The Auburn City Council approved a 1 percent sales tax increase Tuesday night in a 7-2 vote.
This pushed the city's tax rate above the state average to 9 percent, effective August 1.
It has been estimated the increase will bring an extra $7 million in revenue for the city to help with road work, bridge repair and potentially a new school.
While we are pleased to see the city take efforts to keep our city running the way it is, we are disappointed in the methods.
Last year a property tax increase was voted down by the permanent residents of Auburn, warranting the need for this new tax.
It seems the citizens are passing the buck and are still displeased.
At the City Council meeting June 21, over 25 citizens came before the Council to voice their anger at the new tax.
It seems they aren't happy with any solution the city comes up with, which is concerning.
The majority of the population in Auburn from August to May is students.
These students shop, eat and are entertained locally.
Students will carry the bulk of the burden of this tax increase, and most of us only live here four or five years.
Unless a job magically opens up in our field in town, most of us will not live here longer or raise kids here.
You don't see us complaining.
We don't mind paying an extra penny on the dollar to keep our city beautiful.
One of the perks of going to school here is bringing friends and family down or walking around the well-maintained city.
Auburn looks like a postcard, and that is part of the draw for people not raised as Tiger fans to attend this University.
We've all been to other cities in the state and country and seen the sorts of conditions we could be living in.
The city takes pride in the services it is able to provide for its citizens, and we take pride just to be able to say we live here.
For people who live here full time to complain about the costs of maintenance makes us wonder if they appreciate their surroundings.
We have seen the efforts Auburn has taken to keep the city clean and how that sometimes takes priority over other matters like pedestrian safety.
Students and game day visitors contribute a sizable chunk of the city's economy.
The city also made an amendment to say if a property tax increase were to occur in the next few years, the sales tax would go back to its previous rate.
That should be enough to quiet citizen's concerns, but the outcry showed otherwise.
We understand the need for growth and also the strains people are under in this difficult economic climate.
The thing we hope residents will understand is the money for these projects has to come from somewhere.
If the city is to continue to be one of the cleanest, most affordable places to live, some concessions must be made.
We don't mind carrying the majority of this burden to better a city most of us only live in nine months out of the year.
If the property tax increase had been approved, this would not even be an issue.
This is a temporary solution to a long-term problem and in a recession, people need to make sacrifices.
At the end of the day, the decision lies with the city council and they will keep the city's best interests at heart.
We will gladly pay the extra penny for the remainder of our time here.
We just hope the citizens of Auburn don't continue to vote down revenue increasing taxes that will keep our city looking like a postcard.
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