[Vision2020] 11% Increase

Tue Aug 19 10:18:26 PDT 2014

Tax dodgers such as Pullman Toyota, and Time Warner place additional burdens on remaining payers. As I warned a few years ago when certain council members supported supplying water and sewer services across the state line, we are all going to have to step up to an increase in our taxes to cover revenue losses. With the Ford and Subaru dealerships gone those revenues are also lost to the city. Unlike Pullman, we don't have a big business like Schweitzer to pour funds and wages into the revenue stream. 
In Moscow, you and I are increasingly responsible for supporting the infrastructure. And frankly, I think that's the plan. 

Finally, one would think that a "liberal tax and spend" state like Washington would be shrinking, while conservative, pro-business Idaho would be booming, but the reverse is true. Pullman is booming, Idaho is withering on the vine. 

________________________________
 From: "vision2020-request at moscow.com" <vision2020-request at moscow.com>
To: vision2020 at moscow.com 
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 8:20 AM
Subject: Vision2020 Digest, Vol 98, Issue 120

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Today's Topics:

   1. Nice write up about U of I and Moscow (Janesta)
   2. The Human Toll (Tom Hansen)
   3. Re: Moscow residents could see 11 percent tax hike (Gary Crabtree)

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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2014 14:11:21 -0700
From: Janesta <janesta at gmail.com>
To: vision 2020 <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Subject: [Vision2020] Nice write up about U of I and Moscow
Message-ID:
    <CAP+wRQTG31b1iAWrSH8Ej88HMmhqy7RZKy7ck7zoqLSYzbyNAQ at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Enjoy!

http://www.livability.com/top-10/10-best-college-towns-2014/moscow/id#.U_InaHCrvok.facebook
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 05:52:50 -0700
From: Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com>
To: Moscow Vision 2020 <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Subject: [Vision2020] The Human Toll
Message-ID: <69F5C2F9-C475-4D26-B0F0-040B8B64A9C6 at moscow.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Courtesy of the August 25, 2014 edition of the Army Times.

-------------------------------

The following U.S. service member died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom combat operations in Afghanistan, confirmed by the Defense Department from August 8, 2014 through August 14, 2014:

Army Sgt. 1st Class Samuel C. Hairston, 35, of Houston, Texas; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

August 8, 2014 ? August 14, 2014
Killed: 1; Wounded in action: 19

October 10, 2001 ? August 14, 2014
Killed: 2,339; Wounded in action: 19,933

-------------------------------

And the beat goes on . . .

?Bring 'em Home"
http://www.tomandrodna.com/Songs/Bring_em_Home.mp3

"If you love this land of the free
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
Bring them back from overseas
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

It will make the politicians sad, I know
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
They wanna tangle with their foe
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

They wanna test their grand theories
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
With the blood of you and me
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

Now we'll give no more brave young lives
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
For the gleam in someone else's eyes
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

The men will cheer and the boys will shout
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
Yeah and we will all turn out
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

The church bells will ring with joy
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
To welcome our darlin' girls and boys
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home

We will lift our voice in song
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home
Yeah, when Johnny comes marching home
Bring 'em home, bring 'em home."

---------------------------------------------------------

Pro patria,

Tom Hansen
SFC, US Army (Retired)
Moscow, Idaho

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime."

- Adlai E. Stevenson

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Message: 3
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 08:19:48 -0700
From: Gary Crabtree <moscowlocksmith at gmail.com>
To: Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com>
Cc: viz <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow residents could see 11 percent tax
    hike
Message-ID:
    <CAJd7R5T74Xip8aW0bdzcWgKiv0KT9+dnW5x=DPNgM6R9H=YYFg at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Would anybody care to remark on the topic of Mr. Walter Steed and the
FY2015 city budget following last nights council meeting?

Anyone?

g

On Sat, Aug 16, 2014 at 1:57 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:

> No.  I do not support an *11-PERCENT* property tax increase.
>
> Expenditures must be better controlled.  Have you even looked at the
> suggested FY2015 Moscow budget?
>
> http://www.moscowcares.com/081814_04_MoscowFY2015Budget_CommRep.pdf
>
> As members of a party that preaches strongly against tax and spend, I was
> expecting something a lot different (and less expensive) from Walter Steed
>
> 'Nuff said . . . for now.
>
> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
> "Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
> http://www.MoscowCares.com <http://www.moscowcares.com/>
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "There's room at the top they are telling you still.
> But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
> If you want to be like the folks on the hill."
>
> - John Lennon
>
>
> On Aug 16, 2014, at 1:25 PM, Scott Dredge <scooterd408 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Yes, we'll see if liberals vote against the tax increase as is not in
> their nature and if the conservatives vote for fiscal responsibility which
> is their mantra.  Tom, are you in favor of a tax increase or not?
>
> And what exactly is your impulsive idea of the policy changes that you
> mistakenly think that the council should enact to address 'stagnant wages'
> that you're claiming is their fault?  Inquiring minds - oops scratch that -
> my uniquely wired inquiring mind would like to know.
>
> ------------------------------
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow residents could see 11 percent tax hike
> From: thansen at moscow.com
> Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 11:36:11 -0700
> CC: scooterd408 at hotmail.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
> To: moscowlocksmith at gmail.com
>
> We will find out Monday, won't we?
>
> Stay tuned, V-Peeps.
>
> Same MC (Moscow Cares) time!
>
> Same MC channel!
>
> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
> "Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
> http://www.MoscowCares.com <http://www.moscowcares.com/>
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "There's room at the top they are telling you still.
> But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
> If you want to be like the folks on the hill."
>
> - John Lennon
>
>
> On Aug 16, 2014, at 11:23 AM, Gary Crabtree <moscowlocksmith at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> OK, that said what is Lamar and Bettage's position on the tax increase?
>
> g
>
>
> On Sat, Aug 16, 2014 at 10:11 AM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
>
> No, Mr. Dredge.
>
> People have a right to know what their city council is doing.
>
> Stick 'round, though.  This is only the beginning.
>
> FYI, Mr. Dredge . . .
>
> Tom Lamar and Art Bettge are NOT of the "same political stripe" as Walter
> Steed, Wayne Krauss, Dan Carscallen, and John Weber.  Thank God!
>
> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
> "Moscow Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)
> http://www.MoscowCares.com <http://www.moscowcares.com/>
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "There's room at the top they are telling you still.
> But first you must learn how to smile as you kill,
> If you want to be like the folks on the hill."
>
> - John Lennon
>
>
> On Aug 16, 2014, at 9:57 AM, Scott Dredge <scooterd408 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> <DELETE>
>
> Jus' a suggestion, Mr. Hansen, if you should EVER disagree with the
> opinion and political stripe of those on the Moscow city council.  OK???
>
> ------------------------------
> From: thansen at moscow.com
> Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 09:35:16 -0700
> To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: [Vision2020] Moscow residents could see 11 percent tax hike
>
> Ah, yes.  Welcome to Moscow . . . home of stagnant wages and increased
> taxes, courtesy of Mayor Bill Lambert and council members Walter Steed,
> Wayne Krauss, Dan Carscallen, Art Bettge, Tom Lamar, and John Weber.
>
> They certainly didn't have this much trouble increasing their cell-phone
> stipend, huh?
>
> Courtesy of today's (August 16, 2014) Lewiston Tribune.
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Moscow residents could see 11 percent tax hike
>
> MOSCOW - Moscow residents could see an 11 percent hike in their property
> taxes next year if the city's proposed budget is approved Monday.
>
> The latest version of the proposed $59.7 million 2015 budget includes
> collection of about $371,000 in foregone property taxes, plus an allowed
> annual 3 percent bump in the property tax levy. Moscow Finance Director Don
> Palmer said about $216,000 was added to the total foregone amount this
> month to cover the city's share in the cost to realign the Pullman-Moscow
> Regional Airport runway. The airport project could approach $90 million,
> but would be funded primarily with federal money.
>
> Councilor Walter Steed said Friday that he is not a fan of increasing or
> taking foregone property taxes, but is unsure of any other way to fill the
> budget's gaps.
>
> A public hearing on the budget is scheduled during the city council
> meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in Moscow City Hall. The council will consider
> approval of the proposed budget following the hearing.
>
> Steed said he would really like to have Moscow residents attend the public
> hearing to provide the council with feedback on the proposed budget before
> it is approved.
>
> Of the total proposed foregone amount - or property taxes from previous
> years when a 3 percent increase wasn't taken by the city - $216,705 would
> go to the runway realignment and $154,365 would be to replace federal
> funding for two police officer positions. The police positions have been
> funded for the past three years with a federal Community Oriented Policing
> Services grant.
>
> State law allows municipalities to take up to a 3 percent increase in
> property taxes each year. This year's proposed 3 percent annual hike would
> generate about $139,000 and - when combined with the proposed hike of
> approximately 8 percent in foregone taxes - would be about a $55 annual
> increase in tax payments for owners of a $200,000 home.
>
> Palmer said the proposed budget was adjusted earlier this month to
> represent the total foregone property tax increase of 8.25 percent. He said
> the proposed foregone amount would result in about $100,000 in unused taxes
> remaining that the city could go back and collect on at any time.
>
> Steed said increasing the foregone taxes collected was the only option in
> funding the runway realignment that was presented to the council -
> something he said a lot of people feel is necessary. He also didn't know
> how else the city could continue to fund the two police officer positions
> without the foregone taxes.
>
> "These are the options that were presented to us," Steed said. "I am
> unaware of any other options. I'm not particularly happy with the plan, but
> am unsure of how to achieve the goal other than with what has been
> presented."
>
> The city's next budget year begins Oct. 1.
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Seeya 'round town, Moscow, because . . .
>
> "Moscow Cares"
> http://www.MoscowCares.com <http://www.moscowcares.com/>
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
>
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