A presser that I just discovered in my e-mail . . . Check out E-Tax supporters taking on the subject of trash and Kansas City history:
Yesterday the Kansas City Chapter of the Sierra Club endorsed the renewal of the City's Earnings Tax on the April 5th ballot and issued a report on the environmental impact if the tax were to be abolished. Check out their report for yourself.
In 1970 the Earnings Tax was increased from one half to a full percent. One of the principle reasons was to implement a citywide trash pick up system. Previously homeowners had to contract with private trash haulers to remove waste. Some did, some didn't and it resulted in a nightmare for the City to regulate trash pick up.
How bad was the old system ?
In a March 2, 1970 story in the Kansas City Star the top city administrator in charge of controlling pollution said trash on the streets was so bad, "People literally have to burn to get trash from around their knees."
So that could be the future if the secret groups funding the opposition to the E tax renewal prevail. City officials have already stated that if the Earnings Tax was removed they would have to return to a homeowner fee based trash pick up system like in the old days.
To see the updated public list of 69 organizations who, are proud to endorse the Save Kansas City Committee campaign, please go to www.keepkcalive.com.
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Just implement an annual, per-residence fee for residential trash removal, paid by the owner. Commercial property, including multi-unit apartments, paid by property owner as is the case now. Adjust fee annually based on costs.
ReplyDelete10:39 AM
ReplyDeleteSo your solution to how KC would cope if you removed the e-tax is to tack on a different tax (plus the cost of administration, calculation and collection)?
Here's a better idea. Keep the e-tax.
So basically KC folks are too dumb to do what every other city in the US does and pay for their trash collection?
ReplyDeleteWay to win votes!!!
The e-tax was supposed to provide free trash bags. Look how well that worked out. The pro-taxers need to stop using the scare tactics of taking away basic and essential services. Besides, if it fails, it will take years before the city is completely without it. That's plenty of time to take a hard look at the budget and how our dollars are being spent.
ReplyDeleteThe earnings tax is just way too much for me to pay for city services. Besides, I don't live in the city and I should not have to, have to, have to work in the city. Paid for by secret contributors, Jeff Roe, Treasurer.
ReplyDelete12:03- Scare tactics? Sorry if the truth is scary but reality is more than the lies that the opposition to the e-tax are spilling out everywhere.
ReplyDeleteIf free trash bags are that big of a deal to you, I'll give you some. jezzzz
No one will admit it but without free service or a mandatory fee many would simply throw their trash in the streets. Put a mandatory fee on the water bill and be done with it. A mandatory trash fee is hardly the job killer that the E-tax is.
ReplyDeleteFee-based trash. Hmmm. Sure, I'll pay, I hate trash. Fuck trash. Oh shit. I need to count on my lame lazy neighbors to pay it too? That might be a problem. Oh shit! Rats sometimes go from one house filled with trash, to the clean house with food next door?! SHIT! Privatize everything opposers to the e-tax, go ahead, some people still won't pay the fees. I'll have to look at the trash. And an EMT probably won't show up when I call to report the rat eating my baby. Quit being such "small government, count on your community to pay something that's not mandated by law" dreamers dudes. I'm voting for the e-tax. It's worked. My baby is "not eaten by the rat infested shithole next door". Four years running. In 8 more years when he gets a job, I hope he still has an e-tax to pay. Just like my dad, and grandpa did. Except they didn't bitch as much as you.
ReplyDeleteSo explain again why I've gotta pay for my own trash pickup at my "estate" in the "Golden Ghetto" and some freeloader in Kansas City because my employer happens to office inside the city limits? I pay for the roads with gas tax when I fill up once a week in KC. I pay sales tax when I eat lunch or stop at Berbiglia on my way home on Friday.
ReplyDeleteNo worries. Keep commuting to your job in my city and buying lunch and getting gas. You can help us make up for the etax in sales tax on that gas and food. It will be much higher. Like MUCH higher than 1% on the income for us and close to the same for you. Don't forget our trash fees and utility taxes though. We'll pay out the ass on those. I should write for a travel brochure. This sounds gooooood. "Kansas city. Smells like crime and trash. Let's set up our corp headquarters there".
ReplyDelete