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

[Value Pack]

Garden City Telegram Online

The chamber (Garden City) reviewed about 60 different dues structures from across the nation, she said, and ultimately ended up with a structure similar to the one Dodge City uses.

The dues structure change resulted in an about $22,000 increase to the chamber's revenues, Meyer said. The chamber has about 500 members.

Dodge City is leading Kansas, if not the United States, in how to bleed tax money out at an ever increasing speed.

[Made in the USA]

Well, at least they are a "leader" in at least one category!

[K C Muffin]

Originally Posted by Value Pack

Garden City Telegram Online Dodge City is leading Kansas, if not the United States, in how to bleed tax money out at an ever increasing speed.

Ya have to read this a little closer, Value Pack. This article is talking about dues structure for the Chamber of Commerce. A completely different entity than the City and not supported by any taxes. The Chamber, by their by-laws, is supported by membership dues. That's right. The tax-paying public has nothing at all to say about how they conduct their business. Now, if you are a member, you can either attend a meeting to voice your concerns or cancel your membership to voice a concern.

But don't confuse the Chamber with a tax structure.

[Value Pack]

Pray per chance where to you think the City of Garden and the City of Dodge is getting the money to pay those dues?

That is our tax money if I am not mistaken. What concerned the Mayor of Garden City was why the City of Garden had to pay more than any other business in Garden City. He had explained to him that because the City has deeper pockets and is the City that they had to pay more like Dodge City does to their Chamber of Commerce.

[Bubba]

It may be tax money, I'm not sure. But, the Chamber of Commerce is a seperate entity from the government. The City doesn't have to be a member of the Chamber. If the City pays dues that are much higher than the dues paid by other members, then the public needs to go to city commision meetings to protest the city paying those dues to be a member.

[Tee]

EVERYTHING Costs more in Dodge City!

The city of Dodge City paid $1,447 to belong to its local chamber next year. The city of Hutchinson paid $286 to its chamber in 2007.

[K C Muffin]

Exactly. The City doesn't have to belong. In fact, I'm not sure why they do. The Chamber works in connection with the city on some projects (like they did for trying to get MPBLX (now Excel) to locate in Dodge. When I worked there, I can't remember how the dues were based. But I believe the larger businesses had more than one membership/representative. If you think it's not beneficial for the City to belong, then voice your opinion to the City Council. Make them account for it just like any other tax expenditure. Then again, does anyone say anything when the Country Club raises their dues - ya know the City's paying the cost of dues for the City Manager, right?

[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 real business growth.

[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.

[Bubba]

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 real business growth.

I don't mean to pick at what you are posting, but it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. The article that you linked to in the Telegram was about the Chamber of Commerce and how much they charge the City to be a member. It also stated that it chose Dodge City as the example of what they charge the City to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce. It had nothing to do with taxes. It had everything to do with Chamber of Commerce membership fees.