Guest Blogger::The choice is yours, Topeka. Let’s Vote Yes to fix our streets!

The proposed sales tax increase in Topeka of one half of a percent that will be on the April 7th ballot has raised many concerns from hard-working Topekans who don’t feel that this is a good time to ask them to spend more money than they are already spending (as if a good time to ask for more money existed.)

We are living in a recession.  Every penny counts.  Even every half penny counts.  If this sales tax increase was not designed to increase outside business interest in the Topeka area, to create new jobs, a new quality of life and an overall upgrade to our fair city’s image, then I’d be arguing against it myself.  But the simple fact remains that there are many arguments for and against, but at the end of that difficult road remains a choice.

This is not as simple as a vote of yes or no, not a choice between Democrat and Republican or deciding what media outlet you’re going to trust.  This choice is as important as the choices we make for our families and our futures.  After all, for those of us who care enough to become fully educated on this proposed tax increase, Topeka is not just where we go to work or where we sleep at night, it’s our home.  Topeka is a city filled with intelligent faces, young and old, experienced in all facets of life.  We have a responsibility to make the choice to fix what is wrong with our city’s infrastructure so that we don’t become burdened by the images of potholes and poor upkeep.  We need to make the choice to make a small sacrifice for the greater good of our wonderful city.

In the past, certain tax increases were not as strictly worded as the current offering.  The proposed increase that will appear on the ballot on April 7th states in no uncertain terms that this money will go toward the upkeep of Topeka streets, alleys and lighting.  The money is not earmarked for additional spending toward other endeavors.

Should there be a surplus of funds in the future from this increase (though that is unlikely given the effects of inflation) the money will be retained solely for the use of upkeep on Topeka’s streets so that we never have to find ourselves in this situation again.

The fact is, we want our city to attract new businesses and residents.  In order to do that, we have to maintain our infrastructure.  Imagine if you were looking for a city in which to locate your business and your options included cities with pristine roads that looked new and clean and well maintained, and cities where nearly 80% of the roads were crumbling, broken, and badly in need of repair.  It wouldn’t be a hard decision, would it?  Currently, about 78% of Topeka’s streets are sub-standard, and they’re only getting worse.

The situation is such that we have to do something.  We can’t let our city streets continue to deteriorate, it’s just not an option.  That means that the city council is going to have to act, and one way or another, revenue is going to have to be made available for infrastructure repairs.  This ballot initiative would place responsibility for paying for the repairs on the shoulders of everyone who uses Topeka’s services.  Topekans as well as the thousands of people who live outside of town but drive into Topeka to work and shop would all pay a share.  In fact, people from outside of Topeka would pay about 40% of the total revenue.

If we don’t pass this initiative it is likely that the council will vote to raise the mill levy to pay for the street repairs.  That means higher property taxes for Topeka homeowners alone.  Fewer people paying in means that they’ll each be paying much more.  So we have a choice.  Topekans alone can pay for the streets that are used by Topekans and non Topekans alike, OR everyone can play a role and pitch in to make sure that our city continues to be a hub of commerce and economic activity for Northeast Kansas, just as it has always been.  The choice is yours, Topeka.  Let’s Vote Yes to fix our streets!

craiggunthermidresSpecial thanks to Craig Gunther, our guest blogger, a lifelong Topeka area resident who works as a Registered Nurse at St. Francis Health Center.

Last 5 posts in Guest Bloggers

  • If you haven't read through the city budgets from 2005 to the present, you're not qualified to read any more. Turn around, do not pass go.

    For the more advanced:

    Did you know that our current half-cent sales tax was expected to raise 14 million a year for a total of 168 million dollars?

    Did you know that the 2004 ballot that created this tax indicated that infrastructure projects could be funded with the money raised?

    Did you know that about 80 million would be used for road and bridge-work, the remainder would be used for "economic development"?

    Did you, voter, know then or now what "economic development" involves???

    Did you know then or now that a private organization spent 122k to lobby for a "sales tax initiative."?

    Did you know then or now that this particular private organization is the recipient of 5 million dollars a year, derived from the proceeds of that sales tax increase?

    Well, if you don't know those things, you might want to read some more, and you should start asking your elected and unelected officials about these things that you read.

    Once you know more, you can download this private organization's IRS filings. They're free, and they're online.

    Only then, yea sayers, are you qualified to have more than an opinion.

    Someone has money. It may not be where you think it is, but it's there.

    Though again, it's a matter of priorities. And, when the City and County are many millions in debt, don't you think that our leader's priorities are not where they should be?
  • Josh
    Great post, Craig. The fact is, there just isn't that much waste in the city budget to cut out. Say what you will about helicopters and software, if you look at the city budget, the tiny amount of money that could be trimmed out of it without affecting necessary services couldn't come anywhere close to paying to fix our streets.

    Additionally, this particular initiative is written in such a way that the council can't waste it even if they want to. The revenue generated by this sales tax may only be used for repairing and maintaining existing Topeka streets. They can't legally shift it to any other purpose.

    Like Alissa, I live out of town but work in Topeka, and consider myself a part of this community. I will gladly pay in a little more in sales taxes to improve the quality and safety of the streets I drive every day.
  • Matt
    It's fine to vote YES if you trust the City to do what's right, and that you believe that their past actions are worthy of your current and future trust.

    For me, I have to look at the past debacles (like the helicopter fiasco, the software purchase) and a series of expenditures on things like golf-course fencing, as evidence of a difference in priorities and a tendency toward waste and mismanagement.

    Also, I think too that it's not fair to lump people who are voting NO into a group...saying that they're against Topeka, or that they hate the town.

    Instead, it seems that those voting NO have taken the time to look at the how things are run, what projects have received funding in the past, and the mistakes that have been made.

    In turn, they have educated themselves and through investigation and reason have determined that THEY would rather keep their money where they can see it.

    If you are voting YES, and you've also have taken the time to look at the how things are run, what projects have received funding in the past, and the mistakes that have been made then I commend you. And, of course you're entitled to your opinion.

    Please however don't try and pin people between false choices. Fixing the city streets and voting NO aren't even related. It is possible to fix the streets, if there is the will to do so, without this additional tax. That should be our priority.
  • Additionally, at this time, is it in the City of Topeka's best interest to give another $9,000,000 to JEDO?
  • The city has a budget of $196,300,000.00 for the fiscal year '09 and they can't come up with $3,000,000.00 to add to the $6,000,000.00 we get from the State. Anybody see a problem with where our money is being spent?

    Maybe the ballot question should ask "force the city to allocate money to infrastructure, police, and fire before anything else".

    Throwing money at a problem has never fixed the problem that got you into that problem.

    IMO giving money to people who have only proven time and time again to have mismanagement the funds is illogical.

    As Einstein said doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different outcome is insanity.

    See my other comment under Kevin's post.
  • Thanks for the post, Craig!

    Although it's frustrating that we have to institute a new tax to get the job done, the city's streets are in desperate need for repair. As someone that lives just outside of the city limits (a mere 4 houses to the North), I hope that my fellow Topekans will vote yes for the increased sales tax so that my dollars can help towards the effort. I don't think that it's fair for city property owners to bare this burden alone, and for me to reap the benefits without helping cover the costs.

    Regardless of how people decide to vote, I hope that everyone becomes informed about the issue and will vote on April 7th!

    Ryan - Can you provide a link or PDF of the city's budget? I would be interested in reviewing it and seeing where I think we can make cuts, but I question how long it would take to get those cuts in place. If that's going to be a multi-year process, I don't think we can afford to wait.
  • Considering the economic climate, it is important we examine other areas to either cut expenses before the people are approached for an increase in taxes.

    I would highly encourage everyone to read, review, and understand the city budget.

    Upon review, come up with areas, you would suggest we reduce. Heck, there could be several areas.

    Every person has had to make adjustments in their own lives and government should as well.
  • Great post, Craig! I am with you 100%. The streets in Topeka desperately need repair and it is time we take action! I'll be voting yes, for sure!
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