Well, never let it be said that the City Council, combined with the Chamber of Commerce, can’t get together and “put it to” the citizens of Kent.
Instead of expanding the parameters of the business and occupation (B&O) tax to gather funds to pay for street-repair projects, the council has cleverly come up with a roundabout way of getting us to pay for road repairs caused by the massive number of heavy 16- and 18-wheelers tearing up our streets and roads: jack up our garbage rates (taxes).
In another corporate-pandering move, the council received a resounding “no” from business owners protesting LIDs to pay for railroad-separation costs. So, I can hardly wait to see what innovative scheme the council devises to get us homeowners (who had to choice about whether or not we paid LIDs near our homes) to foot the bill for the railroad-separation projects that will largely benefit the businesses closest to these projects.
Nothing like democracy – of the corporations, by the corporations, and for the corporations.
When chamber members say they don’t want to pay their fair share they just say “no” and the council cheerfully caves. Try not paying the increase in your garbage fee or refuse to pay your LID assessment and see if the council will back you up.
– Sandra Gill
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
