There is a Truth in Taxation hearing scheduled for tonight (December 6, 2007) to discuss the proposed budget for the upcoming year for Morrison County.  It will be held at 7 p.m. in Meeting Room 1 of the Government Center (a.k.a. the Courthouse).

The City of Little Falls is having its Truth in Taxation hearing on Monday, December 10, 2007, at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall.

Little Falls School District #482 had its Truth in Taxation hearing on December 3.

The Truth in Taxation hearings, which are held by all local units of government that tax citizens, are your opportunity as tax payers to get heard concerning the property taxes that you have to pay.  I imagine you could also weigh in on how your governmental unit is spending your tax dollars.  I say “I imagine” because I, like most people, haven’t attended one of these hearings.  Scary, isn’t it?  Here is a great opportunity to exercise our democratic rights and we so easily bypass it.  Is the government to assume that we think it’s doing a good job?  That it’s spending our money appropriately?

Our silence on the matter is as good as giving the government permission to proceed as planned.  If you don’t like the plan, now’s your chance to speak up.

Guiltily floating silently among the weeds,

Phineas F. A. Pickerel