Not Fair that PUD Bills are Raised over Pot Issue

The first one being the proposal for a B&O tax for South Bend. I retired from the City of South Bend after 26 years of employment with them and this tax proposal had come up a few times during those years and was always voted down.

While I was still working there, South Bend was one of only nine cities in the state that did not have a B&O tax. The proposal that is being introduced this year, I believe, is long overdue. I think it is about time that the tax be adopted because it is my understanding that it will not affect small businesses; so it will not hinder them coming to South Bend. Besides, that never seemed to be the issue whether a business came to South Bend, because often times, they would take their enterprise to Raymond anyway (which has always had a B&O tax).

My second issue is the raising of our PUD bills. The idea that we have to pay higher PUD bills because the marijuana operations use more electricity so we now have to purchase more from Bonneville is hogwash. Many people wanted this operation in our area, but those of us that did not approve of it should not have to support it. I realize a lot of people feel that it is a good thing, but personally, I do not want any of my hard-earned money going to support this business. Also, there was a letter in the paper today that stated low income people can apply for assistance with their PUD bills, but did you ever stop to think, there are many elderly people out there who had have enough pride that they don't want to have to always ask the government to help them pay their bills (and they shouldn't have to).

They say it will create 50 to 60 jobs, but as a lot of us know, the grow operations that have been busted around here only needed two or three people working on it. I have been concerned about it being on port property because it is still not legal by federal law; so if this entrepreneur gets into any type of legal situation, will the taxpayers be responsible for part of the legal fees? If so, I certainly do not want my taxpayer dollar paying for them.

Call me "redneck" if you like, but my experience with pot has always been negative because working with the court systems, I have only seen how it destroys individuals and their families. I realize that, for medicinal purposes, it might help, but as a recreational drug, it has usually opened doors to harder drugs, laziness, and heartbreak. So, if this business uses the power, they should have to pay for it, not us!

Millie Clements