Working-class citizens had better start speaking out about what’s best for America. It’s obvious our leaders are letting us down.

Our “leaders” are doing what is best for their position and their personal income and benefits. Locally, leaders are being paid more than they are worth and much more than citizens can afford.

Are city and county managers worth $150,000-$170,000 per year, plus benefits that equal another $25,000 and lucrative packages when they retire or get fired? Wouldn’t it be nice if city and workers, construction workers etc. could retire with such benefits? All those workers get is their last week’s pay and maybe Social Security, which is too little to live on. No, we the people are not receiving any benefits from our leadership. We are losing our homes; jobs are going overseas; we are paying for benefits for immigrants, and many have thousands of dollars of credit-card debt.

Why can’t a limit be placed on our leaders’ pay? Make the limit $100,000, about four times what many jobs pay, and there should not be any increases until that leader shows what he has done to save us money.

A few helpful suggestions for savings (all based on tax value) might be:

Homes valued at $125,000-$150,000: 1 percent tax for the first 10 years; 0.5 percent for the next 10 years; $0 tax after 20 years.

Homes $150,000-$250,000: 2 percent tax for the first 10 years; 1.5 percent for the next 10 years; $0 tax after 20 years.

Homes $250,000 and above: 3 percent tax for the first 10 years; 2.5 percent for the next 10 years; $0 tax after 20 years.

Auto tax: $25 per year (no increase); inspection, $25 every two years; tag stickers and driver’s license, $50 for five years.

Locally, by reducing the city and county manager’s salaries to $100,000 per year and eliminating some benefits, we could save $150,000-$250,000 per year or more.

Savings could be found by our leaders if they expect future benefits. Happy new year!

— Gus Knox

Salisbury