The Gadfly is a series of letters offering commentary on local issues and published in the Warrensburg Gazette.

April seems to be the focus of all good and bad news on taxes. After going through the agony of doing the income tax again – the record keeping, the arcane rules, the cost of preparation – I don’t see why more people don’t speak out to get rid of that monster and move to a consumption-based tax. The Fair Tax proposal is good for everyone: everyone would get a rebate based on what their family would spend on certain essentials, everyone pays on everything else. If you’re jealous of the rich, this proposal takes care of that; they spend more so they pay more taxes. What the rich don’t spend and pay taxes on, they invest, providing capital that creates jobs for the rest of us. Best of all, no intrusive IRS and fear of audits! See www.fairtax.org.

Speaking of taxes, the 3/8 of 1% Warrensburg sales tax for the parks has kicked in. We’ll all be looking for the great improvements in streets and sewers and signage now that the city’s general fund doesn’t have to support the parks anymore. They’ve got our money; now the city must deliver as promised.

On the other hand, we need to congratulate the Library Board. They’ve found a new site for the Warrensburg Branch of Trails Regional Library without leaving downtown Warrensburg and without coming to us for a tax hike. While the location isn’t central, it’s probably as convenient as we could expect. Best of all, they proved that a board can use a creative approach and donations to accomplish its goals.

There is a bit of good news for the taxpayer in April. Tax Freedom Day comes sometime this month. Up until that date, we’re all working to pay the governemnt; after that date we can work to pay ourselves. Isn’t it a bit ridiculous when about 30% of every penny earned in America goes to feed government at all levels?