If you read back here somewhat I believe one of the posters said this money would be used to subsidize the new civic center (It also looks like the poster disagreed with this point?, not sure just reading between the lines)), the poster also said we would know this in 10 days. Don't know this poster but he or she sure was right on the mark! Using 1/3 of this money to subsidize operations like this is risky, not saying it is wrong but very risky.

I am right, and the part to run the center is $300,000 as an estimate, according to the study this number can be up or down, according to what we book and how we run the new center. I agree that ran properly it can be a very good investment for Corbin. Don't think anybody is or has said to give the Gov the 12 Million back. Would be great to hold region tournaments here, tough to get a seat even at the district tourney this year.

Great Point!!!!!

WOW! A Fantastic Donation!!!

AGREED!!!

Anonymous wrote:

---

That was really generous. He bought the land for peanuts, and he donates it and gets a huge tax deduction when the land is appraised at far above its value. 

That is the way the system works. You buy it for a few thousand dollars and get a write off of over a half million.

---

It beats the crap out of individuals who know there are State or Federal funds on the way for a project, going out and telling a land owner that the only way their land will be used for the project is if they sell it to them first, buying the land for peanuts, then reselling the land to the city, county or state for more than it is worth for hugh profits for their friends and themselves. Because of these deals and individuals, other people struggle just to feed their families and pay their bills, but that is not their concern, as long as these people get their cut.

I'm sure their parents would be proud if they knew this is how their kids that they tried to raise with a morals and principals turned out - living their lives for every dime they can make - honest or not - at anyone's expense. Funny thing is that some of these individuals actually claim to be Christians and public servants - Hypocrisy at its finest.

I'll take Terry's way of doing business, at least on this deal, any day of the week. 

The restaurant tax is the best tax for our type of town. With the majority of our restaurants located on the main roads that lead past corbin, many travelers will pay a large percentage of this.

This is a consumer based tax. If you don't patronize the restaurants, then you won't pay the tax.

Sorry, I just disagree with you.

The restaurant tax is in my opinion similiar to the alcohol or tobacco tax. If you don't eat out, smoke, or drink, it won't affect you.

Of course, we could start a local tobacco tax, in the city limits only, or is that legal. I don't smoke, chew or dip, so, it wouldn't affect me.

Do you know if we have a local "motel" tax, only on hotel or motels in the city on persons who stay in their rooms.

And, we could up the property taxes. That would be interesting.

If you're talking to me, I'm not sure what you mean by diverting the issue.

But, just to reply to your post.

Let's separate the people who live in the city, from the people that live outside the city limits first.

For the people that live outside the city limits, too bad. Even if there was a vote, you couldn't have voted. SO, that's the end of that issue. I don't mean that as harshly as it sounds, but thats the basic facts. If you don't want to patronize a city restaurant, that's ok. I'm not sure if laurel county has a restaurant tax, or the city of london either. I think williamsburg does. Either way, you'll be paying a tax of this type to someone. But, like I said, I'm not sure of Laurel County's policy.

To the tax paying folks of corbin, that is true, we didn't have a voice or vote in this issue. But, we had the chance to put our names on the ballot, run for commissioner or mayor, and take a stand we would eliminate the restaurant tax, and run for office. Also, as a group, had we not decided to run for office, we could have bombarded the elected commissioners and mayor to change it. Believe me, with enough direct complaining to them, face to face, they would have changed it.

For those restaurants you listed, maybe you should ask them what they think. And then, post it back here. I would love to know what they say. They don't pay the tax, they just collect it and send in the check. I would say off hand, more locals pay the tax at Joy's, The Dixie, and White's. But, is that majority of people living inside or outside the city. At those three spots you mention, if you used an average meal ticket total of $5 per person, they's pay 15 cents tax.

When the voters of Corbin have better recreational facilities, better roads, better services, good quality emergency personell, they won't mind this tax.

That all said, what do you think of the occupational tax??????

I truly hope that the management company can keep the convention center occupied with worthwhile, money making or breaking even events.

That said, I hope we can recuce the projected 75% of the restaurant tax for the operation of this new building.

I'd love to see the tourism dept be able to expand their ability to develop the area with more money to use.

One question. Who will employ the staff for this center. Will they be city of corbin employees, or tourism dept employees, or what.

Who will these staff answer too?

The reason I ask is so we'll all know before this kicks off who oversees the staff and operation of the new center.

These are excellent Questions but at least 1-Year tooooo late, now that a Tax HAS been Levied, a New Complex under Construction, Millions of dollars already invested these questions better have already been answered, if not then we have some serious problems.

When all of this was on the Table I would hope the Consulting Company the City Hired would have had a 100,000 Ft. Strategic Plan that Outlined the Operation of this Project from Contruction Start to Day one Operations.

With 1-Million Dollars of Taxed Money the Rest Tax will and may bring in I would give the Tourism Board some Advise------------You better have your act together as Folks will be watching.

One Last Point:

Who is the Tourism & Chamber boards and are they City Residents???????? If NOT then the Mayor & City Commission should act and Remove these people asap, no crime to live outside the City, that's everyone's own life decision but they should live inside the City Limits. We already have enough outsiders giving us advice on how to run the city.

I would like to see the names of these people but also where they reside!!!!

I've been reading the posts in many of the threads on this board, and I've noticed something. A bunch of people are whining like babies about paying three cents on the dollar on a restaurant bill. Three cents!!!!!!!!!!!

And THEY"RE NOT crying about this occupational tax the city and county started. What gives?

They'd rather pay 1% of their GROSS SALARY, before taxes, to the city and county, than three cents on a big mac or double or a large hand tossed pizza. They are crazy. How many times a week do these people eat out.

They don't cry as loud about the overall financial mess the city and county is in, as they do about 3 cents on a biggie fry.

I was at the mcdonalds at the trademart last weekend. There was a school bus form another county there, a ball team eating. Many of their family members were eating too. The didn't care about no restaurant tax. They just cared about eating at mcdonalds. They paid the tax, and they don't live here. We made money off them.

My mom was at bingo the other night, at the south corbin exit. Several friend of hers, from down around Jellico, played bingo with her. They all went to O'Malley's to eat. All but mom was from out of town. THEY PAID US MONEY TO EAT HERE, AND DIDN"T CARE. Mom paid the tax, around .50 cents. It didn't break her, she can still afford to live and stuff.


Another story. A family member is in the hospital. We were visiting him. We went do the cafeteria to get a drink, and saw a sign on the register that explained that the increase in the bill was due to the city of corbin's new 3% food tax on purchases. The register lady talked about it, complaining. She didn't live in the city. So, she has no voice.

But, they aren't crying about the 1% they take from her gross salary for the occupational tax.

The last quarter results of the restaurant tax should be out soon. I'm anxious to see what they are.

I agree, it only takes one to start the ball rolling. I'm glad they're considering corbin first, I would have figured they would have went to london since they have sunday sales and we do not.

We went out to eat three times last week, at serving restaurants, for various reasons (birthday, anniv, meeting) and I kept the receipts for some reason. In all, I paid $12 in restaurant taxes. I would have paid that in gas in one trip to lex or knoxville alone.

I live in the city, and I like the idea of every time I go to eat now, knowing that just a few cents are going to our tourism development for the city. I'd sure rather pay this than the occupational tax.

Not only the civic center, but, all tourism.