Editor:
According to the Utah Taxpayers Association, Davis local governments are "swinging for the fences" in proposing a wide variety of tax increases that will sneak up on all property owners in the county.
Last year, my state senator, house member, mayor and former mayor all invoked the principal of not using tax dollars to fund organizations or projects that compete against private enterprise.
I fully expected them to be standing arm in arm with the UTA in denouncing the proposed recreation center as a violation of Republican principles -- but no!
The proposed aerobics and dance studios, racquetball and basketball courts, weight rooms and fitness center will all compete directly with new and long established private facilities. Should $23 million in tax monies, plus an annual stipend of $500,000 more be used to harm taxpaying private fitness centers that pay income taxes that support our school systems and won't even generate property taxes to support our local governments.
Sadly, property taxes are regressive in nature, meaning that the new monies will come from many property owners who can ill afford the increase, and who will receive NO benefit from the facilities. This is not the Republican way -- or is it?
Davis County residents have avoided electing any big government, big spending liberal Democrats, but a yes vote will show that we don't mind big government, big spending conservative Republicans.
Lynn Kuehne
Bountiful
lynn@ulcu.com