AND AWAY WE GO WITH A MIXTURE OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE TO INCREASE SALE TAX REVENUES

  AND A HANDOUT TAXPAYER MONEY FROM CITY GOVERNMENT KNOWN AS SPONSORSHIPS/ SEED MONEY – GIVEN TO PRIVATE AND NON-PROFIT ENTITIES

CITY ADAPTS TO WORLDLY GOALS - IMPERVIOUS TO INDEBTEDNESS MITIGATED BY ISSUANCE OF BONDS SEEKING IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HAPPILY LIVING WITHIN OUR MEANS?

 IS IT POSSIBLE THAT GROWTH COULD BE SLOWED SIMPLY BY LEAVING IT IN THE HANDS OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE WITHOUT CITY SPONSHORSHIPS

City Council Meeting scheduled for April 23^rd having been cancelled provided the opportunity to report on Council Meeting of April 16^th.  It began with members of the Lions Club standing at the podium…..Declaring the Lions Club to be a Community Service Organization that supports young people…..Coming forward this day to present the city with a check in the amount of $10,000 to be used in the building of the All Abilities Park.  It was made known that this was made possible by the city’s Tremendous Support of the Sun Bowl Rodeo…..Brought about by the many years of City/Lions partnership. (Meaning City Sponsorship of Rodeo in which taxpayer money is spent to offset cost of Rodeo incurred by Lions Club. In effect the city assumes part of the financial burden the Lions Club would otherwise have to shoulder. From a layman’s point of view one hand washes the other. The Lions Club thus has money to give back to the city.) Hillary couldn’t have said or, done it any better. The mayor was quick to point out that the Lions Club helped to fill the depressed coral area (At no cost to city) thus enlarging the parking area. It certainly appears that the phrase…..AND AWAY WE GO aptly applies to the expected Re-building of the Sun Bowl which apparently is what the City and Lions are working up to doing. One can only wonder…..Which Construction Company will get the bid to re-build the Sun Bowl…..Perhaps one that has donated time, labor and equipment to other city projects at no cost. Time will tell.

HOWEVER, recognition should be given to all St. George Lions Clubs for their hard work in promoting events such as the Dixie Downs Horse Races held at the County Fair Grounds. Be it Horse Races or Rodeo’s…..The Lions Club can be expected to contribute proceeds to charitable causes…..No matter where the event takes place. Kudo’s to the Lions club for their commitment to the residents of Washington County. Please note that the Stock Show held at the County Fair Grounds was a credit to the YOUTH of our community and a rounding success. Perhaps it is time to move the Lions Rodeo to the County Fair Grounds. It most certainly would be a more prudent use of taxpayer money. This may be a mute-point now that the city has positioned itself to issue bonds (Indebting taxpayers for millions of dollars in order to acquire immediate cash) it can NOW move forward on many projects that may include the re-building of the Sun Bowl. In other words, city will be spending future Rap Tax Revenue now, not waiting 10 years for tax money to come in to city coffers…..IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION.

First Agenda Item: Council to consider approval of the financial report for March 2015.  City Manager Esplin reported city’s sales tax revenue to be up over 6 percent and overall general fund revenues to be up over 4 percent from last year. City expenditures were reported to be down. This prompted the Mayor to say “Golf made some money” to which City Manager replied, “Not enough”. Gary, perhaps this is opportune time to recognize importance of PRIVATE ENTERPRISE by giving FREE MARKET PLACE its head. You may further reduce city expenditures and increase sales tax revenues by SELLING, shall we say half of city owned golf courses. Gary, just think of it. This could also release city from keeping its word to Dixie Red Hills Golf Members by having a private company invest its money into building a more desirable and profitable golf course and club house.

Folks, why is it that the city having grown out of its small town handicaps to development (Excuse the pun) continue to spend taxpayer money/sponsorships…..When it could relinquish its control by inviting Private Enterprise to develop the market place.  COULD it simply be the desire to maintain power and authority by way of political favors? 

Allowing public time to consider the above listed points, I gladly report to you that item 3A on the agenda did recognize PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. A zoning change was granted to Stephen Wade Auto Center for the building of a Mercedes-Benz dealership. This will allow private development of 2.2 acres that is to include construction of a 20,000 square foot facility that will provide employment opportunities and a much stronger tax base. Citizens of SG may look forward to financial relief by an expected increase in sales tax revenues. (Car sales are a major contributor to city budget.)

My friends we have covered a lot of ground in this article. No doubt I have been inspired to do so by what is taking place in national politics. Whatever your political persuasion may be, we as concerned citizens should be attentive to the direction government is taking, be it national or municipal government.  You should know the City Council is now preparing a new budget. They will be deciding on where and how taxpayer money is to be spent in the budget year 2015-2016.

Therefore I will take the privilege of referring you and SG Council to an enlightening article entitled, Happily Living within Our Means – Ensign Jan. 2008. “Building on a foundation of solid spiritual and financial principles is the best safeguard against economic disaster.” I expect all of our elected municipal officials are aware of this…..Being that they are all members of the Church. I will none the less refer Council to item 3 of said article. “I will be cautious about incurring debt. Debt may be essential when purchasing an essential asset, such as a house, but it can destroy me when used to buy things I don’t need.”

Careful consideration should be given to “Things we don’t need”, like re-building Sun Bowl when County Fair Grounds are available at little or no cost to taxpayers.

Our condolence to Barbara Leadenham, co-owner of Senior Sampler upon the death of her father. Barbara remains in England with family and husband Peter has safely returned to St. George.

Thank you, ED BACA