roger wyoming II wrote:^ That's my state rep in action! I guess he's going out in a blaze of glory, lol
I get his premise though. If the state wants to act like St. Louis is a burden or that St. Louis is some huge negative influence on the rural areas, cut it loose. Stop trying to decimate the city and let it become its own entity. Granted, we all know it's just for show and he doesn't really want that to happen, but it's a clear message: Either start acting like the city of St. Louis is a major economic engine for the state of MO or shut up.
jcity wrote:Dbinsouthcity sort of owned carex about reductions at city hall.
I do not know enough about MoDot's mass layoff event to evaluate it as effective or not, so I will concede the point to someone who went through it. If there's a case study to look at then I'll shut up until all facts are known. Arguments without agreement on common reference points are meaningless. So yes, DB owns that particular point.
I think we’re stuck with the earnings tax. Just like we are stuck with the remains of Pruitt-Igoe, the clearing of the riverfront, constructing I-55 and I-44 in the worst possible place imaginable, the clearing of Mill Creek, whatever they did to Market Street (thanks for not “fixing” Washington Avenue!), and a whole host of other terrible ideas. It’s done. It’s baked in the cake. Some win, some lose.
Rex put in another $452,804. He's donating in the amounts of the StL census. 1970 and 1980 thus far. That would imply more than a million more is coming. I guess his investment skills have declined in recent years.
leeharveyawesome wrote:I think we’re stuck with the earnings tax. Just like we are stuck with the remains of Pruitt-Igoe, the clearing of the riverfront, constructing I-55 and I-44 in the worst possible place imaginable, the clearing of Mill Creek, whatever they did to Market Street (thanks for not “fixing” Washington Avenue!), and a whole host of other terrible ideas. It’s done. It’s baked in the cake. Some win, some lose.
quincunx wrote:Rex put in another $452,804. He's donating in the amounts of the StL census. 1970 and 1980 thus far. That would imply more than a million more is coming. I guess his investment skills have declined in recent years.
I think the Trump campaign proves how important it is to preserve every measure we have to redistribute wealth away from the wealthy. People are fed up with the wealthy donor class controlling elections, but the only solution people can come up with is to vote directly for a member of the donor class. Without substantial progressive taxation, I guess that's the best we can do.
Comptroller Green was at the Lindenwood Park Neighborhood association meeting to (obviously) lobby in favor of the earnings tax. Most everybody there was in favor of keeping the earnings tax, seeing as any replacement taxes would fall more heavily on City residents.
Heard my first No on E Tax commercial this morning. With $M, prepare for a lot more.
Points were:
It's a flat tax (Thought that was a good thing, right Steve Forbes?)
There are special deals giving the tax away (an issue of fragmentation, not the E tax's existence. As if tax subsidies will go away of the earnings tax does)
I heard an add on Foxy 955 encouraging people to vote "No". Never in my life have ever seen a native citizen trying to destroy his or her own city's tax base. Does he live in St. Louis City?
Is there a liberal Think Tank based in St. Louis that could give Rex Sinquefield a run for his money in regards to policy and tax activism?
Sinquefield is trying to destroy St. Louis. In my opinion, he would fight all taxes if he could. If the earnings tax fades away, what's next? A fight to do away with sales and property taxes?
What if the city created a new tax or increased sales and property taxes, what kind of opposition would it face?
But if the earning tax dissolves, could St. Louis rename it where it wouldn't be known as an "earnings" tax?
Anyway, Rex and other nincompoops are wrong here. Other cities may not have an earnings tax, but other cities have larger tax bases.
If $162-million is wiped from the budget, it would crush the services even he depends on to serve his own World Chess Hall of Fame and other assets in the CWE. Police and fire protection would be dramatically reduced. They are trying to turn St. Louis, which has never filed bankruptcy, into Detroit. And St. Louis' credit and bond ratings would decrease too.
If property taxes are forced to rise, it could force a lot of people and businesses out of the city.
If property taxes are forced to rise, it could force a lot of people and businesses out of the city.
That's part of the problem. The city can't raise property taxes to pay for municipal services. (scroll down to 11b http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/Const ... Art10.html). Property taxes max out at a $1 per $100 of property value. Right now the city is about maxed out at .9928. All other property taxes are special use type taxes that go directly to other entities.
We'd have to raise the sales tax or who knows what else.
Per the Mayor's presentation last night at the TGS Neighborhood Meeting, to compensate, either a slate of 12 new taxes/service fees would need to be instituted/applied (unlikely). He also said raising the sales tax to 14% would also be an option.
If property taxes are forced to rise, it could force a lot of people and businesses out of the city.
That's part of the problem. The city can't raise property taxes to pay for municipal services. (scroll down to 11b http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/Const ... Art10.html). Property taxes max out at a $1 per $100 of property value. Right now the city is about maxed out at .9928. All other property taxes are special use type taxes that go directly to other entities.
We'd have to raise the sales tax or who knows what else.
dweebe wrote:
Have the earnings tax opponents offered any options or are they just "Get rid of the tax and you cities find a solution on your own"?
In the minds of the opponents, 90% of the city budget is giveaways to City Hall's buddies or undeserving poors, so the solution is to eliminate wasteful spending.
^Which is frustrating because the city has been on furloughs for like three years haven't they? They've also cut something like a 1000 jobs over the last few years as well (some of that may just be through attrition)
pat wrote:^Which is frustrating because the city has been on furloughs for like three years haven't they? They've also cut something like a 1000 jobs over the last few years as well (some of that may just be through attrition)
Mayor Slay confirmed both of these things last night. There are likely cost cutting measures that could still be undertaken, but not $160M worth.
Pat: City has NOT been on furloughs in at least 5 years... I worked there 09/2011--03/2013 and was never on one
On 11/20/2011 they delayed the planned furlough plan (and never brought it back) because the Cards extended playoff runs brought in more revenue.
