Raising taxes will drive shoppers to Iowa side

Sheri Diekman had this letter published in the March 12 Dispatch/Rock Island Argus. ..... marks paragraph breaks. "This April 7, Rock Island County residents will be asked to decide if we want to increase our county sales tax by 1 percent. This would mean we would have an 8.5 percent sales tax on most purchases in stores and 10 percent on restaurants and liquor. ..... Just across the river from us the sales tax on most consumer goods and restaurants is 7 percent. That means we would be giving Scott County a big advantage over Rock Island County. We stand to lose millions in sales to our local businesses and millions in tax revenues to other counties. ..... People who support the increase say it will give us property tax relief. Henry County promised the same thing to get their tax increase and now they watch their property tax climb. Why? It's because people will drive to a different county to save money. Why would I pay 8.5 percent for taxes when I can go over the bridge and pay 7 percent? ..... Raising taxes and driving purchasers away from Rock Island County will end up with even lower tax revenue. We will be stuck with this tax increase and then they will come after our property taxes to make up the difference. ..... Please remember to go to the polls on April 7, and vote down this tax increase."