On September 19 there will be a public meeting in New Boston about a proposed tax rate hike. I just want to say right here and now that over my years at the newspaper, by and large, public hearings are not very well attended. That is the really sad part of the story.

It has been noted often here in this space that apathy is the real problem eating away at our way of life. People today have developed a sense of “oh well” that seems to be so pervasive that we just can’t do anything about it.

We sit idly by and let things happen without ever voicing our opinion publicly, or in a manner that might impact change.

That fact is seen every time we have an election. Voter turnout is always abysmal. We want to sit around and gripe about our lot in life, while never taking the time to actually do something themselves.

While I may prescribe to that notion sometimes on a national level, or worldwide stage, I am a firm believer that on a local level we can still impact how things happen.

So, if you are opposed to a tax increase, show up and let your opinion be known. At the recent special meeting in New Boston where they proposed that tax rate, there was a good crowd of people present, yet only one stood to speak their mind when given the chance.

It is my experience from covering hundreds of these meetings that only one person standing to speak is fairly normal. I say again, if you want your voice to be heard, stand up and speak. Or, how about this. Write a letter to your hometown newspaper and let your opinion be known in that manner. If you don’t have the wherewithal to let your voice be heard, than you live with the outcome in silence too.

Now, as far as that tax hike is concerned, let’s look at it. The City of New Boston has proposed a tax increase that will mean an increase of three cents on every $100 dollars of value. If you do a little math on that, if your home is valued at $250,000 that means a tax increase of $75 per year.

Now let’s be real, $75 is real money however you want to look at it, and if your home is worth a lot more than that, then that number will be higher. For most property owners, it will be. A tax increase is a tax increase, no matter how you look at it. But, if you look around Bowie County, New Boston still has one of the lowest tax rates out there.

Either way you want to look at it, my original statement stands. If you are opposed to this tax increase, and you think it is unfair, then show up at the meeting on September 19, sign the little piece of paper that says you want to speak to the council, and then get your three minutes to tell them what you think. This tax increase is not set in stone. The council can vote to not adopt it. Let me say that again. What was done this past week was a PROPOSED tax rate. It has not been approved. Let those who represent you know how you feel, and then let them represent you.

That is the way America used to work. It is the way it should be now. That is also up to you.