Shawnee’s Economic Development Foundation has agreed August is not the right time for an election seeking a sales tax increase to promote jobs and growth. We’re glad and we wholeheartedly agree.
It’s been agreed the executive committees of the SEDF and the Chamber of Commerce, along with some city officials begin that process. That is an excellent idea, too.
We’ve stated previously we support additional funding to help lure new jobs to this area. Just as important and maybe more so is assisting existing industry and business with their needs to maintain their profitability and to help them expand.
Timing is important and that is why we have suggested the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation take a slower approach in asking the city commission to put a sales tax increase before voters.
City officials should take the lead in determining if they are going to seek additional funds for city improvement and economic development.
If the city officials decide they want to ask voters to increase the sales tax, it’s incumbent they and others develop a well thought out plan, with specific details on how the money will be utilized.
During last month’s Chamber of Commerce board of directors meeting a couple of members suggested even waiting until after January. Their reasoning was by that time the city should have a couple of success stories well under way. They pointed to the reconstruction of North Kickapoo where utility relocation should be in full swing by then.
They also mentioned the 30-inch, 10-mile raw water line being installed from the Shawnee Twin Lakes to the water treatment plant which is critical to the city. We think that has a lot of merit as well.
Involving the citizenry and asking their help to identify projects and needs as they see them may go a long way in ensuring success. Some of the city commissioners seem to embrace that concept.
Many of the business people we have visited with during the past several weeks, whose livelihoods are impacted by sales tax, have expressed concern about a tax increase. Bringing them on board in the next several months, seeking their input, is also vital.
Another issue which has surfaced is some citizens point to what was promised when the third penny was made permanent 11 years ago and believe there is still some unfinished business. Those concerns need to be addressed and can be by city officials.
Of paramount importance, too, is for the city and SEDF to remember how the questions in the survey were asked to gauge support for any possible tax increase.
One was a quarter-cent sales tax to use for recruiting new industry and creating new jobs and a quarter-cent sales tax to repair existing city buildings and build a sports complex, splash pool and new public safety center. But prior to the breakdown of those two components, the introduction to the question said, “Shawnee is considering a MAPS-type program that would stimulate the community to grow and prosper.”
The question also had an explanation that “both the jobs issue and the city improvement issue would be voted on separately.”
It’s essential that city leaders and others who might be involved in developing plans and details for any sales tax increase in the future remember this. That will help them address the needs and projects identified in a positive approach.
Any efforts by the city and other community leaders to garner support for any sales tax increase will take this broad-based support from the citizenry. Having a well-developed plan, with specific details and determining the proper timing will go a long way in ensuring success.
If all the components we have pointed to are included and addressed in the process, it should help ensure the community moves forward. We encourage city officials to take the lead and begin the planning process. There is plenty of time and seeking the assistance of a variety of the stakeholders — who are the voters — is an excellent way to start.
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Shawnee’s Economic Development Foundation has agreed August is not the right time for an election seeking a sales tax increase to promote jobs and growth. We’re glad and we wholeheartedly agree.
It’s been agreed the executive committees of the SEDF and the Chamber of Commerce, along with some city officials begin that process. That is an excellent idea, too.
We’ve stated previously we support additional funding to help lure new jobs to this area. Just as important and maybe more so is assisting existing industry and business with their needs to maintain their profitability and to help them expand.
Timing is important and that is why we have suggested the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation take a slower approach in asking the city commission to put a sales tax increase before voters.
City officials should take the lead in determining if they are going to seek additional funds for city improvement and economic development.
If the city officials decide they want to ask voters to increase the sales tax, it’s incumbent they and others develop a well thought out plan, with specific details on how the money will be utilized.
During last month’s Chamber of Commerce board of directors meeting a couple of members suggested even waiting until after January. Their reasoning was by that time the city should have a couple of success stories well under way. They pointed to the reconstruction of North Kickapoo where utility relocation should be in full swing by then.
They also mentioned the 30-inch, 10-mile raw water line being installed from the Shawnee Twin Lakes to the water treatment plant which is critical to the city. We think that has a lot of merit as well.
Involving the citizenry and asking their help to identify projects and needs as they see them may go a long way in ensuring success. Some of the city commissioners seem to embrace that concept.
Many of the business people we have visited with during the past several weeks, whose livelihoods are impacted by sales tax, have expressed concern about a tax increase. Bringing them on board in the next several months, seeking their input, is also vital.
Another issue which has surfaced is some citizens point to what was promised when the third penny was made permanent 11 years ago and believe there is still some unfinished business. Those concerns need to be addressed and can be by city officials.
Of paramount importance, too, is for the city and SEDF to remember how the questions in the survey were asked to gauge support for any possible tax increase.
One was a quarter-cent sales tax to use for recruiting new industry and creating new jobs and a quarter-cent sales tax to repair existing city buildings and build a sports complex, splash pool and new public safety center. But prior to the breakdown of those two components, the introduction to the question said, “Shawnee is considering a MAPS-type program that would stimulate the community to grow and prosper.”
The question also had an explanation that “both the jobs issue and the city improvement issue would be voted on separately.”
It’s essential that city leaders and others who might be involved in developing plans and details for any sales tax increase in the future remember this. That will help them address the needs and projects identified in a positive approach.
Any efforts by the city and other community leaders to garner support for any sales tax increase will take this broad-based support from the citizenry. Having a well-developed plan, with specific details and determining the proper timing will go a long way in ensuring success.
If all the components we have pointed to are included and addressed in the process, it should help ensure the community moves forward. We encourage city officials to take the lead and begin the planning process. There is plenty of time and seeking the assistance of a variety of the stakeholders — who are the voters — is an excellent way to start.
