VOX POP

Wouldn't it be nice if we the taxpayers could take out a loan (for a house) and then if we run a little short put the payments on the property tax rolls? Kind of like the school board?

Brainerd's not so old after all

Mary Koep's quoted in the April 28 Dispatch as saying, "Brainerd is an old city with many old people." You need to do research and get your facts straight. Census Bureau reports in 2000 Brainerd's population of 13,178 was made up of 18.2 percent of 65 and older; 74.3 percent are 5-64 years old. In Crow Wing County, 2000 population was 55,099 and estimated 2007 population 61,648. Of those only 17.5 percent are 65 and over and 76 percent are 5-64 years old. That trail is for everyone, not just Brainerd residents.

No sense

Why would a senator submit an amendment so his full-time residents would pay more in taxes and pay more of the responsibility our schools are faced with? Makes no sense to me!

Rocks and glass houses

Is Senator Koering so narrow-minded that his GOP following the governor's wishes no different than some of the DFLs taking their lead from Education Minnesota? I don't think he should be throwing too many rocks at the glass houses.

Anyone awake?

Is anyone in the city council awake? I would imagine their new sidewalk Mary Koep has decided on will be yet another hit on our taxes. Wake up before more of Brainerd homes go on foreclosure. People are hanging on by the skin of their teeth but I'd guess you could see it as all these empty homes, but they have new sidewalks and please don't discriminate. Graydon Avenue and some of the upper areas don't have sidewalks. Way to think of the people's welfare.

Vote out incumbents

I can't believe with all the bad economy and housing problems that the school board would allow a levy property tax to all us in Crow Wing County without voter approval. Sounds like the Minnesota Twins way of financing their stadium. Remember to vote out all the incumbents next election.

Voter rights

I see in the recent scheme of things that we have lost another right to vote on our own property tax increases. This right was paid for by Education Minnesota, which bought enough legislators that the voter loses their right to vote. Must be nice to have the best government money can buy.

Policing expenses

Why should the city take on the expense of policing the empty homes? I suggest that the people who foreclosed and who had sheriff's sales assume the cost of the policing of the property.

Dogs on furniture

I'm calling in regard to the Tuesday, April 28, edition of the Brainerd Dispatch, "Obedience pays for cash." As I look at the picture, those two dogs are sitting on a nice couch. Oh, I would never have my Labradors do that.

Literacy collaborative program

I think it would be a good idea for John Ward to spend some time visiting with upper elementary teachers who have many, many children who are not reading at grade level and these children have all gone through the literacy collaborative program.

Graduation ceremony rules

I understand that kids are still going to be able to go through the procession even though they're not graduating at this time, that they'll be able to make it up in the summer. Now, with the shortages of everything in these schools, why are they allowing that? The kids should not be able to go through the procession. Why should they go through the procession when they're actually not graduating, especially with the shortage of space that they're saying they're going to have this year? Something should be done. This is wrong.