Another magic act being brought to the stage by Bookmeyer and his cast of players. I am talking about the proposed River City Renunciation that is the latest wet dream of our lame duck Mayor.
Their current approach is to try and get you to believe they want to raise the levy against your home so they can buy lawnmowers and a special dunce hat to be distributed to the front door to every home in this city. If you don’t vote… or if you vote to allow this medicine man with his snake oil story to cover your house with aluminum siding… you should have your drivers license revoked.
In some of these small Iowa towns if you ran that scam the sherif would personally escort you to the city’s edge with a strong warning to never return. Eric Bookmeyer and his dancing clowns are not on your side… and never will be. You can take that to the voting booth.
Please get to the poll and VOTE NO!!
Peter Children
Mason City, Iowa
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Dick Neely has encompassed exactly what this is all,about. We already have ice at the Fairgrounds, for a fraction of the proposed cost estimate we could construct an ice palace.
I would have no problem paying a bit more on taxes, if it truly bettered the city. But I think the current council spends foolishly, and the Mayor spends it like it was his own sugar mama’s money, without opposition or explanation. I also believe you forfeit your right to complain if you do not vote locally.
Once taxes go up, they NEVER go down…VOTE NO NOW!!!
Some brave soul who will not tell you who he/she is wants evidence., you think I owe you evidence? The first time Bookmeyer introduced Prestige to the city….moments later the council voted yes. Do you really think they didn’t hold clandestine meetings several times before they trotted out this Blue Ribbon pig and introduced you to what would have been your new bed partner.
Is this the sort of man …or council you can trust? Maybe you but not me.
Only a fool would vote to tax themselves another .67/1000 of valuation!!
The State of Iowa laws say $8.10/1000 is the taxing limit taxpayers can be taxed. THE CITY IS NOW AT THAT TAXING LIMIT!!!!
NOW THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR WANT MORE MONEY TO SPEND.
The City Council and Mayor have overspent and not budgeted for the future. City government gets an F grade for fiscal responsibility.
The new tax will RAISE tthe $8.10 limit to $8.77/1000 of taxable valuation. Misleading the taxpayers into thinking this money is for something other than normal budget items is a ruse!!!!
Time to hold elected officials accountable and stop the irresponsible spending.
VOTE NO!!!
I was sent this editorial earlier today and asked to respond to it, so I decided to come here and see the comments.
Well, I usually don’t make it practice to get on here, and I am sure I will regret this, but here goes nothing.
You mention “THE CITY IS NOW AT THAT TAXING LIMIT!!!!”, the city has been there since 1993, that is the furthest back I could find. We have not been below that one time since then.
I understand people have their own opinions and some will be opposed to this, simply because it is a tax levy. But we still must at least acknowledge the facts. Thank you.
So more taxation is ok? Another FACT, This council has wasted way too much money on the Mayor’s pet projects without public input. New mayor and council members soon, I hope.
Is more taxation okay you ask. Well, I never said that on my comment. I simply corrected a false statement. The city, through all the councils since 1993 have taxed the citizens at the full rate of 8.10 for the general fund.
Now, the city has also always issued bonds since then trying to pay for a lot of capital products from computers, printers, lawn mowers, bullet proof vest, to $135,000 packer trucks or $900,000 fire trucks by bonding. Which in the easiest terms is a credit card or you can think of it as a mortage. The bonds are usually 10 year bonds(loans) that the city acquires to buy these products. If we buy a fire truck which can last 15-20 years, it makes sense to do this. That is why individuals will take out loans to buy such products, because the products out last the loans. However, for the past 25 years (that I can show) the city has been taking out 10 year loans to pay for products that may last 3-5 years. Which means the city can purchase the same product two to three times before the we pay off the initial loan, this is just bad financial practice for cities, as well as businesses and individuals.
So what the CIL is doing is collecting the same tax we were on the backside to pay off the loan. Now we collect it on the front side, pay for the products with cash, and not pay with it buy borrowing money.
Again, you can be against it, but at least recognize facts.
Once again John, if you didn’t waste money on crap you would have it for the necessities. To put it simply, so us idiots can understand, think of your home budget… if you don’t blow your $ on beer & cigs you can afford the rent.
Obviously, John you are NOT against it. Spend, Spend, Spend!
Sorry, wasn’t trying to do that Anonymously. This is John P. Lee (first ward)
First of all John Lee, let me say that you have some major cojones coming into this den of riff-raff and some of the most clueless & ignorant of North Iowa.
I salute your integrity in attempting to explain the logic behind this, but I must agree with many here, that what irritates most, is the lack of communication and information coming from our city government.
Personally I believe that most of the obstruction & dubious behavior is instigated and initiated from one Eric Bookmeyer.
That buffoon and embarrassment of a Mayor can not be gone soon enough.
John, I appreciate you taking a moment to address the concerns of citizens. Thank you for your time.
Hey Councilman Lee, the capital improvements levy idea was suggested by City Finance Director Kevin Jacobson back on September 21, 2016, roughly 90 days ago, and now you come forward with this flimsy explanation. There’s no guarantee that you won’t blow the levy money on more boondoggles like the hockey arena, so I’m voting against it!
Once again I must agree with Peter Children. Vote NO!
Good analogy & article Peter Children, I agree vote no.
What?
they say it can not be used for the so called hotel/rink. but it will be replacing dollars that they spend on this. Budget, they all have a budget and it has to be approved first before the money can be spent so items they want to buy are already approved and in the budget, so Bookie will take that approved money and spend it on a hotel we don’t need and then replace it will the “NEW” money he is draining from out pockets. so in a way it is being used on his dream
Another vague diatribe from Children. Do you have some actual facts to share instead of just your acidic opinion?
Don’t wait for the polls, stop up to the courthouse now and VOTE NO! If they hadn’t wasted the $700,000 plus so far on the unwanted hockey rink project and gift to Younkers… they would not have a shortfall and be asking for more money.