Dear editor:
It is more than time for us to be seeking clarity as to where and how decisions are made that affect our lives.
In 2017, we had our board of directors pass a city tax, after numerous years of living under a promise that if the residents of Hot Springs passed a sales tax, we would not have a city tax.
Have you seen a rebate for the tax on top of a city tax?
Thank your directors and city manager for this.
This "city tax" is on top of the county's tax for "The Road to Nowhere" ... the junction of 5 and 7, 15 minutes from any area in Hot Springs Village, except the Glazy Peau gate.
We have learned that in Hot Springs city, all meals at the schools are free ... based on the low income of the families being served.
Today's Viewpoints section (Oct. 1, 2017) had a column titled: "Seniors living below poverty level" by Harry Porter.
Mr. Porter quoted the data from the USCB stating that 13 percent of Garland County citizens over 65 live below the poverty level of 10 percent and this places Garland County above the national average.
Thank you, Mr. Porter, general manager, for your sensitivity to these issues that are so easily ignored.
Headline article of Oct. 1, 2017, of The Sentinel-Record says the "City eyes rate hike to finance water projects" continuing to make the point that the monthly minimum charge was "extraordinarily low by industry standards, allowing the city to more than double it and still remain below the industry average."
"Industry standards" are again comparing us to many areas where people earn a decent wage and are growing in population. The amount of money Hot Springs has spent on water issues over the last 10 years is in the millions, but easily ignored, as we now pay for water we do not have, nor have a place to store it.
In Garland County, the elderly that have lived on Social Security for years cannot afford all of the increases. Obviously, the younger families can't either.
Planning for the future, but ignoring those currently living here, unable to pay your endless taxes which are designed around "the future," but ignoring today's residents, trying to live here within a budget ... an unknown concept for people in all capacities that have the power to waste and to tax.
We need people that are not dazzled by the presentations of the financial adviser from Texas as he tells the board, each year, how healthy our water position is. He sees us as a potential growth area, but the facts are, our city population is decreasing.
With increased attention to selecting our board candidates, we can avoid another "tax and spend for the future and the heck with the current residents."
Barbara Anable
City resident
Hot Springs
Editorial on 10/14/2017