City work session was long but fairly interesting. Not much on the agenda for tonight, but there's a lot of things cooking.
Coming down the pike is a proposal for a one-cent sales tax. This would go to voters next year perhaps, or maybe even the spring of next year.
This could be the next controversy coming our way. I still say a sales tax is the most fair tax. Everyone pays, and those who have more to spend pay more, and those who have less to spend pay less.
Basically half would go to the city and half would go to the hospital to help pay for a new hospital. That would be about $750,000 each for each year for 10 years. You have to have a cap on it at some point, which could either be a certain number of years or a certain amount of money.
They are discussing whether it would be better for each entitiy to seek its own sales tax - a half a cent each - or to go in together for a vote.
This is all part of the budgeting process.
They are trying to stay within their means, and to even cut taxes if they can.
But you still have infrastructure needs.
If they did the sales tax it would be for street repair. That seems to be a top priority of the commission.
The sales tax is still in the "thinking" stage. We're not really even close to having an actual proposal, and even when we get to that point, there has to be a general vote.
The windows thing is still in the works.
The planning or zoning board will get it the first of june. So it could be back before the commission for its second meeting in June or in July.
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43 comments:
I am floored that the city talking about another sales tax for street improvements. I thought they already had it in budget to fix the streets? I think this is coming at a bad time to consider seeing how we are paying for a school bond tax now.
Let's just throw in some raises for all the city personnel, and maybe a chocolate fountain in the park while we're at it. Think of all the fat squirrels we'd have to draw tourists to town. Hell, I'd pay an extra 12 cents sales tax on the dollar for that!
New sales tax? I don't think we can blame the tin on the windows for those shoppers that go elsewhere. What are you all thinking??????
its just a thought at this point.
but, you do complain about the streets.
if you dont want the tax, dont complain about the streets.
but its not going to happen any time soon anyways.
yummmm.........chocolate fountain. I'll be there! :)
Yea
maybe some fresh strawberries and bananas to use with the fountain.
and of course cookies ...
and dont forget the coffee .. lots of coffee
There seems to be some confusion. Not unusual considering the source. A 0.5% sales tax was just suggested by the hospital as a way to make the new hospital a reality. Mayor Kuhn insists that he would not be interested unless there is also a 0.5% sales tax that is restricted to ONLY FOR STREETS. He insists that they must be at the same time and not separate.
Between the jail sales tax and the school bond issue this is a tough time, but if the people of Ark City want big changes they will have to pay for it. Neither the hospital, nor the major street improvements, will happen without the people backing them. The city is making cuts now to save money. Even with the cost of living increases and operating costs rising the city did not raise the mil levy for the past several years (though the other taxing entities have). Any improvements will have to have a source of income. The city does not print money, it only has our taxes to pay for these things.
If we want these improvements, these sales taxes are the best source. Anyone that shops in Ark City, no matter where they live, will help pay for these improvements. It's up to us. Either we do something like this, or quit complaining because it isn't being done.
Go ahead and raise the sales tax. Any large ticket shopping we do is done out of town anyway.
BTW, Just think of the sales tax a large retail store... maybe a LOWES for example... would bring in after this tax hike. If the tax was iplemented on a money goal, and not a time goal, we would reach the goal much sooner, thereby lowering the burden on us all. Good thing that idea was shot down. It was in the people's best interest after all. (and by People's I mean Curtis Eaton's)
the Lowe's property taxes would have paid for the improvements (water, sewer, parking...) but the rest of the shopping center would have been all new taxes. Unfortunately the city commission doesn't want any new business or any new taxes. Unless the downtown merchants tell them it's ok.
How soon can we get someone in to replace the 3 amigos that will work for us?
AGREED
As I recall, no property taxes from lowes for 20 years and no sale tax revenues for 15 years was the deal with the tif. Guess it still would have not helped. Am I wrong James?
Guess it still would have not helped. Am I wrong James?
Somewhat.
no property tax for 20 years or whatever the time period, from lowes
BUT, property tax from other businesses that would have opened in the shopping center would have come into the city immediately.
i think the sales tax would have come in to the city immediately.
I was referring to SALES tax, not property tax. Who cares if they didn't pay property tax for 20 years. How much money is that land bringing in with nothing on it?
More money spent in an Ark City Lowe's store would have meant more sales tax revenue, no matter how you slice it. Think of all the Winfield dollars that would have been pumped into our economy and our streets.
The 3 Amigos dropped the ball on that one BIG TIME!
It doesn't make any difference. We will go to Ponca and Wichita and pay their employees and their taxes. While we are there we will have lunch or dinner, and maybe shop at another place or two.
Have you noticed all the Lowe's commercials on TV lately? I'd love to have people coming here instead of me paying $3.75 a gallon to get there.
We can't get it back. How do we keep stupid things like this from happening again?
Is there was a way to recall those idiots? Any ideas?
The three amigos strike again!
I here the City Manager put in his notice today. What are they trying to do to us?
Yeah, and he's been here for what, a whole year now? I guess he better hope he gets it, because they will run him out for trying to leave.
I sure wouldn't want his job.
I here the City Manager put in his notice today. What are they trying to do to us?
No
he has not put in his notice
he has applied for a cm job in south dakota and is among the 3 finalists.
no offer has been made and he has not resigned.
could happen though
He got the job, Yankton newspaper has confirmed he his their new city manager. Here we go again!
According to Cindy Waugh the City HR person he has given his 30 day notice.
NO !
the yankton paper conformed he is a FINALIST ... one of three.
he has not yet been offered the job.
that was at 10 a.m. this morning when we talked with him on his cell phone.
but he was out of town and plans to be back tomorrow.
wouldn't be too surprised if there is an offer coming
but it has not yet come
and it has not been confirmed
oooh, how about a new group of amigos? how about arleta, one of the niles brothers and Lee Gregg? they could turn this city around! we could get exactly what we've always gotten previously. maybe they can woo the lowes back so we can put some businesses under while we wait 20 years to get any of their money. don't forget, the tiff tdd takes the sales tax. the only new current taxes are from property. you *could* see some sales tax if other stores come in, but you *could* also be looking at something like the spot across from the bowling alley and the vacancies next to blcokbuster. we should be thankful that they current comission is keeping taxes from increasing when taxes are going up everyewhere else locally. we need the ac industries gang back in control!
Why do you keep bashing aci? They haven't done anything in years.
oh, wait. I get it.
You mean you don't respect the mafia?
What if all of the sweetheart deals that are industrial properties outside of the city limits were brought inside the city for tax purposes?
Would that help? Could that help avoid the need to raise taxes on everyone else? The way I see it they have not been paying their fair share anyhow. We mighthave to wait a little longer for the dollars to grow but at least everyone wouldnt have to pay.
Personally I like the irony of the school bond and the other arguments being made on here. That one is for the kids but who are the streets for? It was 30some millions versus about 1 and a half million. hmmm benefit the kids while they are in school but graduate them and have them drive their cars they just paid for over all the potholes. that will Keep the alignment places in business. vote against the sales tax increase as it will help the car shops do well!
just as a point of fact
it is hard to annex property in kansas.
hard to do without their permission.
not sure it would be worth the legal expense.
"you *could* see some sales tax if other stores come in"
Once the property is annexed it starts paying tax. If it is improved (parking, utilities...) it starts paying MORE tax. When they build it starts paying even more.
You've been lied to and believe it. You win, and got what you deserve.
the sweetheart deals did bring in jobs at a hard time. I guess jobs don't amount to much anymore.
But I agree that now that they are fully developed they should be annexed. Will the taxes affect the business... yes. Will we lose some business... probably. Will it be better for the city... most likely.
We'll never know because the 3 amigos will go to any extreme to protect the businesses even shutting down the town and not letting anything else in!
I am not so convinced that Lowe's would have helped our local economy. I would like to see the city court some industry jobs which will pay more than $10 per hour. We do not have a problem with unemployment in this town, we are just underpaid. I believe higher wages would bring more purchasing power. This could increase home prices and improve retail numbers. Wouldn't this increase tax revenue, too?
I just spoke with a man this week who moved here from California to retire. He said his "Cali" friends made fun of him for moving to Kansas. However, he said it was like moving to a third world country. Everything is cheap and he can live like a king here.
the amigos saved us from your greed and nearsightedness. keep kissing hnb butt. see where it gets you.
I keep kissing it every time I go to Wichita and Ponca to spend my money.
I keep kissing it every time while I'm in Ponca and Wichita to shop at Lowe's I get lunch and maybe dinner.
I keep kissing it every time I go Lowe's and pay THEIR employees and THEIR taxes.
I keep kissing it every time I pull more our of Ark City to give it to the other towns.
How much are the other towns paying YOU to take more away from Ark City to give (taxes, money, jobs, increased business, ancillary business) to them?
Keep blaming other people if you want, but wake up to what YOU are doing!
I will gladly blame you because you are part of the problem since you are spending all of your time and money out of town.
If you and your homo national buddies had any allegiance to this town other than to try to make a buck off of it, we wouldn't have to blame you. Yet since your mind is constantly on how you can spend more of your time and money in Ponca and Wichita and Arizona, we realize that you aren't really much committed to the betterment of Ark City.
You would rather tear down those you disagree with. You would rather keep lying about the Lowes and try to turn it into something it isn't was't and never would be. Have you seen the new mini-walgreens? It is half the size of a normal walgreens on the inside. That is the kind of Lowes we would have gotten. It wouldn't get the draw you pretend it would have. It is easy for you to paint a picture of a thriving metropolis out north. Talk to people in Ponca and you find out that their Lowes is no special stimulus package for their town.
In fact the city leaders and elected officials from Ponca came up here (was it last week) to study what we are doing here because we have some many good things going on and have been so effective and have been having things happen that they wanted to emulate. James, why don't you do a story on that because I only heard about it 3rd hand and would like to know more about what they were looking for and what they saw.
Thank you Mr. Kuhn. We are already well aware of your opinion
They need to at lest fix Kansas Ave. That steet is horrible, especially at 2nd and Kansas. If I don't slow way down to 15 or 20 there, my car starts fish tailing in the right spot.
/from previous post> We'll never know because the 3 amigos will go to any extreme to protect the businesses. -- Which businesses are they protecting? If they were protecting business, why is that bad? Why don't YOU want to protect business? If you are a local lender, don't you want your customers protected?
funny about that earlier post getting attributed to Kuhn. everybody knows he doesn't have internet access.
Schaller Trent Brown and Paton should all run for commission at the next possible time. Wait, do any of them live here?
What cat got your tongue? We would be better off with some working class representation.
Have they ever worked a day in thier lives?
First, why should we protect business? The business is here to serve us. If they don't serve us they don't belong. It is not my obligation to pay more than I need to for things I don't need. Besides I'm tired of them treating me like dirt when I come in.
Second, a lender only lends to people who will pay it back and who create more business. If the borrowers are locking up the business how can the lender expand? Isn't that the nature of business? Everything has to grow or it dies. Nothing can stand still while things grow around it. Who does it benefit to watch those that close us off kill the rest of town slowly and very efficiently?
These bankers are much too smart to run for office. People in office are either there to take advantage of the situation or to fight the abuse. There is no way they can win at both. The idiots who can't see a draw to our town just have to have the spotlight. Mayor Dotty is still running the show as she joggles Mayor Mell's elbow every 2 minutes. All 3 of the 3 amigos get together to plot and plan without the rest of the commission or the city manager. And what good have they done the city? Chased away new stores. Chasing awa our new city manager. Eliminating the experienced people from the boards. Forcing volunteers to apply to work for boards as if it were a paid for job. Taking credit from other cities for sending our business out of town. And what other secrets are they not sharing with us? This is what I have seen, and has been listed in the paper. What are the 3 amigos going to do next just because they have the power? Maybe we can sweet talk these businessmen into getting our commission back to a professional level.
ooooohhhhhhoooohooo ahahahaaahaa an evil conspiracy hath been uncovered. the conspiracy is the bank trying to kill the existing business so they can get more business as the poster so eloquently stated their underlying intentions. the commission is trying to move things ahead inspited of the evil bank. you are right about one thing. who on earth would want to run for office especially after the way these 3 have been treated. the bankers would be too smart to do it because they know it would hurt their business unless they try to please everyone.
what's the matter? You don't think the bank wants to make money? Can they make more money by decreasing business? Pull your head out. It would have been nice having that $40 Million dollars put back into the city. OOPS, sorry we don't want that!
Maybe half of the $40. maybe. and no benefit for 20 years. by then, they could pull out and you get an empty building.
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