Comments on: Special City Council Budget Public Comment Session Live

By: tom

tom — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:19:18 +0000

After reading the comments of Ms Fox I wonder what research she has seen that prompts businesses to locate in a city that the city donates to non profits. I find it quite hard to believe that art museums or any other taxpayer funded entity are the reasons why business moves in. Businesses are more inclined to move into an area that has a great transportation location (Springfield does), relatively low tax rates and fees (this is debatable with Springfield), and a decent education system which can produce people to fill job vacancies (once more debatable with Springfield). The reason why I talk this way is because I’ve hired people who are educated here in the Ozarks and the education level doesn’t seem to be on par with people that know business or those that want to learn business. The education system in this area is good for people that want to be workers but NOT leaders. Personally I didn’t locate my business here because of that, however I wish I wouldn’t known that a large chunk of tax money was being spent in such areas, because locating in Nixa or Ozark, perhaps even Willard wouldn’t have been out of the question.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:49:56 +0000

Typo corrected.

By: tom

tom — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 19:48:05 +0000

“7:30pm…Tom Martz. Springfield is carrying a debt load of $415 million. The city has amassed assets of $640 million and $135 million is usable revenue. “The problem the city finds itself dealing with does not come from a revenue shortfall but a spending and regulation problem.” With our city on the fourth business highway in the nation we should be a haven for employers but there hasn’t been a major employer to locate here in years and that today Cargill announced they were closing Willow Brook and putting 800 Springfieldians out of work”.

Just for the record I said fourth busiest highway in the nation, not business highway. LOL

By: tom

tom — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:24:56 +0000

“He said that a lot of the money coming are earmarked for certain events and he thanked Senator Bond and Rep. Blunt for bringing that money to Springfield”.

This is the government addiction that needs to end, If these funds weren’t sent to Springfield and if “earmarks” were taken out of the federal budget we would have more money in our pockets and we wouldn’t be 10 TRILLION in debt.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:40:43 +0000

That was the impression I have as well, Jim. Still, tonight’s focus was only on cuts for this year and not in the future although they were talking about the problem funding the pension going forward.

By: Bus Plunge

Bus Plunge — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:30:17 +0000

Jason,,,,,
I have been watching city council on TV23,,,
I must have missed something……It was my understanding that these cuts that are projected are not permanent, and when the 1% sales tax for the pension plan passes, the cuts will be reinstated.
Did you have that impression also?

By: Charlotte McCoy

Charlotte McCoy — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:29:59 +0000

Jason, Again what a great opportunity for you to be “live” at such an important meeting. Discovery Center was planning to be there but due to family issues both Emily Fox and our Board President, Debbie Shantz could not attend. Below is the message that Emily e-mailed to the City Council today. Please take note of Discovery Center concerns.

“My board president and I were planning to attend tonight’s budget session but because of family issues can no longer attend.
Our intent was to speak not only about the Discovery Center but to convey a more global view of cutting the non-profit support amounts by 50%.
Cities all over the country are accustomed to supporting non-profits at various levels for various reasons. All these reasons are quality of life reasons, meaning, making Springfield a better place to live for the citizens (families).

· They make Springfield an attractive place to locate businesses.

· They make Springfield a healthier (mind and body)place to raise families.

· They make Springfield a more attractive place for tourism.

· These organizations have clearly played a major role in neighborhood/downtown revitalization.

All these organizations are taking these tax dollars and leveraging them into greater gifts from the community. The dollars the city is proposing to cut are critical operational dollars used to support the basic organization in order to more efficiently use other (donor, grants, admissions) funds for program/mission based activities.
Please do not think we can simply run out and replace these funds easily. The city must recognize the importance of these entities to the value of the community. Remember, the City funds “leverage” donor gifts. ”

Emily Fox
Discovery Center of Springfield
438 St. Louis Street
Springfield, MO 65806
417-862-9910 x 700
http://www.discoverycenter.org