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The Results Are InPosted Wednesday, June 6, 2007, at 12:55 PM
The Results Are In
Well, the results from the special election to pass a 1-cent sales tax to fund a new aquatic center and economic development in Fort Scott are in. It didn't pass. I have to admit that I am disappointed that it didn't pass. But more importantly, I am interested as to why it didn't. I know the one major reason is that people didn't want their taxes raised. Ok, that is a legitimate concern. But did they not want their taxes raised for a $6.5 million aquatic center or a new aquatic center in general? Would the same people be against a new aquatic center if they felt it could be completely funded by a sales tax increase without a significant revenue loss? Or would they fight a tax increase then as well? What other reasons were there for people voting no? I stand by my statement that if we want to see areas of improvement in Fort Scott, we will probably see an increase in taxes in some form. How else do we expect to get things done? Grassroots efforts and private donors will only get us so far. We need to look at what we can do with our annual budget as well. But from my experience covering city budgets, I can pretty well assume there isn't money just laying around for the improvements of Fort Scott. Either way, I hope that everyone who felt passionately about this issue went out and voted their conscience. And I still hope that those who speak out against people working to improve Fort Scott put their efforts into improving the community as well. And I would like to think that we all use this as a learning experience in many ways, including how not to be soar, resentful and rude to each other as fellow community members. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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How to get money. Here is some food for thought. The city needs to make use of the money coming available. How is that done? Many ways, the most simple way that I could think of is to use the police department better.
Everyone knows getting tickets from a cop is not a very nice thing. But here are a few simple things that most people don't know about it. A municipal court or district court adds a court cost to the traffic ticket. I believe in Fort Scott it is $34.00. This $34.00 goes towards many things. A certain amount goes to the judge, the state, the public streets and so on. All this is public information so contact city hall.
The other part of the ticket is the fine, which makes up most of the cost of the ticket. The money that is taken in from the fine goes straight back to the city, NOT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. The money goes into a general fund that can provide money for several things the city may need.
Sounds simple right?? But this is what the city needs to do better.
For example, in October of 2006. The police department issued $56,000.00 dollars in fines!!!! Not court costs, just fines. Now for granted, the figure is going to change from month to month but never the less it is money that can be used by the City. So out of that $56,000.00 dollars in fines the City Of Fort Scott took in less than $4,000.00. If you are like me you are asking what happened to the other $52,000.00. Simple the judge simply found that person not guilty of whatever traffic offense they did or did not committ. Not guilty = no fine money. However, the court cost is still collected, because, it pays the judge, state and whoever else. Now $52,000.00 is a ton of money just to waste away and I'm sure some people were really guilty.
Now I'm not saying that the police department needs to go out and write tickets to everyone and their dog for everything. But the city needs to make better use of what is on their plate instead of just letting to go to waste.
Check it out yourself. Every Thursday at 3pm is municipal court at City Hall...
What you are saying is to use the police force as a proactive alternative tax collection agency.
Forcing or as you imply enforcing a punitive tax on the people will not lift this city up and propel it to financial prosperity or solvency.
It will however create an even wider rift between the citizens and the police themselves and nullify the code of ethics true law enforcement people live by, and that is to "Serve and Protect" the people.
It is an insult to the police force to turn them into tax collectors, and it is also a sneaky and underhanded way for a city to fill its coffers.
There is no way to justify this as a method of increasing revenue to the general funds.
We are citizens of this community, not prisoners of this community. We have rights and they are not to be trampled on by abuse of power thru punitive proactive methods for increasing the money supply in the general fund.
Sincerely and with best interest for the whole community,
Dan Doherty
Well said.
Where is the Quality of Life in Ft. Scott?
What is the city/county doing to improve the Quality of Life in Ft. Scott?
If I am wrong, let me know what is there to do when coming to Ft. Scott, besides the theater & antique shops on main street.
There is no bowling alley now, No improved swimming facility now, No laundry mat, Minimum paying jobs for people to earn enough money to participate in entertaining themselves around Ft. Scott, The population of SE Kansas has been decreasing over the past 5 years, why is that happening?
But, you can get drugs anytime you want.
What is a growing family to do, besides farming, if you can afford even running a farm. I noticed there are plenty of insurances agencies and banks abound in Ft. Scott, where do they get all the customers when the population is shrinking? I guess I will stop here as I'm tired of hearing everyone saying there is nothing to do when you go to Ft. Scott, it is just another "Dead Town with a lot of corruption".