Levies increase rates for taxpayers

The estimated cost of a new hospital is said to be no more than $50 annually for an owner/renter of a home assessed at $50,000 for perhaps the next 30 years. Look around, how many of the current residents of Ritzville can be expected to pay the hospital bill for as many as 30 more years? One important reason there are unsold homes in Ritzville is the rate of dying (or abandoned homes) exceeds those looking for a home in Ritzville. The power brokers in Ritzville have been very successful in making certain that most of the children graduating from the Ritzville School District cannot stay in town.

Pretending there is no problem appears to be easy for the folks who lead Ritzville whether elected or not. So, ignoring what seems to be the declining population of our city means these folks have no problem demanding more of the income of others.

Continuing to use the residents of a dwelling assessed at $50,000:

The Ritzville Water Park overseers want an estimated $14.50 from the resident for next year. The rate we are paying this year is higher than the rate in 2012. It appears every year the water park costs more to maintain and operate. The city resident may be unable to use the water park for any number of reasons but pay they will.

The same households will be paying about $33 this year for the Project 56 private dream turned public obligation. Here is a perfect example of a project that could have been funded locally. The folk(s) targeted did not bite and the locals who could easily have paid to fund their dream decided to punt to the public.

The same households pay a $16, plus 10 percent city tax, each month (or $17.60), for the bungled sewer lagoon project. In May of 2012 the city council increased the basic rate for water by $5, plus 10 percent city tax (or $5.50). If you use more than 299 cubic feet of water, the city council increased the rate charged another $5, plus that 10 percent tax. Then of course, we have the annual increase in property taxes allowed by law.

If the reader is registered to vote, but have no plans to be a resident of Ritzville for the next 30 years due to expected demise, lack of employment opportunities or any reason, please do not vote for either of the two levies on the current ballot. If you are exempt from paying the bill, please do not foist it on others.

Barry Boyer, Ritzville