Do our streets, curbs, sidewalks, gutters need work? Yepper, they sure do. And unfortunately it looks like we are going to have to have an increase in sales taxes to pay for it. But does it have to be 3/8ths?
In my opinion I'd like to know why certain senior city officials didn't push for a smaller sales tax 2, 3 or even 4 years ago? Instead, these officials were "high fiving" themselves because when the 2014 budget was completed in 2013 they were ecstatic that they did it without a tax increase. See this post please http://www.shawneeray.blogspot.com/2013/09/shawnee-open-wide-and-say-ahhhhhhhhhhh.html
One of the reasons for asking for the 3/8ths is that as time goes on prices go up. True, but if we had a 1/8th increase 2, 3 or 4 years ago wouldn't that have reduced the problem? Couldn't that have reduced the number of streets that became severe problems?
What certain city officials have done here is, as I mentioned at a council meeting, like the student who has to read Moby Dick for a school assignment. The teacher hands out the assignment around Labor Day and says that a report is due the Monday after Thanksgiving. So, what happens? The student starts to read the book while dad is carving the turkey. That is what has happened here. Instead of going smaller, a few years back, we are now getting hit with "we must do this higher amount or the sky will fall" type of situation. Didn't they see this coming? If they did their projections correctly they did.
My opinion is that unless there is a strong push for a destination venue in Shawnee that additional funds from the Deffenbaugh impact fee should be used for pavements. Enough already with additional retail, what with all the other incentives it takes years before the city sees any real tax money. A destination venue on the other hand could be very beneficial. Streets are very important for economic development.
I firmly believe that certain city officials have actually attempted to suppress the info over the years.
Here are two comments from Jeff "The Arrogant One" Vaught:
Fiance & Administration Meeting 7/5/2011 while discussing how to use the landfill impact fee:
Councilmember Vaught stated it goes back to reinvestment. They could spend it on roads and there are roads that need it, but the City does have a Mill and Overlay Program and a road program. They have been working towards that program and have not totally abandoned their roads and are back on track to get things done and have a schedule.
Shawnee Dispatch article 3/26/2013 Ward 3 candidates disagree on packing heat, shape of city: "I don't have an agenda or some notion that Shawnee is broken and needs to be fixed," Vaught said. "On the contrary, Shawnee is in great shape and, because of good government, we are seeing good things happening all over the city. Housing starts are way up, commercial development is moving, and Shawnee is ranked with the best for quality of live.
So, as the city goes around "educating" folks about the 3/8ths tax, think about the comments above. Ask, why didn't we go for 1/8th 2, 3 or 4 years ago? There will be certain things that the city's dog and pony show won't bring out in the presentation. Like the fact that certain officials may have Moby Dicked us.
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