Dear editor:
This week, the Crook County commissioners meet to discuss adding up to 5 mills to levy yet more taxes against the people.
As a conservative, Trump-supporting citizen, I want to see those in elected office doing what the Trump administration is doing through DOGE – making every possible effort to do ONLY what needs to be done with less of the taxpayers’ money.
As EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said, “The government should have not one dollar more or one dollar less than what is necessary to do the job.”
Two weeks ago, we watched a majority of the Crook County School Board completely disregard the will of the majority of the people who showed up and pass a mill levy for recreation, with no plan, no end date, and no respect for the will of the people.
To add important details to the Sundance Times article of April 30th, 12 people in total gave comments: 8 against and 4 in favor, but each of those who spoke in favor of the levy were associated with the school or board.
I would like to ask the commissioners the same question that was asked of the school board, but this time, I believe an answer should be given: Have you gone through the budget, line by line, to see if there is any waste, fraud, or abuse that can be done away with so that what is truly important can be funded?
There should be no talk of raising taxes until this has been done.
This isn’t just a Crook County problem.
I’ve talked with people from all over Wyoming who say the same thing is happening in other counties – boards and commissions deciding to raise taxes in their communities rather than tightening their belts and doing better with the revenue they already receive.
Every time a government agency is looking at what they deem to be “less revenue," the first thing on the chopping block is an essential service, like EMS.
Remember the law enforcement officers and fire fighters, while in uniform, telling the public and the press that no one would answer 911 calls if we got property tax relief? Well, here they are again.
We got half of the relief we were seeking, so now there’s no more money for emergency services.
We are expected to believe that the 25% reduction in tax revenue was exactly what was used to pay for EMS and that they need to collect it directly from us because now it won’t be funneled through the state.
This has been said repeatedly by many people, but apparently it needs to be said again:
We the People are tired of being threatened with a reduction in necessary services every time we get a bit of relief from high taxes.
We have had to learn to operate our family and business budgets with less for the past 4+ years.
It’s way past time government, both local and federal, do the same.
Sincerely,
Sarah D Hendrix, Sundance
