RESEARCH ON THE LOCAL OPTION TAX COMMITTEE REASONS THIS TAX IS NEEDED

This is a slide presented at the public information meeting held by the committee,  These are the stated reasons this tax in needed.

Research on these claims is below the slide

 CITY FINANCES ARE DETERIORATING RAPIDLY.

The committee stated that 85% of Crouch funding is from state liquor store revenue sharing.  They said the state is dramatically lowering the revenue share starting in 2019 and ending in 2023: going from 60% to 48%.

These last two sentences are true statements, but misleading in the effect on the problem. What they didn’t disclose is that despite this reduction in percentage, the city’s share of this revenue has actually increased per year over the last five year.  The city revenue as it relates to liquor sales revenue sharing has actually increased not decreased.

Minimal business licensing and sign fees are limited to the cost to deliver service. 

This is the way it should be, but cities want licensing to be a form of revenue generation.  However, even the committee admits that the fees are limited to the cost to deliver service, then it is not a negative impact on the city.  The city broke even.

CITY FUNDING RQUIREMENTS RAPIDLY INCREASING

The city operations costs are increasing for clerks and city attorney, added work loads due to growth. 

Just what is rapidly increasing.  At the last city council meeting they voted to increase the hourly wage for the two office staff employees to $14.00 with the thought of increasing to $17.00 if this tax passed.  The city council is already considering increasing costs towards the very same excuse the committee claimed was the need for the money.  I’m not opposed to this increase, but it should not be based or promised on the passage of this ordinance.

I don’t have enough information on the financial agreement with the city attorney.  Most attorney services are fee based…you call you pay.

I found it really ironic when the committee states the costs for the clerks and city attorney increased because of work loads due to growth.  Two of the committee members were responsible for the growth.  Perhaps the annexation fees should be increased to pay for the actual costs to deliver the service.  Now that the annexation process is over, the city is not providing any services.

City buildings have substantial deferred maintenance that is placing the structure in jeopardy.

This is an issue that needs to be addressed.  Whatever the problem is, it hasn’t kept the buildings from being occupied or rented out.  The city should prioritize the expenditures to meet the needs of the city first.  Let me give you an example.  Potholes   The city spends $2500.00 to fix potholes on private property and then publicly stated after approving the expenditure that there is no money ($5,000.00) to conduct a survey related to the water system.  The city is not using the tools at hand.  There is a provision for dealing with a “PUBLIC NUIANCE” in the Municipal Code, that would have solved the problem.

Road maintenance & snow removal not funded.

The city has responsibility for very few roads, and Old Crouch Road is not one of them.  Village Circle near city hall is one, but does that responsibility extend to the road as it transverses along the market parking lot and over to the residences on Village Circle by Messick’s.

I have not determined why the committee claimed snow removal is not funded, unless the committee wants the city to remove snow from the private property in front of their businesses.  The city has funded and paid for snow removal from the city owned property.

City health and safety issues: no crosswalks, no sidewalks, no road markings, no road signage

The committee feels it is important to have crosswalks, sidewalks, road marking and road signage on Old Crouch Road. Again, I find this ironic because there were three members on the committee that own the property on Old Crouch Road and as owners of the private property they can put in sidewalks and crosswalks, paint whatever they want on the road.  I’m not sure what sign they need, there is a STOP sign there.  Based on the public presentation, the committee feels the city should provide funding for this.  I disagree with them until the city takes possession of the road.  All the property owners need to do is deed their individual piece over to the city once they determine where that is and if the city wants the responsibility.

CITY INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IMPROVMENT TO LAST LONG TERM

Water system is not complete and impacts fire insurance.

Maybe the city shouldn’t be in the water business and divest itself from the issue.  What happened to the water district that was part of the plan?

I am in the process of determining why and how the city took over the water system in the first place.   From what I have found out so far, previous individuals involved with the system have rights to future connections.  The water system at this time is a liability for the city.  As far as fire insurance goes, the water system is only 40 points of a 105.5-point system.  I do not know what the ISO classification is for this area.  I would certainly look at the cost benefit before spending tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money on a water line so that a business can save $100.00 a year in insurance premiums.

How are tourist responsible for condition of the water system?

Roads are not maintained / walking paths not complete/ no road striping

The committee keeps referring to roads as though Crouch has them.  Crouch doesn’t even take responsibility for that section of the Middlefork Rd.  that is in the city limits.  This problem of not accepting responsibility has been exacerbate by the annexation of the Edge Resort.  Now the city limits extends to Banks-Lowman Road.  Eventually, the county is going to say if it is in the city limits, Crouch is responsible.  If the committee is referring to Old Crouch Rd. in front of their businesses, I have already addressed that.

City lighting is haphazard and unplanned, not dark sky compliant

I don’t have enough information to address if this is even a priority for the city to the extent that the city council would vote to spend money.  Certainly, this issue can be address by ordinance for new construction or planned developments.  It may already be there.

City sewer will be required in the future

Many septic systems at end of life, no space for new ones.

I contacted the health district about this and their reply was that they have no lists of failing septic systems and are unable to predict if or when one will fail. So where did the committee get the information to make this claim and where is all the waste planned to go.

See www.crouchtaxinfo.com/sewer/ for a possible hush hush plan

YOUR VOTE COUNTS ONLY IF YOU CAST IT

DON’T LET APATHY GIVE THE ADVANTAGE

Regardless of your position on the Local Option Tax,
it is imperative that you cast your ballot.

Failure to cast a ballot will only makes it easier for the other side to prevail.