When the item came up last night for the sales tax questions there a surprise move. Council member Jeff "The Arrogant One" Vaught proposed that a). the Parks & Pipes sales tax renewal question go on the November general election ballot and that b). a proposed new sales tax for pavement be tabled until after the new budget session.
What this does, is it effectively eliminates the city from spending over $63K for a mail ballot and letting the item(s) go on the general election ballot at no charge to the city.
This was a surprise move as Vaught was a major proponent for a spring mail ballot so that the "deck could be stacked".
What was the motivation for this sudden turnaround? Could it have been that maybe there was push back from other council members about spending over $63K for a spring mail ballot, as shown on this blog? Could it have been the fact that the Shawnee Dispatch published info from the JoCo election office that indicated the cost could go over $70K? Could it have been because he didn't want a public, on the record discussion, showing how the city's original estimate of $40K for the election was flawed and severely understated?
Anyway, the good news is that there will not be a spring mail ballot and the associated costs that go with it. The item(s) belong on the November general election ballot at no cost.
For the record: As a citizen of Shawnee I would support the renewal of the Pipes and Parks sales tax and would support a new 1/8 sales tax for pavement. If there is a shortfall by going for 1/8 instead of 2/8 we can then discuss how to use more of the Deffenbaugh impact fee for pavement. That will involve further discussion about how the $1.5 million for economic development is being used.
Hint: On economic development, it is my opinion, and has been for quite some time that we need a destination venue...............not more fast food restaurants and gas stations on Shawnee Mission Parkway. We need something that will heavily attract folks from outside of Shawnee, to Shawnee on a regular, steady basis.
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