Dear Editor,
I'm writing you to point out the City Commissioner’s latest blunder, leasing the American Legion Golf Course.
To begin with I want you and your readers to understand that I'm not opposed to individuals having hobbies or the community having facilities for those hobbies. I am however against the city, using taxpayers' funds to finance those hobbies for a select few. What really bothers me is the American Legion Golf Course was unable to operate with the number of golfing memberships or non-members. What can the city leaders do besides removing the property tax that will make it self-supportive? I don't think the city has any desire to be in the golfing business, they only want to secure the land for the new stadium that will be shoved down our tax paying throats. Our commissioners have become "bailout" givers like our federal government and the big question is, how many individuals or small businesses will they crush by one-sided, blind leadership? I understand that a small group of people have a grandiose vision that a "new" football stadium that's what El Dorado needs to keep up with other communities, but I see it as just another nail in a tire that is already flat. I'm a booster for Butler, but the biggest difference between me "giving" and the city or county "taking" is neither of these taxing authorities have any idea what I can afford to pay in taxes that will be "used" toward fulfilling someone else's vision.
I have heard reports that the county will now lose $60K in tax revenue from the American Legion-City bailout gift. How will the county offset this reduction? I really feel bad that the property increased some 400 percent in one year . . . Well ours went up 100 percent last year based on the value of one sold piece of property on West Central. As far as I'm concerned at the rate of bailouts the politicians seem to have on their tables, as a country and a small community we can look forward to the same tax-rape for future generations. I'm curious... How can these decisions improve life in our community if the end result is a broke community?
I will be getting my Christmas "hobby" list prepared to submit to the "bailout fairies" at City Hall, so I will be able to enjoy my favorite hobbies at the expense of others! In closing I would like to lease our property to the city, so I can enjoy retirement before they take it, since I can't afford my ridiculous property taxes.
P.S. The city will probably buy the Prairie Trails Golf Course next!
Disgusted and Financially abused in El Dorado,
Burt Long
El Dorado
