(For the record, State Representative Vince Wetta is excluded from my remarks. Representative Wetta worked hard to get Destination Tourist Resorts legalized, to get Sumner County included in the legislation, and rallied around what the PEOPLE wanted. Thank you Vince for doing your job.)
The State of Kansas admits that a casino built closest to the Wichita area will bring in the most money for the State. Why? Because they can draw more money from compulsive gamblers in Wichita than from Wellington. These Wichita gamblers will spend their lunch hour and after work hours putting existing Kansas dollars into the slot machine in hopes of striking it rich. These gamblers will not eat at Paula’s restaurant or visit Toby’s shows. They will not rent hotel rooms or spend money at neighboring businesses. They will only come to gamble…where’s the tourism in that?
Did Kansas Government not realize, or did they ignore the fact, that this type of gambling leads to increased unemployment when those employees are late returning to work and lose their jobs? Did Kansas not realize, or did they ignore the fact that putting the casino further away from Wichita would minimize these effects?
Did Kansas Government not realize, or did they ignore the fact that compulsive gambling leads to increased bankruptcy cases?
Did Kansas Government not realize, or did they ignore the fact that compulsive gambling leads to increased divorce rates, and other social problems?
Did Kansas Government not realize, or did they ignore the fact that this type of gambling is not good for our State; that re-circulating existing dollars does not increase the overall wealth of the State?
Did Kansas Government not realize, or did they ignore the fact, that everything they did to get a casino as close to Wichita as possible is now transparent to us voters, and that your false façade of legalizing gambling for the sake of “tourism” is now a joke?
Did Kansas Government not realize, or did they ignore the fact, that if the Sumner County voters had not approved of a “Destination Resort Casino”, the south-central gaming district wouldn’t have a casino at all?
Did Kansas Government not realize, or did they ignore the fact, that ignoring the will of the people only further deteriorates existing Government, and furthers our mistrust of Government?
Why did you not listen to THE PEOPLE? Why did you not listen to Sedgwick County voters who voted against a casino? Why did you not listen to the Mulvane voters who overwhelming elected Peter DeGraaf, a very vocal anti-casino icon, as their Republican Candidate for 81st District House of Representatives? Mr. DeGraaf received 51% of the vote while the other four candidates split the remaining 49%. Do you not care about those who voted for you and put you in the positions you serve?
SHAME ON YOU, KANSAS GOVERNMENT, for trying to put a casino as close to Wichita as possible (on the County line none-the-less) after Sedgwick County voted NO.
SHAME ON YOU, KANSAS GOVERNMENT, for extending the endorsement deadline so the City of Mulvane could endorse a casino where YOU wanted one, not where the PEOPLE WANTED ONE. The Board of Sumner County Commissioners did their job, acted as Government is supposed to, and listened to the voice of the people.
SHAME ON YOU, KANSAS GOVERNMENT, for trying to pull the wool over our eyes and legalizing gambling under the guise of tourism, when in fact all you want is MONEY, regardless of the social impact on the State.
SHAME ON YOU, KANSAS GOVERNMENT, for ignoring those people who enabled you to make money from casino gambling in the first place.
SHAME ON YOU, GOVERNOR SEBELIUS, whose term limit is up, who is not running for re-election, who is obviously through with the voters, and who told me last December that my concerns about the Lottery Commission’s extension of the deadline were unfounded. My concerns were very much founded, weren’t they Governor?
But, SHAME ON US, if we continue to let Government tell us what is best for us, what is in our best interest, and sit back with closed mouth and continue to support those who have not supported us.
Until then, SHAME ON YOU, Kansas Government.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
2009 City Budget - My Views
The 2009 City Budget includes some good projects for the upcoming year. "B" Street will be resurfaced from 15th to Lincoln, new water lines will be installed along Lincoln Street east of Woodlawn preparing in advance for the resurfacing of that street in 2010, and much needed repairs should be made to Fair Street south of Lincoln.
We've also budgeted $100,000 for water line repair/replacement and $100,000 for sewer line repair/replacement.
However, there is still too much money budgeted for non-necessities.
In hard economic times, such as we are in now, I believe tax dollars should be spent on the basic necessities the citizens want and need; public safety, streets, water, electricity, and sewer. IF there is money left over without raising taxes, then funding for parks and recreation improvements can be planned. But only if there is money left over. People can survive without parks and recreation; they can't survive without security and the basic necessities such as food and water.
And we are in hard economic times. Just the other day I purchased a flat of meat, and I jokingly asked the clerk to make sure she demagnitized the package thoroughly as I did not want the alarm to go off as I went through the exit door. While I was making a joke, in reality there was nothing funny about rising food costs, especially for our elderly and those living on fixed incomes. Fuel costs are increasing as well adding an extra burden on our citizens who must commute to work. In fact, the cost of everything is on the rise.
During these times, it is important that we are good stewards with the tax money we collect. Obviously rising fuel costs affect City services because fire trucks, road graders, and sanitation trucks don't move without fuel in the fuel tank. Taxes must be collected to ensure the equipment stays on the move to provide services to the citizens.
Our employees also feel the pinch of the economy, and we should compensate them as well. They too, feel the rising costs of living. Yet while the cost of living has increased 11% over the last two years, City wages will increase
less than 6% in that same time frame. The City strives to hire the best employees to provide you services. We can buy top of the line fire trucks, police cars, dump trucks, and road graders all year long; none of that equipment moves without a qualified employee driving it. We make every effort and spend great sums of money training and preparing them to perform your services well. But if we do not provide them with an adequate wage on which to live, they will go elsewhere where they can earn more money. Why should we invest time and tax dollars in an employee only to lose them to a neighboring community or private industry? Are we in the business of spending tax money training employees to work for someone else?
These are the primary reasons I voted against the 2009 budget. I feel cuts could have been made in other areas to provide our employees with a decent wage increase, cover increasing fuel costs, and still provide you with the basic services you need without a great increase in taxes.
Once the approved budget book has been finalized, I will post it on my website for your review.
We've also budgeted $100,000 for water line repair/replacement and $100,000 for sewer line repair/replacement.
However, there is still too much money budgeted for non-necessities.
In hard economic times, such as we are in now, I believe tax dollars should be spent on the basic necessities the citizens want and need; public safety, streets, water, electricity, and sewer. IF there is money left over without raising taxes, then funding for parks and recreation improvements can be planned. But only if there is money left over. People can survive without parks and recreation; they can't survive without security and the basic necessities such as food and water.
And we are in hard economic times. Just the other day I purchased a flat of meat, and I jokingly asked the clerk to make sure she demagnitized the package thoroughly as I did not want the alarm to go off as I went through the exit door. While I was making a joke, in reality there was nothing funny about rising food costs, especially for our elderly and those living on fixed incomes. Fuel costs are increasing as well adding an extra burden on our citizens who must commute to work. In fact, the cost of everything is on the rise.
During these times, it is important that we are good stewards with the tax money we collect. Obviously rising fuel costs affect City services because fire trucks, road graders, and sanitation trucks don't move without fuel in the fuel tank. Taxes must be collected to ensure the equipment stays on the move to provide services to the citizens.
Our employees also feel the pinch of the economy, and we should compensate them as well. They too, feel the rising costs of living. Yet while the cost of living has increased 11% over the last two years, City wages will increase
less than 6% in that same time frame. The City strives to hire the best employees to provide you services. We can buy top of the line fire trucks, police cars, dump trucks, and road graders all year long; none of that equipment moves without a qualified employee driving it. We make every effort and spend great sums of money training and preparing them to perform your services well. But if we do not provide them with an adequate wage on which to live, they will go elsewhere where they can earn more money. Why should we invest time and tax dollars in an employee only to lose them to a neighboring community or private industry? Are we in the business of spending tax money training employees to work for someone else?
These are the primary reasons I voted against the 2009 budget. I feel cuts could have been made in other areas to provide our employees with a decent wage increase, cover increasing fuel costs, and still provide you with the basic services you need without a great increase in taxes.
Once the approved budget book has been finalized, I will post it on my website for your review.
City Tax Increase for 2009 - August 19, 2008
By a vote of 5-3 this evening, the Wellington Governing Body passed an Ordinance establishing the 2009 City Budget and increasing property tax revenues about 1/4 million dollars. The entire budget increase, including other taxes and utility revenues amounts to an increase of $3.5 million. Councilmembers Antonich, Granger, and myself voted against the budget; Councilmember Watson was absent due to illness.
Once again, the "mill levy" was discussed and attention was directed to the fact that the mill levy has not increased in six years. And once again I say, discussing the "mill levy" is a tactic used to lead the public to believe that there is no increase in taxes (See http://www.johntracy.net/taxation.pdf). The fact remains that although the "mill levy" will not/should not increase, the City will be budgeting and spending the increased tax dollars generated by higher property appraisals, and that in a nutshell, is raising taxes. Anytime a budget is increased from the previous year, a tax increase has been effected.
Once again, the "mill levy" was discussed and attention was directed to the fact that the mill levy has not increased in six years. And once again I say, discussing the "mill levy" is a tactic used to lead the public to believe that there is no increase in taxes (See http://www.johntracy.net/taxation.pdf). The fact remains that although the "mill levy" will not/should not increase, the City will be budgeting and spending the increased tax dollars generated by higher property appraisals, and that in a nutshell, is raising taxes. Anytime a budget is increased from the previous year, a tax increase has been effected.
2009 Budget Public Hearing
The Public Hearing on the 2009 Budget will be held this evening at the City Council Meeting. Anyone wishing to speak on the budget is encouraged to attend.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Waste Water Projects - Public Hearing
The second of two Public Hearings on the borrowing of funds for waste water infrastructure improvements is set for the Council Meeting of August 19th. The City is considering four projects; a new Waste Water Treatment Facility, the Beaver Creek Sewer Line, the Hargis Creek Relief Sewer, and the "H" Street Sanitary Sewer, a total of over $19 million. Funds through a KDHE "revolving loan fund" will be used to pay for the projects, with increased sewer rates funding the loan. A partial increase is planned for September, with a second increase planned for January 2008.
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