Sales Taxes Should have to Convince the Rabble

This week, Claire magically, State Auditor, has pointed out that transportation tax districts are expanding. So what? Well, these districts create a special tax, usually a retail sales tax, for a particular development to help pay for contsruction of roads, bridges, or other transportation items needed in the development.

She maintains that many of them are established without having to go to a ballot and seek the approval of the voters who will be paying the taxes. Or at least, paying most of the tax. It appears the voters who are landowners in a transportation development district are the ones who are to make the final decision. Such taxes can make a small way to build big bucks and these transportation needs are legitimate big bucks purchases. Improvement districts that become a term property tax assessment on the property owners are other ways to get the funding reservoir, but some things that need to be considered are the true uses of these improvments. Who will use the roads, bridges and culverts? Who will benefit down stream from the installation of flood control. Would an extra penny or portion of a penny on their retail purchases be out of line? Well, let them vote about it.

McCaskill isn't against the districts and their tax options. She simply says that there should be move oversight and opportunities for public awareness.

I don't support Ms. McCaskill in the general political arena, but this time, she has a point. It is my belief that a sales tax of any sort needs to come before the voters OFTEN. If the people seeking to apply a sales tax to my purchases cannot convince me or the rest of the rabble that their cause is justified, then they don't deserve the funding. Having some say in these little things that seem to multiply like chiggers into some very big and irritating things is a democratic facet of our political system that still belongs to the voter. I like that.