East TN Conservative

KINGSPORT — Alderman Pat Shull suggested City Manager John Campbell’s salary be frozen at its current level as a way to show Leadership during this year’s budget process. Shull made the suggestion during last week’s Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, specifically during a discussion on the city’s fiscal year 2009 budget. The BMA voted 5-2 to approve the $65 million general fund budget and unanimously to approve next year’s water and sewer budgets. Shull and Alderman Ken Marsh voted against the general fund budget. Alderman Ken Marsh and Pat Shull proposed putting off the expansion plan, and giving the tax money that would be used to fund the expansion, back to taxpayers, by lowering property taxes. the board voted the proposal down by 5 to 2. “I think the citizens of Kingsport need to realize a majority of the board turned down a plan to reduce their property taxes”, said Alderman Pat Shull.

How about we let MeadowView do it on its own? Cool concept eh Mayor? If the market don't allow for this why should we force it? Listen to these two not that voice inside your wallet. (our wallet)

KINGSPORT - Alderman Pat Shull and candidate Richard Samples believe Mayor Dennis Phillips is rushing the vote on the proposed kingsport higher education center, arguing the public needs more information and time to study the issue before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen votes on the matter. Shull said he would like to hear more about why the center has to be downtown and not at the East Tennessee State University campus at Allandale. Shull said the city should also consider the city's debt and other capital projects when discussing the higher education center. "The proponents of this thing feel so strongly about it, they've internalized it. It's almost emotional, like asking someone about their religion," Shull said. "I think this has caused them to not understand, for other people it's not intuitive that this is a good thing." Alderman Pat Shull said the BMA has not had a discussion about the proper use of the regional sales tax, adding he does not support the executive conference wing project at this time. “Not right now, since we’ve not have full debate on it. We didn’t have a good debate and discussion about it,” Shull said. “A majority of the BMA is operating on the principle that we can do it all and not raise taxes. I’m not advocating we raise taxes, and I don’t believe we can do it all.” Shull said he would like have a discussion on the regional sales tax, including using the revenue for capital projects or for allowing a reduction in property taxes. “I’d like to look at all those things.”

I would like to thank Aldermen Shull for being available to the public on the internet and in person. Aldermen Shull and Marsh do keep trying to give us back our money and trying to take a second look at things before we go spending into the night.

Sources timesnews