I read with interest in the Feb. 2 edition of the newspaper about the bond election. Has anyone stopped to consider what this is doing to the local property owners? If you keep hiking up property taxes, especially in today's economy, it isn't going to be that many years until you end up with a ghost town.

People can't afford to retire as it is. They have to keep working to put money away to pay their property taxes, which in many cases averages out to be higher than paying monthly rent on similar properties, without the added burden of repairs and upkeep. So what would be the point in continuing to own property in this area when taxes are so much cheaper elsewhere?

There has to be an equitable alternative to bond elections. Just a few ideas off the top of my head would to be to raise merchandise tax slightly, or impose a one percent tax on food items. This would have all local citizens paying an equal share, not increasing the already heavy burden of local property owners.

Margaret Echols

Sherman