We will have a story in today's (thursday) paper about sales tax receipts in Arkansas City and Winfield.
Both cities are reporting record sales for 2008. Both had about an 8 percent increase in sales. Winfield's is slightly larger to start with.
But it is interesting that there was more money spent in both cities than ever in 2008.
Maybe it was because gas was $4 a gallon and people didnt go out of town as much.
I know we are in a recession, and maybe in a depression. But still, fear and such only makes it worse.
What we need, both locally and nationally, is strong leadership. People with vision and the intestinal fortitude to carry that vision forward. Complaining and moaning about the economy - or blaming the other side - is not the answer.
I dont know if Obama is the answer or not.
But ill give him a chance before i make a judgement. Im not republican or democrat, so ... i dont have that preconceived notion. :)
It is time to move on from politics as usual.
The pubs are moaning about the end of the world because the dems are in power.
yada yada yada
The dems think its so great that they are in power now, and they are finally going to fix things.
Yea right.
Until both sides get over themselves, we may not make much progress.
Political parties are not the answer, and consevative or liberal ideologies are not the answer either.
Maybe the real moderates will finally come forward.
Someone asked about how many local people are being laid off from jobs like at Cessna in Wichita. Im not sure how to track that. I ll look into it and see what i can find.
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Thanks for looking into it, JJ. Maybe the unemployment office would have some idea. Many people are not yet laid off (but soon will be), so not sure if that will work.
Meet the new boss.. same as the old boss.
I think that the labels Republican and Democrat need to go away so that we can see that we are all Americans.
I agree, it is time for all parties to come together instead of fighting one another over everything. The democrats and republicans came together briefly after the 9/11 attacks, they need to do this now and stay together permanantly. I would think the economy is perceived as depending on your own personal circumstances. If one lost their job, they would probably see it as a depression. No, we are not in a depression and have a long ways to go before it would get there. As long as the politicians don't screw it up. The banks and companies getting slices of the bailout need to be held accountable for their actions and show proof of where the money is actually going. They have received billions of our dollars and are in no better shape then before the bailout.
"it is time for all parties to come together instead of fighting one another over everything."
Good luck with that.
I think the problem does not reside within the political parties but from within society as a whole. After all we elect these people into office based on a lot of propaganda, agenda pushing and entitlement good will.
We do not take a stand against those elected officials who don't have our best interest in mind. We don't require accountability for breaking campaign promises, ineffective and non progressive leadership while they are in office.
When was the last time you wrote your senator? =)
We get what we deserve.
"Good luck with that"
Yep! So true.
"We get what we deserve."
Ditto. Interesting how something can be wrong in one generation and right in the next. Even enforced by judges. I've always thought of it as the people we elect are reflections of the man on the street. Not be able to create a hard & fast rule with this, but... food for thought. But, right is right and wrong is wrong in every generation.
D.Q.
Governor's budget could hurt Ark City
By JAMES JORDAN
Traveler Editor
news@arkcity.net
City Manager Steve Archer believes the governor's budget plan could have a detrimental effect on Arkansas City.
"It is really going to impact us," he said.
He said it would take about 7 percent from the street fund, and about $40,000 - $50,000 from the city's general fund.
Archer said his biggest concern was that the state would take away money and the city would never get it back.
He said in 2003 when the state was struggling, "the state balanced its budget on the backs of cities and counties. We lost $250,000 then and we have not got that money back," he said.
The city lost almost $1 million last year from state tax breaks on business machinery and equipment. The cities were supposed to get some reimbursement of those losses from the state, but the governor's budget plan calls for eliminating that money.
Archer said the city has not yet received any state money to make up for what it lost on the tax breaks for business machinery.
"It makes it harder for us to maintain what we are doing. We keep losing sources of revenue, and we don't want to raise taxes. It just puts us in a bind to continue our current level of services," he said.
Last year, in an effort to avoid a tax increase, the city made several cuts, including $50,000 to the museum and did not fill several job openings.
The governor's budget would not impact the half-cent sales tax for street improvements.
Archer said that money is set aside for specific projects and has to be used for those projects.
What it could effect is regular maintenance of streets, such as patching holes.
"That money we are losing is money we all pay when we buy gas," Archer said.
**********************************
Now with all the new tax that has been added to our area, and with what we already had in the first place, how are those who do get laid off survive with no jobs? Now the city is losing revenue from the state and are going to complain about where they are going to get money. IT IS TIME TO stop spending money! Cut back to the bare essentuals, some of us have been doing this for a time now. The city/county/state is no different. The state is cutting back and not carrying the cities. Time for the cities to try to be self sufficient. How long to you think the state can carry all of those on unemployment with all the lay offs that are taking place, with more to come? Stop complaining about losing revenue...we are all losing revenue. Suck it up and just deal with it. Some of the rest of us already are! Times are hard for some of us, government entities should be no different, you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip. So don't try. While I know that time could get much harder, I guess it depends on what side of finding a job or having a good job you are on. For alot of people there is a degree of a depression, or recession....what ever you call it.
And Byte, I do write my polititians. Some acknowledge but most don't.
Signed
Already lost a good job!
I, too have written our senators and congressmen. Tiahrt impressed me with his personal and timely response. Others did not respond at all, or sent me a pre-formed letter which sounded like campaign advertising.
Obama has a great challenge ahead of him with our economic problems. I'm not impressed with his appointment for treasury secretary. I do not care how competent his supporter's say Geithner is, I'm tired of corruption and scandals. Oh, wait... they say it was just a mistake, not corruption. So, just how capable is he?
If Obama wants to bring change, why doesn't he start with the things he can control? i.e. his cabinet appointments
We pay our city manager near $100 grand. Maybe a budget cut there would help. I don't mean to single Mr. Archer out but $450 a month for a car allowance? That is more than my house costs. I believe in him and think he is very good for this town but it is very similar to my problem with Obama (not saying I don't like him either, just saying this is one dislike). One focus of the most expensive campaign in history is the economy. Hard to tell us you know times are hard when you can throw money around like that. I don't think this is a problem just with the city though. As was brought up in the auto industry bail out meetings why is it there are so many lay offs when the heads of companys are making huge amounts of money. Private planes, car expenses, bonuses, theses should all come if times are good not if they are hard. As owner of a business I was taught that you pay your expenses and employees first and then yourself if there is anything left over. Is this not the way it should be? It's very hard for my to feel the concern of my local, state and federal government when the people telling us that they are with us make multiple times the average income of their people.
Zach,
You're right!
This is why zach needs to run for the commission :)
Great point.
But our CM is making no more than other CM's .. so his salary is in line with other cities our size.
But the point is right.
On the bailouts, the profits for the owners and the top management remains the same - including their huge bonuses -
yet workers are losing benefits, pay and jobs.
the bailouts are a blatant rape of the american public.
They say it would cripple the economy for the car makers to go under ... maybe, but maybe not, maybe thats just the line to get us to pay more taxes to fuel the greed of the already wealthy.
hmmm
hows that for radical
Just remember that many AC citizens rely on the aircraft manufacturing business for survival. Every aircraft job in Wichita actually creates 3 more. Those jets they are flying around are feeding some local kids.
But our CM is making no more than other CM's .. so his salary is in line with other cities our size.
But the point is right.
While it maybe be true, cutting salaries of upper management or politicians might be an excellent place to make cuts. Actually remove the word "might" IT is an excellent place to make cuts.
Take the information from the U.S. census, and figure what the average yearly wage is for an American citizen. This average would be the pay for the House and Senate. They want a pay raise? Then they need to work at raising the national average.
Build a housing project in DC for the congressmen and senators to live in for free. Nothing fancy just a housing unit like they build in NY or Chicago. If the politician chooses not to live there then they pay for housing out of their own pocket. If public housing is good enough for the citizens it is good enough for the stuffed shirts.
Run a shuttle bus on a regular schedule from the housing unit to the various buildings in DC. If the politicians need a limo and driver, it comes out of their pocket. Public transportation is good enough for everyone else...
Security will be provided at the housing unit and the shuttle bus. If they choose to live elsewhere and/or have a private car security is up to them.
Pay will also be given according to "roll call". Everytime a politician does not show up to vote, then dock him/her money.
Getting caught taking bribes and kick backs should be treason. They should do time in a federal PRISON, not a country club minimum security facility.
ALL politicians should be held to the same moral standard as the military. Officers in the military will have their career ended if caught having an affair. (Not so with Presidents and other politicians). Military will discharge a person for alcoholism/drugs, politicians get to give a speech and say "sorry".
Politicians have became a "Ruling Class" claiming powers and privledges not afforded to the citizens they are suppose to represent. (Note that I never mention a paticular party, as there is enough guilt for all).
Until the people, the middle class, of the US stand up and demand change, not Obama change, BUT real change or you are out of office. Make the politicians accountable for their actions.
Amen! I have felt for a long time that we are becoming a nation with a ruling class. It is time that we all stand up and say enough is enough. Rise up against the "kings and queens" and truelly be a nation for the people by the people. The politicians in this world seem to think that we work for them. I believe it is time to throw the tea in the harbour, clean house, and let the working man's opinions actually stand for something once again. Stand up, speak out and strike back!
Zach
deadline for city commission race is Jan. 27 at noon.
better get over to Winfield and file.
:)
Why do I feel if I run it would be much like when Hunter S. Thompson ran for sherriff of Aspen?
I dont remember what happened to Thompson.
But it might help us sell papers :)
Check out "Gonzo" it's a very good documentary on the man. He basically had every hippie in the nation move to Aspen and vote for him as his opponent brought in the handicapt and elderly that couldn't even write their own names. Needless to say Thompson lost by a very narrow margin. There's some good photos from the whole race though.
i actualy knew Hunter Thompson and he was quite a unique individual
That he was. What do you think he would have thought of the anonymous?
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