By Robert Marsh

Anderson resident

I want to start by saying I was president of the Madison County Taxpayers group for five years. I spent many hours attending council meetings and school board meetings. I saw elected officials vote for and against the best interests of Madison County taxpayers.

I attended the County Council “public hearing” on increasing the county option income tax. It was a classic example of special interest groups controlling elected officials at taxpayers expense. First, I want to state that it was obvious that the decision to pass the COIT increase had already been made behind closed doors. The “public hearing” was a farce and was held to fool the taxpayers into believing their opinions mattered. The taxpayers against the increase in the income tax had no effect on the vote. The taxpayers against the increase were ridiculed by Anderson firemen, Mayor Ockomon, Rick Muir, and other people who stand to gain from the increase in the tax. The tax will cost most taxpayers $200 to $300 per year. Anderson Fire Chief Dave Clendenen made the ridiculous statement that the tax was $4 per month. Dave, try that math again, $240 is $20 per month not $4 per month.

Council members Larry Crenshaw, Mike Phipps and Gary Gustin voted No on the increase in the COIT. These men deserve your praise, if you are a COIT taxpayer in Madison County. Bill Savage, Larry Higgins, Buddy Patterson and John Bostic voted Yes on the increase in the tax. These men deserve your scorn, if you pay COIT in Madison County. When the next election comes around, you should remember who voted to take more of your money and who voted to let you keep your money to pay your bills.

I want to close by saying that struggling families need their money to pay their house payments, buy groceries, buy gas to go to work, send their kids to college and many other important needs. It is unfair for special interest groups and politicians to add to their burden of meeting their financial obligations.

The county option income tax is not withheld from your pension or Social Security. You must write a check when you file your state taxes. The $400 check for COIT that you have been paying now becomes $600 to $700. This is approaching the state taxes I pay. I hope you are concerned as I am about this tax increase.