To the Editor,

I just read the article, “Weirton moving ahead on plans for park levy.” Really, are you kidding me, more taxes for the citizens? What kind of city government do we have in Weirton? This is the most ridiculous move the city has made, yet.

Since it really doesn’t do anyone any good going direct to council with an issue, I decided to go to the letter to the editor. Not to be critical, but taking anything to council is like a deer staring into headlights. You get no comments, no response.

The article stated that a resolution was approved by council to place an excess levy in support of the city’s parks on the November election ballot. There was no explanation as to why we need more of our tax dollars to support our city parks. There should be a line-item budget for Parks in place, already. Here’s how it works, in three easy steps; you plan, you budget, you execute the plan. I’m sorry, but if Parks Director Coty Shingle, who is responsible for Parks, can’t do the job on what’s budgeted, then the job should move on to someone who can.

Why is Coty looking for $10 million? For what? You just throw up a dollar amount, no explanation for what it’s going to be used for, or why it’s needed, so let’s just tax the citizens. I say STOP. There is a lot more information needed, especially for “about” $10 million, before being placed on a ballot. A $10 million infusion can build a new home development community, not trees and grass. There has to be another way to address the Parks issue aside from raising property taxes. What has happened to common sense thinking? If this ridiculous effort moves forward, this is how I’ll ask the citizens to vote in November – plain and simple – NO to the Parks Levy!

We have so many taxes placed on the citizens as it is, now we want to increase property taxes and add more taxes to the citizens. Doesn’t make any sense! If you can’t run the city on revenue income, on budget, without placing a tax on the citizens, then it’s time to replace council with more competent, creative thinking leaders, and fast.

Thomas Zielinsky

Weirton