Text Book Fielding

Not to brag, but the coach said “Stay down, center the ball, and use two hands!”  That’s my girl!

School Board Looking for a Fill-in

From the NDN:

Neosho, Mo. —

The Neosho R-5 School District is soliciting candidates to fill a vacant position on the Neosho R-5 Board of Education.

The position became vacant after the resignation of Shirley Cummins.

The appointed candidate will hold the position until the next election in April 2011.

Letters of interest can be submitted to the Neosho R-5 Board of Education, c/o: Tonya Patterson, 511 Neosho Blvd., Neosho, 64850.

Qualifications:

• Must be a resident; taxpayer of the Neosho R-5 School District;

• Must be a citizen of the United States;

• Must be 24 years of age;

• Must reside in the State of Missouri for one year preceding the election.

Cost to Feed the Gorilla Goes Up

From today’s JTBJ:

Pittsburg (Kan.) State University will raise its tuition for full-time, in-state undergraduate residents this fall.

Previously students take 12 credit hours or more paid a flat fee of $2,296 per semester. The Kansas Board of Regents approved the raise in rates of $108 per semester, plus a $20 raise in campus fees, bringing the new flat fee for full-time students to $2,424 per semester. Non-resident, full-time students will continue to pay $6,558 per semester. An additional $18 per credit hour distance fee is applied to continuing studies courses held an extended distance from the campus.

The Board of Regents also approved PSU's request to expand its Gorilla Advantage program to students in Benton and Washington counties in Arkansas. The program allows qualified students in border counties to attend PSU at in-state rates. Part of PSU's proposal to expand the program pointed to the large high schools in those counties, noting that they were much closer to PSU than some of the large feeder schools in the Kansas City, Wichita and Tulsa areas.

"We've always worked hard to keep tuition and fee increases to a minimum, especially in these economic times," said PSU president Steve Scott. "The result of that effort is that the cost of attending Pittsburg State, even with the approved increases, remains one of the lowest in the region while academic quality remains high."

Scott said the need to increase fees and tuition was driven by a number of factors, including an increase in costs for group health care. PSU also continues to try to make up a $5.1 million budget shortfall created by multiple cuts in state aid. While the tuition increase will help toward that end, the university has also slashed its operating budget, left a number of positions unfilled and turned to one-time reserves to close the gap. The Kansas legislature approved a revenue package this spring that helped stave off even steeper cuts, Scott said.

Why No Sales Tax Options to Offset City Woes?

Below is a letter I sent to the NDN today:

Over the past few days and weeks, I’ve had calls from patrons (and even seen a letter or two in the paper) asking “Why not raise the sales tax instead of a property tax?” That is a GREAT question! Anytime we can get a visitor from outside of Neosho to pay a portion of our taxes, that leaves less for us to supplement.

But there is ONE problem: The amount of sales tax we can charge is limited by state law.

For the city of Neosho, we already collect the maximum allowed on our General Fund sales tax – that amount is 1%. We also collect the maximum allowed on the Fire Protection sales tax – 0.25%. Those two funds are where the city is facing the largest shortfall. We can’t, BY LAW, raise those two sales tax rates any higher…even with a vote of the people.

I hope that helps answer the question.

I Really Didn’t Mean What I Wrote, Senator.

Supreme-court nominee Elena Kagan is taking a little heat for not heeding her own words from a 1995 book review.  In that review, Ms. Kagan urged future nominees to engage in much more open and detailed discussion of legal issues.  Now, in her own confirmation hearing, Ms. Kagan is saying such discussion would be inappropriate.

When the review was written, Ms. Kagan was a professor of law at the University of Chicago.

Joplin Swallows Self-Insurance Pill to Offset Health Costs

From today’s Joplin Globe:

JOPLIN, Mo. — Joplin will go to a self-funded form of health insurance for city employees to try to save money rather than buy insurance from a major carrier, the City Council decided Monday night.

The move may not result in immediate savings, but coverage could cost less over a period of years, the council was told by representatives of a Chicago consulting firm the council hired to give it options to consider.

The full article is here.

As a side note, the City of Neosho and the Neosho R-5 School system are both on a self-insured plan and have been for some time.

How Many Photographers Does It Take to Get A Picture?

Saw this picture on the NY Times website.  Seemed a little extreme to me.

Joplin School Board To Review Budget

From today’s Joplin Globe:

JOPLIN, Mo. — The budget for the next fiscal year will be the key agenda item during Tuesday’s meeting of the Joplin School Board.

The school district’s fiscal year begins Thursday.

The board will review a proposed operating budget of $70.5 million after taking into account revenue sources such as stimulus money, said Paul Barr, the district’s chief financial officer.

The original budget for the current fiscal year, passed in June 2009 but not reflecting any budget amendments after its passage, called for an operating budget of $70.8 million.

District documents indicate that after factoring in amendments that already have been approved and amendments to be taken up by the board on Tuesday, the final operating budget for the current fiscal year is to be more than $74.4 million.

Barr said next year’s operating budget would have been closer to $73.5 million had it not been for several million dollars in reductions aimed at preparing for cuts in state aid over the next couple of years.

The full article is here.

Personal Income and Outlays: May 2010

From the Bureau of Economic Analysis (DOC):

Personal income increased $53.7 billion, or 0.4 percent, and disposable personal income (DPI) increased $49.0 billion, or 0.4 percent, in May, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.  Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $24.4 billion, or 0.2 percent. In April, personal income increased $59.4 billion, or 0.5 percent, DPI increased $63.7 billion, or 0.6 percent, and PCE increased $1.4 billion, or less than 0.1 percent, based on revised estimates.

Real disposable income increased 0.5 percent in May, compared with an increase of 0.6 percent in April. Real PCE increased 0.3 percent, in contrast to a decrease of less than 0.1 percent.

Health Care Costs Give Joplin Council Upset Stomach

From today’s Joplin Globe:

JOPLIN, Mo. — Recommendations on what the city of Joplin can do to limit health insurance cost increases will be heard at a work session today of the City Council.

The council will hear a report on the city’s options devised by a consulting firm hired earlier this year, Segal Co., of Chicago.

Leslie Jones, the city’s finance director, said the city has three options for providing employee insurance.

Bids could be solicited for coverage through a traditional carrier, which the city has now through Humana.

The cost of using a traditional carrier has increased to about $3.8 million a year, including what the city and the employees pay for health, life, dental and vision coverage, Jones said.

The full article can be found here.

Supreme Court Upholds Right to Have a Gun

From today’s Washington Post:

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court held Monday that Americans have the right to own a gun for self-defense anywhere they live, advancing a recent trend by the John Roberts-led bench to embrace gun rights.

By a 5-4 vote, the justices cast doubt on handgun bans in the Chicago area, but signaled that some limitations on the Constitution's "right to keep and bear arms" could survive legal challenges.

Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the court, said that the Second Amendment right "applies equally to the federal government and the states."

The full article is here.

Branson Not Flying as High as Expected

Today’s SBJ is reporting that passenger traffic at Branson’s airport is well below the projected enplanements forecasted prior to the airport’s opening.  Projections for 2009 were as high as 250,000.  For the first year of operation, US DOT numbers reflect just under 50,000.

The full article is here.

Leawood Treasurer Told to Repay Money or Go to Jail

From today’s Joplin Globe:

NEWTON COUNTY, MO. — Gene Paul Boyd, 64, former treasurer of the village of Leawood, today was given one year to repay $376,000 to the village or face 15 years in prison.

Boyd, who had previously pleaded guilty to felony theft, was asked by Newton Judge Kevin Selby how much money he took from the village, at which point Boyd acknowledged taking $40,000 to $50,000 more than the $325,000 auditors had previously said was missing.

Boyd admitted much of the money taken from the village over a period of nearly 20 years was spent on “ongoing living expenses.”

Carp Cross Borders Freely – But At What Cost?

The discovery of Asian carp just miles from Lake Michigan has renewed calls for swift action to block their advance.  The fish were found in Lake Calumet on Chicago’s south side.

The fish have long been a concern and millions have been spent to try and stop their migration into the Great Lakes and other US waterways.  The fear is the carp will become established in the lakes and starve out popular sport species.  The area stands to lose some  $7 billion from damage to the local fishing industry.

Supporters of the carp say that some domestic fish living in Chicago lakes have become lazy and actually pay to smuggle the carp in from Canada to eat sediment on the lake bottoms because US fish are no longer willing to eat the low-quality and poor tasting algae they once liked.  Those opposed to the carp being in the Great Lakes say they will displace fish already suffering from fewer fisherman and years of overfishing.  Word late today is the President is considering amnesty for those carp already here, but will insist on harsher penalties for those that migrate in the future.

TDD Note

As the Neosho R-5 school district this week announced spending cuts and plans to spend down $1 million in reserves, I think back to the controversy surrounding proposed TDD – specifically the TDD’s push for the district to commit $800K+ over 10 years to the project.

I am again thankful that common sense prevailed and the district chose NOT to participate.  It was wrong for the TDD to ask them for money.  It was right for them to say no.

To those that say “you gotta pay to play”, I say “I’d rather you stay away!”

Neosho R-5 Board Approves Cuts

From today’s Joplin Globe (emphasis is mine:)

NEOSHO, Mo. — The Neosho School District is planning to cut expenditures by more than $1.15 million and also spend down its reserves by $1 million to weather reductions in state allocations.

Members of the Neosho School Board this week approved a preliminary budget of about $34.8 million for the coming school year. Revenues are projected at about $34.3 million, leaving a deficit of $500,000 to be funded from reserves. The 2009-10 school year budget was estimated at about $38 million.

To compensate for reductions in state funding, the district is not filling 7.5 teaching posts and 11.5 teacher-assistant posts for the next school term. The positions are at the elementary, middle school and high school levels, and the cutbacks are expected to save the district more than $505,000.

The district also is putting capital projects estimated at $150,000 on hold, and it is postponing the purchase of any new buses in the next fiscal year, saving $310,000.

Superintendent Richard Page said the final state numbers are expected to be released later this summer, leaving the possibility that the measures taken might not be enough.

All told, Page estimates that the district will be spending $1 million from its cash reserves to cover the deficits for the 2009-10 budget and the 2010-11 budget.

New administrator

The board this week reversed an earlier decision and agreed to hire an assistant superintendent of business and finance, possibly in a move toward grooming a successor to Page.

Page said Jim Cummins received a one-year contract worth $100,593. Cummins’ mother, Shirley Cummins, serves on the school board, and she abstained from voting on the contract, Page said..

The new administrator is a native of Neosho and previously worked for the Carl Junction School District.

The board had decided in April not to hire a replacement for Charles Brazeale because of budget constraints. Page said the panel reconsidered after receiving an update on fund balances before Monday’s meeting.

“His position will be another set of eyes on the budget, and help us make sure our budget is able to be prudent and we’re running an efficient operation,” Page said.

Page also suggested that the action is a nod at establishing a succession plan for the district. Page’s contract expires on June 30, 2011.

“I think the board shared that with me,” he said. “There needed to be somebody there in the district.”

Page said he has not made any decisions or had discussions with the board about his future, either renewing his contract or retiring.

Durable Goods Orders Mixed in May

From the Economics and Statistics Administration:

New orders for manufactured durable goods in May 2010 decreased 1.1% from April, to $192.0 billion. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.9% from the prior month, to $145.1 billion. Total shipments decreased 0.4% to $196.0 billion.

Branson Air Service Continues to Expand

From today’s SBJ:

Branson Airport is adding flights to Chicago and Indianapolis through its Branson AirExpress public charter service, airport officials announced Wednesday morning.

The new service, operated by ExpressJet Airlines, begins Sept. 10 and will operate Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday to and from Chicago Midway Airport and Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday to and from Indianapolis International Airport.

Flights will begin at $59 one way to Indianapolis and $69 to Chicago, according to a Branson Airport news release.

Service to Chicago and Indianapolis joins Branson AirExpress' flights to Austin and Houston, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Shreveport, La.; Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss.; and Nashville, Tenn. 

"We are pleased with the success of our Branson AirExpress destinations and feel that the Chicago and Indianapolis routes will only continue that trend,” Branson Airport Executive Director Jeff Bourk said in the release. “These flights will expand the flexibility and convenience of getting to and from Branson.”

The airport now offers service to 11 destinations, including service through AirTran to Atlanta and Frontier Airlines service to Milwaukee and Denver.

86 Bridge On Schedule to Re-Open

From today’s NDN:

Neosho, Mo. —

Saturday is the tentative open date for the Spring Branch Bridge over Route 86.

Curbs were poured Tuesday, asphalt work is slated to begin today and fencing still has to go up on the pedestrian portion of the bridge.

“It’s really close,” said Wendy Bruenner, Missouri Department of Transportation community relations specialist.

Work began on the bridge May 24. MoDOT originally planned to close the bridge May 17, but weather delayed the project and they waited just a few days more so that the school district did not have to re-route busses for the last few days of school.

MoDOT estimated tearing out the old bridge and pouring a new one would take 30 to 45 days and has stuck within their original estimate, turning the project in just over a month. Concrete poured last Tuesday still has to cure, but the agency is hopeful for a Saturday open.

The new bridge, just east of the Neosho National Fish Hatchery, replaces one built in 1914.

Decking was bad on the old bridge and when it was torn down the new one got an extra inch in its curb-to-curb measurement, making it 24-feet across and the addition of a 5-foot walk path.

The Neosho bridge is one of 54 currently under construction in the state’s Safe & Sound Bridge Improvement Program. Nearly 600 of the 800 bridges in the program are still on the state’s “to do” list, including Seneca’s Lost Creek bridge, which is slated for construction in the spring of 2011. Marked by a blue and white “Safe & Sound” sign, some 150 bridges have been completed.

There are 10,249 bridges in the MoDOT system putting Missouri seventh in the nation for the number of state-maintained bridges. The five-year project is expected to cost $700 million. 

Homes Sales Drop In April

From the Washington Post:

Sales of new homes collapsed last month, sinking 33 percent to the lowest level on record as potential buyers stopped shopping for homes once they could no longer get government incentives.

The Commerce Department says new home sales fell in May from a month earlier to a seasonally adjusted annual sales pace of 300,000. That was the slowest sales pace on records dating back to 1963.

Cummins is Comin’ to Town

Today’s Neosho Daily is reporting that the Neosho R-5 School Board did an about-face last night and voted 6-0 to fill the position being vacated by Asst. Supt. Charles Brazeale.  The position has been award to Dr. Jim Cummins.  Jim is currently employed by the Carl Junction school district and is a former teacher in Neosho (and Neosho native).

This dramatic ending comes after months of public attention that started in early April when the Neosho R-5 board voted in closed session to eliminate the position based on concerns with funding reductions from the state, this after conducting interviews and narrowing the field to three candidates.  Because of criticisms of the closed-session vote, the board voted again during their regular meeting on April 19th to eliminate the position.  The vote at that time was 5-2 in support of eliminating the position. 

At the same April meeting, board president Cindy Norman again cited economic reasons to justify the board’s decision.  "During the (interviews), the reports from Jefferson City about state funding of schools became increasingly bleak. As a board of education, we believe that it is our primary responsibility to maintain an excellent learning environment for our students. To do this, we must keep teachers in the classrooms and make budget concessions in areas that do not directly affect our students." said Norman as quoted by the Neosho Daily News.

Since the April vote, more cuts have come from Jefferson City.  Just last week Governor Nixon cut another $70 million from transportation aid meaning districts will get less than 1/2 of their original funding for bussing.  The state is still seeing declines in overall revenues.

Carthage Approves $40.8 million Budget

From today’s Joplin Globe (emphasis is mine):

CARTHAGE, Mo. — While noting that more changes may be needed later, officials of the Carthage School District on Monday night recommended a $40.8 million preliminary budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

The Carthage School Board unanimously approved the spending plan, which is down from just over $46 million for this year. The budget reflects a 5 percent cut in the state funding formula for schools and a reduction in other state-funded programs.

Superintendent Blaine Henningsen said the budget is based on some cuts that have been telegraphed by the state that have not yet reached school districts in terms of actual numbers.

The complete article can be found here.

Nixon Make More Cuts – Neosho R-5 Certain To Feel Them

Gov. Nixon has announced another $280 million in program cuts to take effect July 1.  The cuts are in response to Missouri’s revenues continue to decline and because legislators failed to pass some money-saving measures that were assumed in the latest budget.

Big hits include:

— $70 million from school transportation aid, meaning districts in the 2010-2011 academic year will get less than half the amount they were supposed to get in 2009-2010 before that also was cut.

— $50 million from the Access Missouri college scholarship program, which had been budgeted to get $83 million next school year. The program offers financial-need based scholarships of up to $4,600 a year for students at private institutions, $2,150 for students at state universities and $1,000 for those at community colleges.

— $47 million of reductions to Missouri’s tax credit programs, which provide about $600 million annually of incentives, largely for developers and various social causes.

With Neosho’s large bus fleet and rural status, the transportation cuts will be another burden that the local district will have to deal with.

Nixon Expected to Announce More Cuts Thursday Morning

From KMIZ:

Governor Nixon is set to announce significant cuts to next year's budget Thursday morning.  

About $350 million will be slashed from the 2011 fiscal year budget.  Budget Director Linda Luebbering told ABC 17 News Wednesday the cuts will be made across the board, but could not specify which departments would take the hardest hit.    

The planned announcement comes after lawmakers already cut about $500 million from the budget during the legislative session.

Fixed Income Seniors Can Get Tax Relief

I’ve been asked a number of times about how senior citizens living on fixed incomes are to pay for tax increases (related to a proposed property tax being discussed in Neosho).  Below is a link to the Missouri Dept. of Revenue’s site that discusses this specific issue.

An existing state program does offer some assistance.  Here’s the link:

http://dor.mo.gov/tax/personal/ptc/

Whether we do or don’t have a property tax in Neosho in the future, seniors who qualify can still benefit from this program.  If you have friends or families that may qualify, make sure they are aware of this program.

Part of Our Homeland Made Off-Limits Due to Illegal Immigration

From foxnews.com

About 3,500 acres of southern Arizona have been closed off to U.S. citizens due to increased violence at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The closed off area includes part of the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge that stretches along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu told Fox News that violence against law enforcement officers and U.S. citizens has increased in the past four months, forcing officers on an 80 mile stretch of Arizona land north of the Mexico border off-limits to Americans.

The refuge had been adversely affected by the increase in drug smugglers, illegal activity and surveillance, which made it dangerous for Americans to visit.

"The situation in this zone has reached a point where continued public use of the area is not prudent," said refuge manager Mitch Ellis.

“It’s literally out of control,” said Babeu. “We stood with Senator McCain and literally demanded support for 3,000 soldiers to be deployed to Arizona to get this under control and finally secure our border with Mexico. “

U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials have warned visitors in Arizona to beware of heavily armed drug smugglers and human traffickers.

“We need support from the federal government. It’s their job to secure the border and they haven’t done it,” said Babeu. “In fact, President Obama suspended the construction of the fence and it’s just simply outrageous.”

Signs have been posted warning Americans not to cross into the closed off territory south of Interstate 8. Babeu said the signs are not enough – he said Arizona needs more resources to help scale back the violence caused by the drug cartels.

“We need action. It’s shameful that we, as the most powerful nation on Earth, … can’t even secure our own border and protect our own families.”

It’s a basic duty of our Gov’t to do this and they can’t.  I simply don’t understand.  Build a fence.  Guard the border.  Stop the flow.  What good are high-dollar fingerprint scanners and armed guards at US airports for US Customs immigration when can just walk across the border in Arizona and come on in.

If you were a terrorist wanting to come into this county and wanted to have the highest likelihood of success, where would you go?  Hmmmm…I wonder.

One Down, Many to Go

Yesterday was the first time I’ve made a presentation to the public on the financial issues we’re facing and reasons for the August ballot.  The full article is on the NDN site.

Overall, it was a good day.  Lots of discussions.  Look forward to doing it again.  A full schedule should be coming out soon.

Container Volume Projections Up in June

From HFN:

WASHINGTON–Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports will increase by 15 percent this month over June 2009, according to a projection by the National Retail Federation and consulting firm Hackett Associates.

The monthly Global Port Tracker report said container traffic this month should total 1.16 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU). The TEU total for the first half of 2010 is expected to reach 6.6 million, which would be 12 percent higher than in the first half of last year, the report added. It also projected an 11 percent gain in TEU for July, a 10 percent pickup for August, a 15 percent rise for September and a 12 percent increase for October.

“Cargo import numbers are up, but retailers are looking closely at other economic indicators to make sure they are sourcing the appropriate amount of merchandise based on consumer demand,” said Jonathan Gold, NRF’s vice president of supply chain and customs policy. “Job creation remains a key factor that’s going to affect consumer spending and retail sales.”

Farewell My Friend

I learned this morning that my long-time friend and colleague Dan Hayworth passed away yesterday.  He was a great person and I will miss him. 

He always used the line of “Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered” when we’d discuss taxes and planning. He was quite the kidder, but the best CPA I’d ever met.

Heck, it was only Friday of last week when we had last had lunch together.  (We’d always meet at Undercliff to save us both some travel time.)  We talked taxes.  We talked politics.  It was the usual.

Who was Dan Hayworth?  I’ll let him answer in his own words (from the Joplin Business Journal in an article about Dan a few months ago):

So, who is Dan Hayworth? "I think that Dan Hayworth is a very fortunate individual with a great wife, a great family, and a great job. I have a chance to, hopefully, make a difference in the community and area. I enjoy being able to see people that I have been able to help succeed and prosper. It's been rewarding to see that kind of  positive influence. "

Farewell Mr. Hayworth.  You left us too soon.

Playin' Ball

Week 2 of YMCA youth ball is underway at Morse park. In this photo, Reiboldt Farms is playing Nutra Blend.
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Big Crowds At Relay

My daughter took time to get a face painting during this years Relay for Life. Great crowds and a great cause.
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Retails Sales Fall in May

From Reuters (emphasis in mine):

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Sales at retailers unexpectedly fell in May for the first time since September following a record slump in purchases of building materials, adding to fears the economic recovery was losing some steam.

Friday's report follows last week's data showing a sharp slowdown in private hiring in May, but analysts still saw little risk of the economy slipping back into recession.

"The report is not evidence that the economy is getting ready for a double-dip or that consumers, facing headwinds of double-digit unemployment and bank credit restriction, are taking their ball and going home," said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at Bank of Tokyo/Mitsubishi in New York.

Total retail sales dropped 1.2 percent after rising 0.6 percent in April, the Commerce Department said.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales increasing 0.2 percent last month. Retail sales, which had risen for seven straight months, were up 6.9 percent compared to May last year.

The data had a major impact on markets immediately, prodding many investors to quickly reduce exposure to riskier assets and seek out safe havens.

Major U.S. stock indexes opened on a weak note after the data, while 30-year U.S. Treasury bonds pushed more than a point higher to yield 4.17 percent. The U.S. dollar shed earlier gains against the yen.

"There's no getting around the fact you saw some consumer retrenchment in the month of May. The number is going to call into question the strength of consumer spending for the second quarter," said Kevin Flanagan, chief fixed income strategist at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Purchase, New York.

HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT

Private businesses unexpectedly held back on hiring in May after expanding payrolls for two months, a trend which could undermine recovery from the worst recession since the 1930s.

Restoring the economy to health is a key priority for President Barack Obama and voter anguish over the slow pace of the recovery could inflict heavy losses on the Democratic Party in November's Congressional elections.

Consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, but with the unemployment rate near 10 percent, households' spending habits have become more cautious than during previous recoveries.

"Consumers are still choosing to increase their savings and reduce their borrowing and spending because their balance sheets are leveraged, and they are very concerned about the economy given the stock market and employment conditions," said Hugh Johnson, chief investment officer at Johnson Illington Advisors in Albany, New York.

Sales last month were dragged downed by a record 9.3 percent drop in receipts from building materials and garden equipment suppliers, which could reflect a drop in construction following the end of a popular homebuyer tax credit.

Motor vehicle and parts receipts also fell 1.7 percent, although dealers reported a rise in sales.

Excluding autos, sales fell 1.1 percent in May, the largest decline in 14 months, after rising 0.6 percent in April. Markets had expected sales excluding autos to gain 0.1 percent.

However, core retail sales -- which exclude autos, gasoline and building materials -- rose 0.1 percent after falling 0.2 percent in April. Core sales correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of the government's gross domestic product report.

Clothing and clothing accessories sales dropped 1.3 percent, while gasoline receipts fell 3.3 percent, the largest decline since March 2009.

There were a few bright spots in the report, with sales at sporting goods, hobby and book stores rising 0.4 percent in May after falling 1.3 percent in April.

Receipts at electronics and appliance stores increased 0.6 percent, reversing the prior month's fall.

What were they thinking?

I sometimes review case law as a way to keep my mind working. Here's a summary of a court ruling that I found somewhat perplexing.
From today's Westlaw WestHeadnotes daily email:
An ice pick is an innocent item and does not become something other than an innocent item when carried in a combination of two ice picks, a screwdriver, a knife, a pair of socks and a flashlight; thus, defendant's mere possession of such items during early morning hours while crouched behind a bush did not constitute evidence of an unlawful intent to use such items as burglary tools, and absent evidence that such items were used to commit or attempt to commit a burglary, defendant could not be convicted of possession of burglary tools.Preston v. State, 373 So. 2d 451 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1979
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New Jobless Claims Remain Almost Flat

From the US Dept of Labor:

In the week ending June 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 456,000, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 459,000. The 4-week moving average was 463,000, an increase of 2,500 from the previous week's revised average of 460,500.

The full release can be found here.

Learn from Others

I’ve found over the years that sometimes you can learn by watching others do things.  Tonight is no exception.  For the past few hours, I’ve been watching streaming video from Jefferson City, MO council meetings.  If you’re bored or want to watch a council that has a high level of understanding of their roles and how meetings should be conducted, take a peek.  Mayor Landwehr does a great job.

http://www.jeffcitymo.org/council/streamingvideos.html

Springfield Says ‘Yes’ to Continuing Tax

 

From the Springfield News Leader

For the seventh time in a row, Springfield residents voted Tuesday to renew a quarter-cent sales tax for the city's Capital Improvements Program.

Some 70 percent of voters favored keeping the tax. With 8,640 people voting, the official results were 6,052 in favor of renewing the tax to 2,588 against, according to Greene County Clerk Richard Struckhoff.

The full article is here.

Springfield Tax Revenue Down 13.3% in June

From today’s SBJ (emphasis is mine:)

The city of Springfield's June sales tax check continued the yearlong downward revenue trend, but no additional spending cuts should be necessary, according to a statement Tuesday from the city budget office.

The June sales tax check, which covers purchases from March and April, totaled $3.27 million for the city's 1 percent general revenue sales tax. That figure is down 13.3 percent compared to the $3.77 million collected in June 2009. For fiscal 2010, which ends June 30, the city collected $35.4 million, down 7.6 percent from the $38.3 million collected last year.

Despite the drop in sales tax collections compared to last year, city administration does not anticipate the need for additional spending cuts, according to a city news release. The city projected sales tax revenue to be about 8 percent below budget, and cuts have been made on a quarterly basis throughout the year along with continuing a hiring freeze, now in its 18th month, for general revenue-funded positions.

In the city's initial plans for the fiscal 2011 budget, which must be passed before July 1, city officials estimate sales tax revenues to remain flat compared to actual totals for the current fiscal year.

Pittsburg Seeking New Sales Tax

From today’s Joplin Globe:

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Members of the Pittsburg City Commission on Tuesday night decided against adding sidewalks to the uses of a proposed sales tax increase that will be up for a public vote Aug. 3.

The purpose of considering such an addition was what City Manager John VanGorden called an effort to address the city’s pedestrian safety, quality of life and health.

The issue drew comments from one resident in favor of the addition and one against, and a good deal of discussion among commissioners who all saw the need for sidewalks but who ultimately weren’t comfortable putting the matter to a popular vote.

Last month, the commission approved an election question that would increase the city sales tax by a quarter-cent. Officials say it would generate about $500,000 per year for the next 10 years for street maintenance and repairs in neighborhoods throughout the city.

Sales tax revenues are down 3.5 percent, and the road coffers — $95,000 this year, compared with the $250,000 to $400,000 annual budget several years ago — already are depleted after a winter of more-than-usual snow and ice removal, and an abundance of potholes.

Coupled with that, Public Works Director Bill Beasley said, the price of asphalt has gone from $75 per ton to $525 per ton.

Adding language to the ballot question would have called for any funds generated beyond the $500,000 estimated for street repairs to have been used for adding sidewalks on main artery streets.

VanGorden said doing so would mean a complete pedestrian circle from 23rd Street on the north to Centennial Street on the south, and from Broadway on the west to Rouse Street on the east, and an additional two-block sidewalk on Fourth Street to accommodate students walking to and from Pittsburg High School.

Don Runyon, a resident and business owner, in seeking answers from the commission related to road repairs and the sales tax increase, said: “Today you want to add sidewalks? Are we going to come back next month and add something else to it?”

George Weeks, a resident, thanked the commission for considering adding sidewalks to the ballot proposal.

“I’m generally a grateful taxpayer,” he said. “We get good things for our tax dollars. This would improve safety, quality of life and health. Pittsburg needs to keep moving forward, and this is a way to do that.”

Commissioner Marty Beezley spoke for adding sidewalk language to the tax question and made a motion to do so; the motion stalled for lack of a second. She said she has seen more and more communities adding sidewalks and hiking/biking paths, and that she gets frequent calls from young families who want such amenities in Pittsburg.

“At least putting this on the ballot would give voters a chance,” she said, adding that a recent study ranked Crawford County 97th out of 105 counties in Kansas for health.

Commissioner Bill Rushton spoke against adding such language to the ballot.

“If we’re looking at a (quarter-cent) increase to do streets, let’s do streets,” he said. “Let’s take care of those first. If we keep adding things to the question, it will water it down. We can’t continue to change things as we go along. We tell them, and we stick with it.”

No Mo’ Solo in SWMO

From today’s SBJ (emphasis is mine):

Solo Cup Co. announced Tuesday that it is closing three of its 13 North American manufacturing facilities, including its Springfield operation, due to increased production efficiency at its other plants.

Solo will cut 340 full-time manufacturing jobs in Springfield, at 1100 N. Glenstone Ave., along with 360 jobs in North Andover, Mass., and 540 jobs in Owings Mills, Md. The Springfield and North Andover facilities will close in mid-to-late 2011, according to a company news release, while the Owings Mills factory will close in mid-2012.

Production volume and manufacturing assets will be distributed among Lake Forest, Ill.-based Solo's other operations, with the company increasing employment at its other factories over the next 12 to 24 months.

Employees at the factories to be shuttered will be able to pursue jobs at other Solo plants and will be given priority over other candidates, according to the release. 

"These decisions are never easy because we know they affect the lives of our employees and their families. It was important to us to give them as much advance notice as possible and we will work to make it a smooth transition for them,” President and CEO Robert M. Korzenski said in the release. “We are grateful for their years of dedicated service to Solo.”

This is not the first time Solo has announced plans to close the Springfield plant. According to previous SBJ coverage, a similar decision was made in 2005 after Solo purchased Sweetheart Cup, but the company changed its mind in June 2006.

Willard Asking For Levy Increase Today

From today’s SBJ: (emphasis is mine):

Willard voters will decide (today) whether to increase the general operating fund property tax levy to 75 cents per $100 of assessed property value. The money would fund the hiring of full-time firefighters and emergency medical personnel, as well as general operating costs. The current operating levy is 25 cents per $100 of value.

Full article is here.

As a side note, Willard also has a sales tax rate of 7.48%.  Compare that with 7.60% in Neosho with a –0- property tax rate.

Sales Tax Revenues Still Sluggish

Sales tax revenues for the city of Neosho continue to drop as weak sales impact the local economy.  For the first 7 months of the year, sales tax revenues are down over 5% compared to last year and almost 9% compared to 2008.  Sales tax numbers have not been this low since 2004. 

Currently, the city collects all of its general revenue funding from a 1% sales tax. 

Retail Sales Lackluster in May

From HFNmag.com (emphasis in mine):

NEW YORK—Same-store sales for the nation’s major retail chains picked up some—but not much—of the momentum they had lost in April.

Leading the pack among the chains tracked by HFN was Costco, whose comparable-store sales rose 5 percent last month year over year, excluding gasoline sales (whose inclusion boosted the increase to 7 percent). TJX followed with a 4 percent upturn, and BJ’s Wholesale Club turned in a 3.5 percent rise (6.8 percent including gas sales). Target trailed the discounters with a 1.4 percent increase.

Among the department stores, the biggest gainer was Kohl’s at 3.5 percent. Macy’s reported a 1.4 percent rise, while Dillard’s same-store sales were dead even compared to last year. J.C. Penney posted a 1.8 percent decline.

May was certainly a better month for U.S. retailers than April, in which several of the chains posted fair-sized dropoffs after a particularly strong March. Yet Kevin Mansell, Kohl’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, noted that the results last month may have suffered from the fact that Memorial Day sales were shifted into the retailers’ fiscal June results, due to the occurrence of the holiday at the very end of the month.

Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president and CEO of Target, said the lagging May results also indicated that “we will continue to experience volatility in the pace of economic recovery.”

New City Finance Director Starts Today

New city finance director Martha Mundt begins her service to the city today. Before beginning her duties, staff gathered for a meet and greet over donuts.

Pictured are Nora Houdyshell (left), acting city clerk, and Ms. Mundt, city finance director.

Disappointing Job Numbers in May

From the Washington Post:

U.S. stocks fell at the opening bell, as investors were disappointed with the government's May report that showed fewer-than expected jobs were created and job creation mostly came from hiring for the U.S. census.

While the nation added 431,000 jobs in May, only 41,000 were in the private sector. 

The current unemployment rate fell from 9.9% to 9.7%.

KZRG Radio Interview

Below is a link to my radio interview this morning on KZRG.

Click here to download the audio file.

Guilty Plea in Nixa Embezzlement Scheme

From today’s Joplin Globe:

NIXA, Mo. — A former streets department supervisor has pleaded guilty to taking part in a scheme to embezzle more than $750,000 from the city of Nixa.

Federal prosecutors say 50-year-old Larry Covington of Ash Grove pleaded guilty Tuesday to four felonies. He faces up to 70 years in prison and agreed to forfeit $756,010 to the government.

In his plea, Covington admitted that he and former Nixa city employee David W. Griggs of Willard set up to fake businesses and submitted invoices for services the city didn’t provide. .

Covington, Griggs and Covington’s wife, Paula Covington, were accused of defrauding Nixa of a total of $756,010.

Paula Covington pleaded guilty last month and was sentenced to one year and one day in prison.

Griggs pleaded guilty last August and awaits sentencing.

Council Approves Sewer Rate Hikes in CJ

From today’s Joplin Globe:

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The City Council on Tuesday night advanced a recommendation from the engineering firm Allgeier, Martin and Associates Inc. for sewer fee increases.

According to the fee structure outlined by the firm, in-town residents now pay a base fee of $5 per month plus $2.39 per 1,000 gallons of water used for sewer service. The new fees recommended by the firm would be $5.50 plus $2.47 per 1,000 gallons of water used.

Out-of-town residents, such as those living in Airport Drive, currently pay a base fee of $10.67 plus $2.21 per 1,000 gallons of water used, according to the engineering firm. The recommended fees would be a base of $11.12 plus $2.26 per 1,000 gallons used.

City Administrator Steve Lawver said the average household uses roughly 5,500 gallons per month. Using that number, in-town residents would see their monthly sewer bill increase from about $18.15 to $19.09, according to the firm’s proposed fee structure.

Out-of-town residents would see their bill increase from roughly $22.83 to $23.55, according to the proposal.

City Attorney Mike Talley said the next step is for the council to formally approve an ordinance to change the rates and to meet with officials of Airport Drive to amend the agreement for sewer service between the two towns. The target date for making the increase effective is July 1.

The full article is here.

MSSU Names New VP for Academic Affairs

From today’s Joplin Globe:

AJ Anglin has been named the new vice president for academic affairs at Missouri Southern State University.

MSSU President Bruce Speck made the announcement today.

Anglin is currently retired, but he has served as a president, provost, vice president, dean, faculty member and in other academic capacities at six universities.

He will begin his duties at Missouri Southern on Monday, June 14.

He was one of three candidates to visit campus in May. The others were Thomas Winter, Vice Provost at Abilene Christian University, and Abdul Turay, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Tougaloo (Miss.) College.

"I feel Dr. Anglin is a perfect fit for my administration and this university," Speck said in a statement. "He brings a tremendous amount of experience, and he will be a strong leader for the academic community at Missouri Southern."

Anglin retired in June 2008 from his post as vice president for Academic Affairs at Waynesburg, a university with 2,250 students and three satellite campuses in the Pittsburgh, Pa., area. He also served as president of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill., from 1996 to 2002, and as provost at Azusa Pacific University in California from 1991 to 1996.

He earned his doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of Arkansas and received a National Science Foundation research grant at Brandeis University.

He also attended the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University.

Other positions held include vice president for Academic Affairs at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark.; vice president and academic dean at Aurora University in Aurora, Ill., and Taylor University in Upland, Ind.  At Taylor University, Anglin also served as dean of instruction, director of faculty development and professor of chemistry. He also was a summer visiting professor of physical chemistry at Indiana University and Ball State University.

Rod Anderson, chairman of the MSSU Board of Governors, said he appreciated the diligent work of the selection committee.

“I believe they provided three strong candidates for the campus to consider," Anderson said in a statement. “Speck's selection is an important step to move the University forward.”

Does Murder Justify More Attention on Border Security

From Foxnews:

One woman is dead and two others were raped recently and police say each crime was committed by a different illegal immigrant. One of the sexual assaults happened just hours before the Seattle city council passed an ordinance boycotting Arizona over its new immigration law.

Gregorio Luna Luna had a history of beating up his live-in girlfriend Griselda Ocampo Meza. He was also in the U.S. illegally. On May 1, Luna Luna was deported to Mexico. Three weeks later Meza was murdered in her apartment in a violent knife attack.

Franklin County prosecutors say Luna Luna slipped past the border again and killed Meza in front of their five year old son.  He's in the county jail awaiting trial.

The full article is here.

Miami officials close budget gap

From today’s Joplin Globe:

MIAMI, Okla. — City leaders are breathing easier after two days of recent meetings spent massaging a $29.3 million budget for 2010-11.

“All of the city’s expenditures are budgeted, and we have a clear picture of the city’s financial stance,” said City Manager Huey Long.

Officials are projecting that the city will begin its fiscal year on July 1 with a total $7.4 million carry-over from the general, utility and special utility funds. At the end of the next fiscal year, those three funds are projected to hold a $6.7 million carry-over for the 2011-12 budget.

“It is a conservative budget,” Long said. “It is based on no growth in sales tax.”

The full article can be found here.