DEAR EDITOR:

I read the article in the Sept. 19 Vindicator about Mahoning County Auditor Ralph Meacham complaining about people not paying their property taxes on time and threatening them with publishing their names.

I don’t know where Meacham went to school, or what method he used to arrive at the percentages of increase, but I would like to tell you my numbers:

● Property tax in 2023 — $2,102.82

● Property tax in 2024 — $3,048.64

● Amount of increase annually — $945.82

● Percentage of increase — 45%

Further information:

● Social Security increase from 2023 to 2024 — $80 per month

● Annual increase — $960

Deducting the property tax increase from the Social Security increase shows an actual income increase of $14.18 for the year, or $1.18 per month.

Yes, $1.18 is the actual amount of increase per month to my income this year, so please don’t tell me the 9% increase is the figure Meacham arrived at. I have to question his mathematical abilities.

This $1.18 is supposed to cover all the increases in my monthly expenses: utilities, groceries, gasoline, etc. It will not even cover a sandwich at McDonald’s.

CHRISTINE STATLER

Canfield