Petitions are being circulated by the Yes to Destiny committee formerly known as People for Project Destiny to place a new one-cent sales tax measure on the July ballot.
Please don’t sign the sales tax petition.
The reason is simple – there has not been enough concrete information regarding this issue. Yes, there has been news, projections and opinions voiced but not one legally durable and binding word about how it will affect voters – people like you.
Before I sign my name to something to be placed on the ballot, I want to know specifically how an issue will affect me in real dollars not cents.
As a homeowner, I would want to know for sure that there is a legal commitment to reduce my property taxes by more than the cost of the sales tax.
As a renter, I would want to know how much my landlord would have to rebate to me on an annual basis from his property tax savings.
As a business owner, I would want to know how this would affect my future sales and profits. How much more business could I afford to loose to the Internet if the sales tax rate is increased. If I sold clothing, I would want to know how many thousands of my sales dollars would travel north to Minnesota where clothing is exempt from sales tax.
As a consumer, I would want to know how much I would be paying on this new sales tax. I would question my confidence in our elected official’s ability to properly administer the plan. I would want to know that the DM Partnership polled its’ retail members on this plan before endorsing it.
As a senior citizen, I would want to know how much I would receive in the “special” property tax reductions.
Finally, as a citizen, I would want to question my own values about the rightness and fairness of the proposal from an ethical standpoint, not just the effect on my personal finances.
The time to sign a petition is only after you have those answers, and have had time to consider them as positive for your situation, not a minute before.
From the Yes to Destiny committee report I see that there is not the broad base of support, at least financially, only 15 businesses. This does not sould like the meaning of grass-roots to me. I think that there are many hundreds of businesses who are not in favor of this plan but who fear the negative publicity of being against what the "leadership" wants.
Nip this bad idea in the bud - don't sign the petition.
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Today's Register lists some of the biggest supporters of the sales tax. As you would expect, they include some of the biggest property owners in the area. I appreciate that they are also some of the biggest contributors to charities and civic projects and events. Their intentions are good, but that is not good enough. We have a fine, vibrant community as it is. Two-thirds of the proposed tax increase will go to new spending. This new spending is simply not needed. We, as a community have been doing just fine with our existing taxes and spending, and will continue to do just fine without a tax increase. Also, if the tax passes, I guarantee that the recipients of the one third that will go to recreation and cultural groups will become completely dependent on the tax funding and will fight tooth and nail to extend the tax at the end of 10 years.
I just came upon this:
"City of Des Moines Official Press Release"
"Last night the Des Moines City Council approved the Project Destiny 28E Agreement for the Regional Application of Local Option Sales Taxes and Creating a Tri-County Regional Authority. Now the City is asking the community how it would spend the discretionary funds that could be generated by Project Destiny.
The local sales tax referendum, known as Project Destiny, could generate an estimated $35.5 million for the City of Des Moines in the first year. The funds would be divided into three categories. First, an estimated $10.7 million annually must be used by the City of Des Moines for direct dollar-for-dollar property tax reduction. Another estimated $11.1 million would be devoted to supporting regional cultural and recreational amenities such as trails, the Civic Center, Blank Park Zoo, Science Center of Iowa, and many others. The proposal also sets aside an estimated $13.7 million each year that is to be spent by the City of Des Moines in the way that best serves the community, thus public input is being sought to develop a plan for these discretionary funds.
The City Manager’s Office has prepared a schedule for gathering public input and taking actions related to the Project Destiny proposal for a one-cent local option sales tax. Four town hall meetings are planned to gather public input about how Des Moines should use its portion of sales tax revenues, if the Project Destiny referendum is successful:
Ward 2: Tuesday, March 13th, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Eastside Community Center
1231 E 26th Street, Des Moines, IA 50317
Ward 4: Wednesday, March 14th, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Southridge Mall
1111 East Army Post Road, Des Moines, IA 50315
Ward 1: Thursday, March 15th, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Northwest Community Center
5110 Franklin Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310
Ward 3: Thursday, March 15th, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Plymouth Congregational Church (Waveland Hall)
4126 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312
A “virtual” town hall meeting will be held online on the City website at www.dmgov.org from Thursday, March 8 through Friday, March 16. This will provide an avenue of input for those who are unable to attend the public meetings in each council ward. The City Manager’s Office will compile the input from the meetings, the website, and other sources (such as citizen satisfaction surveys) and prepare a recommendation for Council regarding the use of these funds.
At the regularly scheduled Council meeting on March, 26, 2007, at 4:30 p.m., the City Manager will present his recommendation for the use of Des Moines’ portion of Project Destiny sales tax proceeds. At the following meeting on April 9, 2007, at 4:30 p.m., the City Council will take action on the plan. The final plan that is approved by Council will be outlined in the ballot language for the Project Destiny referendum to be held on Tuesday, July 10, 2007.
The media is invited to attend all of these public meetings and is asked to advise the general public of the schedule of events. For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 515-283-4795."
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So...it looks like they believe that this tax will pass the July vote and all that is to be done is too seek public "input" as to how this tax will be spent.
And notice the meeting locations; all in Des Moines.
As in Dallas and Warren county residents count for squat. Such bias is just a hint of things to come should this tax pass; Most of the revenue will go to support the interests of Des Moines and Polk county first. The remaining 10% of the revenues confiscated via this tax will be grudgingly thrown to the hick residents of the other two counties.
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