The Baltimore Sun reported recently that Harford County has a $32 million surplus. My question is, where did this surplus come from? My guess is from the overtaxed residents of Harford County. With this amount of surplus, it is obvious that real estate taxes are excessive. The county executive, David Craig, means well by proposing bonuses for all Harford County employees ("Harford's Craig responds on bonuses," Dec. 8). However, all residents of Harford County who pay property taxes should be receiving a bonu8s as well since they are the people who are being drained because their taxes are increasing faster than their income.
For years, I have been speaking out about issues of real estate taxes for people who are retired on a fixed income. If Harford County has a $32 million surplus, it can more than afford to give its retired citizens a tax break and all Harford County taxpayers a rebate.
The retirees are a forgotten group who are struggling to survive with every necessity in life increasing in cost. Tax relief for this group of people should be a priority with the Harford County government. It is not right or fair for longtime residents of Harford County to be forced out of their homes because of rising and unaffordable real estate taxes. If David Craig wants to buy votes by giving Harford County employees, a bonus, he should think of all the votes he could buy with a rebate to all Harford County taxpayers.
A $32 million surplus surely reinforces the fact that we have all contributed more than our share, and retirees especially deserve tax relief.
Nora Petri, Fallston