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Ben Arnold: Commentary on occupational tax, economic development, merger A Personal Side of the Issues: The article is posted exactly (pending paragraph no longer pending; it was a topic he may or may not take up in the future) as received from Mr. Arnold, who puts some very hot topic issues into a provocative prospective: The newly enacted payroll tax, overlapping of city/county services and other cost-cutting ideas, and a new way to look at economic development. Mr. Arnold announces that a write-in campaign for mayor and council is underway without naming the individuals. A brief outline of their platform is included below because items in it touch on concerns some - or a lot of people - are voicing in the community. ColumbiaMagazine.com welcomes differing and opposing comments written to community and CM standards for civil discourse. And a note obviously needed: There are eight individuals running for City Council. Only six will be elected, so all council members were not re-assured of re-election, as stated in the article. - Ed Waggener/ColumbiaMagazine.com By Ben Arnold Personal commentary The City Government has concluded their vote to impose a new tax on some in our Community, expecting to collect about $1million. They decided to raise more money through a tax they knew the citizens didn't want and which they claimed themselves would put them at "political risk". Apparently to protect themselves against you, the voting citizens, they floated the tax issue late in the election season using the filing date cutoff, guaranteeing that no other potential candidates could file for this election. As it is now, ALL 6 counsel candidates are sure to be elected, as they have no competition on the ballot. The Community does not support this tax. With the exception of Linda Waggener, the City Candidates' actions suggest they believe, 'we know better than you the taxpayers'. A basic tenet of the US has been that elected officials are 'Public Servants', who exist to execute the wants of the citizens. Politicians can pervert this trust by being deceptive and damage this fundamental element of Democracy. The City Candidates further protected themselves by designing the tax to hit hardest on our fellow citizens living outside the city limits, who holding no city addresses, cannot vote. Is this fair to County residents, to businesses who hire the people, to educators who are already underpaid for the important work they do? These make our Community work! They make clear that only 12% of City voters will pay the tax but perhaps inadvertently, they also make clear that the majority paying the tax, County voters can't vote! This is a clear case of 'taxation without representation', an issue our country went to war for its independence from England (Steve Warren said it right!). Still further to mitigate the political risk, they offer the other 88% of City voters a minimal reduction in property tax rate as an incentive to go along and vote for them. I want the voters to see this deception! However, this may not be the biggest concern. The City Government is not using our current tax money efficiently or effectively. The City's yearly cost now per Columbia residents ($1130/person) is much higher than, for example, Louisville ($700/person). Why is that? What are we getting for this money? If you review the City budget, the costs of most operations are 'top heavy' i.e. a lot of cost for people in offices. We want our elected officials to use our money like it came from them. The employees of the city receive higher pay then those working to pay the tax to employ them. They also receive health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, retirement pay, often cars and expense accounts for conventions and trainings. Most taxpayers don't receive these benefits! Why does a little town like Columbia require such expenses? It doesn't. The City officials have slowly, over time, increased their compensations and benefits, supporting friends and family on Boards, increasing their personal interests instead of bettering the community. Right here in Columbia, we have allowed an over bloated 'little bureaucracy' to form. Your current city council spent about $600,000 of your tax dollars to improve their own offices. I definitely wanted you to know that. We can do better, much better! We can provide ALL current services at much less costs. We need the City to operate effectively for the sole benefit of the people. Currently the County and City governments make payments and money transfers between them; rent from one, cost sharing to another. Why? Do the City officials not trust the County ones or do they just want to hold onto their money pool and continue duplicating efforts. Columbia and Adair County are one Community. They can be run much more efficiently. At a very minimum, the over bloated administrations at the top of so many cost centers can be reduced by combining some activities; City Police and Sheriff's office for example, combining and better management of Utilities. City owned equipment and cars are everywhere and yet we contract outside to do anything big. I want the people to know their money can be better utilized or give it back to them. Maybe nowhere is this inefficiency so obvious as Economic Development. Twenty years plus of local taxpayer's money plus millions of State and Federal tax dollars for Industrial park land and Utilities and what do we have to show for this? The same talk and the same vision continue, only now they want more money to do more of the same! The Economic Development Board hangs on to the hope that Frankfort will somehow send jobs down to Adair Co. There were three recent opportunities to add good jobs in Adair Co and the Economic Board didn't get it done. In all business pursuits that I respect or would fund, those asking for money present a detailed plan of how they will use the money and what to expect from their success. Never would a businessperson fund a project (or a new tax!) with a one-sentence plan. Never! Now with 20 unsuccessful years, excess spending, $600,000 spent to improve the City offices (not Economic development), these deceptive election moves, and no one to oppose them in this election, they plan to take more of your money. We can have a better vision, a better plan of action, better disclose of costs, and better use of your money. We have organized a Write-in campaign of candidates for Mayor and City Council. I am not doing this for money, status or for the long term, but just like you, I'm concerned about our community and its time for action not complaints. Here is what we will do:
This story was posted on 2014-10-16 05:08:05
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Dr. Jeff Eaton in Sun 26 Oct 2014, Fall revival, Saloma Baptist Congratulations to Haley Rogers Sludge spill closes travel lanes, I-65 north near Lebanon Jct., KY Haley Rogers graduates from DOCJT Telecommunicator Academy 10 days to make Celebrate My Drive happen Adair Co. 911 Director Greg Thomas issues 3rd Qtr '14 report Troy Young asks all to aid Celebrate My Drive Donnie Coffey: Take a harder look at situation with roads safety (Ad) Always a lot going on in CM wanted - including Right Now! Adair Hospital Bd. Chairman re-appointed to new 4 year term View even more articles in topic News |
 
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