CORBIN, KENTUCKY -> City, County and other Local Issues - ARCHIVES -> Corbin 2006 Elections - Mayor, City Commissioners
Post Info TOPIC: Corbin 2006 Elections - Mayor, City Commissioners
Anonymous

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RE: Corbin 2006 Elections - Mayor, City Commissioners
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Tax Questions

Let’s examine the age old question of Taxes; the issue here is the current 3% Restaurant Tax that has already passed. Consider the following point’s folks:

There are many ways to generate Tax revenues to fund City Services these days, most City Services are funded by Sales Tax, City Stickers ,Property Tax’s and a few other funding streams that make up a City Budget, of Late we have added a 1%-2% Payroll Tax to the current funding Stream. These are Direct Taxes usually levied to run City and or County Budgets. Adding 3% to food to fund the Tourism Commission is not a Massive Tax and the writer is correct that some of this revenue will come from folks just passing through the area, those points are correct but the entire story is not told.

The Tourism Board as our writer suggests is in fact a separate entity and is considered in most cities a “Soft side Entity that usually has a Creative way to fund itself”. There could be several Private Funding Streams that help support their Budget and or even get matching funds from the city or state to continue to operate.

Here is my concern when we as a City or County pull the trigger on a Sales Tax like this:

At the dawn of the Republic Jefferson & Adams wrote that we as a people have to be very careful when we begin to use Sales Tax in addition to the current direct tax’s that is ALL of our responsibility as citizens. The Kings Tax system was very very similar to what we have now, the COMPOSITE tax rate against our colonial fathers was around 29%, this included Direct Tax’s paid and the calculation of All of the current day Sales Tax’s that applied at that point. Everyone knows what eventually happened as the citizens booted our British friends back across the pond.

According to MIT our current composite tax rate is anywhere from 40%-70% based on where we live. It is very easy to look at two or three bucks and say No big deal but unfortunately when the composite rate is 40% it does make a difference. Now, the average income level in Knox and Whitley Counties is around $17, 900 per year, that qualifies these counties as Federal Hub Zones and the Government provides money to Private Companies, LLC’s to bring jobs to the area.

Now, take the usual 30% Taxes out of the 17K per year and your down to around 12K for our folks to live on, this is about 1K per month to exist on. Do the math here on Car Payments, Apartment Rentals, Gas, Electricity, and Insurance. That’s why any Tax is dangerous to our folks; even If most of the Tax is paid by travelers passing through it still is a tax on the local folks if you want to go out an eat.

Now some suggestions on what other cities do with an average income level ($17,900 per year) that is similar to ours: When entities like Tourism ask for money (“Which they actually need to operate on) there are several ways to fund them.
1. A Special Option Tax can be approved by the city commission or city councils but only for a period of up to 24 Months.
2. After a 24 Month period the goodness of the Tax can be evaluated and the case made to the city, county and citizens.
3. A Special election is held on whether or not this added and or extra tax should be made permanent, I have seen it go both ways in the past, if the case is made and the citizens see real improvement the tax continued, when the citizens did not see improvement or Value the tax was stopped. The good thing is the Entity (In this case it’s Tourism) will have at Least TWO years to figure out how to fund themselves in the event they are not funded via tax in the future.

In this age of Heavy Tax Burden and needs of the community, the city commission should have thought through these type of options at their disposal, our children and old folks need help, our community is still small and we are still growing our jobs base and median income levels .We already have a Technology Center that is hardly ever used and the cost to build it was massive, Let’s think these things through in the future a little better, we all should have a clear picture where this massive amount of money is going, Tourism is a great thing but so is the support of our children and senior citizens.


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Anonymous

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Anonymous wrote:

Appreciate your thought process here, a few points: You still did not explain where this money is going, hard to believe with the MASSIVE numbers you cite and the possible large tax that may be generated that you can tell us where this money is marked to be spent????????? If ya do the math this tax would generate Hundreds of Thousands, correct? "Just using your numbers here" Soooooo with such a massive windfall of money the best exmple you can state is the water Park in W'burg??? Your right, it has NOT been a real success. I've never ever heard of this kind of revenue not alredy marked for something? Remember when you said you did not believe taxing just for the fun of it. Once again "What & Where is this money going?" When our Little Baseball Fields are in need of repair, when we can not get Head Gear and football Uniforms for our Kids in the recreation dept, when the lighting at these fields is failing, when we can not get referee's to do recreation basketball games because we can't pay them or line up the right people due to funding, I can go on and on. But yet you can NOT tell me where Hundreds of Thousands or maybe even Millions of Dollars will go that A TOURISM TAX will generate. Do you think Tourism trumps our kids and old people in the area?

The figures I have heard are in the $1 million to $1.2 million dollar range (roughly $100,000 per month).  I also will mention again that I'm not a politician or on any boards, I don't own any land, and I am as sick of the political environment around here as anyone. I don't like the way the "Circle" has tried to take over Corbin - a small group of self-interest individuals. I can also understand how the restaurant "tax" could be looked at in a very pessimistic way. However, with that said, if you think about this tax, and put pessimism aside for a minute, it makes sense – as long as it is administered properly. 


I can tell you that Corbin, along with any other town along I-75 (Berea, London, Williamsburg, Georgetown, and others) has a unique opportunity and solid reasons to implement a tax like this due to the sheer number of travelers that stop at our exits. Take Corbin and move it 30 miles east and the tax would not make sense, because the millions of travelers we now enjoy at our exits annually would not exist - then the tax would be funded mostly by the residents, and the revenue would be a quarter or less of the potential revenues we will now will collect.  In towns such as Whitley City, Barbourville, Manchester and others that are not on the I-75 corridor, a restaurant tax would not make much sense.  


I guess the way I look at it, in ballpark figures, $250,000 divided by 7000 Corbin residents, that is about $35 per resident. For this "investment", Corbin Tourism receives an additional $750,000+ (300% return) paid by people outside of our area. Too bad we can't flash a local ID and be exempt, but it doesn't work that way.


Obviously the key is for this money to be used properly. I can't sit here and tell you how the Tourism Commission will spend the tax revenues, but I do know there are state laws and guidelines regarding the use of these funds for tourism related projects. I also read that Frankfort is looking at possible changes to the program that would allow for these funds to be used for additional community projects. We can only hope that the Tourism Commission uses it to everybody's benefit. Like I mentioned before, people need to attend the Tourism meetings - I believe they are posted in the newspapers several days before they are held. I also believe the group of people currently on the Corbin Tourism Board are pretty honest people, and will try to use the funds to the majority's benefit.



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Anonymous

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One last Time and I'll stop:


If your creating a system that generates the kind of money you have just quoted (That's alot of $$$$$) and you CAN NOT say what your going to use it for then how in the world could the City Commission have approved this???


Sorry but ya just can't say "These folks on the Tourism Commission are all Honest Folks" There is NO company anywhere at anytime that would approve this type of Money without knowing the "Whats & Where's"


I get it on the Math and the possible money this could generate, I get it. This is beside the fact, you can not and have not been able to clearly define and explain where this Massive amount of funding will go. I just cited a half dozen things this knid of money could be used for but you can't tell us where these Millions will go or even may go.


No question on where Corbin sits and the Math behind your Theory, but you can not do these things without knowing where this money will go.


Again our citizens are at $17,900 per household, consider these points.



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Anonymous

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You certainly would not survive very long in the real world, again you wiggle away from saying WHAT the money will be used for. You cite several Hypothetical situations but never say WHAT the money would go for.


I'll bet ya that the Commission absolutley has a USE in mind for this money! No one in their right mind simply wakes up and say's " Oh we live close to I-75 so we need a 3% Tax" Don't think I've ever heard anyone lobby for a Million Dollars and then simply say The Tourism Folks are just great and let's leave all this money at their discretion.


That's why you get nailed on the "Circle" and Good Ole Boy Comments from other posters.I notice you avoided commenting on the 40%-70% Real Composite Tax rate we have and you also avoided the $17,900 per Household we have in Knox & Whitley Counties and last but not least you won't touch the current comments about our Recreation Dept and the current state our Little Field is in.


Maybe you should stop looking at Restaurants on the South End and take a trip over to Rotary Park where our future & children are at.


Please keep posting as I am still waiting to hear where the money is going and not where it may or could go and what Hypotheticaly could happen.


Bet Ya this money is already committed and we will find this out within the next 10 Days!


Just Watch


Eager to watch someone so passionate about a TAX but can't say where the Millions will go, maybe there is a few dollars for our kids in there somewhere, ya think?



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Anonymous

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"The funds may be used to finance the cost of acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities"


Maybe a subsidy for a New Center we just got 12 Million dollars for? Maybe this was an agreement with a State Senator that helped us get the 12 Million? Maybe we have already called this in an earlier posting.




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Anonymous

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Anonymous wrote:

You certainly would not survive very long in the real world, again you wiggle away from saying WHAT the money will be used for. You cite several Hypothetical situations but never say WHAT the money would go for. I'll bet ya that the Commission absolutley has a USE in mind for this money! No one in their right mind simply wakes up and say's " Oh we live close to I-75 so we need a 3% Tax" Don't think I've ever heard anyone lobby for a Million Dollars and then simply say The Tourism Folks are just great and let's leave all this money at their discretion. That's why you get nailed on the "Circle" and Good Ole Boy Comments from other posters.I notice you avoided commenting on the 40%-70% Real Composite Tax rate we have and you also avoided the $17,900 per Household we have in Knox & Whitley Counties and last but not least you won't touch the current comments about our Recreation Dept and the current state our Little Field is in. Maybe you should stop looking at Restaurants on the South End and take a trip over to Rotary Park where our future & children are at. Please keep posting as I am still waiting to hear where the money is going and not where it may or could go and what Hypotheticaly could happen. Bet Ya this money is already committed and we will find this out within the next 10 Days! Just Watch Eager to watch someone so passionate about a TAX but can't say where the Millions will go, maybe there is a few dollars for our kids in there somewhere, ya think?

Not avoiding, just ignoring. For someone who sounds extremely concerned about $30 or $40 a year added to their restaurant tab, your figures shortchange people by thousands. Your $17,500 number is only off by about 28% for Knox County, where the actual Median Household Income $22,140, and you're only off by 38% in Whitley County, where the Median Household Income is actually $23,840 (http://www.thinkkentucky.com/edis/cmnty/cmntyindex.htm).


 


 


I'm not sure what "Real World" you are living in, but typically moneys are budgeted or earmarked for various expenses and projects. I don't serve on the Tourism Board, so I don't know what projects Tourism has on the table, just like you don't even know where every dollar of your personal budget will be spent over the next 6 months.  Do you know what repairs your car might need 6 months from now? Do you know exactly what clothes you are going to buy 4 months from now? Do you know what your exact cost for gasoline will be 3 months from now? Could be $1.80 a gallon, or could be $3.50 a gallon. Do you know exactly when, where and for how long you will take your next family trip, and how much it will cost? No, you don't (although I'm sure you will say you do.) If you want to know exactly where every dollar will go, I recommend you attend the next tourism board meeting. If you don't attend and voice your opinion, then you have no right to complain.


 


There are over 20 Kentucky cities that already charge a restaurant tax, and state law dictates that the Tourism Commissions appointed in these towns manage the money for Tourism related projects. This is the "Real World", according to Kentucky Law. The "Real World" dictates that money collected from a restaurant tax must go to "Tourism" related expenses and projects - not new roads, baseball fields or other non-tourism projects. Do I wish it was different? Sure. But since a large part of the revenues from restaurant and hotel taxes come from "Tourists", the state feels the money should be spent on "Tourism". Makes sense doesn't it? It probably wouldn't be considered too fair to tax people from out of our area to pay for our baseball fields that they won't potentially be using.


 


If you can present a solution at the next City Commissioners meeting to pay for baseball fields and recreation facilities, and put food on the table for families, and where 75% of the money collected comes from non-Corbin residents, and it meets state laws and guidelines, then offer your solution. We are all anxious to hear it.


 


Until then I suppose we should just ignore tourism and the millions of outside dollars tourists can potentially spend at our local retailers, hotels, restaurants, golf courses, lakes and marinas, Cumberland Falls, NIBROC, rodeos, horse shows and more. Because the restaurant tax solution doesn't address baseball fields, lets forget about growing the tourism business in our area, the economic growth tourism creates, jobs that tourism growth can bring, as well as the potential $750,000+ in assistance we get handed to us by restaurant patrons from outside our area.


 


I believe your idea of the "Real World" needs a reality check.



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Anonymous

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I don't think the people who are driving by the area actually has a say on where the money goes, nor do they care. I did NOT say we need to ignore Tourism,you said that, I asked you where 1.5 Million Dollars would go or even May go and you could not answer.


You need to check out area & national history a little. We in Knox & Whiltley Counties over the last 10 Years have employed several different Tax's. All made the same excuses that you have made. Let's look at the Facts:


Whitley Co is 19.5 Million dollars in Debt, the state is poised to take over in the near future, what a mess! Knox Co employed a Payroll tax amoung other Tax's, did not even give the city a dime and their a mess.


The money needed to run the Tourism Board is agreed! They do need operating funds! Agreed! I gave you an option in an earlier posting. Make this a Special Option Tax and and review the goodness and proper useage of the money in 24 Months, at that point let the people vote and decide the future.


You can not simply hand over 1.5 Million+ to a small town Tourism Board and HOPE they spend the money correctly, this group may be great!, I hope so! The unfortunate reality and the reason small towns across the South use the Special Option Tax is the corruption and miss use of funds over the years, alot of these small town boards are the same groups that got us 19.5 Million dollars in debt in the first place!


1.5 Million Dollars is alot of money in a Federal Hub Zone where the Median Income is only $17,900 per household. Prove you can handle this budget as a Tourism Board and let the people decide! They will give you the go ahead if you get the job done and appropriate the funds correctly.


This unfortunatley is all after the fact, the 3% is a done deal, we will see how the money is spent. I think Bob Terrell is involved with the Tourism Board now, smart guy, hopefully he will guide and steer the Money in the right direction.


I am sorry to hear you don't care about our Ball Fields and Little Programs or the Median Income Level of our folks in the Tri-County area. You have a little Tunnel Vision here and obviously only care about Tourism.


If your Tourism Tax is a success and adds Value to the area then it will stand on it's own merits, if not the people should have had the option to resend it. The way it was voted in has created a permanent Tax that will always be there regardless of the performance and the way it is utilized. Cities DO NOT AND CAN NOT AFFORD THAT IN THE REAL WORLD.


 



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Anonymous

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http://map.sba.gov/hubzone/hzqry.asp


Here is another Web Site, says here the Median income for Knox County is $18,200 Per year. Off only $300 Dollars. Seems your the one that's off 38% Whiltey is right at $22,000.


Take a Look at the Unemployment Rates and the Ratio's against the State & National averages, again 1.5 Million Dollars is alot of Cash Flow to a small town.


Get your facts straight, unfortunatley folks like you are the one's who cleverly sell these things to our city leaders and do not challenge your facts.


Agree with the money to run these differnet Boards including the Industrial Board and all the other legitimate entities BUT prove you can properly Budget & Use this money and the people will support you, but at least put a system in place they CAN measure & monitor.


What's the old business saying "If you can't Measure it you grade and or determine Success"



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Anonymous

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I'm not sure what "Real World" you are living in, but typically moneys are budgeted or earmarked for various expenses and projects. I don't serve on the Tourism Board, so I don't know what projects Tourism has on the table, just like you don't even know where every dollar of your personal budget will be spent over the next 6 months.  Do you know what repairs your car might need 6 months from now? Do you know exactly what clothes you are going to buy 4 months from now? Do you know what your exact cost for gasoline will be 3 months from now? Could be $1.80 a gallon, or could be $3.50 a gallon. Do you know exactly when, where and for how long you will take your next family trip, and how much it will cost? No, you don't (although I'm sure you will say you do.) If you want to know exactly where every dollar will go, I recommend you attend the next tourism board meeting. If you don't attend and voice your opinion, then you have no right to complain.


 


You have to be kidding me! Certainly a family would plan in advance the money it would take to go on vacation, they would also figure 10%-20% variation and go!


Sure I would try and buget Clothing, Gas, Rent, Car Payments! Folks that make $18,240 dollars per year HAVE to do that! Thats Called Planning & Budgeting!!!


You have to know the When, Where and How long anytime you travel or plan your home budgets????? Are you you in reality here! Now if you have an unchecked budget and money is no problem you could get away with this.



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Anonymous

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It probably wouldn't be considered too fair to tax people from out of our area to pay for our baseball fields that they won't potentially be using.


Who do think is using our Baseball Fields today??? Let me help you a little, about 60% of our kids in the Little Program are NON-City residents, that's right! The same applies to our Recreation Basketball Leagues. Try attending one of the Games and simply listen and watch, these people come from all over.


 



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Anonymous

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Anonymous wrote:

I'm not sure what "Real World" you are living in, but typically moneys are budgeted or earmarked for various expenses and projects. I don't serve on the Tourism Board, so I don't know what projects Tourism has on the table, just like you don't even know where every dollar of your personal budget will be spent over the next 6 months.  Do you know what repairs your car might need 6 months from now? Do you know exactly what clothes you are going to buy 4 months from now? Do you know what your exact cost for gasoline will be 3 months from now? Could be $1.80 a gallon, or could be $3.50 a gallon. Do you know exactly when, where and for how long you will take your next family trip, and how much it will cost? No, you don't (although I'm sure you will say you do.) If you want to know exactly where every dollar will go, I recommend you attend the next tourism board meeting. If you don't attend and voice your opinion, then you have no right to complain.   You have to be kidding me! Certainly a family would plan in advance the money it would take to go on vacation, they would also figure 10%-20% variation and go! Sure I would try and buget Clothing, Gas, Rent, Car Payments! Folks that make $18,240 dollars per year HAVE to do that! Thats Called Planning & Budgeting!!! You have to know the When, Where and How long anytime you travel or plan your home budgets????? Are you you in reality here! Now if you have an unchecked budget and money is no problem you could get away with this.

A couple of you people are cracking me up.  I believe, tongue in cheek, that is what he is telling you - that there is a budgeting process. You keep asking him what it will be spent on - and he tells you what the Kentucky law states it can be spent on - TOURISM. The City Tourism commission is authorized by the state to budget this money. That is the way it works in all 4th and 5th class cities that have a hotel tax, and all twenty+ cities that already have a restaurant tax.


You keep making statements such as -


"I don't think the people who are driving by the area actually has a say on where the money goes, nor do they care. I did NOT say we need to ignore Tourism,you said that, I asked you where 1.5 Million Dollars would go or even May go and you could not answer."


The people who drive by our exits don't care or have a say, but the state of Kentucky does, and this guy has stated dozens of times that this is the LAW, and he is right.  I don't know what posts you are barely scanning through, but he also posted a pretty educated answer on where Tourism money is utilized -


"The funds may be used to finance the cost of acquisition, construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities useful in the attraction and promotion of tourist and convention business. The funds can be used for advertising in local, regional and state publications, to promote Corbin's tourist interests. They can be used to cover the cost of printing and distributing brochures promoting the community, as well as renting rack space to hold those brochures. They could be used for Radio, TV and website marketing. They can be used to support community events such as the Car Shows, Rodeo, Horse Show and other events. Some of the funds will sit in the bank and draw interest for a period of time. There are many tourism related projects this money can be budgeted for, and now that the tax has passed, it will be the Corbin Tourism Board's job to budget these funds for tourism related projects."


Pretty much like he has said twenty or thirty times already - it is used for TOURISM. What else do you want this guy to tell you? What brand and color toilet seats will be used in a potential new Tourism greeting center?


Then you tell him he doesn't care about little league baseball fields, and he never said or indicated that. I believe he actually said he wishes the law was different, but you obviously only read what you want to read. Do you want this guy to wave a magic wand and make it lawful to spend the restaurant and hotel taxes on the things you want? He is a citizen like you or I, but at least he done a little research on the subject.


The truth is, the 3% restaurant tax, as well as the already in-place hotel tax, CANNOT go to baseball fields BY LAW. What don't you get? Give us your ideas on how to improve the parks and recreation (lawful ones). You want to improve these facilities, but you haven't said how to do it. If you want to impose some sort of sales tax, like an additional 1 or 2% cigarette tax in Corbin to cover the recreation department, then get a petition going and bring it to a vote.


We all want great parks, clean streets, good schools and prosperity. But the only way you will be able to capitalize on the traffic we get on I-75, getting an additional $750,000 or more from non-Corbin people, and impacting Corbin residents as little as possible, is with restaurant or hotel taxes - and the law is very cut and dry - this tax all goes to Tourism.


Tourism is an important part of our area, creating jobs, filling our hotels, restaurants, gas stations, movie theaters, and selling our retail goods. When we have an opportunity to collect the majority of the money from non-residents, many from out of state, and without hurting our businesses, we need to strongly consider it. Like he said, go to the meetings if you really want to learn the process and laws.



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Anonymous

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Anonymous wrote:

http://map.sba.gov/hubzone/hzqry.asp Here is another Web Site, says here the Median income for Knox County is $18,200 Per year. Off only $300 Dollars. Seems your the one that's off 38% Whiltey is right at $22,000. Take a Look at the Unemployment Rates and the Ratio's against the State & National averages, again 1.5 Million Dollars is alot of Cash Flow to a small town. Get your facts straight, unfortunatley folks like you are the one's who cleverly sell these things to our city leaders and do not challenge your facts. Agree with the money to run these differnet Boards including the Industrial Board and all the other legitimate entities BUT prove you can properly Budget & Use this money and the people will support you, but at least put a system in place they CAN measure & monitor. What's the old business saying "If you can't Measure it you grade and or determine Success"

We were both right on Household Median income - your figure is for all of Knox County, the State's figure I used is for the Corbin portion of Knox County. However, you make it sound like the $1.5 million (we've somehow gone from $1.2 to now $1.5 Million) is all coming out of Corbin. Only $250,000 to $300,000 is coming out of Corbin, and if there is no restaurant tax, there is no $1.2 million - that other money stays in the pockets of the restaurant patrons from out of town.


Corbin restaurant partons invest approximately $300,000, Corbin Tourism receives approximately $1.2 million. If we don't impose a restaurant tax, Corbin restaurant patrons keep their approximate $300,000, and our out-of-town restaurant guests keep their approximate $900,000, and Corbin Tourism gets zero. I don't know any simpler way to state it.


You talk of unemployment rates  -  will the restaurant tax cost us jobs in Corbin? No. Will tourism growth in our area create jobs? Yes.


This system of Commssions and boards is put in place by our state goverment, and these boards have exsisted longer than you and I. The laws and procedures of how these boards are run, and how the money is utilized, has been on the books this way for years. For years the hotel tax charged at all Corbin hotel guests goes to Corbin Tourism for Tourism projects also - you just didn't realize it. As I also stated in an earlier post, Frankfort is talking about allowing some of this money to be used for additional, non-tourism related projects.


For the millionth time, if you do not trust the system the State has in place, or the individuals on these boards, then attend the meetings and learn, good or bad, what they are about, and what have been doing - as well as what they plan to do in the future - with this tax revenue. If you don't get involved other than this message board, then your opinion doesn't amount to much.



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Anonymous

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We were both right on Household Median income - your figure is for all of Knox County, the State's figure I used is for the Corbin portion of Knox County. However, you make it sound like the $1.5 million (we've somehow gone from $1.2 to now $1.5 Million) is all coming out of Corbin. Only $250,000 to $300,000 is coming out of Corbin,and if there is no restaurant tax, there is no $1.2 million - that other money stays in the pockets of the restaurant patrons from out of town.


(I did not say any of this was coming directly out of Corbin,I clearly understand who and how much will com from the City, my point to you when we talk about 1 Million Plus is the fact that it is alot of Extra funding on top of what we already generate to give to a Board with NO checks and balance, this Tax is an extra 3% period)



Corbin restaurant partons invest approximately $300,000, Corbin Tourism receives approximately $1.2 million. If we don't impose a restaurant tax, Corbin restaurant patrons keep their approximate $300,000, and our out-of-town restaurant guests keep their approximate $900,000, and Corbin Tourism gets zero. I don't know any simpler way to state it.


(Your not listening to my point, I DO agree with funding of the Tourism Commision, I would like to see it as a Special Option Tax that can be Measured and looked at in the future, the people should have the option to resend if there is corruption)



You talk of unemployment rates  -  will the restaurant tax cost us jobs in Corbin? No. Will tourism growth in our area create jobs? Yes.


Since you can not say where the money Will go or even May go, how could you say this will grow jobs. What Jobs, Waiters at Dairy Queen? Tourism is already funded according to you, where are all the Jobs, I am waiting for your list of future jobs this will create. I'll wait on this list.



This system of Commssions and boards is put in place by our state goverment, and these boards have exsisted longer than you and I. The laws and procedures of how these boards are run, and how the money is utilized, has been on the books this way for years. For years the hotel tax charged at all Corbin hotel guests goes to Corbin Tourism for Tourism projects also - you just didn't realize it. As I also stated in an earlier post, Frankfort is talking about allowing some of this money to be used for additional, non-tourism related projects.


If you always do what you always did you will always get what you always got. Being on the books for years does not mean we have to stick our head in the same bucket of ^%$#. You think Frankfort will figure out your problems??? If that was the case we would not be at 18K per year right now as an average. It's up to us to be create and add Value when we impose Tax's, it's up to us and our leadership to put very good checks and balances in to make sure these things work corretly!



For the millionth time, if you do not trust the system the State has in place, or the individuals on these boards, then attend the meetings and learn, good or bad, what they are about, and what have been doing - as well as what they plan to do in the future - with this tax revenue. If you don't get involved other than this message board, then your opinion doesn't amount to much.


I'll address this point: Attending these meeting is very hard for someone who has to work 12 hours per day and makes 18K per year, think the Board members are average folks who fall in to this category? Nope, I know some of these folks and they are in the TOP 10% of wage earners in the State. We elect leaders who in turn appoint these folks, our system is set up to protect the citizens as most of our citizens just can not make it to these meetings. Common sense and checks & balances must apply regardless of who attends.


I look forward to debating you in the very near future when we see how these funds are applied.


 



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Anonymous

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A couple of you people are cracking me up.  I believe, tongue in cheek, that is what he is telling you - that there is a budgeting process. You keep asking him what it will be spent on - and he tells you what the Kentucky law states it can be spent on - TOURISM. The City Tourism commission is authorized by the state to budget this money. That is the way it works in all 4th and 5th class cities that have a hotel tax, and all twenty+ cities that already have a restaurant tax.


You believe Tongue & Check huh,We all know what the Law States and we know these funds can not be spent on Ball Fields, apparently you missed my point on the overall Tax Base and where our priorities are. Read a little further back.


I have a business partner In Jefferson County, he says they clearly generate and publish WHAT their funds will be spent on for Tourism, not a Big deal to do this, actually simple minutes of the meetings captured and what their 24 Month Plan is, always possible variation.


Sounds like another Goooood Ole Boy network, Just give us the money, trust us!!!


Carcking up? You must be easily amused when it comes to turning over large sums of money and all you can say "IT"S TOURISM"



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Anonymous

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Some Future Improvement Points:


1. The Tourism Board Secretary could easily write up the minutes of each meeting and post to this Web Site. In this age of fast information the details could easily be posted for everyone to see, the 1950's excuse of having to be physicaly at each meeting does not hold water in this quick information age.


2. The city commision should have ask and still could for the following as the commision has so kindly provided a great funding base for the Tourism Board.


A. Each Month simply Post to this local Web Site (1) What you are currently working on(2) The possible funding it may or may not need and anything else from a Political Standpoint the City may be able to help with.


3. State the names of each Board Involved


4. Clearly Communicate when a Board position is available and who the Mayor is considering to fill this post.


Kentucky Law may not ask for the above but it is not too much to ask for the Tourism Board to gladly make the information available. Any Manager in Private Industry who is responsible for a 6 figure Budget has to at least try and explain where the money may or could go. There is always changes and variation to ANY Budget and or List of Projects.


Operating in secret in 2006 is not acceptable, the more you communicate where you are going and what your working the fewer questions you will have.


Good luck to the Board and do the right thing!


A Quote from Thomas Jefferson before he died " Trying to Tax your way in to Prosperity is not possible"



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William


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Anonymous wrote:

... Sounds like another Goooood Ole Boy network ... 

Who are these good ole boys that you refer to?


Or are you just talking about polititians in general?



 


 


 


 



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Anonymous

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Anonymous wrote:






A couple of you people are cracking me up.  I believe, tongue in cheek, that is what he is telling you - that there is a budgeting process. You keep asking him what it will be spent on - and he tells you what the Kentucky law states it can be spent on - TOURISM. The City Tourism commission is authorized by the state to budget this money. That is the way it works in all 4th and 5th class cities that have a hotel tax, and all twenty+ cities that already have a restaurant tax.


You believe Tongue & Check huh,We all know what the Law States and we know these funds can not be spent on Ball Fields, apparently you missed my point on the overall Tax Base and where our priorities are. Read a little further back. I have a business partner In Jefferson County, he says they clearly generate and publish WHAT their funds will be spent on for Tourism, not a Big deal to do this, actually simple minutes of the meetings captured and what their 24 Month Plan is, always possible variation. Sounds like another Goooood Ole Boy network, Just give us the money, trust us!!! Carcking up? You must be easily amused when it comes to turning over large sums of money and all you can say "IT"S TOURISM"





I haven't "Carked Up" since I had a bad Chili Dog at NIBROC a couple years back. It is obvious you have never attended a Corbin Tourism Meeting, and that is why you have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to how Corbin's Tourism Commission operates (or any city's tourism board for that matter.) The Corbin Tourism Commission has been around longer than either of us. The state laws and guidelines have been on the books for years, and the Corbin Tourism Commission, just like all tourism Commissions throughout the state, publish and make public their budgets and records. It's just that average citizens like myself and the other people posting supportive messages on here don't keep a copy of the Tourism budget on our coffee tables just to read to you on a website posting. If you want to educate yourself on the budgeting process and how the Corbin Tourism Commission operates, where the money has been spent as well as what future projects are being budgeted, like you've been told already, go to the meetings and get involved. Also, if you are going to reply to someone's comments, read the entire post you are replying about completely. From the looks of your postings, you obviously don't.

Have you ever attended a Corbin Tourism Meeting in the past 20 or 30 years? I didn't think so.



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JD


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wrote:

Anonymous wrote: ... Sounds like another Goooood Ole Boy network ...  Who are these good ole boys that you refer to? Or are you just talking about polititians in general?        

Not all but a few members of city government, several of the self-appointed Corbin "Social Elite, I think I'm something special" circle, and 3 1/2 ex-jocks that think because they played football at one of nearly 19,000 high schools in the United States, and because they signed on at UK or Union College as a part-time water boy, that somehow makes themselves more qualified to run for office or hold a position of authority. These people are legends in their own minds, and feel that they are somehow entitled to put themselves and their personal agendas ahead of the rest of the community - it's sad but kinda humorous actually.


Nothing against us athletes - some have gone on to be extremely successful businessmen and women, doctors, senators and more, but just because I played Basketball for Louisville doesn't make me any more of a candidate for office than a Computer Engineer, an MBA, dentist, or who our real heroes should be, a school teacher.



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Anonymous

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I understand what you are saying but that is not always the case. Of the present City Commission only three are running for re-election. One is a Physician's Assistant. One is a Certified Public Accountant. One is a retired Banker. In my opinion each of these three men have done a good job in city government.

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Anonymous

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Lets take a closer look at your s

I haven't "Carked Up" since I had a bad Chili Dog at NIBROC a couple years back. It is obvious you have never attended a


(Sounds like your Hnaging around the Dixie too much, too bad about the Hotdog but if you always did what you always have done you will always get what you always got! Belive I have told you that a few times before.)Corbin Tourism Meeting, and that is why you have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to how Corbin's Tourism Commission operates (or any city's tourism board for that matter.) The Corbin Tourism Commission has been around longer than either of us.


(Well aware of how long these Boards have been around, The Median Icome Level is still 18K-22K per year in Knox & Whitley Counties so how many jobs again has these long standing Boards created???, apparently they did not have an effect of the Median income now did they?)


The state laws and guidelines have been on the books for years, and the Corbin Tourism Commission, just like all tourism Commissions throughout the state, publish and make public their budgets and records. It's just that average citizens like myself and the other people posting supportive messages on here don't keep a copy of the Tourism budget on our coffee tables just to read to you on a website posting.


(As a person who has just lobbied very well indeed for a 3% Tax on the people and who claims to have been at all the Meetings it's interesting to see you can't tell us a SINGLE plan they are working on and WHAT will be the rate of return or ROI?? You must have been asleep at these high powered meetings.)


 If you want to educate yourself on the budgeting process and how the Corbin Tourism Commission operates, where the money has been spent as well as what future projects are being budgeted, like you've been told already, go to the meetings and get involved.


(The city commision must Monitor these Budgets anytime a Governemnt Entity Tax's its people it is their responsibility to tell the Tax Payers where their Money is going. I just posted a few things the Commision should demand ad a trade off for a new tax. The time you have spent here defending this Board could easily be used as a Posting site on the What's, Where's and How much the Board is spending and also what the future plans are!)


Not 1950 anymore here Pal the press and Media is watching these folks now, we can not afford another 19 Million Dollar melt down like our friends in the County, whick oh by the way you will help them pay for!


 Also, if you are going to reply to someone's comments, read the entire post you are replying about completely. From the looks of your postings, you obviously don't.



Governemnets have an Obligation to all the people and to consider the Entire City and County they must operate in, not just Tourism. A 22K Median Incom, A 19.5 Million Dollar County Deficit, a +2% Unemployment rate VS the Stae Average, a 60% Average Income rate VS the rest of the state! You bet the TOURISM Board owes us a PUBLIC Expanation as to where the Money is going!


Have you ever attended a Corbin Tourism Meeting in the past 20 or 30 years? I didn't think so.

tatements:

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Anonymous

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The Poster is RIGHT on Target about the Good ole Boy circle, you need to look a little harder at Who he is refering to.


WELL SAID ON THE CIRCLE! But don't worry the voters will have their say shortly.



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Anonymous

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Anonymous wrote:

I understand what you are saying but that is not always the case. Of the present City Commission only three are running for re-election. One is a Physician's Assistant. One is a Certified Public Accountant. One is a retired Banker. In my opinion each of these three men have done a good job in city government.
Like I mentioned, not all but some of City Government, and I agree with you on two of the three. The banker will not get my vote.

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Anonymous

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Your correct!

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Anonymous

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I didn't realize this is a "bashing" board.  It is a sad day when a website is created to represent our city and all the good things that Corbin and it's tourism has to offer, while individuals use it to bash others! 


I just lost all respect for this site and what it is made to represent, which must be individual interests, not the interests of the city of Corbin and it's people!


Not good representation for the city of Corbin and whomever moderates this board



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Anonymous

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I agree with you...we shouldn't be bashing one another, especially on a public site like this one.  Let's learn to work together and get along.  There are a lot of good things going on in our town.  We don't need to dwell on the negative, but appreciate the positive things. 


I think if you have an opinion and want to make your wishes known, then become an active part of the community and attend public city meetings to give your opinion. I understand that the meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. The 2nd Monday is at 5:00 and the 4th Monday is at 6:30. You can ask questions and be a part of the roundtable discussion. 


Don't use a vehicle like this to put others down and dwell on what is negative.  Let's all work together. 



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Anonymous

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Unfortunatley Tax issues always seems to be a very tough subject, true alot of great things are unfolding in our community. I also agree that attending meetings and being involved certainly must be encouraged.


Several folks however just can't get there for several reasons, let's hope our Elected Leaders and Board members make good solid decisions that help and support all our citizens. We have super potential in our area we can make it happen.



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Anonymous

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I have followed Corbin politics for years and I think this has been the most open City Commission that there has ever been. The Mayor has chosen not to run. I will try to pick the best Mayor candidate and get him in office so that he can continue the progress that has been made. Likewise, three commissioners are runing for re-election. I will most likely vote for those three and pick the best new candidate to go with them. Corbin has a bright future.


 


 



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