Judges Ruling

Never mind the original election? And the fact that it was voted on AGAIN in 2004? At what point does the minority finally realize they lost and stop trying to subvert TWO elections?

[Army_of_One]

Perhaps it's a case of ALGORITIS? LOL

If they can't revote on the election what they CAN do is VOTE OUT the people that are spending the money poorly for things that it should not be spent. IF they want to recall someone, why don't they go stttttttrrrrrrrraight to the problem and recall the idiots spending the money???

[deuce91]

I very enticed by this whole situation. First, let me say that I, for one, am for an event center. Always have been. While not old enough to vote for the WND, I've always thought that not having a sunset clause on a sales tax was dumb for the people to vote for. But I was always under assumption that the majority of the public could repeal the tax at any time, for any reason. So, effectively, and please correct me if I'm wrong, the judge has declared that the sales tax can never be repealed? So the city and county will always have this tax on the rolls? Or was the reason the judge denied the motion because we the public would need to repeal both the county and the city's part of the tax?

Let's say in 20 years, Dodge City and Ford County have built every "quality" of life, entertainment venue possible and each are self-sustaining. (Huge leap of faith!!) The city and county have millions of dollars in WND funds sitting in the coffers because of all of the added sales tax money brought in by the thousands of tourists and visitors. (Once again, huge leap of faith, but could happen!) Can we the taxpayers repeal the tax then? At what point can we? It just seems to me the judge has only muddied the waters without providing a solution to the problem. When will a petition to repeal be successful?

[Redhead 18]

Sunny;

Remember when you wrote this.

“ If you don't like the way they are spending it, vote them out. I plan to because I think it's wrong that WMD money was given to the school to put in new artificial turf and a track. I also think it wrong that money was given to Boot Hill and to Roundup Arena”.

I agree 100 per cent. While we are making a change, let's put on Term Limits also. If we can limit the term of a President, let's make it equal for all Elected Officials. I could go on forever.

About the Judge ruling. You can purchase a copy of the order from the District Court Clerk, the cost will be about $3.00 for 14 pages. But to understand it, that's another thing. Of course you can use of an Attorney at $200.00 per hour. So what do we do?

Don't you agree that people do have a right to change their mind? You have said that you intend to vote them out. Bet you might have voted for some in the last election. Is this known as “Changing Your Mind”.

If you agree, what is the next step. You try to work within the law. How many way's do YOU have to make a change. Yourself, or hire that $200.00 hour person. Your budget is short on cash, so let's try doing it ourself s. When this Country was founded, one thing that was given to the people, “Ways to make changes”. That where the Petition come into play.

Have you ever carried a Petition? Well you have to have an idea that you can sell the people on. The people are smart, they will not sign their name on anything unless they understand what it's about, well most of them understand. When you carry the petition and talk with the signers and ask how they feel about a certain problem, they tell you what needs to be done. You can see that the People want a change. It's not just one or two people it was over 1000 signers, and in a period of about 30 days. More names could have been had at a longer time.

This petition was only to stop Ford County share. It was not to kill the complete project. Dodge City share would still be coming into the City. It gets back to what you said about spending money on other projects. Easy come, Easy go. How many plans and proposals has the City bought with your money from some company that do what ever the People in Charge want's (CFAB).

Then the Commissioneers, City or County did not like the location, design or what ever SO they changed their mind. When this happens the project comes to a halt. Remember they have had 10 years to make this go with out using a Judge opinion. What happens when the City has 5 votes and the County has 3 votes and they still can not agree. Is this a stalemate or what? Will the Judge put the Commission in Jail.? It might be a smart thing to do.

But the “Voter,Taxpayer, Person, the person that picks up the tab for sales taxes purchases still does not have any rights according to this Judge.


I do not agree with this Judge's decision.

[NoLongerInRadioGuy]

Originally Posted by Redhead 18

Sunny;


Have you ever carried a Petition? Well you have to have an idea that you can sell the people on. The people are smart, they will not sign their name on anything unless they understand what it's about, well most of them understand. When you carry the petition and talk with the signers and ask how they feel about a certain problem, they tell you what needs to be done. You can see that the People want a change. It's not just one or two people it was over 1000 signers, and in a period of about 30 days. More names could have been had at a longer time.

I thought the idea behind signing a petition, or starting one, is to allow like-minded people to come together and voice an opinion as a group instead of an individual. There should not be any "selling" going on, as the second sentence infers. If you want to be fair, how bout polling every single person in the county - including Dodge City - and have them give their opinion on it - yes, no, or dont know enough about it. This would be more effective (at least in my mind) that saying you convinced over 1000 people to see your viewpoint.

How bout we let the county folk out of it...no problem...and then we can build our SEC. We are hospitable people out here in Dodge, so we will allow anyone from outside Ford county to use it also. But, if you live in Ford County, you must also be a Dodge City resident to attend events there...Fair nuff?

[TexKan]

I see that

Yours, Mine, and OURS mentality

ain't so popular!!............... On either side of the issue............LOL LOL

Deuce... that's not what the judgment means. What the judgment says is that Ford County cannot repeal their sales tax YET, because they haven't fulfilled their contractual agreement with Dodge City. The reason for the repeal was in direct relation to the Special Events Center. An interlocal agreement signed by both city and county administration back in 1997 agrees that the tax cannot be put to bed until the four projects are finished.

The fourth and final project, the SEC, hasn't been completed therefore the contract isn't fulfilled.

That's the crux of the judge's decision. Now, any judgment of how efficiently the money is being spent, that's another thing.

[sunny beach]

Redhead,

Here is what the judge's decision said, in part, per the article in the Globe.

Innes agreed with Dalton and Strobel in his ruling, which said repealing the tax would prevent the county from honoring its obligation to use its share of the proceeds to help finance the "Why Not Dodge" projects.
"If the proposed legislation were to be placed on the ballot and approved by the electorate, it would have the effect of removing a substantial flow of money to the projects," he said. "The county would not be able to perform its duties because of the impairment of its contractual duties created by the repeal of its share of the retailers' sales tax."
Innes also voided a 2004 resolution authorizing an election on whether the special events center should be built, saying it was inconsistent with the court's previous ruling ordering the city and county to make the project their top priority.

I don't think that voting somebody out that I may have voted for in a previous election is "changing my mind." I feel that the elected official didn't live up to the expectations that I had set for him or her and that I feel somebody else should do the job.

Again, you bring the CFAB into this? The CFAB has No Power and they make No Decisions. They only make recommendations to the commissioners who have the power and make the decisions.

You also have more power than you may think. If you don't want to contribute to the WND projects you can do all your purchasing online or out of Ford county. You are free to go to Jetmore, Minneola, Garden City, or elsewhere to do your shopping. How about shopping in Greensburg? I'm sure they would welcome your shopping dollars there after the disaster that they have had.

[Redhead 18]

NoLonger;

Maybe "Selling" is not the right word. " Will you please sign this petition". Does this make you happy. Thank You......

When all the problems started it would have much better if we could have had a Petition very simple. "Do you still want a Special Event Center, Yes or No". The powers that be would not permit that.

I know that it hard for some to understand but Ford Count is everyone. Dodge City is a Town/City in Ford County. Two separate Taxing division. If you live out of Dodge City city limit you only pay (Property) taxes at Ford County rate. Now if you live in Dodge City you have the honor of paying (Property) Ford County Taxes plus Your High City Taxes. Not many people can brag about having the highest taxes in the State, but Dodge City can. Don't give up being # 1 in the State. It helps to bring New Business to town.

[Redhead 18]

Sunny;

I agree that CFAB does not have the power. We both are looking in the same direction. What I was trying to say they make Recommendations, but they were not accepted by the City /County. What I tried to say was they can not agree, but we the taxpayers catch all of the flax to try something else.