city government offenses, City Politics

Vortex of Mass Taxation

FORT SMITH CITIZENS ARE CAUGHT IN A VORTEX OF MASS TAXATION

Naming two:                                                                                                                   May 23, 2011

  1. The Fort Smith Convention Center

The Terrible Four (City Directors Good, Merry, Tyler, & Weber) either for economics, political gain, or ideological reasons, recently voted to hang $1,800,000 in new taxes (1% prepared food tax) coupled to a $700,000 old tax (hotel tax) around the necks of Fort Smith and other citizens, placing their personal wishes above the rights of the voting public. 

 

In a special meeting Friday May 20, 2011, the Advertising & Promotion Commission adopted new bylaws and approved the rules & regulations that will govern the A & P’s collection and enforcement of “hospitality taxes”…note the word ENFORCEMENT; another case of government intrusion and heavy-handedness invading private enterprises–UNCONSTITUTIONAL.  Mayor Sandy Sanders is on the A & P Board, can we expect complete transparency without having to file FOIA’s?

 

Convention Center Bureau Chief Claude Legris, regarding his spending latitudes and in reality trying to justify the over $3 million per year dedicated to the Fort Smith Convention Center, cited the Little Rock A&P operates on a $9 million per year budget.  Claude, Fort Smith is not a Little Rock and no city official has given justification for the $3 million yearly expenditure

 

What the City Directors and the A & P must provide to citizens:

  1. The A & P Commission should publish a monthly statement of the amount of monies spent and for what purposes, and how much is on deposit.
  2. The bylaws, rules & regulations governing the operation of the C.C. must be published on the Center’s website.
  3. Are Board meetings open or closed?
  4. Is there any intention of creating 501 c3’s, c4’s, or any other type of non-profit? Non-profits equal contrived needs, fundraising, and high salaries & benefits.
  5. A complete list must be published regarding the salaries of all A & P employees, including perks and job descriptions.

Director Hutchings, you are my Director and does your appointment to the A & P Board guarantee that the above information will be posted forthwith on  a monthly basis…if not, why not?

  1. The improbable Marshall’s Museum Project was and is billed as a PRIVATE endeavor, yet city & county politicians and bureaucrats continue to subsidize its shaky christening.  Already in 2007 the state plowed in $2.2 million taxpayer money, Sebastian County dropped $215,000 in 2007, with another $215,000 to be given this fiscal year. There is no specific information regarding Fort Smith’s donation but it is known that the amount exceeds $300,000.  NOTE: THE TAXPAYERS HAVE RECEIVED NOTHING IN RETURN, NOR WILL THEY.

From circuitous financial data it appears that most of the financing comes from long-term pledges and volunteer efforts…accounting, etc. which is counted as funding, but not in real dollars.

It appears that the Museum Committee projects $2.63 million in assets—pledged, bequeaths, etc. along with a $1.87 million Riverfront property donated by the Bennie Westphal family.  It seems that an ultra-premium has been placed on the worth of the Westphal property.  The First National Bank in 2009 pledged $500,000 in 5 annual installments of $100,000.  Whether the First National Bank has started the pledged installments is not known.

The state of Arkansas’ donation to the embryonic Marshall’s Museum cannot be questioned on the basis of legality or morality since they have slush funds that can be disbursed at their choosing.   A much different question with reference to the Sebastian County government and the Fort Smith city government.  What is their authority and before disbursement why weren’t these grants brought to the attention of Fort Smith & Sebastian County voters?  Again, the nascent Marshall’s Museum has been and is billed as a PRIVATE endeavor, therefore; is it not at the very least a question of truth, ethics & financing and should be addressed by the Fort Smith Board of Directors?

Think citizens:  Can you envision what a 50,000 sq. ft. building, replete with unending amenities, and $50 million looks like?  Think further, the costs of maintaining such a behemoth, i.e. employee salaries, insurance of all varieties, maintenance, oversight, security, etc.  Citizens, have you any conception as to what the real numbers of customers and money would have to be to support the proposed Museum?  Of course not.

Monday May 23rd the Fort Smith Board of Directors will hold another one of their “retreats” at Lake Fort Smith. The agenda: “reviewing city priorities, discussing strategic & tactical priorities (a military engagement?), and major vision components”.  This is D.C. doublespeak.  Aren’t you impressed with “major vision components”?

THE MARSHALL MUSEUM FIX IS IN….LET THE METAMORPHOSES BEGIN…FROM A PRIVATE ENDEAVOR TO TAXPAYER FUNDING (THAT’S US).

Let us keep our eyes closely on this cast of characters.  Look for more proposed taxation.  The Vortex is in place.

See:  arkansasfreedom.net    &  www.fortsmithtruth.com   for details

Kindest regards,

Joe McCutchen

P.S. the Fort Smith Board of Directors surely should “review their priorities” post haste….get out of the entertainment business—remember the F.S. Economic Report Card, C-/D+ !