Olpe needs tax
Jerry D. Tempelmeyer, Olpe mayor
Monday, August 4, 2008
As mayor of the city of Olpe, I want to express my support for the 1-percent sales tax question on Tuesday’s ballot.
First of all, the city of Olpe has maintained a stable mill rate for the last 15 years due to careful spending practices. However, the infrastructure requires more and more money to maintain. The 1/2-percent sales tax for street repairs that was approved by city residents in 2004 generates about $20,000 per year. This year, the bid to chip and seal one city block is about $3,200. At this rate, the city can only seal 6.25 city blocks with this revenue source. This does not allow anything for repairs to the road base or to resurface the streets with something that will last longer.
Although the proposed 1-percent sales tax increase is only for five years, the estimated $43,000 per year that the city would receive would go a long way toward getting our streets back in good condition. The 1-percent sales tax could also be used for other capital-improvement projects including storm-water drainage, sidewalks and buildings for city maintenance and the fire department.
Secondly, I believe sales tax is the fairest way to increase revenues instead of placing the entire burden on the property owners. Everyone who spends money in Lyon County, including those from other counties and states, is helping the local economy.
Lastly, the sales tax rate will still be favorable compared to larger metropolitan areas, especially when you consider the price of gas to get to the larger cities. I would encourage everyone to support the sales tax increase.
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
7.8% is a favorable rate? Oh, my. Is that true?
August 4, 2008 at 6:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Jerry,
Instead of trying to convince us to vote yes, why not write to your county commissioners and convince them not to spend frivolously on things like $10,000 for fireworks just because Davis wanted to celebrate the 4th of July. Yippee Skippee Doo! Ten grand can pave a few streets in Olpe.
Have all your local businessmen stayed current on sending their sales tax receipts to the state?
August 5, 2008 at 4:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
if they can afford 190 thousand on the pond at the golf course, they dont need a tax increase!
August 5, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CassieJo (anonymous) says...
Type Lyon in the search ..... make these people start paying the SALES TAX they have already collected instead of asking for an increase!
https://www.kdor.org/warrants/listing...
These are tax warrants .... UNPAID SALES TAXES etc.....
It's easier to ask for more then to collect what is already owed. sigh
$190,000.00 to dig a hole?? Why not get all those golfers out there with shovels and get to digging!
August 5, 2008 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )