It's Corporate Welfare

by Greg Tlapek, 4/19/2016

The Cape Girardeau City Council approved a $2.49 million Tax Increment Financing (TIF) project last night.

Kudos to the two citizens who were there to oppose the issue.

Mayor Rediger is reported to have said "It will provide jobs.  It will produce income.  It will produce taxes."

The same could be said of any tax break given to any business.  It's corporate welfare.

School Bonds and Property Taxes

April 2015

$20 Million School Bond--What Will It Cost You?

For example, if your property taxes generally run about $1,200 a year, the bond issue will cost you $1,119. ($933 + $93 + $93)  That is the sum total of what the $20 million bond issue will cost you if it passes.   Your payments will be spread out over several years, most heavily weighted in the years 2030-2035.


You can easily calculate what this bond issue will cost you, almost exactly.  Look at your last property tax bills--personal and real estate.  Look for "assessed valuation" on the real estate tax bill, and "valuation" on your personal property tax bill.  Add them together and divide by 100.  Then multiply that amount by $4.87.  That's what this bond issue will cost you, personally. Roughly speaking, the cost will be spread out over about five years, between the years 2030 and 2035.

There is $616 million worth of property in the Cape Girardeau School District over which to spread the cost of the school bond.

____________________________________________________________________________

Property Tax--Fun Facts

School Taxes make up about 80% of our property tax bills in Cape.  The total tax levy for the CG Public School District is $4.157/$100.  Of that, $0.68 goes to service the debt on school bonds used for construction.  That 68 cents generates $4.2 million per year.

The Cape Girardeau Public Library (6%) gets about as much of our property taxes as the City of Cape Girardeau (6.9%).

The County gets 1.2%.

LWV/KRCU Forum - Part 3

2014 SEMO FAIR 2014

by Greg Tlapek
9/6/2014

First day of the 22nd year at the SEMO District Fair!

Thanks to Kathy Horn who worked today from 3-7 pm.  Rick Vandeven and I are getting pretty good at setting up the booth (it's getting a little long in the tooth).  We had it set up in 1 1/2 hours.

Contributions are welcome.  You can do that at this website.

Call Rick at 573-318-5564 or Greg at 573-225-7187 if you would like to help--or just show up and hang out!

 

Why Bother?

Proportional Representation Is The Way To Go

by Greg Tlapek
8/14/2014

There is not a Democratic Party candidate in the only state-wide race this year, the Auditor's race.

In counties like Cape County where one party dominates, why bother voting in November?  The real contests were in the primary election.

Proportional Representation (PR) would give people a reason to think about the makeup of the State Legislature, and in my opinion our society would benefit if more people thought about our Legislature. The Missouri House of Representatives should mirror the population of the state, and that is what PR attempts to do.  For example if 15% of the population feels best represented by the Libertarian Party, we should have 15% of the number of Representatives.

PR would give Democrats and all minor parties in Cape County a reason to think about and participate in the upcoming election.  If working for or voting for someone other than a Republican would make a difference more people would do so and encourage others to get out and vote to do the same.

Keeping School Taxes

by Greg Tlapek
7/17/2014

The Cape Girardeau Public School District is looking for a reason to tax us.
Reference a July 11, 2014 article in the Southeast Missourian.

Cape school board mulls building new junior high

The school district doesn't want our taxes to go down.  They want us to take on new debt, even though there is no pressing need.

The school board will claim we can take on new debt without raising the tax rate. I understand the claim.  It isn't actually true. Columbia Public Schools, and probably others across the state, are doing the same thing.

I have written an article for the upcoming edition of the Missouri Libertarian Party's Show Me Freedom newsletter.  It explains the scheme.  Please contact the school board members you know and ask them to fairly represent the bond issue on the ballot when it goes for a vote.  The ballot language should comply with the law.  The law states we are told how much the tax rate will increase if we vote "yes".

It will NOT be a no-tax-rate-increase bond issue as they will claim. Every time we have to vote on school taxes it is because the school district wants to raise them.  If they weren't raising the tax rate, we wouldn't have to vote.

Cape City Council Meeting 4/21/14

City Council 3, Libertarian 0

by Greg Tlapek

Community Improvement District (CID) 

I attended the Cape City Council meeting and spoke against the creation of a Community Improvement District (CID).  The Council voted 4-1 in favor of the CID.  Videotape of recent sessions can be found here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cocg-tv

When the Council finally approves, the founding board of the newly created CID will meet and write by-laws for themselves, then cause ballots to be issued to approximately 150 registered voters who live in the District asking them to approve some taxes.   The members of the founding board are specified in the petition which supporters circulated to get the required signatures to present the issue to the City Council.  The CID petition and plan can be viewed at http://www.semissourian.com/files/cape-girardeau-downtown-cid-petition-and-map.pdf 

Basically a group of people got together and used state law to create a district along Broadway and along Main Street where the property owners will pay additional property tax and shoppers will pay additional sales tax, hopefully to be spent improving the district.  See: Missouri Revised Statutes (RSMo) Sections 67.1401 http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/c000-099/0670001401.htm to 67.1571.

I argued that the state law which allows for the creation of CIDs is flawed.  One hundred fifty people is too few to decide on a sales tax that everyone who shops in the district will have to pay. Furthermore, the correlation between those 150 voters and the property owners who will pay the property tax, and the merchants who will collect the sales tax is probably very low.  In other words, people who will be getting taxed don't get to vote on the taxes.

Fire Tax

In other business, the Council voted unanimously to put a 20-year extension of the 1/8th cent "Fire Tax" on the ballot in August. [Note:  They moved the issue to the November general election because they did not want to compete with two other taxes on the August primary.]  The Proposition will read:  "Shall the City of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, extend the imposition of the City's existing fire sales tax of one-eighth of one percent (1/8 of  1%) beyond its current expiration date for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the Cape Girardeau Municipal Fire Department?  This one-eighth of one percent (1/8 of 1%_ sales tax extension shall expire on December 31, 2035.

This tax is in addition to another 1/8th cent sales tax for the Fire Department which is not subject to expiration.

Coverage in the Missourian
The coverage in the Missourian made it sound like the City would be using the money for the Cape Police Department, as well.  http://www.semissourian.com/story/2072599.html Responses to their reporting lead me to believe that's not exactly the case. I did some research. The money will become part of general revenues and the thinking of Council members, as I understand it and which would fit with the Missourian reporting, is that the City will need less money from general revenues to pay for the Fire Department and will therefore have more money to spend elsewhere, particularly the Police Department.

This from the City budget:

The Fire Sales Tax Fund is a fund established to account for receipt of a 1/4 cent sales tax 

authorized by the voters in June 2004 to fund operating and capital expenditures of the Fire 

department. The tax went into effect October 1, 2004. One-eighth of the tax expires December 

31,2014 and the remaining 1/8 does not expire. The total amount of the tax will be transferred 

each year to the General Fund to offset Fire operating and capital expenditures. 

https://www.cityofcapegirardeau.org/uploads/Main/CityHall/Finance/2013-2014-Annual-Budget-Cape-Girardeau.pdf

Page 174 of the Annual Budget shows the 1/4 percent fire sales taxes are expected to raise about 2.4 million dollars.

Council woman Schneider made it sound like the City has nowhere to go for money besides sales taxes. I put forth two arguments to Joseph Uzoaru after the meeting.
1.  That it would be better to pay for police and fire protection with real estate taxes than sales taxes.  The people with the most property to protect, arguably, receive the most benefits.
2.  That we should spend less on those departments, and particularly the Fire Department since fires aren't a real problem in Cape.  I suggested the Council direct the Police to quit spending money on drug arrests and the Fire Department to quit sending trucks out on every 911 call.

Real Estate Taxes
Here is the breakdown on real estate taxes for most people in Cape (there are just a few who don't live in the City Library District). The least tax, labeled "General Revenue" is what goes to the County for the Commissioners to spend.  The first, and by far the largest amount of the real estate taxes people pay goes to the Cape Girardeau School Board, District #63, to spend on education.  The second largest tax comes in at a mere 16% of what the schools get, and that is what goes to the City of Cape Girardeau.

That 16% amount which goes to the City of Cape Girardeau is divvied up into the three following pieces [Note:  This "General Revenue"  is not the same as the "General Revenue" for Cape County:
General Revenue $0.3027/$100 assessed valuation
Health $0.0567/$100
Library $0.3031/$100

I double checked with the Assessor's Office.  Yes.  We pay more for the Cape Girardeau Public Library than we pay into General Revenue for the City of Cape.  If the CID taxes pass, home owners and commercial property owners who live in the District will pay an additional $0.6708/$100.

Business Park Giveaway

Council also voted to allow the mayor to execute a special warranty deed to Crisp Realty Company for property in the City's business park at I-55 and LaSalle Avenue.

Joseph Uzoaru Won, Use Tax Failed

April 8, 2014

Joseph Uzoaru, who on Facebook describes his political views as libertarian, https://www.facebook.com/joe.uzoaru?fref=ts  won his race for Cape Girardeau City Council.  To see if someone identifies their political views on Facebook, click on "about" and then look under "basic information".

The Use Tax questions all failed in Cape County, by a wide margin, despite wording of the questions on the ballot that was clearly biased in favor of them passing.

Cape County Libertarian Party Opposes Use Tax

Vote NO on the USE TAX.

All the committee members of the Cape Girardeau County Libertarian Party are in opposition to the use tax on the ballot today, Tuesday, April 8, 2014.  

Joseph Uzoaru--Self described Libertarian running for Cape Girardeau City Council

https://www.cityofcapegirardeau.org/CityHall/Candidates-Filed.aspx

Joseph Uzoaru describes his political views as Libertarian on his Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/joe.uzoaru/about
He is a candidate for Cape Girardeau City Council in Ward 1.

The election is April 8.

Ward 1 can be viewed on this map, and your ward is listed on the voter registration card you should have recently received in the mail.  Ward 1 is in the northeast part of the city, bounded by the river and running from about Old Lorimier Cemetary on it's southern border to Lexington Avenue on it's northern border.

https://www.cityofcapegirardeau.org/uploads/Main/CityAdministration/CityManagersOffice/WardMap-Full.pdf

Fruitland Residents Seek Incorporation

October 18, 2013

http://www.semissourian.com/story/2014890.html

I'd appreciate a Libertarian perspective on this issue.--Greg Tlapek

City Council Applications Being Accepted

October 2013

April City Council Elections in Cape Girardeau

According to an article in the Missourian by Ruth Campbell,
 http://www.semissourian.com/story/2009953.html, now is the time to get a petition form and collect 50 signatures if you want to have the chance to have your name to appear on the ballot April 8, 2014, for mayor or city council in Cape.  Candidates have until November 19 to submit their petitions.  See Article VII, Sections 7.01, 7.03 (a) and (b) of the Cape Girardeau City Charter available on-line at the city's website.
http://www.cityofcapegirardeau.org/uploads/Main/CityAdministration/Cape-Girardeau-City-Charter.pdf

Campbell reports wards 1, 2 and 6 are up for election on April 8, 2014. The mayor is seeking a second consecutive term.  If he wins, he would be required to sit out an election before he could seek another term. Section 3.02.  A ward map is available on-line at the City of Cape website.
https://www.cityofcapegirardeau.org/uploads/Main/CityAdministration/CityManagersOffice/WardMap-Full.pdf

The city charter provides for a primary election in wards where more than two people seek the seat.  A city-wide primary would be held if more than two people seek the mayor's spot.   See Article VII, Section 7.07.

City council is a non-partisan race.  Partisan campaigning is specifically prohibited by the city charter, Section 7.02.  The salary at the time the city charter was written in 1981 was $100 per month for a regular council person and $150 per month for the mayor.

Besides the requirement that candidates be registered voters, they must be at least 21, have lived in the city for 2 years and their district for at least 90 days before the election. The mayor has a 4 year residency requirement.  Article III, Section 3.02.

The mayor is elected at-large.  Three of the six wards elect a council member each even numbered year.  All council members, including the mayor, serve four year terms.

Sidewalk Cafes

Sidewalk Cafes

From a Southeast Missourian article by Erin Ragan
http://www.semissourian.com/story/2006070.html

The Cape Girardeau City Council is considering allowing sidewalk cafes "on Broadway between Water and Pacific streets, on Water Street between Broadway and Independence Street, and on Main and Spanish streets between Broadway and Merriwether Street,"  according to the Missourian article.  

Pro:  Good for business owners and people who enjoy sidewalk dining.

Con:  Bad for people whose use of public sidewalks will be choked by tables and chairs.  Too cozy a relationship between city and certain businesses whose dining areas are built and maintained by the city.  Unfair for the people on the south side of Broadway who got much less sidewalk space in the redevelopment project.  Unfair to every other business in Cape which isn't allowed use of the city sidewalks to conduct business. 

Quid pro quo:  How about this?  Allow all businesses the right to expand their trade onto the  sidewalks.  Allow street vendors the right to use parking spaces and public parking lots to ply their trades.  

Cape County Commissioners Raise Tax Rate--Sep. 2013

by Greg Tlapek

From the 9/17/2013 Southeast Missourian article by Erin Ragan

Cape County Commissioners, Clint Tracy, Paul Koeper and Charles Herbst, raised the property tax levy from $0.038 per $100 assessed valuation to $0.0447 per $100 assessed valuation.  That will amount to an increase in revenue for the county of 0.67 cents per $100 assessed valuation on a total assessment of $1,165,240,779 in the county.  Hmmm...get out my pencil...that amounts to $78,071 in additional revenue for the county.

According to her article, only one person attended the public meeting held by the Commission before their vote on the tax increase.  It's difficult to get people to turn out in opposition to something that is perceived to cost them very little.  In this case, it appears there was no group or individual who perceived it to be in their interest to have the tax increased, either.  As a matter of principle, I am against tax increases.

I was confused by the quote attributed to Clint Tracy, that raising the tax levy from $0.038 to $0.0447 could be "looked at as a 28-cent reduction."  According to the article, the state has set a cap of $0.337 per $100 assessed valuation, which means our new rate of 4.47 cents is 29.13 cents below what the state allows. 

Scooter Helmet Law--2012

Scooter Helmet Law--2012

In October in 2012, Greg Tlapek had a letter to the editor published in the Southeast Missourian opposing the passage of a helmet law for scooters.  http://www.semissourian.com/story/1900385.html

Academy Sports, Sales Tax Deal--2012

http://www.semissourian.com/story/1904038.html Sporting goods store sales tax deal approved by city, county Tuesday, October 16, 2012 By Melissa Miller ~ Southeast Missourian

TIF for Industrial Park--2012

TIF for Industrial Park--2012

In August of 2012, the Cape County Libertarian Party ran an ad in the Southeast Missourian publicly opposing the use of Tax Increment Financing for an Industrial Park.

Rental Inspection Program--2012

Rental Inspection Program--2012

In August of 2012, the Cape County Libertarian Party ran an ad in the Southeast Missourian publicly stating our opposition to the passage of a Rental Inspection Program.

Smoking Ban--2011

Smoking Ban--2011

In March of 2011, the Cape County Libertarian Party ran an ad in the Southeast Missourian publicly announcing our opposition to a proposed smoking ban.  We also had sign carriers out on the street carrying "Vote No Today" signs.

Sewer Tax--2011

Sewer Tax--2011

In March of 2011, the Cape County Libertarian Party ran an ad in the Southeast Missourian publicly stating our opposition to using a sales tax to pay for the new sewage treatment plant.