Tax Presentation Slides

Here are the slides to go along with the presentation just in case you can’t read the screen very well.

Tax Presentation – Part 2

Here’s part 2 of the tax presentation.

Tax Presentation Online

This is an online version of the public presentation I’ve been making.  For those that couldn’t or didn’t make it out, Feel free to watch and learn about why Neosho is pursuing this property tax.

The video is in two parts.  Part two will be posted separately.

My Mother (and Grandmother) in Life Magazine

  I was looking through some old images of Neosho from Life Magazine and found one of my mother bent over smelling flowers.  In the second photo, my Grandmother, Murriel (Milleson) Clemons is looking on.  One of photos (I don’t remember which one) was actually in the magazine sometime in the mid 50’s as part of the featured article about Neosho – Flowerbox City.

Check out other photos from this link.

Missouri Alive Again in the Navy

The USS Missouri, the 7th Virginia-class sub, joins the fleet after a commissioning ceremony Saturday at the Naval Submarine Base New London.

The 377-foot, 7,800-ton Missouri was built in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Virginia as a part of a partnership between General Dynamics and Northrup Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News.

Becky Gates, wife of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, is the submarine's sponsor. She broke the traditional champagne bottle against the boat's sail during the christening ceremony last December.

The boat is the fifth Navy vessel to be named Missouri. The last was the battleship on which Japan gave its unconditional surrender on Sept. 2, 1945 to end World War II.

Hickman VIdeo

This is video footage from today’s retirement ceremony for Chief Hickman.

Hickman speaks around 3:30 on the timer.  It’s worth a listen.

City Says 'Thanks for 37 Years"!

Today is the last day for our long-serving Fire Chief Greg Hickman. A number of citizens turned out for a farewell BBQ. It was a bitter-sweet time. Bitter because of his departure, but sweet for all he's done for our city.

Good Luck Greg! We'll all miss you.

Marco Softball Team Photo

I just got around to scanning this in today.  This is (most of) the 2010 7-8 Girls champions.  They were a great bunch of kids…coaches included.

Potential for Higher Insurance Rates Confirmed by Local Insurance Agent

 

Local American Family agent Josh Hughes has posted some answers on a local internet site related to the impact of potential cuts in Neosho’s budget.  The current Neosho budget is facing a $1.2 million shortfall for next year if voters do not approve a proposed property tax ceiling increase on August 3rd.

Josh’s post included the following:

“…I ran some numbers on a $100,000 dollar house on a few different scenarios. What I came up with was 4 different quotes all going from a town class 5 to a town class 8. All four increased between $180.00 a year up to $400.00 a year.”

Compare that to the $190 a year that the same home would pay in increased property taxes at the maximum $1.00 ceiling.

During my presentations, I’ve been pointing out the possibility of such increases if a cut in fire protection happens.  I appreciate Josh’s comments.  It helps confirm that my comments are not scare tactics, but rather a potential reality we will all face.

The entire thread of comments can be found here.

Gary Bandy Talks Weather in Neosho

A group turned out today for a weather talk at the Neosho public library.

While I wasn't there, I'll take a shot: forecast - hot and humid.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Miami Voters Approve Tax Increase

From today's Joplin Globe:

Residents voted overwhelmingly in favor Tuesday of a 0.65 percent sales tax increase earmarked for street projects. The tax issue passed with 1,572 "yes" votes to 676 "no" votes. The city's sales tax will rise to 3.65 percent. Combined with county and state sales tax rates, the total sales tax within Miami's city limits will be 9.5 percent
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Tax Levy Information Enters Final Week

This week is the last week for scheduled events to better inform the public on the reasons for pursuing a property tax levy increase.

Tom Workman will be presenting tomorrow night at the Neosho Rec Center around 6pm.  (Tom’s had to step up and save me because of a scheduling conflict I had in Wisconsin – Thanks Tom!)

Anyway, the purpose is clear:  Neosho is almost out of money and without an infusion of cash, the city will have to cut around $1.2 million from next year’s budget (and almost $2.3 million over the next fix years) to offset the shortfall.  Those cuts will very likely impact the city’s ability to provide basic services such as police and fire.

A few points to remember:

• Much of the surplus property we own (Old Methodist Church, golf course and the former Betz Bond property for example) are being held as collateral for loans taken out in the past.  Any cash derived from selling must go first to repay the debt.  Selling those pieces of property won’t generate cash.  Therefore, it won’t fix the problem.  (JC, I read your letter to the editor.  I hope this clears up any confusion you had.) 
• The city gave up a property tax in 1998 for a 3/8% parks and stormwater tax.  None of that tax can go toward helping with police/fire protection in our city. 
• Fire Dept. budget this year is around $1.4 million.  Compare that to $1.2 million 20 years ago.
• Property insurance costs will rise if fire services are reduced.
• We won’t need the $1.00 levy for very long (maybe 2 years).  But we can’t dig out of this hole overnight.

Thanks to all of you who have taken time to be informed.  If you support our efforts, get out this week and talk to your friends.  Post your support on facebook.  Send out 10-20 emails to your friends. 

To Mike, Greg, David and all of the folks in your departments, I’m behind you all the way.  Let’s get our city back to what we want it to be!

Legos Go to Battle

I ran across this lego animation of a WWII battle scene.  Not too bad for a 12 yr old.

Next Public Meeting is Tonight – Be There!

Tonight – 7pm – Lampo Building – That’s where you need to be if you haven’t yet been to a public meeting on the proposed property tax levy increase.

Regardless of how you feel, please take the time to be informed. 

As they used to say on Saturday mornings – knowledge is power!

Employees Get Informed on the City’s Challenges

I spent an hour yesterday updating city employees on the challenges facing our city.  Click on the image to watch the KODE report by Allison Woods.

Is Guam Floating in the Ocean?

I’m speechless.

To Be (Certified) or Not To Be (Certified) – That’s the Question

  I received word late Friday night that the State Auditor’s office may not certify Neosho’s current property tax ceiling as originally thought.  It seems to relate back to confusion on whether our “authorization” is still valid…whatever that means.  Our city attorney and their legal staff will continue to have dialogue.

What does that mean in simple terms?  It means that one of the two options available to the council for increasing revenues could very likely be removed from the table.  That leaves the August ballot as the only significant option remaining to lessen the impact of cuts needed to balance the 2011 budget.

I’m sure the press will pick up on the story and more information will flow in from Jefferson City.  But until then, things just got more complicated and the importance of the August ballot just went up.

Forums are “Informed” About Property Tax

Thanks to the Neosho Forums for the invitation to come and speak on Sunday about the city’s finances and the proposed property tax levy ceiling increase.

I was a good turnout and I’m confident people left the meeting knowing more about why we need the tax and what happens (at least in general) without it.

From the forums site today, the following comments:

…enlightening to say the least…

…the facts, no conjecture, just facts…

…pretty plain what needs to be done.

To all that attended: I hope it helped.  It was my pleasure to do it.

Newton County Sees Jump in June

From Sunday’s NDN:

Neosho, Mo. —

There was a little good news for Newton County this month when sales tax receipts came in high – for once.

June sales tax was up $86,000 over last year. Overall tax receipts have been steadily going down, with a few exceptions, since November 2008.

This month’s numbers are no crystal ball, said Presiding Commissioner Jerry Carter.

“There’s no rhyme or reason for the way they come in. It may come in very low this month and very high the next,” Carter said.  “There’s just no way of predicting it because they don’t follow a pattern. The only pattern that you could really identify would be over a longer period of time.”

In June of last year the county took in $419,000. This year’s numbers are up, but in 2008 June income was $531,000.

For the year the county is down 3.5 percent, but it was 7 percent until this month.

The full article is here.

Marco Goes 12-0

Marco's 7-8 year old girls team finished 1st this season with a 12-0 record. Great bunch of girls. I'm proud of 'em all!

Great job as well to Matt Jarrett's 2nd place Taco Gringo team who gave us a great run for the money.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T