East TN Conservative

Alderman Marsh presented a resolution at the October 21, 2008 Kingsport Board of Mayors and Aldermen to eliminate the quarter percent sales tax that voters approved in 1992 to fund the Meadowview Convention Center. The quarter percent regional sales tax had served it’s purpose and the convention center debt was paid off in 2008.

The resolution was to use a portion of the regional sales tax to reduce the property tax rate for citizens. The citizens of Kingsport could have received a reduction in their city property tax, but the resolution was quickly voted down by the “gang of five”. (Mayor Dennis Phillips, Vice Mayor Mallicote, and Aldermen Munsey, Joh, Shupe) See Kingsport Times-News article “Marsh urges scuttling MeadowView expansion

The decision of the “gang of five” showed their true colors by voting against the citizens for a property tax refund and instead voting for special interest groups.

Alderman Shull and Marsh have in the past tried to discuss the future of the regional sales tax, but Mayor Phillips would always table the discussion. It is my feeling that Mayor Phillips had no intention of ending the regional sales tax and had plans to use it for MeadowView Convention Center expansion.

The October 21, 2008 BMA meeting got a little heated with Vice Mayor Ben Mallicote going on the attack, Alderman Joh stated that Aldermen Shull and Marsh were just sore losers. Mayor Phillips stated that without MeadowView the city would have to raise taxes. He also made a statement that MeadowView is needed to keep from reducing police and fire protection and doing trash pick-up every two weeks. Mr. Mayor, stop the spin, it may be news to you, the convention center has been operating at a loss and the taxpayers are in fact keeping the convention center in business. The voters of Kingsport are smarter than you think, Mayor Phillips.

Maybe, I will in the future do a post about the wasteful spending in the City of Kingsport by Mayor Phillips and his gang.

Full story here

I will NOT vote for ANYONE that steals my money. THATS YOU KPT ALDERMEN.