A Repost
About the River Tax vote, happening on October 9th. I whole-heartedly agree with this guy. I urge you first to vote if you live in Tulsa county, it is very important whether you believe one way or the other, and also to do the research if you're unsure about what you're voting for, check out the "no" website (http://www.notulsarivertax.com) or the "yes" website (www.ourriveryes.com) even, I did, and I found even more reasons to vote No.
There are a few points that I would like to emphasize from the repost below:
1) Our roads...I know it's a horn that has been tooted a lot recently, but it's so true. I've driven from Tulsa to Kansas, or even Texas, and you can tell the instant you reach another state. The roads are terrible in Oklahoma, and as soon as you see the little "Welcome to..." sign, you are instantly on a smoother, and safer in my opinion, travel. So what does the "yes" site say in answer to that? I quote, "Fixing our streets is a priority and must be done regardless of the river project. Like streets, river development is an infrastructure project as well. This river project is necessary to the development and progress of our entire community.” Okay, so...they say it *has* to be done regardless? So why isn't it? And why is the development of the river made to sound just as important as the improvement of our roads, streets, and bridges?
2) Tulsa taxes will be one of the highest in the country, if this passes. Do I need to say anymore than that?
3) I just moved from 71st and Riverside. We would drive on Highway 75 from our apartment to Owasso, just about every weekend. If you have never driven that stretch, and don't know what the river smells like, I suggest you take a drive sometime. I will *NOT* miss that smell! It is horrible! And they want to put a pedestrian bridge right in the thick of that smell?? Riiight...
4) "LOW WATER DAMS FINANCED BY VISION 2025 and PRIVATE FUNDS: Didn’t we already vote money for this project?" ~~the answer to that, I found on their site. I quote, "The $5.6 million allocated for two low-water dams in Vision 2025 is not nearly enough to build the dams. A small percentage of those funds were used for engineering studies." Okay, so...we already passed monies to go to some of this project, but, oops! We spent it elsewhere, now we need more! Silly us...What exactly will stop them from using this money elsewhere once again?
A repost from Jason Perry.
There sure seems to be a lot of hype flying around regarding the sales tax for the Arkansas River Beautification tax. I will be personally voting NO the Tulsa River Tax. Here is a list of reasons that you should consider doing the same.
1-ROADS: Our roads are in terrible condition. If we spend our money on this project, how soon will the city come to us and ask for more money to fix the roads? Shouldn’t this be a priority for the city and county?
2-HIGH VIOLENT CRIME RATE: The nation’s crime rate on a whole is rising, but Tulsa’s is almost double the national average.
3-SALES TAX RATE IS ALREADY HIGHER THAN NYC: If this tax increase happens, Tulsa’s sales tax rate will be .6% higher than New York City as one of the highest in the country. I don’t think that will attract too many “Young Professionals” or new employers. **This is the one that REALLY gets to me. If you travel much then you know exactly what I am talking about! We get taxed to so heavily on everything here in Oklahoma. Property, sales, vehicles, on and on... And our state city looks HORRIBLE compared to other cities with far less tax burdens. Why is this? Our city council, commissioners, our mayor and all their private interest buddies. They have proven time and again that they CANNOT be trusted with the funds they are handed.
4-RIVER ODOR: The river smells. To make the river an enjoyable place to spend time (and money) we need to move the waste treatment plant at 61st Street. This could cost taxpayers an additional $500 million.
5-MAINTENANCE COST: Anybody have an answer on how the maintenance will be paid for? I’m guessing it will come from the same fund that fills our swimming pools and potholes.
6-CORPS of ENGINEERS APPROVAL: We don’t even have approval to alter the river from the Corps yet. What happens if we vote to tax ourselves and the Corps of Engineers says “NO!” Do we get our money back?
7-LOW WATER DAMS FINANCED BY VISION 2025 and PRIVATE FUNDS: Didn’t we already vote money for this project?
8-COUNTY GOVERNMENTS SHOULDN’T BE IN SALES TAX BUSINESS: Sales tax is (in most responsible budgeting plans) used by cities to take care of city issues. When counties get in the sales tax business….well…there’s just not enough to go around.
9-7 YEAR PROJECTION FOR TAX REVENUE: Can we as Tulsan’s wait 7 years for the tax revenues to start coming in before we fix our streets? What if the revenues are not as high as expected (ie, Oklahoma Lottery)?
10-TULSA COUNTY ALREADY HAS RIVER DEVELOPMENT: Unfortunately Jenks beat us to it. Have you seen and heard what they are doing and have planned? AND DONE WITH PRIVATE FUNDING!
The dollar is worth less than it has been in years. Now while that helps our economy a lot, it also drives up the cost of everything that is imported and with the cost of oil expected to hit $100 this year. Do you really want another percentage of your income to go to something you MIGHT get to see the benefit from in 20 years down the road? NO!
Why doesn't the city put forth some propositions to give me incentives and subsidies to develop our wonderful Art Deco filled downtown? Not as many kickbacks from private interest, that's why!
How about this little snippet out of the sample ballot.
PROPOSITION
OFFICIAL COUNTY BALLOT
SPECIAL ELECTION
OCTOBER 9, 2007
TULSA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
“SHALL THE COUNTY OF TULSA,
OKLAHOMA, BY ITS BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, LEVY
AND COLLECT A FOUR-TENTHS
OF ONE PERCENT (4/10%) SALES
TAX FOR THE PURPOSE OF
ARKANSAS RIVER CORRIDOR
DEVELOPMENT WITHIN TULSA
COUNTY, OKLAHOMA, AND/OR
TO BE APPLIED OR PLEDGED
TOWARD THE PAYMENT OF
PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON
ANY INDEBTEDNESS, INCLUDING
REFUNDING INDEBTEDNESS,
INCURRED BY OR ON BEHALF OF
TULSA COUNTY FOR SUCH PURPOSE,
SUCH SALES TAX TO COMMENCE
ON JANUARY 1, 2008, AND
CONTINUING THEREAFTER TO
DECEMBER 31, 2014?”
FOR THE PROPOSITION - YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSITION - NO
What do you think the bold words mean?
I think the county commissioners intend to use the sales tax for other projects until the river plan is finally approved by the Corps of Engineers, or if it is not approved, they will keep the money and use it for other projects; all the while depriving our community schools of the needed funding they need to operate, or the cities of the funds they need to fix the roads and put more police on the streets to protect us from violence.
REMEMBER! The vote is next Tuesday. Get out and have your say in how they spend your income.
-Jason Perry
More info here
There are a few points that I would like to emphasize from the repost below:
1) Our roads...I know it's a horn that has been tooted a lot recently, but it's so true. I've driven from Tulsa to Kansas, or even Texas, and you can tell the instant you reach another state. The roads are terrible in Oklahoma, and as soon as you see the little "Welcome to..." sign, you are instantly on a smoother, and safer in my opinion, travel. So what does the "yes" site say in answer to that? I quote, "Fixing our streets is a priority and must be done regardless of the river project. Like streets, river development is an infrastructure project as well. This river project is necessary to the development and progress of our entire community.” Okay, so...they say it *has* to be done regardless? So why isn't it? And why is the development of the river made to sound just as important as the improvement of our roads, streets, and bridges?
2) Tulsa taxes will be one of the highest in the country, if this passes. Do I need to say anymore than that?
3) I just moved from 71st and Riverside. We would drive on Highway 75 from our apartment to Owasso, just about every weekend. If you have never driven that stretch, and don't know what the river smells like, I suggest you take a drive sometime. I will *NOT* miss that smell! It is horrible! And they want to put a pedestrian bridge right in the thick of that smell?? Riiight...
4) "LOW WATER DAMS FINANCED BY VISION 2025 and PRIVATE FUNDS: Didn’t we already vote money for this project?" ~~the answer to that, I found on their site. I quote, "The $5.6 million allocated for two low-water dams in Vision 2025 is not nearly enough to build the dams. A small percentage of those funds were used for engineering studies." Okay, so...we already passed monies to go to some of this project, but, oops! We spent it elsewhere, now we need more! Silly us...What exactly will stop them from using this money elsewhere once again?
A repost from Jason Perry.
There sure seems to be a lot of hype flying around regarding the sales tax for the Arkansas River Beautification tax. I will be personally voting NO the Tulsa River Tax. Here is a list of reasons that you should consider doing the same.
1-ROADS: Our roads are in terrible condition. If we spend our money on this project, how soon will the city come to us and ask for more money to fix the roads? Shouldn’t this be a priority for the city and county?
2-HIGH VIOLENT CRIME RATE: The nation’s crime rate on a whole is rising, but Tulsa’s is almost double the national average.
3-SALES TAX RATE IS ALREADY HIGHER THAN NYC: If this tax increase happens, Tulsa’s sales tax rate will be .6% higher than New York City as one of the highest in the country. I don’t think that will attract too many “Young Professionals” or new employers. **This is the one that REALLY gets to me. If you travel much then you know exactly what I am talking about! We get taxed to so heavily on everything here in Oklahoma. Property, sales, vehicles, on and on... And our state city looks HORRIBLE compared to other cities with far less tax burdens. Why is this? Our city council, commissioners, our mayor and all their private interest buddies. They have proven time and again that they CANNOT be trusted with the funds they are handed.
4-RIVER ODOR: The river smells. To make the river an enjoyable place to spend time (and money) we need to move the waste treatment plant at 61st Street. This could cost taxpayers an additional $500 million.
5-MAINTENANCE COST: Anybody have an answer on how the maintenance will be paid for? I’m guessing it will come from the same fund that fills our swimming pools and potholes.
6-CORPS of ENGINEERS APPROVAL: We don’t even have approval to alter the river from the Corps yet. What happens if we vote to tax ourselves and the Corps of Engineers says “NO!” Do we get our money back?
7-LOW WATER DAMS FINANCED BY VISION 2025 and PRIVATE FUNDS: Didn’t we already vote money for this project?
8-COUNTY GOVERNMENTS SHOULDN’T BE IN SALES TAX BUSINESS: Sales tax is (in most responsible budgeting plans) used by cities to take care of city issues. When counties get in the sales tax business….well…there’s just not enough to go around.
9-7 YEAR PROJECTION FOR TAX REVENUE: Can we as Tulsan’s wait 7 years for the tax revenues to start coming in before we fix our streets? What if the revenues are not as high as expected (ie, Oklahoma Lottery)?
10-TULSA COUNTY ALREADY HAS RIVER DEVELOPMENT: Unfortunately Jenks beat us to it. Have you seen and heard what they are doing and have planned? AND DONE WITH PRIVATE FUNDING!
The dollar is worth less than it has been in years. Now while that helps our economy a lot, it also drives up the cost of everything that is imported and with the cost of oil expected to hit $100 this year. Do you really want another percentage of your income to go to something you MIGHT get to see the benefit from in 20 years down the road? NO!
Why doesn't the city put forth some propositions to give me incentives and subsidies to develop our wonderful Art Deco filled downtown? Not as many kickbacks from private interest, that's why!
How about this little snippet out of the sample ballot.
PROPOSITION
OFFICIAL COUNTY BALLOT
SPECIAL ELECTION
OCTOBER 9, 2007
TULSA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA
“SHALL THE COUNTY OF TULSA,
OKLAHOMA, BY ITS BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, LEVY
AND COLLECT A FOUR-TENTHS
OF ONE PERCENT (4/10%) SALES
TAX FOR THE PURPOSE OF
ARKANSAS RIVER CORRIDOR
DEVELOPMENT WITHIN TULSA
COUNTY, OKLAHOMA, AND/OR
TO BE APPLIED OR PLEDGED
TOWARD THE PAYMENT OF
PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON
ANY INDEBTEDNESS, INCLUDING
REFUNDING INDEBTEDNESS,
INCURRED BY OR ON BEHALF OF
TULSA COUNTY FOR SUCH PURPOSE,
SUCH SALES TAX TO COMMENCE
ON JANUARY 1, 2008, AND
CONTINUING THEREAFTER TO
DECEMBER 31, 2014?”
FOR THE PROPOSITION - YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSITION - NO
What do you think the bold words mean?
I think the county commissioners intend to use the sales tax for other projects until the river plan is finally approved by the Corps of Engineers, or if it is not approved, they will keep the money and use it for other projects; all the while depriving our community schools of the needed funding they need to operate, or the cities of the funds they need to fix the roads and put more police on the streets to protect us from violence.
REMEMBER! The vote is next Tuesday. Get out and have your say in how they spend your income.
-Jason Perry
More info here
posted by Amanda at 12:01 PM
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