Your Opinion: Chamber not accountable to taxpayers
Ed Williams
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
You can be certain that the city and county tax money totaling almost $300,000 for "economic development" will attract no new employment to Jefferson City. Since Cole County has an unemployment rate of 2 percent, no outside employers will come into JC. The money given to the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce will continue to be used to give an advantage to their members. The principal way that is accomplished is to remove property taxes. That has already been done for the Capital Mall, Continental Products, Modern Litho and JCMG. The next attempt will be the "entertainment center" in the former Capital Bowl.
The owners have the money and have been building at the site for several months. Since the owners are part of the Spectators Bar downtown and are members of the Chamber, the JC City Council and the other tax entities will probably vote to add to the list of tax dodgers. I can understand the need for tax abatement if JC is in competition with another city for a business. Most of the tax abatement has gone to businesses that do not have a chance of going anywhere else. Most people in Cole County will never enter the entertainment venue. With the low employment rate, citizens will not need the small number of jobs in the new business. The tax dodging is just an opportunity to take advantage of taxpayers. All of these businesses will use government services such as fire and police protection. Their children will go to our schools. All of these services are paid for by taxpayers.
The chamber never wants to be accountable to taxpayers. There is no reason for taxes to be eliminated for any of these businesses and the tax burden to be placed on citizens. I cannot understand why City Council members time after time fail to demand justification of tax abatement. It is obvious that chamber members like Sam Bushman, Ron Fitzwater and Ken Hussey vote for anything the chamber wants. They are representing the chamber, not their constituents.
All of the other tax entities should remember that their votes will be questioned when they want a tax increase. I hope voters and the News Tribune will question this move to take advantage of taxpayers.