Keokuk's Rising Taxes
Old school gets one more shot gives us all something to think about. Here is my opinion on the matter. The taxpayers of Keokuk have seen enough tax hikes to last a lifetime. I for one feel as though my pockets have been picked beyond reality by the excessive increase of our citiy and school board taxes..
Today March 13, 2004
Keokuk Middle School acution is underway.
All purchase offers have been turned down and efforts to save this landmark failed. I say all offers have been turned down but I feel there is more here then meets the eye. I for one suspect that not far down the road the once the laughter filled old Keokuk Middle School there is a rainbow waiting for the new owner. Why else would the Keokuk Community school board and City of Keokuk have crushed every effort to save this historic building from demolation and pass the tax burden on to the citizens? I do suspect the land holds great promise for the next owner. And I say this, the Keokuk Community School Dist and City of Keokuk should have to pay for the demolation from the land revenu sale. Why should we the people be burdened with this high cost in order for the District or City to profit? I think the citizens of Keokuk will agree when the sale of the Middle School block is finalized the School Dist and City of Keokuk will come out on top while the people fall deeper into the taxation pit.
I am tird of being proded into paying more or loosing what I've worked to hard to retain. It's clear to me our city government has lost it's prospective of what city government is all about. They should try to invest in ways to make our community more attractive and productive to the outsider not scare them away with one of the biggest city taxsations in Iowa.
Are we blind to the fact that Keokuk has suffered many hardships with loosing major factories, stores and not to mention outrageous utility costs. Some companies are finding that the only way to stay afloat in Keokuk is to decrease wages and freeze employee's raises to maintain the companies livelyhood of survival.
It seems everytime we turn around either our city or school district has some great idea that will better our community but in turn it empties our pockets more causing a greater hardship on the tax payers survival.
Is it any wonder that the population in Keokuk is decreasing.
Old Middle School:
Wheather to sell or demolish an 80 year old historical building was the question. This left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Lets look at the choices closer. If the school district is allowed to demolish the building it will cost around $300.000. The article goes on to state that the school district and taxpayers again will have to help foot the bill for this demoliation. On the other hand if sold at a reasonable price the school board could take the money from the sale, and invest it back into the system in turn releaving the tax burden for which we all suffer.
I think the choice is clear. Tell the city and school board that we have had enough of there so called good ideas that empty our pockets. If we do not take a hand in this now, our population will decrease even more thus forcing the ones left behind to suffer a much bigger tax burden.
Maybe we should demand a special city vote so the people can decide on the fate of the Old Middle School..
Think about this: New schools in a ghost town will not draw the interest of prospective factories, industries or families with children..
Designer Graphics's 4 U
