To the Fort Smith Mayor & City Directors:                                                                             February 20, 2011

Let’s all do the Convention Center math; including all that was left out.                                     

Mr. Jim Kolettis, Convention Center Commission, said the proposed 1% food tax is projected to bring in $960,000 in EXCESS of the shortfall, which is $1.1 million. Using the $1.1 million needed to keep the C.C. afloat, the sum of the two would equal $2,060,000 in new revenue.   City figures state that the Convention Center creates revenues of $750,000 per year, which amounts to revenues of $2,760,000 PER YEAR, of that sum $1,710,000 is NEW revenue, over and beyond the $1.1 million needed yearly.

A ½ % tax would generate approximately $1 million per year and added to the $750,000 the C.C. generates produces a surplus of $650,000 per year.

Mayor Sanders said “some of the money above the operational cost of the facility will be spent on purchasing a ticketing system (a one-time expense) as well as a plan to expand parking”. He goes on to say “that will cost at least several hundreds of thousands of dollars” No!  City officials stated in March, 2010 that the cost of expanding the parking lot would be $250,000 (a one-time expense). 

Question of the day: Other than the one time expenditures of expanded parking and a ticketing system, what happens to the $1,710,000 YEARLY SURPLUS  thereafter?

Claude Legris, speaking as a self-serving bureaucrat, said that the ½ % tax would be “nickel-and-diming it like it has been”.  (See above)  Legris, how many private sector jobs have you ever created?  You know, the ones forced to pay for your bills?

The only thing the C.C. has to brag about is The Jehovah Witness’s one week encampment. Director Steve Tyler said the Board is committed to keeping the C.C. open.  What about the wishes of the people who are paying for it Dir. Tyler?

City Manager Gosack said (this is a laugher)”the Board could scale it (the 1% tax) back or repeal it quickly on its own if it decides that’s necessary because the money is being spent well or for some other reason”.  Ray, that dog won’t hunt.

Legris, knowing that the 1% tax would create a huge surplus began salivating and spending it before the tax could be enacted.  He came forth with another “vision” called the OPPORTUNITY FUND—another “Quality of Place” scheme.  Encased in the “vision” are festivals, Marshal’s Museum (private funding you say?), more money to the Bass Reeves monument (also private funding?), funding for the Arts Community, etc.—expansion in a depression.  These folks haven’t comprehended the word CUT—yet.

For you Directors and city government employees, I have a Vision—fill up the quarry at 5^th & Garrison.  Back to the food tax, members of the Board and the Mayor must understand this is a contentious issue.  You apparently don’t understand our republic is bankrupt and expanding the city government is not in our vocabulary and many of our citizens are laboring mightily to stay afloat economically. The bottom line in this exercise in silliness is that you along with the Chamber of Commerce do not want to be recognized as the first C.C. in the state to be boarded, when in reality you would be doing the thing that many others should do.

The citizens own that building, you are elected to serve the wishes of the majority, so DC your heavy handedness and bring it to a vote.  You will be applauded if you do–win, lose or draw.

Joe McCutchen

P.S.  Still no explanation regarding the purpose of the 47 police work stations at the old armory.

THE EASIEST JOB IN THE WHOLE WORLD IS SPENDING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY.

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