Your Opinion: Should Ameren customers subsidize Noranda?
Dear Editor:
From the Sept. 15 News Tribune article I see that Noranda has cash problems and their solution is to have Ameren customers pay a higher utility rate to subsidize Noranda. I assume the higher rate would apply to all Ameren customers; schools, government facilities, commercial establishments, and individuals.
So, in reality not only would the individual pay one percent more initially, but would see an increased tax bill for increased utility costs for schools, city and county operations, fire departments, and an increase in prices for goods and services from the commercial establishment because of their increased costs.
It might even result in job losses for the other entities, especially small businesses who not only will have higher operating costs but possible loss of income as individuals will have less disposable income for purchases.
I assume Noranda’s Tennessee headquarters executives have already raised the price of their products and reduced salaries and bonuses and dividends to meet their financial crisis. Perhaps if Noranda could give us a specific monetary figure as to what they need to continue operations, we could then either reduce their tax obligation or just raise the taxes paid by all Missourians to keep private companies profitable.
