Looking at the city’s current budget Wednesday morning, commissioners learned that sales tax collections for the first two months of 2010 are down 7.85 percent from January and February last year.
When working on the 2010 budget last summer, the commissioners estimated the drop would be 5 percent from the 2009 budget, City Manager Matt Zimmerman said.
“We tried to be appropriately conservative and use a 5 percent projection,” Zimmerman said.
To read complete story see the print edition or the online print edition.
justthinkin (anonymous) says...
Has Mrs. Gilligan been promoted, or is the title incorrect?
March 11, 2010 at 1:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Hmmmm, wonder if the smoking ban is hurting city tax revenue, more than was/is hurting City tax revenue more than the CAE and their supporters propoganda said it would or the City Commissioners anticipated or is it that those who pushed so hard for a smoking ban are not doing what they said that they would do, " visit the businesses that used to allow smoking, more than they did before the smoking ban ? "
Oh, and by the way, you don' t want to believe everything that certain people who proclaim, especially, " that if you do as they say, want or wish, everyone will be better off and the world will be saved " ! There are usually selfish, personal reasons for someone to make such a claim.
I believe the City Commissioners and the rest of Emporia may be finding that is just not always true .
I also feel a 7.5% or higher property tax and an increase in sales tax in the prevailing wind ! Just an observation.
March 11, 2010 at 3:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
What is the sales tax 8percent. Of course its going be down
March 11, 2010 at 7:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandman (anonymous) says...
Yes, Meth, CAE has succeeded in ONE area, more people shopping out of town!
Only problem, the air ISN'T any cleaner!!!
Dreammmmmmmmmm, dream,dream!
March 11, 2010 at 11:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I heard something on Ag News this morning that bears repeating here. I wish they had had more info. But a bill is working its way through the state legislature to add a sales tax to residential utilities. I'd like to hear more info on this if anyone knows.
That piece of news made me stop in my tracks. If we thought sales tax was down in Emporia now, wait until they institute sales tax on utilities. I hope I'm wrong, but I was fully awake when I heard the news.
March 12, 2010 at 5:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Sales tax in Emporia now is 7.8%
After state increase, (coming soon), 8.8%.
Let's stop all the legislative foreplay, and raise it to 10% and give us all a good screwing.
it may be prudent when figuring the next budget to estimate a 12% cut in revenues.
March 12, 2010 at 5:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mslater (Matt Slater) says...
Create,
You heard correctly.
http://www.thekansan.com/newsnow/x112...
Mornin, Steve!
March 12, 2010 at 5:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
create,
senate bill 516 would increase the state sales tax rate from 5.3% to 6.5% for three years then supposedly go down to 5.5% with the extra.02% used to fund transportation projects. and it would include utility bills, gas and electric which we now just pay local sales tax on. The vote probably comes March 18th.
I think.
March 12, 2010 at 6:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
good morning!
March 12, 2010 at 6:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Thanks Matt and Steve. Good morning to you too. Gonna go read that article Matt posted. (deep sigh).
Hey Matt, I changed my avatar when I found that this "two cents worth" image could be seen better than the one I had, and certainly a better metaphor for opinions.
March 12, 2010 at 6:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mslater (Matt Slater) says...
Create,
If you look at it this way, your avatar picture has ~$60,000,000.02 more than the city of Emporia.
March 12, 2010 at 6:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Yes, so unfortunately true.
March 12, 2010 at 6:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Good morning everyone. You know, all of the progressive, forward thinking of some in Emporia, who want so badly for Emporia to be like some of the other citys or towns they are so enamored with, may just be working. And if spending and taxes continue on the upward spiral that is presently being initiated and will be initiated in the future, Emporia may just become like the former Dunlap. instead of Lawarence, Topeka, K.C., Wichita, etc., that some wish Emporia to become.
I have hinted at it before and now I will come right out and say it, uncontrolled spending and uncontrolled raising of the tax burden and, or the over ambition of some, can and will kill the future of a City or Town, State, County and Country as quickly or quicker than anything. And, I believe you/we are beginning to the see/experience the affects of such, here and now.
March 12, 2010 at 7:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I don't know what you mean by uncontrolled raising of the tax burden, methusla. While I agree with you about uncontrolled spending, I also see closing down perfectly good schools as the worst thing to happen in years. Somewhere along the line, we need to stop this insanity. How? Shall we increase taxes or have bigger bake sales? Both?
I used to teach at a school where booster club sponsored bake sales and raffles were a regular occuring thing. The booster club used to make enough money to give each organization a fair amount of help every year. Perhaps we need to help ourselves that way as well as raise a few taxes too, at least temporarily.
Would a one-time state-wide special lottery help? For a $5 ticket, each buyer would obtain a chance to win a million dollars with the rest of the money going to the state to help out with school funding. Think that would fly?
It scares me to know that they may put a sales tax on utilities, but if it means not closing schools, then I'm for that too as long as it is temporary.
March 12, 2010 at 7:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
I'd buy that ticket create. There's no such thing as temporary tax though, they find ways of continuing them.
March 12, 2010 at 7:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I would buy such a ticket also create.....and I agree that the slash and burn policies being implemented now in education is asinine and insane.
March 12, 2010 at 8 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I'm gonna call Don Hill and suggest my idea. It's probably illegal, but no harm in trying. Besides, I'll bet they could pass a resolution for a one-time lottery sale. If it won't fly, tell you what. I'll make a real nice quilt and raffle it off for $5 a pop statewide for school relief. Will let you know what Don thinks about the lottery idea. Gonna e-mail him right now.
March 12, 2010 at 8:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Well people, why not just change the disbursement of funds from the lottery now and put it towards education?
Shucks if we did that the kansas dept. of commerce would be out of developement funds. No more Main Street programs, no more fancy buildings for KU, Kstate and Wichita State. No business developement at all for the state. And how many of those state workers would be laid off?
SLASH AND BURN?
Some schools are being closed and with declining enrollment they need to be.
Staff reductions are needed just like the private sector. Staff will be equired to do more with less money, sorry that's life.
But the slash and burn won't happen until we demand a stop to some of the overpaid administrators cutting all else above their salaries.
Does the state board of regents really need the saleries they are being paid?
Do our public college presidents really need the pay packages they are recieving? Why is it most of the cuts to education end up being the programs that educate the students?
And if anyone really thinks that state tax increase will only be for 3 years, I've got a bar that makes 10 million a year I'll sell for only 300 K.
March 12, 2010 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I agree on overpaid administrators. I was happy to see where Emporia will not be replacing two administrative positions once those two retire this school year. But there needs to be more in that area.
I wish it were as simple as declining enrollment causing schools to have less funding. Even schools with steady enrollment futures and some with projected growth are being cut because the state has no money period.
Yet people keep screaming no new taxes. Then it's bake sales I guess. And yes, even those have sales taxes. I used to have to pay sales tax on magazine sales that went to support the yearbook.
Yes, I agree, the lion's share of the cuts to education are being made in the sector that directly involve students like letting teachers go and cutting programs like art and music and speech.
March 12, 2010 at 10:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Well, it is just my opinion, that... uncontrolled spending and uncontrolled raising of taxes goes hand in hand, lately. When revenues go down, it would seem there are only two options discussed, 1. raise taxes, and tell the taxpayers to tighten their belts and do with less money for themselves and their families. 2. Make cuts to just about everything except to Governors, Lawmakers, Administrators salaries, etc., as it would seem these are exempt to the same tightening the belt and doing with less.
And anything that would create a pile of money would only provide fertile ground for the Government, Lawmakers, Administrators, and others to grab as much or all of it, for themselves and then still manage to overspend, have a cash short fall, continue to raise taxes in order grab/steal more, inorder to have a budget short fall, in order to manage to overspend, to have a cash/budget shortfall, in order to raise taxes, etc., etc., etc. and so the vicious circular cycle goes, until the " PEOPLE " say enough is enough, organize and band together and force some necessary changes. The Government, Lawmakers, Administrators, either do not have the courage to do or are so entangled in the greedy way of doing things the same old way, they are unwilling to do so.
You can affect change thru your vote. If you have a State Representative or State Senator, who is not doing a satisfactory job, vote him/her out of office. If you have a State Representative who aspires to move up to Congressman/woman in D.C. and is not doing the job satisfactorily in the State Legislature, then not only vote him/her out of State office, but do not vote to send them to the Legislature in D.C., I assure you they will want to know why you did not vote for them, if they do not get elected and move up. And if they ask, why, then flat out tell them, straight forward, " YOU STINK AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE ".
The influence peddling of our legislators and lawmakers must stop, before satisfactory change that will benefit all the people can become a reality . If you are satisified with the way things are and are headed, then by all means say nothing and stay quiet, sit on you hands, don' t vote and watch your and everyones life continue to get worse, because you said nothing and did nothing . Calling or writing your elected government representatives does absolutely no good, unless you are someone with money and influence. But your voice shouted in public, on public forums, and your vote will speak volumes and send a wake up message, to all, influence peddlers and elected officials alike.
March 12, 2010 at 12:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
City sales tax collections down, this could be the least of our problems--Go to Bill Moyers Journal--William K. Black. This video reminds us that the best way to rob a bank is to own one. Bill Black shows us the systemic criminal underpennings of our ecomonic structure and this is the reason over 300 congressmen want to audit the Federal Reserve. Please review this video.
March 13, 2010 at 12:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
orlando (anonymous) says...
What about sales tax on internet sales? It seems that would be one way to raise some more money. There is a lot of stuff being bought and sold online and no tax being paid at all on it.
March 13, 2010 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
http://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/forms/k-...
pg15
"LINE 18 — CONSUMERS’ COMPENSATING USE TAX
(Refer to page 31 for an explanation of this tax)
Enter on line 18 the compensating use tax due on purchases
of items from retailers located outside of Kansas on which no
sales tax was paid (including freight, shipping or handling fees).
If you made untaxed out-of-state purchases, but do not know
the amount of those purchases, use the following chart to
estimate the compensating use tax for calendar year 2009"
March 13, 2010 at 2:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rabblerouser (anonymous) says...
The more people are overtaxed, the less money they have to spend. The less money they have to spend, the less tax they are able to collect and they have to raise taxes again! Where does the madness end!
Dexter, Kansas school district put into place years ago that a % of all mineral rights in the school district would go to the school. That is oil, natural gas etc. The school is doing very well and has also been on a 4 day school week for the past 30 years.
March 13, 2010 at 4:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rabblerouser (anonymous) says...
Sales tax on internet sales would only benefit the states where the sales are made. For instance, Sales on E-bay from E-bayers in Kansas already collect the sales tax for Kansas.
March 13, 2010 at 4:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Sales tax down? Yet another DOH!!! moment.
And some think more taxes elsewhere is going to change things for the good? People arent spending becuase they don't have extra right now, take the hint America.
March 15, 2010 at 1:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )