Opinion Piece By Linda Sutter – August 26, 2020 Do we really need another tax? Remember When Supervisor Chris Howard announced, “We need to increase sales tax 1%, because of COVID 19"? Well It’s a MIRACLE!!!! DEL Norte County, has received $463,880. A total estimated allocation has been established by the State in the amount of $2,783,280. The schedule for providing the funding includes 6 equal payments to Counties and stretches through October, 2021. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act) funding must be utilized for costs associated with the COVID-19 response within Del Norte County and has several eligible uses. Costs associated with payroll for “substantially dedicated” employees are eligible and are a substantial cost to the County. This includes Public Health and Public Safety related employee payroll. Other uses include, but are not limited to, COVID-19 tracking and tracing, telework improvements for employees, some medical expenses, economic support, housing support, and administrative expenses. Counties are expected to follow the Executive Orders of the Governor, and a determination by the State that a County is not complying with the orders may result in future funding allocations being denied. So there you have it folks, a fake pandemic for the promise of money. FISCAL IMPACT No negative fiscal impact, however off-setting COVID 19 related expenses will assist the County in addressing funding shortfalls. If the County fails to comply with Governor’s Executive Orders, funding may be withheld or required to be returned. Isn’t it funny how socialism works? Here is some money to bribe you with, all you have to do is go along with the Governor and pretend there is a pandemic, and you can receive Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars! What a great game. In the meantime we don’t care how this is affecting our children who are deprived from going to school normally. We don’t care that our businesses are barely making it. The only thing these elected people care about was announced by Chris Howard, "Raise sales tax 1 percent to make up for Covid 19.” Laughable.