Dear Editor,
After attending the city council meeting in White Sulphur Springs on Monday 11/14/2022, I have come to the conclusion that a system is in place to protect certain people.
The city council voted to increase water and sewer rates on the citizens stating rates had not been raised in 12 years.
This country is now facing the biggest economic crisis since the great depression, yet the City Government felt the need to place another burden on the people. I can’t imagine someone on a fixed income or a single parent working two jobs just to make ends meet having to decide whether to buy groceries, pay for prescriptions or to pay a water and sewer bill.
This is something I feel could have been avoided with budget cuts and cutting out a lot of unnecessary spending.
Also on the agenda was the issue of the B&O tax exemption for the WV Great Barrel Company. Council Person Mark Gillespie brought this matter to the council’s attention; after reading the ordinance that was set in place by the sitting members, light was shed on the subject of the WV Great Barrel Company’s failure to submit quarterly revenue reports to the city. It was also brought to the council’s attention that they had not had a city business license in well over a year. It was then said that the company had obtained a business license hours before the meeting was called to order.
In my opinion, something is not quite right with this situation; you either have an implemented B&O Tax or you do not. It was said at the meeting by Councilperson G.P. Parker that the exemption was an incubator for new businesses; what about your existing businesses, the businesses that made White Sulphur Springs what it is today? This is absurd and wrong.
At a regular council meeting held June 8th, 2013, which was my last meeting as Mayor of White Sulphur Springs, current Mayor Bruce Bowling, who was a member of the council, said, “Common sense has nothing to do with government.” He could not have said a truer statement, especially considering the actions of his administration.
Sincerely,
Thomas D. Taylor
Former mayor of White Sulphur Springs
