Letter to the Editor

Citizens being kept in the dark on IRS/tax issue

Saturday, January 14, 2012

To the editor:

Why do you think citizens would vote for stealing or mishandling funds? First of all, I want to say stealing is a crime. That is one of our commandments. Even if you borrow money from one account to pay into another, it is still stealing. That money has been justified to that particular account.

Worst of all, the city stole from the employees by deducting the money from their pay checks. What happened to the money that was taken from their checks?

The city doesn't have a CPA to do payroll and taxes. Outside of the office most companies a CPA for payroll and taxes.

Every day people are arrested for stealing and they paid for their crimes.

Even the auditors, or whoever is in charge, have not put in the paper what they found. The citizens are kept in the dark about what is happening. I the city would let the citizens know what's going on, we might understand. No, the citizens are kept in the dark.

How many citizens knew we were operating in the red for three or four years? In the beginning, the City Council didn't seem to know anything about us operating in the red. But now the City Council believes raising taxes is the way to do it. We already have a high tax rate.

Mr. Mayor, you know how the citizens live in Blytheville, from payday to payday. And when they get paid they sit down and think about what they can pay during that month so they can get part of their medicine and buy a few groceries.

Mr. Mayor, increasing taxes will only hurt the people who are already pinching pennies, the innocent people, instead of the one who got Blytheville in this position.

Some of the citizens I've talked to say if the tax increase passes they will not shop in Blytheville again.

You know when the economy is down, crime is up. Everyday our paper is full of crime and drugs. What a shame.

Mr. Mayor, clean house, have someone we can trust instead of just being on payroll. There's too much nepotism with Blytheville water company and your office.

I give Blytheville maybe five years before we lose the Aeroplex due to the employees who are operating it. When the IRS gets its money, will FICA, Medicare and state be paid, and if so, how? We know how much the IRS says we owe, are there anymore surprises?

Mr. Mayor, don't you think each employee whose involvement with deduction from their check should be reimbursed. Remember, this is a crime. I don't know you but you are in my prayers every night.

Lucy White

Blytheville