County sales tax unfair to neighbors

So the Champaign County school people think they've found a new source (1 percent sales tax) for upgrading school facilities. Surely the need is not only relevant to Champaign County schools. We've been told often that the state is supposed to be the primary funding source for our schools, but it has not lived up to its responsibility, and is now funding schools at about 30 percent.

You can bet that if the counties assume this shortfall, the state will let them and decrease its contribution.

Consider the following: why should folks in one community help pay for the schools in a distant community? More directly, there are several small towns bordering Champaign County that have their own schools to support but do not have large businesses at which they can shop. So they have to go to Champaign-Urbana to shop.

Even though we're told the 1 percent sales tax won't apply to food, medicine, vehicles or farm equipment, other costs will be affected – clothing, hardware and tools, home furnishings, lumber and building materials, garden and yard, etc.

So folks in smaller towns will have to go to Champaign-Urbana and pay a higher tax to pay for Champaign County schools. That makes the tax unfair. And it frowns on the statement already published that outsiders would pay for the Champaign County schools. Surely Champaign County could be more charitable than that.

Finally, if a sales tax increase is good enough for one county, why shouldn't the effort be directed statewide? Other schools have needs too.

JOSEPH T. HOUSKA

White Heath