Jared Strong, in his July 24 column, “Ames regulations are anti-student,” may want to check his sources before making blanket statements about raising property taxes instead of using the local option tax. Recently, the city reassessed property taxes for everyone in the city, raising the assessed value, thereby also raising property taxes (I was one of the lucky ones, my assessment only went up $5,200). The local option tax is not just a burden to 27,000 ISU students, but rather a tax everyone in the city shares. The property owner therefore gets a double-whammy of increased property taxes by way of assessment, plus the option tax. The student gets the double-whammy of increased tuition plus the option tax.

Welcome to the growing pains of living in the recently dubbed ‘metropolis’ of Ames. Let’s grow together.

Norma J. Dowell

Library Assistant

Parks Library