Here is the letter that the #JonesboroSun published on Saturday, September 18, 2021:
...followed by “the rest of the story” (the rest of the letter submitted to the editor):
“… The members of the board who pay the tax, which could generate over ~$200K annually, are merely the conduit for more expensive purchases made by leasees, renters, business owners, and downtown customers. Is it somewhat insidious that this so-called self-requested increase in the property tax also increases the taxes collected for goods and services by the state, county, and city general sales taxes?
By my Heifer High ’75 cipherin’, 1 mill = 42.20, therefore 2 mill = 84.40. On a $500,000 property x .20 = $100,000 x 0.08440 = $8,440 of additional taxation that steamrolls downhill, flattening a buying public still striving to regain its footing in post-2020, “forever-C19+” America. By the way, the OBiden administration is coming for more in taxes, too.
Now is not the time for any unnecessary increases to #JonesboroStrong. With real inflation running above 9%, whatever negative effects being felt in the real economy of downtown Jonesboro is not the fault of the residents and guests of the city, those that the board is trying to attract.
It is not the residents who recently cancelled the “BBQ festival” downtown for the second year in a row. It is not the residents who have broadcasted “fear” throughout the land since March 2020. It is not the residents who vote to raise the cost of guvment by surreptitious tactics. It is the 12 elected officials of the Jonesboro City Council who fail repeatedly to rein-in this and the last mayoral administrations.
What “is” the residents’ doing was the defeat of the one-cent sales tax in 2019. For this DJIDB tax increase vote, the city seeks to avoid the electorate that beat the city-endorsed “Team Jonesboro” head-to-head. The city council must do the will of those who elected them and vote “No” to any tax increase.
Perhaps Mayor Copenhaver will read a proclamation for the aforementioned “lady of the chambers”, as she is the number one resident who has taken him up on his clarion call for citizen engagement early and often. She was there well before he asked. #JonesboroStrong can stay informed by joining the group she runs www.facebook.com/280.”
…and, finally, the “deep” dive into wtf? Who do they think they’re kiddin’? (new information bolded; includes links to supporting information.)
The Jonesboro City Council has already “heard” the first of three readings of a tax increase. But, rather than read the entire proposed ordinance, the council voted to waive a full reading and, instead, we heard it “by title only” – no details. With that accomplished, the proposed tax increase advanced to the second reading on Tuesday, September 21, 2021.
During the public comments for this agenda item, one resident politely urged the council to read and the public hear the second (and third) readings word-for-word. Jonesboro residents are fortunate to have a citizen “force-of-nature” who has taken it upon herself to attend, comment in the chamber, and report on many city meetings over the past 3-4 years. This lady overwatches the local city government (and occasionally the Craighead County Quorum Court) city-wide, on behalf of all six wards, with each ward with two councilpersons, representing…who? Without her, this seemingly unseemly ploy by the city council to avoid reading the entire legislation would likely continue at future readings and likely voted into law, without ever having pierced the consciousness of the public.
The mayor and council may blanch at the accusation that city government knowingly and purposely failed the residents by voting to read a tax increase “by title only”. As the Jonesboro Sun reported, the tax was “requested by the taxpayers, themselves”. The ‘taxpayers” here is the “Downtown Jonesboro Improvement District Board” (DJIDB), recently reactivated, and this “2-mill property tax [is] to fund improvements to common areas downtown”. Calculating the effect of a “2-mill” rate is at this link.
Whatever the reason for the renewed purpose of the DJIDB, it is disingenuous of the city government and the @JonesbroSun to couch any tax as not impacting all city residents – every tax does. The members of the board who pay the tax, which could generate over ~$200K annually, are merely the conduit for more expensive purchases made by leasees, renters, business owners, and downtown customers.
One layman’s example is that the property owner increases the rent to accommodate the higher tax (and perhaps adds a little more for profit), the renter or business owner increases the price of an item to accommodate higher costs (and, perhaps a little more for profit), and the customer pays the higher price. Is it somewhat insidious that this so-called self-requested increase in the property tax also increases the taxes collected through the state, county, and city general sales taxes?
My Heifer High ’75 math cipherin’ finds that1 mill = 42.20, therefore 2 mill = 84.40. On a $500,000 property assessment x .20 = $100,000 x 0.08440 = $8,440 of additional taxation (not including any “vig” from profits added as it all builds) that steamrolls downhill, flattening a buying public still striving to regain its footing in post-2020, “forever-C19+” America.
If the three main components of “prices” are rent, labor, and equipment (add Uncle Sam, plus Arkansas’, Craighead County’s and the city’s tax coffers, already overflowing with surpluses), now is not the time for any unnecessary increases to #JonesboroStrong. With real inflation running above 9%, whatever negative effects being felt in the real economy of downtown Jonesboro is not the fault of the residents and guests of the city, those that the board is trying to attract.
It is not the residents who recently cancelled the “BBQ festival” downtown for the second year in a row. It is not the residents who have broadcasted “fear” throughout the land since March 2020, likely reducing commerce. It is not the residents who have not convinced the owner of the mall to rebuild. It is not the residents who vote to raise the cost of guvment by surreptitious tactics. It is the 12 elected officials of the Jonesboro City Council who fail repeatedly to rein-in the spending of this and the last mayoral administration, to enforce good governance on behalf of the people. By the way, the OBiden administration is coming for more in taxes, too.
What “is” the residents’ doing was the defeat of the one-cent sales tax in 2019. For this DJIDB tax increase vote, the city seeks to avoid the residents who beat the city-endorsed “Team Jonesboro” head-to-head.
The city council must do the will of those who elected them and vote “No” to any tax increase. This administration has already committed $5M in increased spending, without ever having detailed its plan for “Jonesboro Vision 2030”. The city council might even “clawback” the $4M for the bike-trails, in exchange for the $1M grant for the park in northeast #JonesboroStrong. Pursue worthy projects that not only benefit the most residents but feed the A&P Commission’s “jonesing” for revenue to attract visitors. Market Jonesboro to those who appreciate a locality that actively reduces the cost of having fun and of doing business, yet meeting the requirements of this local government’s core functions.
Perhaps Mayor Copenhaver will read a proclamation for the aforementioned “lady of the chambers”, as she is the number one resident who has taken him up on his clarion call for citizen engagement early and often on city government. She was there well before he was. #JonesboroStrong can stay informed by joining her group www.facebook.com/280. (Thanks, Patti.)
Action
Write councilcomments@jonesboro.org, aldermen@jonesboro.org, bcampbell@jonesboro.org to reach the city council and the mayor’s communications officer , or contact each, as listed below. To contact Mayor Harold Copenhaver and his executive team separately via Mr. Bill Campbell, call and/or text 870-919-7042 (c), 870-336-7164 (o), bcampbell@jonesboro.org
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