To the editor,
Our Grand Forks public servants are about to spend a lot of taxpayer money. On Monday, they want to purchase the Herald building for $2.75 million using money from the Growth Fund. The Growth Fund is made up of sales tax and rent from other properties that we, the taxpayers, own. That's taxpayer money.
I can think of many other ways to spend $2.75 million for the good of Grand Forks. The debate over whether or not to buy the Herald building occurred between the Growth Fund Committee and the Jobs Development Authority. But, get this, these two groups include, the mayor, and all city council members and they agreed with themselves.
The same seven to 10 people sitting around agreeing with each other, doesn't seem like a valid or serious debate about how to best spend taxpayers' $2.75 million. I think the taxpayers should have been offered citywide town halls specifically to discuss such a huge purchase.
Should the city and taxpayers be in the real estate business to bail out private business owners? I don't think we should.
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Our public servants want to buy the Herald building and fill it with non-taxable entities, like UND, Grand Forks Public Schools, city offices, and the library. That means that no tax revenue will be generated. However, they will charge rent to these publicly owned entities.
That means taxpayers will be paying rent on places we are already taxed on.
It is disappointing that our public servants, the same seven to 10 people who sit around agreeing with each other, come up with solutions that overwhelmingly benefit the profit-driven desires of the business community. At the same time, their solutions overwhelmingly burden the taxpayer and offer limited benefits.
Buying the Herald building is just the latest example.
I am not anti-business; however, I am a strong advocate for responsible government that serves the best interests of the people.
If you are against taxpayers paying rent on public places we already pay taxes to support, call Mayor Brown at 701-746-2607.
Angela Nagel
Grand Forks
