To the editor:

Who benefits from the proposed Mat-Su Borough wide 3 percent sales tax?  First the borough, by raising more total dollars from the property taxpayers and in the sales tax. The right pocket is property taxes and the left pocket is sales taxes. Let’s face it folks, they want more money from us and don’t let them take it from both of your pockets.

So who will benefit? Large commercial property owners, large land owners or property owners who have $600,000-plus homes as well as out-of-state property owners. Take Wal-Mart for example (MSB land and building assessed value is $20.892 million), their 2009 property tax bill is $244,442.25 and they will receive $55,992.00 in property tax savings if this sales tax passes. Who do you think will make up the difference and then some? The shoppers in their store, you and I. The same will happen with other large retail stores in the borough. Oh by the way, this sales tax is also on your electric, phone, natural gas, heating oil bills, vehicle fuels and any services such as hiring a carpenter, plumber, mechanic, or even a surveyor, etc.

This is not a true property tax reduction because the borough can still increase the non-areawide, fire and road service mill rates. These are not capped or included in the reduced mill rate only the areawide rate is proposed to be reduced. Remember they can also increase your assessed value to get more money from you in the property tax right pocket.

The $20,000 reduction in property value is only for your home and not on other land or your cabin or remote property you might own and they can easily increase your assessed value by $20,000 in one year so don’t bite the carrot they are dangling in your face.

If you want true and lasting property tax relief elect assembly people who are conservative and promise to spend less each year. Let’s replace the incumbents and vote in new fiscally responsible assembly persons.

Please, we all need to vote no on the borough sales tax Tuesday. Don’t let 17.2 percent (2008 voter turn-out) decide what is best for the majority of the borough residents. The borough is counting on a low voter turn-out to get this sales tax finally passed.

Pio Cottini

Palmer