Now Other Cities Want to Use Dodge City as an Example of how to get more Tax Money

[gunnar1073]

Originally Posted by Value Pack

Property Taxes, City Sales Tax, County Sales Tax, Compensating Use Tax, Storm Water User Fee, Municipal Court fines and what we get charged for water and garbage pickup is all from taxpayers in Dodge City.

The point I was endeavoring to make was that other Cities are using Dodge City as an example of how to get more money out of the taxpayers.

I don't care one way or the other as to whether Garden City or Dodge City belongs to the Chamber of Commerce. Furthermore, I am well aware of the fact that the City and the Chamber are two different entities although sometimes they seem to have the same brain.

I just think that it is worth noting that the examples that Dodge City is cited for in newspapers in not anything we should jump up and down for in joy.

Yes, Tee, everything in Dodge City costs more. That is not the message that will bring new business to Dodge City but that is the truth of the matter.

In the long run, for Dodge City and Ford County, that has got to change or there will be no rYou shoeeal business growth.

But your point is flawed in the fact that this article is more based on local COC's and not on local taxes. What that article doesn't show is other members and their dues, or other communites and their breakdown for membership dues. You saw "Garden City is high compared to Hutchinson and Garden is based on Dodge" and immediately played the "were getting screwed" card.

Dodge City's COC has done wonderful things for our community, and they continue to work for us.

[K C Muffin]

Bubba - since I'm the one that mistook Value's post in the first place.....I, too, thought he/she was posting as if the Chamber were a City entity, which it's not. I realized yesterday I was wrong. The complaint, as I see it, is that the Chamber charges the City so much and it's coming out of tax coffers. But, as I said, it comes from the same place as Country Club dues and I don't see them being discussed much.....

The Chamber doesn't charge the City any more than it's other members and perhaps the City gets their money's-worth from their membership or not. That, again, should be up for public discussion around budget time.

[Bubba]

...and like I said in my earlier post, the City isn't required to belong to the Chamber of Commerce. If, in fact, they are paying a very high fee to be a Chamber member, then the citizen's need to go before the commissioners and protest and put a stop to the city being a member.

[Made in the USA]

Yeah Bubba, but a City not belonging to its own C of C is just asinine!

[Army_of_One]

Originally Posted by Tee

I agree VP, but there doesn't seem to be any way out- the leaders of our city are out of touch with it's constituents.

I've been to the meetings where 90% of citizens attending speak out against an issue, yet it still gets passed. They don't truly represent us. That is why I have stopped going- it's a waste of my time.

Before they ever open the floor to feedback, the commissioners have already decided amonst theirselves how they will be voting. Whether it's taxes, spending, smoking or CCH, they fear no recourse from the voters.

Amen....They are NOT representing the people that vote for them. They are NOT representing the average, tax paying citizen in Dodge...The GOOD thing is that there a A LOT of average tax paying citizens that can vote. They can be voted out as easy as they can be voted in.

[Detector]

Speaking of voting out, whats you plan for this commission election?

I see in todays paper that Brain Weber plans to run. He talks a good talk, but I was a bit concerned at this statement.

I'm prepared to make unpopular decisions. I may vote in a way that people might get frustrated. But I promise any vote I make will be the result of research to benefit the city."

Now I'm sure he meant it as a good statement, but I'd feel a little better knowing this vote will represent the people of dodge, and not the money bags as usual.

The problem we have now is our current leaders are making unpopular decisions and making people frustrated. And they are voting according to THEIR perception of whats good for dodge, and not what the people think is good for dodge.

[BroncoFan]

I agree with Detector. I am a little suspect of Mr. Weber, and would feel better knowing where he stands on the popular issues. We have let too many get on the commish that haven't held true to promises and some that are just running things on how THEY see fit. What say you, Mr. Weber?