Nation needs serious investment
Mic Gordon’s Tuesday letter, “Keep deduction for mortgage interest,” was predictable since he is 2017 president of the Columbus Association of Realtors. No one has ever explained to me why the real estate industry is entitled to be subsidized by the government.
The Tax Reform Act of 1986 changed many provisions in the Internal Revenue Code. One of the most notable was the elimination of the personal interest deduction. Prior to this, you could deduct all credit card interest payments, regardless of what you purchased. I can only assume that campaign contributions (bribes) from the real estate industry saved them from being eliminated.
This nation is $19.8 trillion in debt and needs some serious investment. The real estate, agriculture, mineral and petroleum industries have all been singled out for subsides. What about all those “tax exempt” entities that have been swamped with fraud for decades?
It’s time for everyone to pony up and bring the overall tax rate down for the common good.
Stephen Lisak Columbus vowed to fight the construction of more apartments.
In fact, Carrier and Teater led the effort to pass Issue 9. That issue repealed residential tax incremental financing so apartment developers will no longer receive taxpayer dollars to pay for their gains. Hilliard residents passed that issue with 72 percent of the vote.
It seems other current council members running for re-election have no issues with more apartment development. Kelly McGivern and Bill Uttley have received hundreds of dollars in campaign contributions from developers. Joe Erb was not in favor of Issue 9.
Apartments do not help the Hilliard tax base and puts a further strain on our schools and fire/police services. Traffic also greatly increases. On May 2, residents should vote for Carrier, Baker and Teater.
Tim Ryan Hilliard Blacklick