The Rice Thresher

Location: http://the.ricethresher.org/opinion/2008/02/15/blanket_tax_adjustment

February 15, 2008 > Opinion > 20 years necessitates blanket tax adjustment

20 years necessitates blanket tax adjustment

By The Rice Thresher Editorial Staff | Thresher Editorial Staff

When students vote in the Student Association elections, they will find a ballot filled with Constitutional Amendments galore and one very important blanket tax adjustment — increasing the Thresher blanket tax from $7.60 to $14.30. We cannot stress enough the importance of this change.

It has been 20 years since the last Thresher blanket tax increase, and our budget is starting to feel it. After all, those 20 years have seen an increase in inflation, in printing costs and in the overall amount of money it takes to run a newspaper. We have done everything we can to keep costs down and advertising revenue up, but after a certain point circumstances just go beyond our control.

We are not seeking any inordinate increase in the amount of funding. Rather, we are simply adjusting for 20 years worth of rising prices and changing markets — a dollar does not go as far as it used to, and adjusting for inflation, this tax increase will keep us right on track. If we could, we would merely ask that the blanket tax be tied to the cost of living or some other standard, but the cashier’s office insists on increases in block amounts.

In the end, students are still getting a great deal, paying only $14.30 for a product that otherwise would cost $60 per year.

So, come election day, we hope students vote to support the Thresher. It is your newspaper, and it needs your support.

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