The school board faces “how to pay for retirees’ health insurance benefits.” The board may issue bonds. Payments of the bonds would be a levy to the taxpayer — a levy, the taxpayers would not get to vote. Taxation without representation. History tells us our forefathers had a similar experience. They dumped tea in the harbor. Would our taxpayers dump our school board in the lake? Our board is usually in a difficult situation. Doing a job under difficult circumstances. Usually a no-win conclusion.

Health insurance costs have gone through the roof. Larry Kellogg, director of finance and operations and the actuary, must take into consideration the increases in health care costs and increase retirees’ co-pay accordingly. Retirees will still benefit. Many corporations have and are cutting pension and health care benefits. The most recent company is Anheuser-Busch. I believe government agencies have or will follow. My Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield premiums increase every year. I pay the full cost — no co-pay! The operating levy referendum approved November 2007 became effective July 1, 2008. This levy will increase or property tax, beginning 2009 and continue for seven years.

Albert Lea does not have enough (larger) corporations/businesses. City/county budgets rely on individual tax payers for their revenue. The majority of Albert Lea’s taxpayers are senior citizens.

To be competitive, Albert Lea citizens were told, we need a new high school. A state-of-the-art school was built. Clean lakes, half-cent sales tax passed. Funds necessary to provide students, class size, activities, etc. Levy referendum to increase per pupil funding from $489 to $958, passed November 2007 to be added to property tax statement. Effective July 1, 2008, and next seven years. Please “no new taxes.”

Albert Lea competed for many corporations/business (Ford, Target, Novozymes, to name a few). Certainly a disappointment to Albert Lea Economic Development Agency, city manager, city council, county administrator/commissioners and others. What is Albert Lea/Freeborn County missing?

Robert Mares

Albert Lea