To the editor:

Yes, Gov. Walz wants to make local tax-levy referenda “rare or extinct.” This would result in major financial relief for all rural taxpayers in Minnesota.

Yet you, Editor, write (1-29-19) that adding the $1.6 billion of referendum levies would create an additional burden for all of the state’s taxpayers.

First, sharing the education tax burden among all state taxpayers is fairer than burdening rural taxpayers.

Second, Minnesota is home to an unusually large number of fantastically wealthy individuals, families and corporations. Raising their taxes, even modestly, would create much better services for all of our public school students.

Increased financial help for poverty-stricken school districts would go a long way toward closing the achievement gap.

Walter O. Jones

Lake Crystal