappointed, angry and upset to see that this attitude is still alive and kicking.

Commissioner Montzka, ìbecause the people in his district put more money into the ëpotí doesnít want to see it rammed down their throats to pay for the roads in the north end of the county.î

Letís see if I can make sense out of this line of reasoning. Taxes, throughout the county, are based on the value of each parcel of land and the home/building on that land.

Each commercial and each private parcel, throughout the county, pay the same base rate of taxes whether they are located in the north or south.

When roads or any other county ëimprovementsí in the southern part of the county are undertaken, taxpayers in the northern part of the county are also contributing their fair share, based on thee same rate of taxes calculated on property throughout the county.

No - I cannot make sense out of that comment ... plus the fact that it simply is not true.

Seems to me we are all paying one rate of taxes - regardless of which end of the county we live in, understanding of course, each school districtís tax rates apply only to that particular district.

Maybe this example is easier to understand. I own 60 acres of land and live in a house valued at $365,000.

But a neighbor living one-half mile from me owns one acre with a house valued at $98,000, so is paying less taxes than I am. Therefore, I contribute more to the county ëpotí than he does so his road shouldnít get the same attention that mine does.

Where does this line of reasoning come from?

One Nessel Township taxpayer made a comment to me that they are also spending much more on the upkeep of their vehicles driving on the northern roads.

Please ... letís get rid of this south vs. north mentality once and for all! We all live in this county and rest assured, we all pay our fair share of taxes.

Helen Leier
Nessel Township

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