East TN Conservative

Tax

"The Board of Mayor and Aldermen established the VEP last year to fund a variety of tourism related projects, with the funding coming from a recently approved 2 percent increase to the city’s hotel/motel tax."

Tax

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 its purpose and the convention center debt was paid off in 2008.

Spend

Last year’s projects came to $310,240, which included a 13 percent reserve of $40,240. However, revenue estimates for that year have come to $298,855. The projected revenue for next year is $325,000, while the total amount requested for projects next year is $285,000.

The first major project earmarked under the VEP was the Bays Mountain Park planetarium replacement and renovation project. The $1.3 million project is under way and includes a new digital star projector, surround sound, an LED lighting system, new floor and seating.

This I can go with. High school stoners need a new place to see pink floyd in lights. Honestly I do like Bays Mountain I send out of towners there It is a great place for the area and us.


Spend

"The committee budgeted $60,000 last year for a way finding and sign study and has budgeted another $60,000 in next year’s plan. Part of that money will go to the study, while the remainder would go to purchase and install decorative signs throughout the city."

If we pride ourselves on being friendly why do we need ugly signs? Now if MeadowView is working why not have an info center there? Is not this place supposed to be the reason and place outsiders are coming to?

"Andy King, general manager of MeadowView Conference Resort and Convention Center, said the $60,000 would be a drop in the bucket toward putting up new signs."

That drop in the bucket could pay off my mortgage. I’m bringing my bucket to the next BMA.

Spend

"$40,000 to explore possible wedding venues throughout the city"

What? Are we going to compete with Gatlinburg? Just include a Chapel in MeadowView. Or staff it with a Justice of the Peace. This is just plain wrong. Who did this money go to really?

Spend

$10,000 for landscaping in the Meadowview area, $15,000 for visitors center planning.

Again a info center at MeadowView.


Spend

"Kingsport is planning an $8 million renovation and expansion project for the center.
Conceptual art and layout drawings exist for the new facility, which calls for demolishing 13,600 square feet of the existing building, renovating the remaining 46,000 square feet, and adding just over 50,000 square feet of new space — 30,900 of which will be a new nonprofit center."

I dot have a problem with non-profits. I do have a problem with the city doing this. This is still our money. This would take away from a profit making LOCAL small business. Plus we throw in

"city would furnish everything in the office, including utilities, janitorial services and common areas for restrooms, kitchen space and meeting rooms."

Next rate hike, remember that one.

“It’s still an ideal spot for us, it would be,” he said. “But if we lease it, then we’d end up paying the utilities, so I still think we’re getting the best deal at the nonprofit center.”

And this one

"Kingsport is allocating space, computers and furniture for the nonprofit Douglass Alumni Association and the Sons and Daughters of Douglass Web site, free of charge."

Spend

"The BMA voted last week to locate a $12.6 million aquatic center in the Meadowview area of town on a 10-acre site between the driving range and Cattails golf course located off Wilcox Drive."

Do I have to even complain at this point? I would guess there are 10 to 30% of people in KPT that have never been close to MeadowView. Much less willing to go that far out of the way to get wet.


Spend

"The Board of Mayor and Aldermen authorized $11.27 million in bonds Tuesday night to fund the construction of the Kingsport Center for Higher Education."
"The city has spent $1.15 million toward the purchase of several downtown buildings to be used in connection with the higher education center and possible future expansion sites."
"On Tuesday, the BMA voted to authorize the purchase of the Carriage House property for $270,804, which will be used in connection to the higher education center. The BMA deferred taking action on purchasing the A-Hood Bonding building for $128,300 and selling a portion of the Tri-Cities Linen building to A-Hood for $45,923 to be used as their new home."
"Last year the city earmarked roughly $2 million for land acquisition from the city’s target fund balance of $11.4 million. Alderman Ken Marsh suggested on Monday taking $2 million from the city’s general fund balance and reallocating it to the target fund balance. Marsh argued this would allow the city to reduce the initial bond issuance of $13.2 million by $2 million. The city had always planned to pay back the target fund balance the $2 million from either the bond issuance or from excess cash"

“If we don’t do the $2 million, we don’t have to spend it,” Phillips said. “If we do this, we have $38,000 in the excess fund balance, and that guarantees we won’t consider anything on the Veterans Memorial or the American Legion until after July 1 unless we take it out of the AEP building money.”

City officials estimate the Academic Village will amount to a $20 million local investment in higher education and bring 2,100 students to downtown Kingsport.

Where are they parking again? Where will they go swimming? Are we going to bus them for free?


This is just in one year. And not even all of the spending the city has done. For every project they paid someone to look at it. It is not going to stop. Here is the outlook of today’s reality.

"Kingsport lost 543 jobs during the quarter, Johnson City lost 785 jobs, and Bristol lost 173 jobs"
"Kingsport’s unemployment rate increased from 4.21 percent to 6 percent in the quarter"
ETSU economist Steb Hipple said employment in the region has declined over the past three quarters while inflation has worsened. “All doubts are now removed — the U.S. economy is in a recession,” Hipple said.

I tend to notice we are a few months behind the times on economic impact. So it’s only going to get worse as we spend away with no second thought from the BMA

Source timesnews.net





Please thank these people. Do it from a distance tho they will tax you somehow.

Mayor Dennis Phillips
Vice Mayor Ben Mallicote
Alderman Larry A. Munsey
Alderman Jantry Shupe
Alderman Valer