Sales Tax Increase

[dl meckes]

Maybe they'll be used for fixing plumbing in buildings built with sin tax dollars.

[Bill Call]

Beyond what is said here, it would be nice if they also mentioned that in addition to the "Medical Mart" this tax will also pay for the new county building. Who knows where the leftover funds will go. Any ideas?

If the medical mart and convention center will generate even half the business we are told they will generate then the facility could be financed with the newly generated tax dollars.

If the project cannot be paid for with newly generated tax dollars then the project makes no economic sense.

This tax increase is about a new (unneeded) county administrative building. It is typical of our county officials to hold the area hostage to their desire to build a bigger office for the commissioners.

So far the commissioners have spent $22 million dollars on the new administrative building. It will cost an additional $30 million to demolish the existing Ameritrust building. They will have spent $52 million on a vacant lot. They won't even have a hole in the ground. That will cost extra.

It's comes as no surprise to me that the county "discovered" the $22 million to buy the Ameritrust building. How much more is left to be discovered?

As to left over funds: They will evaporate.

[Bryan Schwegler]

From the Plain Dealer:

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2007/07 ... ax_wo.html

[Bill Call]

From the Plain Dealer:

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2007/07 ... ax_wo.html

The decision on the part of the County Commissioners makes good political sense and assures the passage of this sales tax increase. Am I satisfied? No. Why? Because:

1. Money is fungible. If you put $1.5 billion dollars in the County Pot O' Gold you can insist that money collected from the new tax will go for the purpose of a new medical center but that assurance is meaningless.

2. The county has the funds to pay $60 million dollars for a vacant lot to build a new county administrative building without the need for new tax revenue. That money should be used for the medical mart.

3. If the medical mart will generate millions of new tax dollars (which it will) the medical mart could be financed with those new tax dollars.

4. What 1,2 and 3 tell me is that the new tax is really for financing a new county administrative building.

And if anyone is still listening:

For the past 10 years the county has been trying to build a much needed juvenile justice facility but hasn't been able to find a location or the money. Yet, they found the money for their new administrative building without a problem.

I find this indefensible.

I find it quite contemptable

and oh so predictable.

How much harm has been done to this community because of the lack of that facility? Do the commissioners even care?

[Bryan Schwegler]

Well it's official, they raised the sales tax to 7.75%

Plain Dealer Article

[Ryan Salo]

Maybe not for long!

http://putoitontheballot.com

[ryan costa]

The old convention center is better than any convention center built in the last 20 years. If Cleveland can't make money off it, there's no reason to believe they will be able to make money off a new building.

[sharon kinsella]

Ryan Salo - There is nothing there when I click on your addie.

[Bryan Schwegler]

Ryan Salo - There is nothing there when I click on your addie.

Try this:

http://putitontheballot.com

[Ryan Salo]

thanks Bryan!