Chamber panel opts for half-cent sales tax

JCsleeper 1 year, 8 months ago

Pretty ambitious wish list. Have concerns that JC Council would have final say on expenditures. Still unhappy the way the 'ambulance' property tax was kept and not refunded to residents. Also have reservations as to the 10 year life of this tax. Anyone recall a sales tax, once implemented, not being put up for extension?

truthbeknown 1 year, 8 months ago

There are some projects on here that Jeff City needs to be more attractive to tourists, and boost are economy. The chamber and their elitest membership have no idea how hard another 1/2 cent sales tax will be on the local economy. This tax will also be applied to food, prescription medication, and clothes, and by doing this puts an unfair tax burden on our seniors, the middle class, and especially those living below the poverty line. I encourage everyone to call their councilperson and tell them to vote against this!

JCsleeper you are absolutely correct that the 1/2 cent ambulance tax should have been repealed, instead of using it to buy new police vehicles that we don't need.

Gabrielle 1 year, 8 months ago

I identify this - the 1/2 cent ambulance tax not repealed and spent for something other than the intended - the stated - as one of the ways governmental officials earn the distrust the community has towards government.

thatguyagain 1 year, 8 months ago

Thanks to those that commented for sharing your initial reaction to the article. Here are some of my thoughts and input on potential issues you have identified:

The items identified as necessary to transform our community were voiced by the public, not a select few. Based on feedback received from the public volunteers were sought to be a part of the process of taking grandiose ideas and figuring out what was feasible, specifics to each process, and the associated cost. Opportunity workshops (again open to the public) were held giving everyone that attended them the chance to vote for the proposed initiatives they felt was most important. I'm unaware of the exact total number of people that have been involved in this process but think it is over 300 (both chamber members and non-chamber members.) In short, many people have been a part of this process and not only the elitest as a previous commenter suggested. If I remember correctly, there were even ads placed in the paper promoting meetings at public places seeking comment from any and all. Given the interest in the process voiced by each of you I'm sure you attended one of those many opportunities to help shape our community.

Another poster commented they have reservations about the 10 year sunset on the proposed tax. In order for this Transformation to have the greatest impact there are several projects that need to happen quickly and simultaneously. A bulk of the projects identified can get done in the next 2 to 5 years. All funding sources identify an injection of capital to make the projects happen. If a renewal of this tax is deemed necessary in another ten years it will be because this effort has been wildly successful and more projects have been identified by the public, not city council.

The strain on the economy of a 1/2 cent sales tax has been discussed at length. More importantly though the cost of doing nothing is far greater. The Transformation addresses issues much deeper than making Jefferson City more attractive to tourists. It is a change in thinking and a culture shift to position our community to be an economic leader for decades to come.

I make these points for two reasons. First, I am a 30 year old Jefferson City resident with a young child at home and want the best for him growing up. That can't happen by just sitting back and watching the world pass us by. Secondly, I volunteered to be a part of the Transformation process and have seen firsthand the amount and degree of hard work put in by the 300+ people to make our community better by figuring out how to achieve tasks once thought insurmountable. Tasks originally identified by the citizens of our community.

Gotigers 1 year, 8 months ago

You make some very valid points and I applaud your thought process. The other posters thoughts are very valuable as well. You are missing their point. We have voted for items in the past only to see them grossly misused and redirected to area's that they were never intended for. You are 30 years old which tells me that you still have a few years for your eyes to really open and to see that not everything is as it is advertised. The mistrust of the posters is not fiction, but a reality that was brought on by the very leaders who are wanting this sales tax. Quite the irony isn't it?

JCLifer 1 year, 8 months ago

It is so easy to sit around and talk to make big plans for spending other peoples' money. What happened to the Mud Tunnel, Adrians sandbar, and hotel convention center ideas? All of a sudden the tax spending breeze has shifted direction again?

I will VOTE NO on this tax and the goofy proposals.

I WILL vote YES for a 1/2 cent tax dedicated to road and sidewalk repair.

These people are smoking crack.

truthbeknown 1 year, 8 months ago

I believe we need these items, and agree with the groups work. I do not believe that it needs to be done on the backs of our seniors, the poor, and the working poor aka the middle class. That is what makes sales tax unfair. I have given my councilperson several ideas on how to pay for it. I will start an action committee to oppose any new sales tax increases, and if it could be done I would start a petition to repeal the ambulance tax.

Sales taxes are unfair period. They facilitate the growing gap between the rich and the poor.

Gotigers 1 year, 8 months ago

Truthbeknown... I agree with you on the ambulance tax--It is beyond comprehension that we can vote on an issue and then $0 dollars are spent on it. It is almost illegal, I would think. However, I do not agree about sales tax being unfair. I think they are very fair. Simply, a wealthy person does spend more and buy more expensive items so they do pay much more. Sales tax on a $70K Lexus is 7 times greater than a $10K Honda Accord.

truthbeknown 1 year, 8 months ago

Your statement shows that you do not have an understanding of basic economics, and sociology. Yes dollar wise those with more money pay more sales tax however as a percentage to income the poor, working poor, disabled, seniors, and those on a fixed income pay more.

For instance those with more money, own more real property, such as land and real estate, (mostly outside the city limits ) which is not subject to sales tax, they also are able to save money, which is not taxed. There is also a lot of internet shopping by those with greater income, which is not taxed. There is also a big portion of money by those with higher incomes that is spent in other tax areas, such as vacations, shopping in Columbia, St. Louis, Kansas City.

The bottom line is that an 8% sales tax is on average is a 6 to 7% income tax on those below the poverty line and a 3% income tax on those making $22, 500 or more.

There are many more issues that go along with this that make any kind of sales tax increase bad for the greater good of a community, and why everyone should be against ANY Sales tax increase.

JCLifer 1 year, 8 months ago

I would rather have sales taxes anyday than to have a property tax. Property taxes are extremely unfair.

truthbeknown 1 year, 8 months ago

but it's not fair to those who can't afford it .... those that it takes all their money to clothe, feed and take care of their basic neccesities.

JCLifer 1 year, 8 months ago

But property tax is fair to those who can't afford it?

truthbeknown 1 year, 8 months ago

Property tax isn't the answer either, no taxes need to be increased, we should actually have 1/2 cent repealed. Other communities have developed their river fronts just fine without tax increases. Why this town automatically raises taxes is beyond me.

melbrooks 1 year, 8 months ago

It's even more easy to sit around and make disparaging comments on a newspaper forum.

Thatguyagain's points have merit, in my opinion. I understand Tiger's skeptcism, but I think this proposal is not your run-of-the-mill situation. While the city does have issues, the interest in Transformation has been wide and deep. Why? Because these projects will have tremendous positive impact on our local economy! People will be paying attention to progress on these projects, and there will be intense scrutiny as these funds are expended for them.

Just as an aside, Lifer--there are funds dedicated to sidewalks in the proposal. And there are roads proposed at the old Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) in the plan.

JCLifer 1 year, 8 months ago

I'm not sure what you are inferring by your first sentence. However, I have participated in several of these committees and provided feedback and contributions. My experience is these committees are so overly-weighted with people who love big government- who think government is the solution for every problem, and that much of the discussion of these groups is to try to find problems for government to get involved in solving. Hense, the never-ending need for new and more taxes to support these ideas to solve these problems. My input is just minimalized or ignored by these liberals who love to spend other peoples' tax dollars, even before the tax is collected.

The trasnformation has be mostly focused on increasing the expanse of government by finding new problems for a bigger government to solve. There is little interest in fixing problems and mistakes of old. There is no long-range planning in this city- every year it seems there is a new long range plan. There is no interest in maintaining or enhancing existing programs or infrastructure, and there is never any interest in curtailing or ending programs or infrastucture that has outlived its usefulnes, proven to be a failure, or that has crumbled beyond utility through neglect or improper maintenance.

This town is not hopeless- there are so many untapped resources and so many opportunities here. However, before any real TRANSFORMATION can take place, there needs to be a deep acknolwegement of past failures and a long period of trust building. Like the ambulance tax example mentioned, citizens have been burned so badly that many have given up. There is so much development just outside the city limits and out in the county because people do not want to be included in the monkey-run city. A deeper transformation needs to take place before any real change takes place. The current effort will soon be just like all the other past efforts-- a bunch of money will be spent on consultants and silly projects that only benefit a select few, and this initiative will soon pass, halfassed implemented and way over budget just like all the others before it.

I really have no interest in driving around a parkway inside the MSP. Besides, this remains STATE PROPERTY, and it makes no sense to spend money and develop plans until the ownership and use of the of the land is clarified. By their actions it is apparent that the state has no interest in reliquishing this land anytime soon, and rumors are that they are planning to hold on to it for future state office development and to just let the value (and price to Jeff City taxpayers) increase for years.

JCLifer 1 year, 8 months ago

You can continue to bury your head in the sand about the REAL PROBLEMS in this town. I guess if it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling to hold all these committees and make all these goofy plans that is fine. However, when you start talking about spending my tax dollars on these schenanigans and increasing my taxes for this silliness, then you are going to start hearing the sensible people squawk.

Before you propose a tax increase, you may want to talk to the patrons about other taxing entities who are really hurting and need additional funding for real needs. Library, schools, handicapped, fire dept, police dept., etc. And of course our crumbling roads all over town.

melbrooks 1 year, 8 months ago

What committees did you serve on? This initiative did not come from government. It has its origins from the general public and the business community. I find it hard to imagine you were surrounded by “liberals who love to spend other peoples' tax dollars” on these committees. There aren’t many liberals in the Jefferson City area.

These projects benefit the entire community, not "a select few", as you claim.

If you believe the city is "monkey-run", then I implore you once again to run for office. If everything is as messed-up as you say it is and your ideas resonate with the public, you'll be elected in a landslide. More importantly, you’ll have the ability to do more than constantly throwing stones from a newspaper forum.

And I’ll ask one more time: what specific roads do you consider “crumbling”?

JCLifer 1 year, 8 months ago

Why are you so defensive? Because you know I have hit several nerves here. I hope you and your Chamber buddies have fun at the Country Club this weekend.

Your committees in no way are representative of the social-economic, race, religion, age, politicial affiliation, and gender of this city. You cannot deny this.

melbrooks 1 year, 8 months ago

My response was not defensive, it was civilly questioning what you assert to be facts. Also, I do not belong to any country club--yet another false statement.

Gabrielle 1 year, 8 months ago

I visited the JC Chamber of Commerce to view the entire list of selected projects. I could not find it. Maybe it is too early to expect the list to be on the website given the decision was just made. From the article, St. Mary's hospital - the old one - is slated for LU's nursing school/expansion. Why is this something that a local tax aught to be applied to? It seems to me this project is for LU to fund. Is there a reason the sales tax should?

JCLifer 1 year, 8 months ago

The State Board of Nursing has not yet even addressed nor approved an expansion of the Lincoln program.

The Coordinating Board of Education has not yet even addressed nor approved the expansion of the Lincoln program.

Lincoln's finances are not in very good shape right now.

Cart before the horse. Ready, Fire, Aim.

truthbeknown 1 year, 8 months ago

Well if they can't afford it then they need to get straightened out before they get more money to mismanage.Like you said it's not approved so that one needs to be crossed off. It is a State concern not a City one.

I agree let's start by cutting the fat, especially all this money the City pay's consultants. I am for the Adrian's Island development, but don't you think someone would have thought to ask the railroad for approval before the City approved the project? Some of these item's on the wish list are contingent upon the Island, which to this point Union Pacific is not going to approve for safety concerns.

And why should any of this happen on the backs of our poor and Elderly?

I have come up with several other funding options, and asked my councilperson to have the City do some research on other towns such as Alton Il, who has undertaken this similar progress, and none of this has been adressed.

I do have a fear that if this is passed it is going to be a similar self serving interest similar to the "non profit development " corporation that has the city buy his property, and pay to refurbish them, all the while he makes a 6 figure salary for basically being the general contractor.

melbrooks 1 year, 8 months ago

Truth, what structure has Alton, IL used that you find more appropriate?

truthbeknown 1 year, 8 months ago

They have used a lot of private investment, such as their marina has 300 boat slips, that are producers of revenue, along with a marina store and fuel sales are income producers. Building an excursion boat pier and leasing it to someone would be another direct money maker. It has also admittedly taken 20 years to get to where they are now, and they still are not done.

Investment needs to be done by the people making the money, not the people who cannot afford it, that is what I am saying, and if it takes a few extra years to get it done than so be it, just don't jeopardize the health and welfare of our community to widen the wealth gap.

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