Subscribe
Shop Local
Magazine
Gas Prices
Today's Poll!Board would oversee Tranformation sales tax
Five voting members would advise City Council
Sunday, January 15, 2012
With less than one month before the issue goes to voters, some have indicated concerns about how a potential economic development sales tax would be regulated and used.
Transformation, now known as the Transform Jeff City campaign, is the economic development strategic plan put forward by the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce that proposes a 10-year half-cent economic development sales tax, which is being sponsored by the city and is on the Feb. 7 ballot.
If passed, the city would establish a commission known as the Jefferson City Transformation Economic Development Tax Board that would oversee the funds brought in by the tax.
City Administrator Nathan Nickolaus said the board would function much like existing city boards, such as the Parks and Recreation Board, which is made of non-elected officials and makes recommendations to the City Council.
News Tribune Facebook Question:
Transformation, the economic development strategic plan put forward by the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce, has encountered some opposition. What question would you ask either side of the Transformation issue before voting on Feb. 7?
Visit the News Tribune Facebook Page to answer this question and read comments by others.
Marry Me
Comments
JCsleeper 1 year, 4 months ago
An unelected board to oversee the redistribution of $40M of our tax dollars? Read the full article as to what entites will appoint members to this board. How will a total 8.225% sales tax affect JC? If one resides in JC, that's $1645 on a $20K auto purchase. For a $1K big ticket purchase in JC, that's $82.25. JC Chamber needs to focus on bringing professional opportunities and industry to this area in order to attract and retain youth. Might be better to get rid of some of these decrepit old buildings and let the private sector redevelope those areas.
herewego 1 year, 4 months ago
Taxation without representation. I've read about that somewhere, guess our JC fathers haven't... VOTE NO, to taxation without representation.....
herekitty 1 year, 4 months ago
I've noticed when out riding in JC there are loads of homes for sale. The taxes here and in MO are too high. Get rid of some of the dead weight in the JC offices. Then you might just be able to lower the taxes, instead of raising them!
JCLifer 1 year, 4 months ago
Good ol boy board to oversee our tax dollars? Might just as well flush our money down the stool. Nothing in the proposal to benefit the common citizen here. Just out of touch rich people taking our money.
hudson 1 year, 4 months ago
more taxes,more goverment. more goverment, more taxes. How about less goverment less taxes . less taxes less goverment.
JCLifer 1 year, 4 months ago
NO AcCOUNTABILITY!
VOTE NO
Where is the list of all the committee members?
Where is the list of hundreds of conference groups that might come here?
Just more smoke and mirrors to get our money in a reccession no less.
JCLifer 1 year, 4 months ago
Who oversees the board? If citizens cannot elect members to the board, I doubt if they will be able to recall members from the board as well.
This looks like the fox handpicking the security firm for the chickenhouse.
We certainly need growth and improvement in Jefferson City, but they need to fix what they have now before building more. Also, City Hall needs to learn to cut costs and reduce expenses like the rest of the world has (OK- not the federal government). We are in a severe recession right now, and people are struggling to make ends meet as is is. We don't need a sale tax increase to be wasted on building monuments and fluff stuff that will only benefit a few rich people.
Get the Chamber of Commerce out of City Hall.
gofish 1 year, 4 months ago
The Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce does not have my best interest at heart.
rodinman 1 year, 4 months ago
A short time ago the folks of this city voted against the opportunity of having a casino. One of the arguments against having a casino was that it would place an undue burden on the poor; as trhey would be more likely to gamble and lose their money. Where is that outcry when the chamber of commerce wants to tax those same individuals?
JCLifer 1 year, 4 months ago
One would think the churches would band together to fight this regressive tax increase.
JCsleeper 1 year, 4 months ago
Taxes fall into "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's...", but a casino...now that's sinnin'.
JCLifer 1 year, 4 months ago
Ceasar taking more of our hard-earned money to build some castles that benefit the rich during a recession is also sinnin'
I'd be all for this tax if they were going to fix the streets, build sidewalks in my neighborhood, complete 179 to Taos exit, give everyone free broadband access, etc.
Building a mud tunnel to a sandbar, or building a too-small convention center (instead of a COMMUNITY CENTER), and a bunch of other worthless projects that don't benefit the common man doesn't make sense. Giving the money to an appointed committee of good-ol-boys doesnt make sense. Working with a private group (Chamber) to hide things from the Sunshine Law doesn't make sense either.
Still waiting for the long list of volunteers and young people who came up with these ideas. Also waiting on the list of "hundreds of organizations" that want to have a convention here if we build this thing.
I'm all for progress, but not like this. Progress should benefit the majority of taxpayers, not rob from everyone to benefit only a few rich elites.
tonto_goldberg 1 year, 4 months ago
Well stated. Give us normal folks some value for our money.
Gabrielle 1 year, 4 months ago
At this point, I am undecided. I've seen signs around town and ads in the paper with a website: transformjeffersoncity.com
I just started reading about all of this on the website. One of the first pieces of information is this:
Informing the Voters with Open Houses The Jefferson City Transformation Campaign holds campaign open house events at our headquarters every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Join us from 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM or 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM at 718 East Capitol in Jefferson City for more information, to get materials and ask your questions of our leadership and planners.
Please review our Policies and Procedures before registering or commenting
Or login with:
OpenID