Poor pay taxes, fees

Tue., Oct. 11, 2011

Regarding Mr. Jeremy Dean’s Sept. 25 letter (“No burden on poor”), I feel I must answer. The poor may not pay income taxes, but many of them live on $600 to $700 per month, or less. They also pay taxes on everything they buy that is not food. They pay taxes on phone and utility services, medications and vitamins, clothing and hardware. If they are privileged enough to have a car, they pay fees and taxes on licensing and keeping that car running.

Many things for which government used to waive the cost for the poor are now paid for by fees that everyone pays. Therefore, many poor people go without so many services.

My mother was high income by some standards at $1,500 a month. She paid high taxes on her home in 2009, yet by today’s poverty standards she would be classified as low income and still paying taxes.

Barbara Sires

Spokane

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