There is an excellent source online for how cities and towns have historically funded themselves and the shift away from economic accountability and balanced city budgets to “free money” in sales taxes and federal handouts here.

Please don’t believe that all people who visit a city/town with local sales tax do not gain benefits from that tax.

In Monticello, when you visit you benefit from some of the following:

Police Protection,
Fire/Rescue Protection,
Streets to get to your friends/family,
Businesses who are supported with the infrastructure that must be maintained (water, sewer etc),
Parks – Pool – Sports Complex

And I’m sure that I’ve missed a few. It does take a lot of money to maintain these services. Please just think about it…

The citizens that live in the city limits have made a commitment to pay the extra property taxes etc. You can’t have it both ways. I don’t live in Little Rock, or Pine Bluff, or Wilmar, or Hamburg etc. But, when I shop there, I have to pay their sales taxes. I guess my point is, if we change the law that governs this issue, then we may as well completely change the sales tax law to a state mandated tax so that it will be “fair” for all.

Just think about it

I am as entitled to my opinion as anyone else, and that’s why this entry was made on my personal blog, rather than on MonticelloLive.

I don’t think I said in my entry that the existing tax was a 15 year tax. I’m pretty sure that was clear.

In addition, I am aware the the county itself hopes to begin some major projects in the future (library, hospital). How will those be funded if the proposed tax passes? Pass yet another tax? Our city and county officials do not coordinate with one another well as far as long-range planning and strategy go.

I stand by my assertion that there is very little planning going on. The proposed tax is essentially seeking money without telling citizens specifically what projects and goals are being made for it. I contend that simply budgeting for “economic development, youth activities, infrastructure,” etc. is not specific enough and should make citizens uncomfortable.

Monticello has a track record of needless purchases (the old high school and WC Whaley) and a lack of strategic planning. Are we to simply keep allowing what has taken place in the past to dictate our future?

I’m not anti-tax; I’m pro-planning.

Again, thanks for your comments.

I must say that my respect for your unbiased reporting has been greatly deminished.

I am disappointed that you made reference to comments from another persons blog, when his/her blog contains so many inaccuracies.

I ask you, please review the “real” facts before you align yourself with other blogs.

The existing one cent sales tax was for a 10 year period, not 15 years. (the proposed expansion is for 15 years)

Have you checked the cost of street overlays lately? The rising cost of oil has a direct impact on this.

Have you checked to see what national and state averages are for municple sales tax? (Monticello is in the median)

Have you checked the “real” reasons that MEDC’s many prospects didn’t become recruited industry/businesses?

Economic and community development are very complicated things. Many factors go into it. MEDC has advocated heavily to gain the extension of I-530, which is a major recruiting tool for industry/business. Not to mention the improvement of rail to this area.

And as far as workforce, as quoted by your cohort, the skills gained from working for industries gone-by, are not applicable in the highly competive world of industry/business today. Have you not checked to see that manufacturing trends have declined where the service sector has gained? Thus the recruitment of the Centers for Youth and Families facility.

As for the sales tax, yes, Monticello needs it. I truely wish that the voters would approve a tax where at least 50% or more of it would go into a “SuperProject” fund, (like Wynne did years ago). This is one reason that some prospects have turned away to other communities. Because others have local incentives that can be given to prospects on top of state incentives.

And, if Monticello is so bad-off, why are we the only community holding steady in population (according to the Census Bureau) while those around us are declining?

Did you know that MEDC, while it recieved 2.6 million of the sales tax revenues, that it gave back approximately 2.8 million in grants?

Did you know that the only sales tax dollars spent on the industrial park and speculative building are in the form of maintence payments (post completion) on loans, which are part of the MEDC budget? (total budget of 2.6 million, doesn’t add up to your $1 million quoted in your article)

Well, if you didn’t know these things, you need to make yourself aware of them. Do your homework.

Monticello is in a unique position to grow and thrive due to an environment that has been slowly improved since 1998. To take a step backward, by non-renewal of the sales tax, and a public slaughter of the MEDC and community leaders will not gain us the future we deserve. In fact, the city will be crippled by an inability to fund vital functions across the board.

I do hope that you will again, gain your perspective.

Thanks,