Some taxes are good.
According to John Kurtzman, Chief Counsel to Stark County Prosecutor John Ferrero, the Stark County Sales tax, which was passed last November, is, in the words of Martha Stewart, "a good thing."
Mr. Kurtzman worked diligently to pass the county sales tax, which funded important things like the office where he draws his paycheck.
"John L. Kurtzman, chief counsel for the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, told (Tuscarawas Township) trustees that Sheriff Timothy Swanson will hire back deputies if the tax passes and that some would be assigned to road patrol."
"Kurtzman, like many other county officials, encouraged trustees to pass a resolution of support. He highlighted several points regarding the tax, including that 30 percent of it will be paid by visitors to the county. The tax issue will appear as Issue 29 on the ballot" (The Independent, October 12, 2011).
And some taxes are bad.
Like the proposed reduction in the City of Massillon's 100% tax credit.
Chief Counsel Kurtzman, and Prosecutor John Ferrero are of the strong belief that they should continue to pay zero dollars (that's zero with a 'z') of income tax to the community where they live, and that asking them to pay half the income tax everyone else pays is much too egregious;
"They are then taking food away from their children, they’re taking shoes away
from them and its just unfair to hit one person or one family and not the other"
(Chief Counsel John Kurtzman, opposing the reduction of the 100% income tax credit, Massillon City Council minutes, February 6, 2012).
What we have learned.
When the county was facing a financial crisis, it was OK to raise taxes, thus taking "food and shoes away from our children," because this money was being used to fund the office where Mr. Kurtzman works.
Conversely, with Massillon facing a financial crisis, it is NOT OK to ask people like John Kurtzman, who live in Massillon, to pay half the city's income tax, as it is wrong to take "food and shoes away from our children" when the money comes from Mr. Kurtzman's wallet.
Now that that's clear, let's examine those who will truly have to worry about feeding and clothing their children so that Chief Counsel Kurtzman and Prosecutor Ferrero can continue to avoid paying any income tax to the city where they live.
http://www.indeonline.com/newsnow/x1018072816/Massillon-to-lay-off-27-including-10-firefighters-9-police-officers
A small price to pay so that Chief Counsel Kurtzman and Prosecutor Ferrero can live in our beloved city tax free.
