Renters Pay Taxes Too

There are two problems with Josh Meyer’s otherwise excellent story headlined “Success of Police Tax May Hinge on Valley” (Times Valley Edition July 12).

First, and probably unintentionally, the story seems to put the pressure on the Valley as a potential negative force against what should be a positive effort: a tax to get more police on the job.

The second concern is that Meyer only called on representatives of homeowner groups for comment as if they are the only ones who pay property taxes. The fact is, all renters pay property taxes--commercial tenants via specific pass-throughs from their landlords, and apartment dwellers through their rents which have the taxes factored in. In other words, there are plenty of voters who, for one reason or another, don’t own homes but pay their dues to the city anyhow.

JOSEPH HONICK

Chatsworth