This thought started while commenting on our city leaders lack of action concerning the knox county occupational tax issue. The issue being, they're doing nothing about our money going to knox county.
My question: Would you rather pay higher property taxes in the city/county, or have a occupational payroll tax?
The occupational tax is one way to get hard cash out of people working in your town or county, but do not live there. For example, doctors, lawyers, bankers, and other executive salary level persons that live in the county, or another town around us, but work in corbin, or the county in which they don't live, but I'll use corbin as an example. Tattersall is a good example for this. Many of those people mentioned live in Tattersall, because they choose to, and that's fine. But they work in corbin, london, and williamsburg, where they actually make their money. By not living in the city limits of corbin, or any town where they work, they have no voice in the matter whatsoever as far as complaining to city officials about the tax, or fee. Unless of course, the move into that town. This way, the city officials don't have to listen to them. The people that live in Tattersall can 't vote for any city candiate. Sure they can influence people, in may ways, but, that isn't guaranteed. When you close the voting booth curtain, you're on your own.
The hospital is another good example. All money earned there goes to corbin and whitley county. A large number of hospital employees don't live in corbin, or whitley county. So they have no voice.
On the other side, if we increasted property taxes across the board, to equal the amount we collect from the occupational tax, how much would our taxes go up. I don't know, as it would be broad based, and some property tax changes may have to be allowed.
I could go on and on, but, I'll shut up and let you comment.
We need to fight for Corbin's share of the occupational tax, Barbourville should not be receiving a penny of Corbin occupational tax money. Why this is not being fought is beyond me, and the city need to explain things to us, the very folks that elected them. I hope the Times-Tribune will start asking current city government and the city attorney some pointed questions about this issue.
Surely as a future commissioner you know that the city attorney cannot tell you anything he is bound by client confidentiality issues. And anyway he can only do what the client requests. It is not his decision as to whether or not to pursue this issue.
The city attorney counsels Corbin government on all legal matters, and directs the city on whether to pursue any legal issues, such as the Knox County occupational tax issue. Corbin would only proceed if they are counseled by the city attorney to do so. As for client confidentiality, you read and hear attorneys comment on pending litigation in the papers and on TV all the time. They can answer why we haven't pursued our share of the Knox County tax, and whether they feel it is or is not a viable future legal option, and why or why not.
The City Attorney represents the people of Corbin on legal matters. He doesn't represent people from Barbourville or who live outside the Corbin City limits. He should explore all avenues to seek our rightful share of the taxes from Corbin, Knox County that flow out of our city and end up in Barbourville and Knox County.
I agree with Sgt. Rock, if it can't be done they need to tell us. The City Attorney does not function to keep controversy from occuring if he is seeking to protect the funds earned by the businesses and working people in Corbin, Knox County. He is not running in a popularity contest for the Tri-County area. When are they going to explain this to us? How many more years must go by without us even trying?
In my opinion, we really don't have to have either. If they would collect our share of the knox county taxes, and then fairly evaluate all the property taxes in the city, we would be in good shape.
I personally have heard city employees and elected leaders complain about the number of homestead exemptions in the city limits, saying they are losing money because these folks that use the aren't paying their fair share of taxes based on what their homes are worth. They won't say it in public, as the very people they're talking about are the ones that elect them, particularly Gregory and the Mayor.
Well, I think it would be better to pay an occupational or payroll tax. That way the ones that don't live in the city, but work there are paying more taxes than us that live there.
As far as Knox county, I am pretty sure the city will never get any of that money they are paying in taxes. I think the city should stop sending any money to the counties. If the people that are working in the city are paying taxes, why should Barbourville or any other agency be able to use our tax dollars. Let's take care of Corbin first, and not give one red cent to the outside agencies.
