MASON CITY – Voters in Mason City were not swayed by pleas from council members, Mayor Eric Bookmeyer and the Globe Gazette that raising their own taxes was a bright idea, and shot down a proposed new tax.
For the last several weeks, council members pleaded with citizens to approve a new tax, dubbed the “Capitol Improvement Levy.” As usual, the Globe Gazette chimed in, supporting city hall’s idea. The argument was that approving the new tax on property owners (of up to 67.5 cents per $1,000 of property valuation) would allow city hall to buy items such as lawnmowers with “cash” instead of bonds, which carry interest costs and fees for issuing them.
“I believe the financially prudent thing to do is to pay with cash as often as we can, so vote yes,” councilman John Lee pleaded. All 6 council members and the mayor were in favor of the new tax.
In the end, however, only 12.6% of voters showed up to cast a ballot. The measure was defeated 1,119 (in favor) to 1,310 (opposed).
However, city hall will still have plenty of money to spend. Due to increased valuations gained by sending assessors to Mason City properties, city hall stands to gain at least $800,000 per year. Projected revenues to be collected on taxes levied on city property is up dramatically, from about $13.9 million in 2016 to over $14.7 million in 2018.
What is scarry here is 1119 dummies voted in favor of it. Nobody in there right mind would vote to give elected officials more of their tax dollars to be wasted. But these 1119 buffoons did.
Lord knows that Mason City has become an expert on wasting tax money on stupid downtown projects that have went tits up.
I didn’t know 1119 people belonged to the corrupt pit of vipers known as the MC Chamber. Dam, that’s some membership.
What the HELL-The City Council budgeted 7 million dollars of our tax money that could have been used for firetrucks, police cars or maybe even fixing our roads to build a in-wanted and in-needed parking garage. This was never voted on and should not be allowed. There should be a cap on what they can budget without a vote. They can’t be trusted.
Should be un-wanted and un-needed of course.
See ya all the city was going to f**k us on the levy as they knew this increase was coming so the way they figure 2 ass f**kings is better than 1. Bend over and take it like a man.
NOW, two days AFTER the vote they release info of the state rollback, costing us more on the city portion of our property taxes. They knew of this before the vote but waited to release it, we would have gotten hit twice. More BS!
People should really be pissed over this. They delibertly mislead the taxpayers so they could fund their pet projects with extra money. Where is the OUTRAGE over this????
You sure are a racist!
Speaking of Nada the racist.
Hey, wanted to pop in and let you know that I really appreciate the additional clarification with this post. Had you not taken the time to further explain your original communication, I would have never known it was intended for me! Many thanks – Nada
With the assessors addition to bookmeyers bank maybe they can but weed eaters and another mower to clean up this sloppy trashy looking town in the summer……like every corner
I voted no on this, not because I didn’t think it was a good idea, I do think it would save us money if used right but I don’t trust the snakes at City Hall to spend money wisely.
In the back of my mind I was just thinking that they would think, “here are some extra bucks we can use on the downtown development project” that I totally disagree with. I just don’t trust them. I agree, blue zones has to go, what a waste of money.
Hehehe – once again Mason citizens beat the Mayor and his crew! We citizens do what we want, when we want! We are the NWO
of Mason City, and it’s tooooooo sweet!!!
Where was Paul Adams on this issue. he was elected to represent the people but has not been heard from since he was elected. Has he been turned by the mayor and become one of his flunky’s?
Typical. We bitch and moan when stuff doesnt get done, and then we bitch and moan when the city tries to get the money to finally get that shuff done.
The city all ready had the money. Drunkmayor got “n*gga rich” and spent it all on dumb sh*t.
Just look at the top dogs in city hall: Bookmeyer, Trout and Jacobson all need to not only push a mower around the parks for awhile but push their fat bodies away from the feed troth also. Also agree that Danas position needs to be thinned out some.
Voters did not fall for it! Poor spending and poorer leaders does NOT mean more money. They have wasted so much money and now they don’t have funds for the basics, that’s THEIR fault, not mine. Good point on the $ wasted on blue zones (should be volunteer, not big paychecks) and the Dana Nauman, the fundraiser appraiser makes too much and is not needed…
I also feel the lady running the blue zone needs to replaced with a current staff member or a volunteer. She is milking the system. What have we spent on the blue zone lady?????? Put that wage away for a new mower. Might 2-3 medium size riders for the parks board, or get 10-15 push moweres and have the city hall each take an hour break and go push one to keep central park mowed. What a great way for some of the heavy weights in that building to get in shape. Got to think out side the box guys…..
maybe Jacobson should be put in the cross hairs. Isn’t he the one in charge of finances for the city? Spend smarter, not more!!
Congrats to the taxpayers of MC. Contrary to what some of the libs on this forum are saying, avoiding a tax increase is a win for the city. Not its demise.
Des Moines and blue leaning Polk county are thriving. Jobs, young educated tax payers, and housing developers are flocking to Des Moines. Not really seeing hat kind of growth in any red county in America. Conservatives routinely vote against their best interest and then blame it on the “libs” who continue to see growth and prosperity. No educated tax payer wants to live in a depressed area that refuses to invest in itself. Enjoy your dying town and brand new fast food joints
Nobody wants to be taxed more for our shrinking city, when our city council spends foolishly. History tells us, that if Eric B. and his crew get more money, they will just spend it foolishly. Much like a welfare recipient and a freshly cashed tax return check. Until we get better leadership, more money means more problems.
Hey Racist, move to Des Moines. If you havn’t noticed Mason City wont let good paying jobs come in here. Taxing yourself does not improve or grow your city.
Mason City’s Chamber Commerce and elected officials have never had Mason City’s best interest on their agenda. The establishment has always been in it for themselves.
To many liberals in charge.
Des Moines and Polk county cut taxes. Nobody ever taxed themselves into prosperity.
Comparing a growing metropolis to a small dwindling community doesn’t make much sense either. But then again, not many of Nada’s posts ever seem like they come from anyone with much common sense. Another mindless sheep.
Des Moines is a growing metropolis because it invests in itself. MC can get there too. Good paying jobs aren’t going to come to a town that has no amenities, no fun, nothing to do. If you build it, they will come. Nobody wants to stay in MC or move there because there’s nothing to do. A business won’t set up shop in a town that no one wants to live in. Get it?
You all keep telling yourselves that in your dying red counties. Even an uneducated MC idiot can see that the blue counties are where the people and jobs flock. Enjoy that new Panda Express!
Most of us “reds” already have jobs, and don’t have trouble finding them. Maybe you “blues” should major in something other than liberal arts, or other useless degrees. Take life seriously, you wouldn’t end up being waitstaff.
Cut the fat and fire the CROOKS – simple enough – next year vote smart – abrams and bartz will be history if no corruption is involved – if you could believe the deep state here is not totally involved. Watch out for the demonic democrats. Our savior on lower promised property taxes was the casino – think again ! They have increased 0ver 25% since the gambling and racketeering began.
Taxes are all ready at the limit. The city should make better do with what they have. If the council could prove they can do that, then maybe we could talk about raising taxes. How bout the $800,000 they wasted on drawings for the mayors fantasy hotel.
John Lee teaches our children. He accompanied some 37 students to DC in January for the inauguration. He spends his spare time listening to citizens concerns and dealing with city issues. He walks his talk. The negative rhetoric about the teaching profession is unjustified.
Nights and weekends off, about 4 months vacation, good pay & insurance /benefits and a free trip to DC…sign me up!
Get your teaching degree and sign up yourself. Oh, because you really don’t want to do it, you just want to complain about others who do it.
If it’s so easy sign yourself up,every jobs has it perks but then there is always people who think they know better.They have no idea what your job consist of on daily basis.School Daze tell us what you do for living so you too can be judged.Only reason I ask it seems you know everything on how to make things better.No and I’m not a teacher,but very thankful that someone has taken the time to be one.
why don’t the 1119 people who think this was a great idea, just open their checkbooks and write the city a check?
What happened to the dollars in the general fund for these type purchases?
Mason City will soon be a ghost town
It’s been slowly becoming one for years. The number of people who try to invest in the town is too small compared to all of the uneducated, old naysayers who simply vote no on everything progressive. Yet they are the ones that seem to complain the loudest when jobs and opportunity aren’t immediately handed over to MC.
With any luck you will move and Mason City will become much better.
It all boils down to trust, public trust in the mayor and council. There is none.
Agreed, no one trusts the mayor and the council does whatever he wants.
Atten: Reality Check. You hit the ball over the fence…..way over the fence. Trust is the main ingredient in this casserole we were being spoon fed by this toxic council and bankrupt Mayor. Whatever currency our Mayor once had is long gong….look at OBrian; it was openly known the Andy was in Bookmeyer’s pocket and he got swamped.
The current scoreboard reads, Bookmeyer O, Weaver 3. Max beat him on the burning plant, Prestige Foods and now this phony lawnmower premises of being prudent. It was refreshing to see the people who live and work here take control.
Weaver is part of the problem so don’t be putting a crown on his head. He is just as bad.
John Lee makes his living on tax dollars, would any amount be enough for him and other liberals?
The issue is more than just liberal or conservative labeling. After all, our mayor is Republican as well as the majority of the council. Its well deserved mistrust and their abuse of the power. They have not been open and transparent with us.
Who are you trying to kid? Just because Bookmeyer says he is a Republican doesn’t make it so. He has been the most liberal spending Mayor Mason City has ever had. He is one of the RINOs. You know Republican In Name Only.
Quit selling wolf tickets.
cry me a f**ken river John Lee, Next time explain this a little better and maybe it will pass,
again city hall didn’t do it. instead of ramming a tax down the peoples throats why didn’t they explain it. such as having a hr long show on tv. saying what each dept wanted in cash and then having the dept head explain how they were going to spend the money and what for, I think if the people knew where their money was going that it might have been approved. I voted NO just for the reason that they said it could raise my taxes up to 67 1/2 cents per 1000 and not saying what for!! try going to the bank and borrowing 100,000 without telling them what your gunna use it for, whats the bet that you don’t get it?? comeon city, explain things better
or how about you go to a council meeting and ask for that information rather than expect to be catered to like a child.
Ae you kidding me? Go to the council? For what? To be belittled and made to look like a fool for asking a question, and that is if they let you talk at all, of course they never give you a answer.
Oh ya, go to a council and get lied to. Citizens of Mason City know that anything that comes out of city hall is a total lie.
Mason City’s leadership is a joke!
Headline should read, “Once again the citizens of MC prove they are their own worst enemy.” Meanwhile your town continues to die.
I agree 100 percent