Monstrous tax increases are going to hurt everyone

I have followed letters to the editor for 30 years but have never felt the need to write one myself. Upon opening my property tax bills the other day, I was prompted to write. I am the owner of a few rentals in Sandpoint and I hear all the time from the town officials how there is a shortage of affordable housing in the area. My rents are already at maximum for many of my tenants and I hesitate to be giving out huge increases.

Last June when the new appraisals were sent, I did go into the Appraisers Office to discuss the impact these huge increases in appraised values would have on the lower income people in the area, specifically my tenants. The person I spoke with basically told me too bad, just raise the rents. Now it kind of appears to me that they at the county and city level actually do not care about afforable housing at all but simply how much they can get out of the taxpayer.

Back to the other day when I opened my tax statements and compared them to last year’s actual taxdes. I find my tax liability has increased a whopping $6,233.88. I can absorb some of that monstrous incrase but I feel very sorry that my tenants are going to see large rent increases. Obviously other landlords and tenants in the Sandpoint area are now in the same position. So much for affordable housing.

JOAN SUTTON

Sandpoint