<strong>Clarissa Bettini</strong> (center) holds up a sign protesting a rental tax during a public hearing before the City Council Tuesday evening at the Tucson Convention Center. More than 600 people were in the meeting room and another 400 people were outside the meeting room.
We trust the Tucson City Council heard the message loud and clear Tuesday night, as hundreds of citizens poured out to protest a proposed rent tax.
Our elected officials face a challenge in drafting a budget with a serious shortfall of revenue.
But they must seriously consider the burden that extra taxes impose on low-income residents during this dire recession.
With unemployment at extremely high levels, state social services being slashed and no relief in sight, the prospect of a new rent tax did not sit well with Tucson voters – and understandably so.
City officials now should head straight back to the drawing board to search for other ways to raise revenues or, better yet, cut costs.
The people have spoken – loudly. Now the City Council needs to acknowledge that it got the message.