MFalls asks EDC to trim proposed spending

[Newsbot]

From Staff Reports The Marble Falls City Council commended its staff for presenting a budget without expense increases for municipal operations in the coming year, but asked the Economic Development Commission to trim its proposed spending. Personnel services, supplies and maintenance expenditures increased from the previous year in the proposed EDC budget. Expenditures were projected [...]
More... (http://highlandernews.com/news/mfalls-asks-edc-to-trim-proposed-spending/)

[Webmaster]

A 12% increase for the EDC director?? What economy are these people living in??

[sapphire]

Time to wake up, people! The Fox is in the hen house.

[curious]

A 12% increase for the EDC director?? What economy are these people living in??

This is an outrage!!!!! The city employees just got raped on their health insurance (with their hands tied behind their backs), and she thinks she should get a 12% pay raise?!!! The rest of the city employees would love to have a pay raise.

How about all the money wasted on the "pink elephant" of a hospital? They ran water, sewer, etc all the way out to Hwy 71, to nothing! That's like Alaska's bridge to nowhere. But, she wants a raise! :banghead:

[gardener]

EDC was where all city council mbrs went after term limits reached. This is our hotel motel tax income, wouldn't have it it we hadn't been working our tails off to have a nice town. Supposed to be used to encourage tourism I believe, but now it is being used for a car factory where we cannot even locate the owner to fork over his share.

Take that 12% and use it to put a park up in High Ridge where the city has owned unused park land for over 30 years. Maybe we could have some more bicycle tourists who love Mormon Mill come visit as well as having at least one park on the North side of town!

[butchkemper]

EDC was where all city council mbrs went after term limits reached. This is our hotel motel tax income, wouldn't have it it we hadn't been working our tails off to have a nice town. Supposed to be used to encourage tourism I believe, but now it is being used for a car factory where we cannot even locate the owner to fork over his share.
There are 7 members of the EDC board, 2 are current city council members, 2 are former city council members, and 3 have never been on the city council.

You are confusing different sources of money and projects:


HOT - Hotel Occupancy Tax is collected by the hotels for the city and used to promote tourism.



EDC - Funds come from the sales tax and used to promote jobs and higher education:

Sales tax rate is 8.25%
State keeps 6.25%
State remits 2.0% to city
City keeps 1.5%
City remits 0.5% to EDC





The water and sewer lines to Hwy 71 for the hospital is an infrastructure project of the City of Marble Falls. The EDC has contributed some funding for the project.



The Colt Circle building is an EDC project to create a vo-tech school. As an interim step while the vo-tech school was being developed, the plan was to use the building for Ronn Motors. Since Ronn Motors has encountered financial difficulties and has not fulfilled their contract, they have not moved into the building, that deal is off, and the planning for the vo-tech school continues.

State law defines the project categories for spending HOT and EDC funds. EDC funds can not be used to build a park

If you want to know more, please come to the EDC Board meeting on Wednesday, 1 September at noon in the MF City Council chambers.

Butch

[mdarling]

I'm confused! What does Mr. Rhodes mean that tax rates decreased last year? Seems to me city property tax rate was increased at least 28 percent. Did I miss something?

[Caretaker]

I'm confused! What does Mr. Rhodes mean that tax rates decreased last year? Seems to me city property tax rate was increased at least 28 percent. Did I miss something?


You did not miss anything. The taxes were NOT decreased. Rhodes is wrong..In fact if you go back say 4 years you will see that it has been Raised 3 times. Look at the CAFRs for the past several years and you will find all the info you want.

The only decreases were from lands/developments on the ss of the lake which the county appraiser devalued.That maybe the decreases he was refering to.

[Caretaker]

A 12% increase for the EDC director?? What economy are these people living in??


Havent you heard.That 12% is so the director can plant flowers at the entrance to the Technology park.;)

For a 12% pay raise for that position. I would have to ask this. What has she produced in the way of economic development?. How many New buisnesses has she brought to MFs??.Is that position even Justified?

[curious]

Havent you heard.That 12% is so the director can plant flowers at the entrance to the Technology park.;)

For a 12% pay raise for that position. I would have to ask this. What has she produced in the way of economic development?. How many New buisnesses has she brought to MFs??.Is that position even Justified?

Why, haven't you noticed? She put her OWN business right on Main St. Maybe that 12% raise is to help pay her taxes. ;)

[Wolfe]

Ok, so you are all griping about it here. What are you going to do about it in "real life"? Write an editorial for the paper, pull together a bunch of people for a demonstration in front of city hall, or just sit on your butts and complain behind a computer? (Looks like the city council doesn't agree with the increase anyway...?)

[gardener]

Thanks Butchkemper for explaining, I did say "was" as I thought I had heard that we now had some mbrs of edc not on city council even if the minority.

I have questions!!

What is HOT tax rate and income to be used for tourism vs .5% sales tax income to be used for jobs and education?

Wolfe-After being asked for YEARS to address tax freeze (enacted within a year by every other burnet county entity except Meadowlakes, Burnet county vote passed here as well) for elderly, (and being promised it would be addressed in closed budget sessions, and being ignored) a petition was presented which the council than postponed action on until the tax increase for the infrastructure south of lake posted to all the elderly. Than council put it on ballot (delaying tactic)....
It passed but the elderly still have to pay that increase...Just an example of our representatives':banghead: non representative nature..

SO you can see that going to council meetings here haven't accomplished anything in the past few years unless you are a developer.

mdarling- re Mr. Rhodes, How many terms has he served now???

[curious]

Ok, so you are all griping about it here. What are you going to do about it in "real life"? Write an editorial for the paper, pull together a bunch of people for a demonstration in front of city hall, or just sit on your butts and complain behind a computer? (Looks like the city council doesn't agree with the increase anyway...?)

UNLESS, you are a city employee. You know what would happen then! Follow the steps of the ex-warrant officer.:banghead:

[tdub]

Has anyone ever looked at the IDC on the BCAD website and seen how many lots are still owned by the city and how many have actually sold in the portion that has already been developed? I have also heard in the past some lots were given away to attract new construction, but have never been able to verify that.

[Caretaker]

Has anyone ever looked at the IDC on the BCAD website and seen how many lots are still owned by the city and how many have actually sold in the portion that has already been developed? I have also heard in the past some lots were given away to attract new construction, but have never been able to verify that.

Its not the IDC it is the EDC now. They have 14 tracts available is the Technology park on 281. I,m not sure how many were sold in the past or what the deals were.. Its possible that some were given away with the logic being that the city would make more money off future taxes once buildings and businesses went up..I guess you could ask the EDC what the deals were.Not that they,d be straight forward with you but its worth a shot.

[Caretaker]

UNLESS, you are a city employee. You know what would happen then! Follow the steps of the ex-warrant officer.:banghead:

OR if you are a whisleblower. Remember last summer with the law suit.

[butchkemper]

I guess you could ask the EDC what the deals were.Not that they,d be straight forward with you but its worth a shot.
And on what basis do you make that statement?

The land sales in the Business and Technology Park are a matter of public record. All you have to do is ask the EDC office and you will get a response.

Butch

[mdarling]

garderner--I don't have a clue how many terms Mr. Rhodes has served. But, he sure needs to get his facts straight. Frankly, I wish we could do what the city in California did--fire everyone and start over. I'm fed up with being taxed to death. Is this city trying to attract new residents or trying to chase the current ones out of town? In the first instance--good luck; in the second, they may succeed.

[curious]

garderner--I don't have a clue how many terms Mr. Rhodes has served. But, he sure needs to get his facts straight. Frankly, I wish we could do what the city in California did--fire everyone and start over. I'm fed up with being taxed to death. Is this city trying to attract new residents or trying to chase the current ones out of town? In the first instance--good luck; in the second, they may succeed.
I'm afraid you're right, on the second part. Have you noticed all the "For Sale" signs around town. Some of these people have lived here 20-30 years, and have literally been taxed out of their homes. The truely sad part is that they can't sell, because nobody else can afford the sky-high taxes. :mad:

[Caretaker]

And on what basis do you make that statement?

The land sales in the Business and Technology Park are a matter of public record. All you have to do is ask the EDC office and you will get a response.

Butch

That basis was toungue and cheek humor. Dont get your skivies in wad.

[butchkemper]

garderner--I don't have a clue how many terms Mr. Rhodes has served. But, he sure needs to get his facts straight. Frankly, I wish we could do what the city in California did--fire everyone and start over. I'm fed up with being taxed to death. Is this city trying to attract new residents or trying to chase the current ones out of town? In the first instance--good luck; in the second, they may succeed.
If you don't like what the Council is doing, then take action. Run for office and be sure to get people to vote. Your next opportunity will be in May 2011.

Since I have started attending City Council meetings, I have learned more information than I have received from the media and comments on this forum. Sometimes, I wonder if we both attended the same meeting.

Don't just sit on the sidelines or in the stands, get involved in the game and make a difference.

Butch

[butchkemper]

Thanks Butchkemper for explaining, I did say "was" as I thought I had heard that we now had some mbrs of edc not on city council even if the minority.

I have questions!!

What is HOT tax rate and income to be used for tourism vs .5% sales tax income to be used for jobs and education?

I do not have any information about the HOT fund but the .5% sales tax will generate $1.60M to $1.65M which the state legislation defines how the funds will be spend - primarily economic development projects.

Butch

[countryboy]

If you don't like what the Council is doing, then take action. Run for office and be sure to get people to vote. Your next opportunity will be in May 2011.

Since I have started attending City Council meetings, I have learned more information than I have received from the media and comments on this forum. Sometimes, I wonder if we both attended the same meeting.

Don't just sit on the sidelines or in the stands, get involved in the game and make a difference.

Butch

Its good to see that your particiapting and seeing whats happening in your community. But are you going to Run for a council spot.? Or get more folks to Vote.

[countryboy]

A 12% increase for the EDC director?? What economy are these people living in??

She is one who knows what OPM means. I hope she does Not get that 12%.After all ,isnt she get over 50k already. Thats not chump change for many right now.

[Foxy chicken]

If you don't like what the Council is doing, then take action. Run for office and be sure to get people to vote. Your next opportunity will be in May 2011.

Since I have started attending City Council meetings, I have learned more information than I have received from the media and comments on this forum. Sometimes, I wonder if we both attended the same meeting.

Don't just sit on the sidelines or in the stands, get involved in the game and make a difference.

Butch
Yes elections DO have consequences....right all you bhobama supporters?..but also locally....so I hope the admonition to run for city council and get people to vote is sincere and taken to heart by folks who remember and recognize even elections (like city budget spending schemes)that Marble falls city elections can (have been?) rigged by concerted efforts to recruit illegal voting (you know--vote early,often,dead or alive, whether you can legally do so Chicago styles)--remember from a feW years past, the grand jury public letter published in local media referencing concerns about democracy and mfalls election irregularities???
Yes, you can also attend city council meetings but don't you dare challenge the status quo or you get cussed at in public ,"rebuked" as the tribune reports it , and told, like my grandaddy used to warn all the little ones who dare to try to learn to walk and talk, that the first thing you are told when you start by older folks is " to sit down and shut up" ...appalling especially considering that the person who was told last meeting to not say anymore @&$!? Was a conscientious , duly elected councilperson who is looking for appropriate responsibility and ...dare we say it ...accountability during future budget process....time for local power brokers to give an account for how they use OUR entrusted power to tax, spend, and shape our town

[gardener]

YES! Butch for city council! Love Pittard and her efforts, but she needs more votes on council that really represent US not THEM. THEM=developers, here for a buck and us to clean up....

[Caretaker]

YES! Butch for city council! Love Pittard and her efforts, but she needs more votes on council that really represent US not THEM. THEM=developers, here for a buck and us to clean up....

Are you saying Pittard is the only one standing up to the developers or the only one trying to keep taxes lower or what?.

[ohcuriousone]

Well it was interesting to read in Newsbot that the EDC was working on their budget. I noted no mention of dropping the 12% salary increase for their highly qualified manager. One poster awhile back mentioned "her business on Main St". What business? Before she was voted into this job by her piers on Council and EDC board, she was cuttin' and colorin' at her beauty shop on Avenue G. In this day and time can we not hire people Qualified for the job?

[gardener]

Look at council voting record, I need say nothing else!

[countryboy]

Yes elections DO have consequences....right all you bhobama supporters?..but also locally....so I hope the admonition to run for city council and get people to vote is sincere and taken to heart by folks who remember and recognize even elections (like city budget spending schemes)that Marble falls city elections can (have been?) rigged by concerted efforts to recruit illegal voting (you know--vote early,often,dead or alive, whether you can legally do so Chicago styles)--remember from a feW years past, the grand jury public letter published in local media referencing concerns about democracy and mfalls election irregularities???
Yes, you can also attend city council meetings but don't you dare challenge the status quo or you get cussed at in public ,"rebuked" as the tribune reports it , and told, like my grandaddy used to warn all the little ones who dare to try to learn to walk and talk, that the first thing you are told when you start by older folks is " to sit down and shut up" ...appalling especially considering that the person who was told last meeting to not say anymore @&$!? Was a conscientious , duly elected councilperson who is looking for appropriate responsibility and ...dare we say it ...accountability during future budget process....time for local power brokers to give an account for how they use OUR entrusted power to tax, spend, and shape our town



Well put foxy. That is Oh so true for MFs..I couldnt have put it better myself.Oh wait, I,m not sure we should be talking that way, maybe we will get told to sit down and shut up..

Heres to the constitution and liberterian partys.

[countryboy]

Are you saying Pittard is the only one standing up to the developers or the only one trying to keep taxes lower or what?.


Both to that question..