This has been in my craw for awhile, as you may know.
The county wants more money from the state in alcohol taxes.
The mayor wants the county to have the power to raise sales taxes.
While I do agree with the county getting more alcohol taxes, I don’t agree with the sales tax increase.
My solution all along has been, “Why not just cut a check to the county from the city?”
Local historian and all around clock repairman spoke at the council’s public testimony, former county commissioner Bob Kolbe talked about county expenditures (and ribbed county commissioner Dick Kelly, which was well deserved), he also talked about sharing revenues.
So I cornered Bob after the meeting. I asked him, “What is preventing the city from cutting the county a check each year, for let’s say 20-30 million dollars a year, for law enforcement and prosecutions? Is it against state law for the city to give the county money?” He felt it was not.
The irony of this is while the city spends a shit ton of money on attorneys employed by them to go after people criminally with fencing in their yards, the State’s attorney is begging for money to help prosecute REAL criminals, you know, rapists, murderers, thieves.
If this mayor and city council had any backbone, conscience, or even an inkling of community spirit, they would budget a supplement to the county budget each year for crime and prevention.
But hey, we got ‘toys’ to build, and putting a rapist away isn’t as fun as playing indoor tennis on a January afternoon.
I always immensely enjoy Mr. Kolbe’s presentations. Its really a great history lesson every time.
No way no how do we need a sales tax increase to take care of this problem. We only need to allocate the current sales tax dollars more wisely and frankly fairly. The city had record revenues and spends plenty on things far less vital than jails and prosecuting violent crimes. The county really should get a cut of the sales tax dollars, which would require a state law change, or, as you said the city should pitch in since its a huge part of the county. I don’t see that happening though.
Here’s a small start. Amend the .08% sales tax to be sent to the county for certain vital services. It’s not working as it was promised anyway.
Legalizing MJ would save the county a boat load of $$$ too.
I thought Minnehaha County’s argument that they need a bigger stake of the revenue was credible until I read this in the AL yesterday:
County To Help Augie Finance Science Complex
Ruf, I joked the other day, just like everything else, we will be the LAST state in the union to legalize MJ. I went as far to say, even if the Feds made it legal and left it up to the states, we would still be last.
Greg, I like the .08% idea. I guess my proposal would be to give the money for a specific purpose(s) like road repairs, crime and punishment, etc. and the county could only spend the money on that. I think the city could easily spare $20 million a year out of the CIP to help the county.
Like I said, pretty disgraceful that the State’s Attorney has to beg for extra help while our city attorney’s office is busy chasing down people with fencing materials, food trucks and painting booms.
anonymous has a point if it was costing the county penny. The pass through only allows the college to use the county borrowing authority to finance part of the new building. These financing options are only available usually to a non-profit. Augie being a non-profit might be questionable with Rob Oliver sitting in the mayor’s office all the time but who knows the rest.
I trust the county to be more careful than city. Come to think of it, why didn’t Oliver’s friend at 9th & Main do the same deal? Do you suppose the city is too close to it’s borrowing limits and couldn’t?
At this point, the city and county should be merged into one. The city has wasted so much on indoor sports and wife TIF’s yet the county doesn’t have money for indigent welfare. It’s a nice new events center but don’t stumble over the homeless on your way there.
Augustana College, a non-profit OR a very over-priced institution of higher learning……
Current cost for one year, $36,242 or in other words the current cost of a four year undergraduate degree is $144,968!
The pass through only allows the college to use the county borrowing authority to finance part of the new building.
WHY would a PUBLIC government entity, Minnehaha County, become involved in ANY financial way with a PRIVATE CHURCH (ELCA) sponsored college!!?