The HOST "article" (I guess that's what you'd call it.)

Here's my letter to the editor, sent to several media outlets:

I have a few questions about the proposed sales tax hike on the Thayer ballot November 8th.

First, how does taking $175,000 per year OUT of the local economy and giving it to the government help the economy?

Second, the Thayer Community Betterment Association has applauded the work of a previous economic developer in bringing in funding for new downtown lighting, a water line to nowhere, a sidewalk from the school to downtown, a "tourist information center" that doesn't benefit residents and tourists don't even KNOW about, and sidewalks that don't function as sidewalks, because you have to walk IN the street until you can get to stairs to get ON the sidewalk (take a look just down the hill from the library and you'll see what I mean). The question is, how many Thayer jobs have these projects created? Because I don't see any.

Third, isn't the fact that Thayer has a lower tax rate than surrounding cities an economic PLUS? If the tax hike is approved, and I was shopping for a $20,000 car, for instance, what incentive would I have to buy it in Thayer when I could go to a nearby community and buy it and pay less in taxes on it? And the reverse is true: under the current taxes, why would someone buy a new Chevy pickup in West Plains when they can buy the same truck in Thayer and pay less in taxes?

Fourth, if economic development is the true goal of the tax, why are the Chamber of Commerce and the TCBA so insistent on passing it? If successful, wouldn't it create more competition for their businesses, both in the prices they charge and in the wages they pay? There's something they're not telling us.

Fifth, how does the fact that I have to eat and buy clothing make me responsible for paying the salary of an economic developer?

Sixth, if the mayor truly wanted economic development, would he have let his personal beef with a local resident drive him to claim he would bankrupt the city in litigation of that's what it took to keep him from opening a business?

And finally, how much money was spent on signs and mailings in support of the tax hike? Because from where I sit, it looks like that money would have gone a long way toward paying the $175,000 without a tax hike.

John Hutchison,
Thayer MO.

Here is HOST Weekly's response, with my rebuttals in red.

1) The tax is, hopefully, going to be supported by tourist by way of McDonalds and WalMart as well as the locals.

That doesn't answer the question.

2) The point of the "beautification" downtown was not intended in itself to create jobs, by rather was recommended by numerous Economic Developing Specialists as the First Step into attracting industry into the area. The Tourist Information Center" is not being opened on time because Jim hart is the only one willing to put in the time and he just doesn't have it to put in. He needs help. Know anyone interested in lending a hand?

If the point was "beautification," then why is the TCBA holding it up as a shining example of economic development? No jobs were created with these projects.

3) It is true that our tax base is lower than all of our surrounding areas, and even with this tax hike it will continue to be the lowest. therefore, the incentive has not gone away.

Not gone away entirely, but it certainly will have diminished, perhaps enough that it will no longer lure out-of-city shoppers to Thayer instead of, say, West Plains.

4) At the last Chamber of Commerce meeting (were you there?) the Thayer Bank President, Dennis Redman did the presentation of the 1/2 cent tax levy. He was there to rally the support of the community, in this case represented by the Chamber of Commerce. Did you know the average mean age of citizens in this community is over 37 yrs old. There is no future for our community nor for our youth without growth. Our children graduate and then leave because there is nothing for them here. no way to support a family. The Chamber members may be business owners by they also have families here and true concerns about this community and it's future.

As you know, I was not there. I was unaware that going to CoC meetings is a prerequisite to having an opinion. There are two very good reasons I was not there, both having to do with the restaurant where the CoC meetings are always held.

The first is that, from what I have heard, smokers are not welcome at Warm Fork Restaurant. If they don't want my smoke, they don't want my money.

The second is the fact that the CoC ALWAYS meets there. This amounts to a monopoly of the CoC's business, despite the fact that there are several other restaurants in Thayer, such as the Country Cottage and the State Line, which, although it sits on the State Line, is a Thayer business, because they sell Missouri Lottery scratch-off tickets.

5) Economic Development and Community health is the responsibility of all citizens.

What makes it the responsibility of all citizens, and not just those that want it?

6) I'm not sure specifically which business potential you are referring to. Perhaps you could be more clear about the facts of the case.

The mayor let his personal grudge with Bob Crase drive him to fight tooth and nail to keep from opening a business in Thayer. If economic development is the goal, should the city not ENCOURAGE the opening of new businesses? Whatever the merits of his beef with Crase were, he shouldn't let them override his duty to do what is good for the city.

7) I do not personally know how much was spent to promote this cause, but it is my opinion you are not familiar enough with the inner workings of this community. What I mean by that is that I feel you are asking the wrong questions.

Just what "inner workings" demand that we march in lockstep with the Chamber of Commerce? And these are the questions that interest me, so how can they be the wrong questions? When people spend twenty dollars to force me to spend ten, I have to wonder what their motives are.

From all of my responses to you, I am sure that you have concluded that I am 'for' this 1/2 cent sale tax. However, at this time, I cannot support it and would personally vote again it when it comes to ballot.

My reasons for this are NOT because I do not support Economic Development. I completely support it and realize the dangers to our community as a whole if something is not done and soon.

What I cannot abide by is a government asking for our hard earned wages in tax and them not being willing to GUARANTEE us anything in return. If I understood what Mr Redman said in the last Chamber meeting, they are asking for a tax without a real plan. I personally believe the plan should come first. Kinda like putting the cart before the horse, I think.

As I understand it, City Hall is not will to guarantee the funds will be used for what they claim they are asking them for. This seems rather, to me, like Taxation Without Representation or perhaps we should say The Thayer Tea Party.

Any of this ring a bell? I asked Mr Redman during the meeting what percentage of the tax dollars collected for this cause would be directly used to attract industry. That is when the truth came out that there was no plan as of yet and that City Hall was "hopefully" going to use the money the way we are asking them to, specifically, getting Industry into our community, not just a beautification plan. How about we get something in writing first, then take our money when we know for sure what we are actually paying for.

The tax has no sundown , either. This is a good thing, usually, because it is easier to stop a tax than it is to get it going in the first place, however, when there is nothing guaranteeing it will even be used for true development rather than many more years of beautification, I have to ask myself, who would ever agree to such a thing.