Strong Opinions on Payroll Tax
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Updated: 5:51 AM Nov 6, 2007
Strong Opinions on Payroll Tax
Public gets chance to weigh in on new payroll tax.
Posted: 5:39 AM Nov 6, 2007
Reporter: Michael Wooten
Email Address: michael.wooten@wsaz.com
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Democracy in action. People packed into a middle school gymnasium in Grayson, Kentucky, Monday night to speak out against a new tax.

The mayor and most of council support it, but almost everybody else there strongly disagreed.

It was certainly a heated meeting at East Carter Middle school.

It was a chance for the public to weigh in on a proposed payroll tax.

About 500 people showed up to speak out. But before folks took to the microphones, city council voted to amend the ordinance, dropping the rate from 1.75 percent to 1.5 percent.

Although some people thought that was no big deal, after it was lowered, there was thundering applause. But from there, there was little agreement between the speakers and the mayor and council.

Mayor George Steele says the payroll tax is necessary to the future of Grayson. But the vast majority of folks say that's nonsense. Most of them live outside the city limits, but work in Grayson. And they say it's unfair to make them pay this tax.

One person asked Mayor Steele, "Why is it that I don't have a vote? I'm asking you why I don't have a vote in how my money is spent in this town. You've made up your mind or you would be willing to let us get together and discuss this."

The mayor said, "I understand how they feel, but I still want better for this community than what we've got, and we're not going to get there unless we put some effort into it. This type of tax is nothing new. About 130 towns in kentucky alone already pay it, including Ashland, Pikeville and Paintsville and many other towns."

This fight isn't over. There will be one more reading of this ordinance next Tuesday.

Folks are expected to come out to that meeting and have their voices heard.

This tax will likely take effect January 1.

As of now, only one council member is against it.


Latest Comments

Posted by: tayee on Nov 26, 2007 at 09:53 AM

how come the two new city clerk office workers in making the same $8.00 a hour that the police does? its it because both new workers are kin to the mayor?
Posted by: taxee on Nov 24, 2007 at 11:02 PM

TO B.R.D.-I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH THE GRAYSON POLICE OFFICERS MAKE,I'VE HEARD DIFFERENT AMOUNTS,ALTHOUGH I'M SURE THEY KNEW HOW MUCH THEY WERE GOING TO GET PAID BEFORE THEY TOOK THE JOB.AND FOR A FACT THEY WERE HIRED,NOT DRAFTED,THEY TOOK THESE JOBS WITH THER'RE EYES OPEN.MAYBE IT WAS THE NICE FAMILY PLAN THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT,I DON'T KNOW.BUT THEY DID KNOW HOW MUCH THEY WERE GOING TO GET PAID.YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A TOWN THAT HAS A LOW INCOME LEVEL,THE CITY POLICE ARE PROBABLY SOME OF THE BEST PAID PEOPLE IN GRAYSON WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE,MOST OF GRAYSON'S WORK FORCE DOSEN'T HAVE NEARLY AS MUCH.THE THING IS IT ONLY TAKES SOMETHING LIKE .16 % PAYROLL TAX TO START THEIR RETIREMENT.BUT LIKE THE REST OF US THE POLICE OFFICERS TOOK JOBS CLOSE TO HOME MAKING WHAT THEY COULD.WE ALL HAVE THE OPTION OF GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE TO MAKE MORE MONEY,IT'S JUST THAT THE REST OF US AREN'T ASKING THE POLICE OFFICERS TO TAKE A HUNK OUT OF THEIR INCOME TO FORTIFY OURS.WOULD THEY LIKE IT?
Posted by: B.R.D on Nov 24, 2007 at 03:47 PM

First off yes the city officers get paid if that is what you want to call it,the grayson officers do answer all there calls and will continue to do so but they didnt take the jobs for most of the public to bad mouth about them i feel that are city has about the best city officers and they do a great job i know myself i have drove threw grayson and seen grayson city officers helping people that there cars have broken down the officers take them to part store,gas station what ever it takes to get the car running and do you think it is the city officers job to do that i think not they do that because they are all good officers any way these officers can help there city they do,and nobody was bashing the grayson officers until the city taxe myself i think the city taxe is a great thing 1% come on now the thing is everbody is bad mouthing the city officers like they dont have to pay the city taxe but guess what they will have to pay that 1% just the same way as i do and you do
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