As does Neosho, Joplin currently has on the books a sales tax dedicated for parks and stormwater projects. Their 1/4 cent tax, passed in 2002, is set to sunset in 2012 if not renewed by voters. The Joplin Globe is reporting this morning that the Joplin City Council has started laying ground work to put that sales tax back on the ballot.
On the surface, it seems fairly routine. Unfortunately, some folks in Joplin feel that commitments and promises made to voters during the 2002 lead-up to the election have gone, at least partially, unfilled or undelivered. Now one council member's attempts to possibly scrap some of those promised projects in lieu of new priorities has made some cry foul.
The Neosho council had similar questions come up during the budget reviews meetings this past September. Some in the public were questioning the city's cut backs in park/rec budget and the apparent 'taking' of funds generated from that tax for use elsewhere in the city. While not exactly the same as Joplin, it is just another example of why trust issues exist in government. While the city is completely in the right in how the funds are being applied, simply complying with the letter of the law doesn't go far enough for me. I understand that things happen and sometimes priorities change, but don't you at least owe the voters an explanation as to the 'whys' and 'how comes'? I think so.
If we've learned anything over the past few months (quiet zones and 405 codes to name a couple), explaining and listening need to work hand it hand. And while we won't always agree, at least both sides understand each other's position. If we all don't leave the table feeling somewhat good about how things are going, it might be a sign that something is amiss.
As one of my close friends describes it, "We're still living in Mayberry. Let's talk about these things." While I may disagree in part, I think he's right in that Neosho still has a small town feel and may here still prefer a small town way of doing things.
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