To the editor:

The taxpayers of the city of Craig deserve better representation than they are getting if the City Council approves ordinance 951(2005). I was told that the reason this ordinance was needed was so they include utility companies that came in after the 1985 code was written. This will increase to a 3 percent fee that the utility companies (electric, gas and phone) add to your utility bill each month, which is more than double the amount it is right now. That tax will show on your monthly bill as an occupational surcharge or fee. Bruce Nelson, the city finance director, said in the Daily Press that it would be an average of $2 a month, but really it is about $2 a month per utility, and that is about $72 a year. Still not a lot of money, but at the first of the year if your property tax was higher by $72 and there was no increase in the value of your property, you would be right into the County Assessor Office protesting that unfair raise in your taxes. I think that this fee (tax) is unfair, and I for one plan on be at the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday to protest this unfair tax. If the city needs more revenue, they should justify it and put it on the ballot and let the voters decide. I hope that all of you that read this letter will join me at the City Council meeting Sept. 13.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Shelton