The Emporia Gazette

Schlobohm steps down as PIO for Reading

You are correct Steve.

December 13, 2011 at 9:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

City property tax increase now on the table

Chalk-

As for the RDA funds, the tax was initially passed in 1994 as part of the community effort to recruit a Cessna plant here. Ultimately the company selected Independence, KS but we had the 1/2-cent tax levied for 10 years with the charge of 1/4% going to property tax abatement (meaning City General Fund) and the other 1/4% earmarked for "Industrial Development" In 2000, (I believe) the city once again voted to extend the 1/2-cent sales tax in the same manner. We also adopted an additional policy that allowed the repayment of bonds issued to fund the Jones Aquatic Center to be paid out of the industrial development portion of that fund. Those bonds are should be retired in 2014, thus freeing up additional monies in our Industrial Development fund. In 2010 the voters once again approved the extension of this sales tax for another 10 year period, extending it out to 2024.

As with other funds any excess revenues not budgeted are held in reserves for future use, the one caveat that I feel is important here is that the "reserve funds" in the Industrial Development fund also serve as a tool to help us finance projects like Land purchases, infrastructure development, and development incentives. That is why I feel that this fund above all is the most important to hold significant reserves in. I hope that answers your questions.

Rob

August 11, 2011 at 1:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

City property tax increase now on the table

Chalk-

Steve is right, Kansas Statue (See here: http://kansasstatutes.lesterama.org/C...) regulates the use of a "Transient Guest Tax" or bed tax. Emporia, just like most other communities levy's this tax as a way to generate funding for promotion and marketing of the City. While this revenue understandably fluctuates each year we are expecting to see the total receipts on the tax be roughly $400,000 in 2011 and 2012. These funds are controlled by the City Commission and the CVB through its managing agency the Chamber of Commerce request funding each year for it's programs. Any excess in revenues collected are held in that fund for future use.

August 11, 2011 at 1:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Tough budget season for county commissioners

FYI: http://www.emporiagazette.com/chats/2...

July 25, 2011 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Shop Emporia First

Corbin are you sure it isn't two martinis?

June 22, 2011 at 9:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Shop Emporia First

Corbin we have been receiving reports that you have a Roberts Roofing sign in your yard?

June 22, 2011 at 1:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Shop Emporia First

Romano- Because you Asked

Current Sales Tax Rates in Kansas

http://www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/forms/pu...

Emporia, KS - 8.80%,
Hutchinson, KS - 8.050%,
Junction City, KS - 9.55% to 11.3%,
Kansas City, KS - 8.55% to 10.025%,
Lawrence, KS - 8.85% to 9.85%,
Leavenworth, KS - 8.30%,
Leawood, KS - 8.65% to 9.65%,
Lenexa, KS - 8.90% to 9.90%,
Manhattan, KS - 8.55% to 9.05%,
Olathe, KS - 9.65% to 10.15%,
Overland Park, KS - 8.65% to 9.65%,
Prairie Village, KS - 8.525% to 9.525%,
Shawnee, KS - 8.775%,
Topeka, KS - 8.95%,
Wichita, KS - 7.3% to 9.3%.
Any city that has a range is attributed to the use of a CID or TDD which adds to the Sales Tax to help with development cost, in that area.

One last point of note is that Lyon County will pay off the Courthouse this summer (significantly early) and this will reduce our sales tax burden by 0.5%

Thanks for your questions and comments.

June 20, 2011 at 2:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Home for Fallen Warriors

We did follow up on that a couple of days ago. But that doesn't deter the fact that if the money can be raised it would look great in Emporia. Thanks
Chris

June 16, 2011 at 7:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

And the home of the brave

Yes this is an editorial and it appeared on the editorial page. It is the writers opinion.

March 29, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Comments Disabled

On this message board people are free to chat and start discussions. That is why we have these Forums.

We hope people see the link on how to start a discussion topic.

While the forums area has never really been utilized we hope it will provide a place to have civilized discussions. To have discussions in one area makes it easier to monitor the discussions.

While Corbin has been hard on himself Scarlett is right there were some comments that were way out of line and that is why we need to take a break and evaluate a different way to handle story comments.

For the time being we will post a link to the forums on the bottom of stories.
and make a modification to the navigation bar on the inside pages.
Thank you

March 10, 2011 at 5:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )