JoCoNO

2009-08-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

KC STAR goofs again: go to our other blog: BermudaTriangleNO.blogspot.com

2008-10-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

Leave it to lazy Finn Bullers to mess up again:
Not only did he fail to ever interview the official opposition campaign committee for the Star's Voter Guide today Oct. 29--(He gave 90% of the story to the proponents ("because they're advertisers" he told Wayne Flaherty. Then he recycled the same old one sentence phone quote from 7 weeks ago, before the economy melted down)--and then in the callout box he listed the wrong blog! He knows better.

The only official opposition blog for Research Triangle is www.BermudaTriangleNO.blogspot.com
What you are reading now was the opposition blog to last August's Foverever Jail Tax II. That failed, in large part because the Star's Finn Bullers kissed up to Annabeth Surbaugh and the BOCC. Bullers is lazy by his own admission and also afraid to challenge those elected officials he is assigned to cover.

WATCH DEBATE ON CH. 19 KCPT, Listen to 980 KMBZ

2008-07-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

Sheriff Frank Denning and Tracy Thomas debate the tax--
View it Friday night at 7:30pm or again Sunday at 11:00am--
Nick Haines' show, Week in Review.

This ALSO runs on KPXE Ch. 50 (formerly Pax TV, now Ion),
airs twice but we can't figure out when. Somebody please blog back on this!

(also the issue was #1 subject on Ch. 19's "Ruckus", see that repeat at 11:30am Sunday)

Then live debate at 5pm today on 980KMBZ, Shanin & Parks show, County Manager Mike Press and Tracy Thomas.

Then, Monday am either 6:30 or 7:30 or 8:30--ten minutes, on 89.3 FMKCUR radio, with Laura Ziegler, who interviewed Sheriff Denning and Tracy Thomas.

A first: Star editorial board says NO to sales tax!

2008-07-25T13:59:00.001-07:00

Posted on Tue, Jul. 22, 2008 10:15 kcstar.com

REJECT JOHNSON COUNTY TAX

Johnson County has legitimate public safety needs. But an antiquated state law has hamstrung county officials, resulting in a flawed plan to pay for a larger jail, new juvenile services complex and crime lab.

Voters should reject the permanent quarter-cent sales tax on the Aug. 5 ballot.

The trouble with the plan is the state law that requires one-third of the tax proceeds to be distributed to area cities. So for the county to raise $20 million a year, taxpayers must kick in another $10 million for the cities.

Some cities say they would also spend their share of the money on public safety, but they unfortunately would be under no legal obligation to do so. And some cities have failed to give voters detailed plans for spending the money.

This inefficient funding plan is too much to ask of taxpayers, particularly in tight financial times. Over a decade, the “excess” tax dollars for cities would reach an indefensible $100 million.

We regret that a rejection at the polls would create problems for the county as it proceeds to expand the jail and provide other important community services.

To their credit, county officials have long complained about the unfairness of cities piggybacking on the county’s sales-tax revenues. Unfortunately, the state Legislature has refused to change the law.

If the sales tax is defeated, the county should redouble its efforts to change the law. City officials ought to support rather than fight those efforts, keeping in mind that the county provides mental health services, a successful library system and housing for city prisoners.

Voters previously approved a sales tax for the schools in the county in 2002 and 2005. The cities also received millions of dollars during that time.

However, those tax proposals were limited to three years. The tax on the Aug. 5 ballot would be permanent, and this would reduce the county’s options in the future.

When the state under-funded schools, county leaders and residents helped protect education. Now it’s time for the cities to help the county meet its public safety needs.

If this tax is defeated, the county’s options would include:

• Cut less essential programs in its $700 million-plus annual budget to free up funds for high-priority public safety projects.

• Increase the property tax by a small amount, keeping in mind the county has a relatively low tax rate for this area.

• Give voters a shorter sales-tax plan that would construct the public-safety facilities, with the cities agreeing to dedicate their funds to the county’s projects as well.

In recent months, the weak economy has forced many Johnson County residents and businesses to re-evaluate how they spend their money. In tight times, voters should not be expected to support raising more tax money than necessary.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION?
Should Johnson County voters approve the sales tax for public safety? Go to voices.kansascity.com

Join the discussion

Share your observations and experiences about news. Lively, open debate is the goal, but please refrain from personal attacks or comments that are racist, vulgar or otherwise inappropriate. If you see an inappropriate comment, please click the "Report as violation" link to notify a KansasCity.com editor. Thanks for your feedback.

Recent Comments

One incumbent should stay, JOHN TOPLIKAR. He is against the tax...
Vote Sheriff Denning out of office and VOTE FOR KEN SMITH FOR...
Johnson County and it's subdivisions have a gross over reliance on...
I already voted yesterday....I did NOT vote for this tax. There has...
OMG, OMG, quick get the paddles and put them over my heart....!!!OM...
»Read More
http://www.kansascity.com/340/story/716276.html

JoCoNO: Char Bredemeir nails key facts against the forever tax

2008-07-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/13271#comment-27295

Star finally blogs a story on Forever Jail Tax II

2008-07-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/13139

Ch. 9 news story on Jail-in-a-Box (news, not endorsement)

2008-07-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

To see the video, go to:
http://www.kmbc.com/money/16904842/detail.html

You can read the text, or click on the picture of the County's propaganda brochure, and after a brief ad, watch the video.

Sorry I can't figure out the link. It is also on my new Facebook, under Tracy Thomas.

This is a balanced news story, and not an endorsement.

Note especially how Sheriff Frank Denning parses his words carefully. He does not actually deny a Plan B that he passed. Just that it is not in his top desk drawer! That's clever. Perhaps he moved it to the second drawer!

There is a Plan B, and Sheriff Denning told me about it. Now he probably wishes he hadn't, since Big Spender Annabeth wants to gag him, and bluff the voters with fears of a property tax increase. The 10 year sales tax, (not FOREVER) is KSA 12-187(b)21. So when this Forever sales tax fails on Aug. 5, which it will, if you email this link to everyone in your email list, then expect the Sheriff to go to the Commissioners and ask them to place his 10 year sales tax on a ballot in 2009.

My appeal to STAR management to report both sides

2008-07-18T10:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Mike Fannin and Anne Spenner--and Mark Zieman and Yael:
I need your help and personal leadership before Aug. 5, and hopefully immediately, since I just voted by mail today.

A year ago, Sheriff Denning went to Topeka. He passed a bill, signed by Governor Sebelius, for a 10 year sales tax, just for public safety. KSA 12-187(b)21.

It is well known that Chairman Annabeth Surbaugh is furious with Sheriff Denning for doing this, before Her Highness went to Topeka and flipped the authorization for 1/4 cent for Eco/DEvo for the schools that expires 12/31/08 to authorization for a second 1/4 cent forever tax--for public safety and the courts. She is angry because he did this on his own, looking out for the Sheriff's department. And I quote him, "his secret Plan B", when and if her Forever Jail Tax II fails on Aug. 5. He told me, "I have it in the top drawer of my desk, and I will pull it out, and walk it into the Commission, and ask them to put it on the ballot in 2009."

NOW he is denying it. Perhaps he moved it to the 2nd drawer, so lsay with a straight face, there is "no plan B, and it's not in my top drawer."

The Sheriff and I will debate this, once again, on Ch. 19, Nick Haines, "Week in Review", Friday July 25.

Point being, there is a bill, KSA 12-187(b)21.
Denning passed it. Sebelius signed it. The Star/Sullinger knows about it, and refuses to report about it in the "real paper" before the Aug. 5 election, because in his OPINION, he doesn't think the Commissioners will put it on the ballot even if Denning asks them to. But it is news, regardless. Also galling to me was Sullinger just told me he's only willing to blog it, and only if Finn, the gatekeeper??, allows him to report it or even blog it, even tho Sullinger's beat is the Ks. legislature, and KS 12-187(b)21, was PASSED there, but not reported in the "real paper". NOT REPORTED.

Finn Bullers says he refuses to report it if I OR ANYONE ELSE uses the term "Plan B", because in his OPINION, Plan B sounds "devious" or "nefarious". But, it is a verbatim quote from Sheriff Denning from 4 months ago, before he was scolded and gagged by Annabeth Surbaugh that the best way to fool and bully the JoCo voters into passing a forever tax is NOT to tell them they could pass a 10 year tax instead.

So how about this> The Star could report this news, and instead of Plan B, call it "a legislative alternative to the proposed tax with no sunset: Sheriff Denning's KSA 12-187(b)21 that was lobbied for by Sheriff Denning and has been passed by OUR Ks. Legislature, and signed by Governor Sebelius."

Please let your readers know, before the election, that there are MULTIPLE ALTERNATIVES to a tax with no sunset. Not just a threat to raise our property taxes starting in 2010.

The Star is refusing to report any opposition to this tax. Yes, my blog, www.JoCoNO.blogspot.com was mentioned once in a notice about a county public forum which was not covered by any Star reporters, thank you. But no quotes, and no stories about the opposition!

This is especially unfair since:

1. For the first time in history, the County paid with taxpayer dollars to mail their propaganda brochure only to voters. NOT REPORTED.
2. That brochure did NOT include the actual ballot wording. NOT REPORTED.
3. That brochure, and the ballot, insist on calling it a renewal, when it is not. It is a NEW TAX, FOREVER. The old tax was for EcoDevo, and expires 12/31/08.
4. That brochure and the ballot wording, do NOT indicate how much the tax is expected to generate: $30 million a year, forever. including $10 million a year, forever, for the cities. The brochure says additionally the cities receive a "share". That's quite a slice of pizza.
VS. ALTERNATIVES OF:
A. use some of our huge existing $110 million reserves

B. Crime Lab $30 million is ALREADY in 2009 budget-- NOT REPORTED!!!!!
and that budget balances, without any offsetting revenues from a sales tax,
so even tho Commissioners THREATEN they won't build Crime Lab then UNLESS
we pass their forever tax Aug. 5, that is not true. It's IN THE BUDGET.
NOT REPORTED!!! Finn even questioned whether it's in the budget. Look it up,
darn it. And the commission has ALREADY PROMISED NO PROPERTY TAX
INCREASE FOR 2009--UNREPORTED. Finn questioned that as well. Look it up and
report it, please.

C. Pay for the jail and crime lab with a BOND ISSUE instead of a sales tax, and avoid
the $10 million a year lug to the cities. UNREPORTED.
Problem: that money flows thru NY bankers instead of Citizens Yes Committee
co-chairman and financier of BOCC elections, Bob Regnier's local Bank of
Blue Valley. UNREPORTED.

4. Commissioner John Segale of Shawnee has erected an ILLEGAL BILLBOARD, saying Vote Yes on Public Safety Aug. 5. As judged by Carol Williams of the Ks. Ethics Commission. UNREPORTED!

5. Unlike Missouri, Kansas does NOT have initiative petition, so if this SECOND 1/4 cent sales tax for public safety passes, (the first was 1995, UNREPORTED IN THE PAST 13 YEARS AT LEAST), the taxpayers cannot repeal it, unless the gatekeepers on the County Commission put their "second gravy boat of sales taxes, in addition to property taxes" on the ballot. Which they will never do. NOT REPORTED!

Lady and Gentlemen--
If Kathryn Shields had pulled these shenanigans, it would be A1, not just B1!!!
As the newspaper of record, not just personal reporters' opinions, the STAR needs to report the news, before Johnson County voters vote, because all they are hearing and receiving is the propaganda paid for by the Commission with our dollars, (oh yeah, now Larry Winn Jr. is mailing a YES piece, again, with no ballot language, and no total dollars revealed, and with a glaring error that Finn and I caught yesterday, saying the Crime Lab will go to 15,000 square feet. (up from 12,000?? for $30 million?? It's 51,000. But hey, Larry's Gang didn't ask this Virgo to proofread it, or I would have caught it!)

I do appreciate the STAR running Finn's story this week, and photo, of the delivery of jail-in-a-box. Annabeth and the Commission went shopping, and ordered a new jail, without having the $ to pay to operate it. What it fails to say is, they are in this pickle because Annabeth got them to give our sales tax authority away for the last 5 years to her buddies, who helped finance her last two elections, Larry Winn Jr. from Polsinelli Law Firm and Dick Bond.
That story this week did NOT have balance, and did not report the ALTERNATIVES. It just quoted one side of the story: Annabeth's spin, calling her fake and unsubstantiated threat of a property tax increase "not a threat, it's a choice." That story needed to report the alternatives, including the Sheriff's alternative, signed by the Governor, KSA 12-187 (b)21. Which Finn and Sullinger refuse to report. Based on their "opinions".

Last night at the Olathe Republican Party meeting, Doug Wood took the pledge not to raise property taxes if he is re-elected. I know of 3 votes against any property tax increases in 2010 already: John Toplikar, Doug Wood, and former Shawnee Mayor Jim Allen, who virtually everyone predicts will handily defeat snarky argumentative Commissioner John Segale in November. The taxpayers need just one more vote. If Dave Lindstrom and Ed Peterson do not grow backbones and quit straddling every issue ("I don't believe in forever taxes, but I put it on the ballot anyway", they will be defeated. In Lindstrom's race, Leawood Councilman and JoCo Park Board chairman James Azeltine has taken the no property tax increase pledge. NOT REPORTED.

Respectfully requested,
Blog manager of www.JoCoNO.blogspot.com and www.JoCoGO.blogspot.com
Tracy Thomas
tracyadv@gmail.com
Former president of the Shawnee City Council

Wichita cuts property tax, and jail population! They must be smarter than Annabeth and Sheriff Denning.

2008-07-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

This is a blog from the Wichita Eagle in the largest county in Ks, Sedgwick County.
Apparently they are smarter than the Board of County Commissioners in Johnson County!
They really get it--times are tough and we need to live within our budget. Note the mention of a Drug Court. Half of the people in the Johnson County jail are just WAITING to go to court. Playing video games for a month. Speed up the court system, and you cut your costs in half! A huge percentage of the people in the Johnson County jails have drug and alcohol addictions. Let's solve the real problems!!
Tracy Thomas

County manager recommends delaying jail expansion
BY DEB GRUVER
The Wichita Eagle
Today's most-viewed stories
Wichitan wants a leash law for cats
OPINION LINE
Obama has found a kindred soul in Sebelius
Charges filed against former chiropractor
Wichitan asks city for cat leash law
Sedgwick County Manager William Buchanan today recommended delaying a planned jail expansion as a way to make a property tax reduction possible.

Last year, the county raised the mill levy by 2.5 mills to help pay for about 390 more beds at the jail. Buchanan told county commissioners this morning during a presentation of next year's recommended budget that he advocates cutting the mill levy by 1 mill to give taxpayers some relief.

That would set the county's mill levy at 30.3 mills.

Expansion at the jail has been a hot issue for the county, including in the sheriff's race. Buchanan said he would favor programs that reduce the number of inmates in jail instead of building more space, including drug court.

Consultants currently are reviewing the county's criminal justice system to try to reduce the jail's inmate population by 25 percent.

The jail last year had an average daily population of more than 1,500. It was designed for about 1,100.

The county has been considering a roughly $54 million expansion that would add about 390 beds to the jail if built.

Buchanan said the county can sustain a mill levy cut if it doesn't expand the jail and still be financially sound for the next five years.

The county's recommended budget for next year is more than $401 million.

To read more about the proposed budget for 2009, read Thursday's Eagle.

Recent Comments

Build a Casino in Wellington----And let Mulvane build a State-of-th...
I noticed no cuts to the 54 million dollar aviation training center...
Better get that built,ya need for all the wacks that are in that...
There should be no one in jail for immorality. Only those who...
No need to delay. Just get a loan from the current Wichita City...
»Read More
Post Your Comment

You must log in to post comments.

Watch Ch. 9 at 6pm Wed. July 16--Micheal Mahoney story

2008-07-16T11:59:00.000-07:00

I was interviewed today about the Forever Jail Tax II, and the county's deceptive campaign brochure, and the jail-in-a-box that arrived COD--

Watch the story at 6pm. I will try to figure out how to post it!

And kudos to KMBCTV9's GM, Wayne Godsey, for being the first news media expert to spot what a devious and illtimed issue this is.

Tracy

Picture of jail-in-a-box worth 1000 No votes per viewing!

2008-07-15T21:56:00.000-07:00

Picture courtesy of KCStar.

Con job revealed: County's jail in a box arrives, and now they threaten us to pay for it

2008-07-15T21:30:00.001-07:00

Annabeth's con job arrives--prefab jail is delivered COD:
Tracy's commentary on Finn Bullers post, 7/15/08 on Prime Buzz on kcstar.com:
entitled: "Build first - finance later with higher taxes."

Oops! Annabeth's shopping addiction arrived this week. Her con job is revealed. The new prefab jail-in-a-box was delivered COD.

In other words, Annabeth ordered this Butler pre-fab building of a new jail "on credit", without having the revenue to pay the freight bill or for operations when it arrived--and now is trying to force voters to pay for it--to cover the debt SHE incurred without our approval.

If she were a housewife, Annabeth Surbaugh's husband would be filing for divorce. (Actually, that happened years ago.) Or Dr. Phil or Suze Orman or Dave Ramsey would be chewing her out. If she had orderd a $19.6 million Liz Taylor diamond, Richard Burton would have sent it back.

JoCoNO.blogspot.com is working for free to defeat this sneaky taxpayer funded propaganda campaign. Just like we defeated BiState II and Big Soccer. We say, Vote No Aug. 5, pay for the jail with our reserves, but leave it in the box--don't operate it until we sort out how to pay for it. No threats. Just prudent planning. The Sheriff already passed his secret Plan B they won't let him talk about--a 10 year tax, authorized by our legislators and signed by the Governor: it's #KSA 12-187 (b)21. .

Then voters should turn Chairman Surbaugh and her Big Spender buddies out this fall and in 2 years for irresponsibility. Segale, Lindstrom, Wood, everyone but Toplikar. Instead of having the money to cover her building and shopping addiction, she used OUR credit card--OUR money the past five years--to bail out the man who financed her campaign, Larry Winn Jr. of Polsinelli Law Firm, so he could show off for his fellow members of the Shawnee Mission School Board. And to make matters worse, then she appointed him to raise the money to finance the Citizens Advocacy "yes" campaign for Forever Jail Tax II. But-- instead, she bailed Larry Winn Jr. out AGAIN, by using $37,500 of TAXPAYER money to pay for the info brochure mailing only to targeted VOTERS, NOT ALL CITIZENS.

The so-called "vote" of the Bd. of County Commissioners to authorize that mailing was NOT conducted in public, as required. It was done in secret, at a November "retreat". And then the commissioners conveniently never asked to see or approve the copy or the costs of the mailer until after it was mailed July 7. In Mike Press's true incompetent manner, the brochure DID NOT INCLUDE THE BALLOT WORDING! So, this was not really an educational piece, it was a deceptive CAMPAIGN PIECE, and used to influence ONLY voters. It did not even mention money could go to the courts. And instead of revealing that $10 million a year (an ADDITIONAL 36%) would go to the cities, it inferred that the cities' share was rather minimal, "a share" --and that the total tax would actually be $29.6 million, not just the county's $19.6 million. And it called it a renewal, but it's a NEW tax. Forever.

Using taxes to pay for such a mailer has NEVER been done before, at least as far back as 1992. That way, Larry Winn Jr. doesn't even have to raise citizen do-gooder money or send a mailer, just "pretend to be TRYING!" and then be too busy at the end to actually do a mailing. Sweet Keating 5 style work--if you can pull it off. Remember that Winn is the con man who doubled the price of the rocky ground he tried to sell JoCo for that Wizards-stealth campaign called Big Soccer.

In this recession, with bank failures and the Fannie Mae crisis, we need to vote NO and go back to the drawing board. Remember, Kansas does not have initiative petition, so once this second 1/4 cent for public safety would go into effect (the first Forever Jail Tax was passed in 1995--generating another $19.6 million), we can never vote to stop collecting it. Because the free-spending commissioners would never put that on a ballot.

For more information, keep reading www.jocoNO.blogspot.com

Tracy Thomas
Working for free, and writing when the Star refuses to actually report this story in the Metro.

Who ordered this new jail--Annabeth. Who does she want to pay for it? Taxpayers.

2008-07-15T21:25:00.000-07:00

This was Finn Bullers' wonderful blog on kcstar.com, on Prime Buzz, July 15, 2008

'Jail-on-a-rail express' brings new maximum-security cells to JoCo
Precast maximum-security jail cellsLike giant Legos, 48 precast concrete jail cells stood on flatbed railroad cars near Gardner this week — building blocks for Johnson County’s new $60 million Gray Bar Hotel.

Nicknamed the “jail-on-a-rail express,” the 16-car caravan from Conley, Ga., hauled four dozen maximum-security cells to the New Century AirCenter to house Johnson County’s most incorrigible convicts.

With it also comes a growing national construction method to build jails faster and cheaper.

“Time is money. To build jail cell modules on site out of poured concrete or concrete block would add time and labor … and increase the total cost,” said Joe Waters, the county’s facilities director.

The 554-bed jail expansion — the centerpiece of an Aug. 5 ballot question before voters — will double the county’s overall jail capacity to 1,088 beds and help ease overcrowding at both county jails. The other one is in downtown Olathe.

County Chairwoman Annabeth Surbaugh said the jail expansion must be built, and if voters reject paying for it with the renewal of a quarter-cent sales tax, property taxes will have to be increased to pay for the project already under construction.

“It’s not a threat,” she said. “It’s a choice.”

Before the sun rose today, workers with the Atlanta-based Tindall Corp. readied a giant crane to swing the prefab cells — each weighing about 30 tons — into position. The task is expected to take two days. Traditional construction would take up to six months.

“The cells are basically complete except for the locks and the doors. They’re painted and are basically ready to go,” said John Glessner, the county’s project manager. “All that’s left to do is drop them in place and hook up the utilities.”

Each module — home to the baddest of the bad inmates — includes two 85 square-foot segregation cells that are cast in one piece and interlocked like a child would connect Lego building blocks.

Components in the cells include a stainless steel toilet/sink unit, steel mirrors, a concrete bunk and desk and a shelf unit with clothes hooks. Each module backs up to a common utility chase for easy maintenance access.

Construction of the jail expansion at the Fred Allenbrand Criminal Justice Complex at the New Century AirCenter began in November 2007. The remaining 506 beds will be built using standard construction methods.

Last year, Johnson County paid more than $4.8 million to house an average of 363 overflow inmates a day in other county jails across Kansas as far away as Lyons in Rice County, 240 miles from Johnson County.

The jail expansion is scheduled to be complete by mid-2009, with move in the following year.

JAIL CAM

Take a peak at the progress being made on Johnson County’s new $60 million, 554-bed jail expansion near Gardner.
note: to see the Jail Cam, log onto kcstar.com, then prime buzz, then find finn's story, the link is at the bottom.

Ask Mike Press: Why are you mailing a 4 color campaign piece--like Big Soccer did?

2008-07-02T13:54:00.000-07:00

It's being printed, and mailed--even tho Johnson County hasn't even added up what this will cost: a 4 color mailer, just to VOTERS, not taxpayers. Who are they kidding anyway? It's a voter campaign!!! The County is using our tax dollars to send slanted propaganda. And of course, they are targetting voters. It's an illegal, unethical use of taxpayer dollars. They are trying to INFLUENCE VOTERS! And an unprecedented waste of tax dollars. The copy is not to EDUCATE AND INFORM, its purpose is to MISEDUCATE AND MISINFORM.

1. It is inaccurate, calling this new tax a renewal.

2. It is inaccurate, mentioning the courts 3 times, when all county leaders, including the Sheriff, the Chairman, the Commissioners and Manager Mike Press agree, none of the money will go to the courts.

3. It is inaccurate, failing to list the Crime Lab, even tho that is priority #1, for $30 million, and in fact, is already included in the 2009 budget, without offsetting revenues from this tax. It will be built. But they are sneaking it through.

4. It is inaccurate, because there is no required "specificity" for how the cities will spend their $10 million a year, over and above the $19 million a year, FOREVER, that this blank check will cover.

We've asked Mike Press, County Manager, how much this will lavish 4 color mailer will cost. So far, he has not replied, because they are just doing it, anyway, they don't CARE how much it will cost. Of course, at the most, they SHOULD just send a cheap postcard with a link to their website. Not print lavish 4 color pieces.

Note: In all past elections that we have researched since 1980, Johnson County has never paid for such a mailing, and always had citizen advocacy committees raise the money and do the mailings. But not this time! The co-chairman of the Ciizen's YES committee is Larry Winn Jr. The Polsinelli attorney and land developer and school board member who ran the losing campaigns for BiState II and Big Soccer. Winn is the man who doubled the price of the land he tried to sell the County for Big Soccer. Guess old Larry is tired of writing personal checks. To pass measures that enrich his clients. This time, he convinced the County to write a slanted Q&A piece, and mail it at taxpayer expense! Just to targeted voters of course.

Geezo Pete! What's next? Will the County hire Miss Lemony Snicket, (the little girl from Larry Winn's failed Big Soccer TV ads)?? She could appear on a county video, and instead of using her fake Brit accent to say, "Do it for the chillllldren!", she could say, "Do it for the prisoners! We need lavish one-man one potty cells--because we don't want anyone to get mad at us!"

Labels: Big Soccer, illegal propaganda mailing, Johnson County govt., Mike Press, Polsinelli, Winn
0 comments:
Post a Comment

Ask Mike Press: Why are you mailing a 4 color camp...

KMBC TV 9 GM Wayne Godsey gets it: Opposes tax!

2008-07-02T13:52:00.001-07:00

Commentary
Wayne Godsey, KMBC President And General Manager
June 30, 2008

Johnson County Sales Tax Renewal

A quarter-cent Johnson County sales tax to supplement school funding is about to expire. County commissioners want voters to renew the tax to fund public safety.

Public safety should be a priority. So why wasn't that funded first? The answer is simple. Officials think citizens may be willing to pay extra for something as important as law enforcement. They know voters would not voluntarily raise their taxes to pay for many of the other pet projects the commission has funded.

Commissioners have placed this on the August ballot, hoping that low voter turnout will allow contractors and others who benefit economically to get the measure passed.

There are many reasons to defeat this tax. State law requires that over one-third of the money be shared with cities. No one really knows for what. Unlike previous sales taxes, this one will never expire. But the best reason to defeat this tax is to force commissioners to set priorities and pay for critical services first.

Response to Anonymous--

2008-06-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

Dear coward--
Have the courage of your convictions, and use your name.
You obviously haven't tracked my career of supporting MANY good things in Johnson County, including leading the passage of Parks & Pipes in Shawnee, supporting the legitimate and controlled expansion of the Deffenbaugh Landfill, 4 year terms on the Shawnee City Council, saving the Shawnee Mission Schools from falling behind Blue Valley.

You're just a finger-wagging coward. I will debate you in public, any day, any time. When you send anonymous posts like this, you reveal your stealth strategy as Attack Dogs.

Times have changed. We are in a recession, and the next Great Depression, 14 years long, starts in 2010, according to Economist Harry Dent. What my grandparents would not have given--for a heads up in 1929! We need to stand still on spending. Got that?? We need to quit writing blank checks to cowards like you and your cronies.

I refuse to let you bully us taxpayers. Especially when you try to shame us into doing it. Show up tonight. (Sober would be nice.) Unmask yourself, you smug know-it-all. Your bullying days are about over.

Why all the secrecy?? Commission hides committee from public, fails to promote public forums

2008-06-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

Why all the secrecy?
The stealth campaign to sneak thru a 2nd Forever Jail Tax is troubling.

1. Sunflower Republican Club held a public debate June 12. Commissioners Dave Lindstrom, John Segale, and Sheriff Denning participated. We scolded them for not having a citizen advocacy group. None of them said there IS a secret committee, including Larry Wynn Jr, Rob Regnier, Ron Wimmer and Fred Logan.

2. On behalf of JoCoNO, I also appeared for 5 minutes before the JoCo Commission, at 9am Thurs. June 16. I challenged them for not having a citizens' committee. Nobody corrected that. Not Annabeth Surbaugh (who secretly appointed them two months ago), not Mike Press, County Manager who has botched the communications on this, not Don Jarrett, County Attorney, who knows better and covers the BOCC's myriad mistakes and secret meetings, and none of the 6 other commissioners!

3. Star reporter on the JoCo government beat Finn Bullers states he "read somewhere" there was a committee, but never reported it. He opined that when I challenged the Commissioners about it at 9am last Thursday, "maybe they were tired".

THIS IS A STEALTH CAMPAIGN.
ELECTED OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE COUNTY WANTING $19 MILLION A YEAR FOREVER, AND CITIES THAT WILL SCORE AN ADDL. $10 MILLION A YEAR, FOREVER, UNEARMARKED, ARE HOPING THIS ISSUE SNEAKS THRU.

4. Bullers claimed he had read the citizen members' names, but did not file even a blog item about them, and in fact gave me one wrong name. Thanks, Ron Wimmer, for setting me straight on that. We ALWAYS want to be factual.

5. The Sun did not have a mention of today's public info session.
The Star got in one brief, this morning.
Ron Wimmer from the advocacy citizen's committee had not been told of tonight's
info session. He states there is no budget, and they are not running an "active
campaign." He's busy running for State Senate and is just loaning his name to
this effort.

6. Bullers at the STAR today blamed staff in the city of MISSION for failing to promote tonight's public forum! But that is not their job. They're just the janitor. It is the job of Mike Press, County Manager.

7. JoCoGov.org, the county's official web site, is supposed to have listed and promoted this public forum! It is not on their web site at all! And Star reporter Finn Bullers states that the county also refuses to release any other scheduled public forums!!!

WHY ALL THE SECRECY??

This issue is driven by greed and power. Our JoCo Commission used our tax authority to be heroes, in rescuing our public schools, with our last 1/4 cent of sales tax authority. It is now time for that tax to expire. But they hate to let go of our money. They want to be the heroes. They are social nobodies who score points by granting favors to their buddies who write the checks to pay for their re-election campaigns.

Here is Jere Gish's Ch. 9 story from June 24

2008-06-25T10:48:00.001-07:00

http://www.kmbc.com/money/16699089/detail.html

Momentum grows to defeat Forever Jail Tax II Aug.5--attend Info Session 6p tonight in Mission/Sylvester Powell Center.

2008-06-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

Oh, it doesn't get much better than this: Secretly, Annabeth Surbaugh has appointed a citizen's advocacy committee to support her latest tax grab. It includes LARRY WINN JR.--the questionable Polsinelli development attorney who finances most JoCo Commissioner's campaigns--and the man who tried to double the price of the land JoCo would have paid to subsidize Big Soccer!!! The man who taught Big Soccer and BiState II how to illegally finance these campaigns with in-kind deductible corporate ad dollars.

The other members of the vote yes group which is called: Citizens Public Safety Sales Tax Advocacy Committee, include Ron Wimmer (retired from Olathe Schools,) running for office against State Sen. Julia Lynn, attorney Fred Logan and Blue Valley banker Bob Regnier.

As we learned with Watergate: Follow the money, folks: No construction loans are available, unless we taxpayers guarantee them. Regnier the Banker wants to make money on GUARANTEED CONSTRUCTION LOANS for his big clients. Dunn, etc. To build jails, a JIAC (big brother) campus, and research triangles,. So Banker Regnier finances the campaigns for Ron Wimmer (to get access to STATE tax dollars) and commissioners Annabeth Surbaugh and Dave Lindstrom and John Segale, to get these endless county projects on the ballot. And guess who gets the legal business and the zoning business? Posse-mate from Polsinelli Law Firm, Larry Winn Jr.

Gee--I don't see Blue Valley Banker Bob Regnier promising NOT to accept any construction loan business if this sneaks through. I used to think Regnier was a good guy and a leader--but looking at these two tax issues, it appears Mr. Nice Guy might just be working to line his bank's pockets at taxpayer expense.

Then Wimmer and his State Senate campaign chairman, Bob Regnier, are ALSO on the Research Triangle support group trying to push a second endless tax, for 1/8 cent, the Research Triangle with One Leg for Nov. 4. Why is it always the same 4 guys pushing these Trojan Horses onto our ballots??

Watch their scare tactics: JoCo Commissioners threaten voters with higher property taxes, EVEN THO THEY JUST PROMISED NOT TO RAISE THEM IN THE 2009 BUDGET.

The Commissioners used tax dollars to conduct campaign research. That's illegal.
The Commissioners hide, and refuse to debate: Annabeth was too busy packing to go out of town yesterday, on another big fat junket--to answer Channel 9's questions.

And Sheriff Frank Denning, who is running for re-election Aug. 5, goes on TV9, shilling for Annabeth and the BOCC who control his budget, and ADVOCATES for the Forever Jail Tax II. As a tax-supported bureaucrat, he is legally forbidden to advocate, just educate and inform. So when he says to vote yes, that should trigger equal time for his opponent, Ken Smith. Should it not?

Folks, come spend an hour tonight hearing the propaganda. 6p, Powell Center in Mission. Email your friends. We can defeat this!

We asked the BOCC to pull the Forever Jail Tax II. They just stared at their shoes.

2008-06-19T14:30:00.000-07:00

Tracy Thomas’s comments delivered to JoCo Bd. Of County Commissioners, June 19, 2008
To request they take Forever Jail Tax II off the Aug. ballot
(and Research Triangle in November)

Note: The entire commission just stared at their feet the entire time, made no comments, asked no questions.

Witness: Tracy Thomas, 13022 W. 76 Ter, member of JoCoNO, a taxpayer watch group which can be blogged at JoCoNO.blogspot.com

I’m here today to prod you, and ask for a miracle thru your leadership.
I’m here like the Nascar official, trying to wave you down and flag you over to the side of the track. Stop this tax vehicle! At least for the rest of this year.

I’m here on a deadline. You need to now pull the Forever Jail Tax II off the August ballot THIS MORNING. While you’re at it, pull the ill-conceived bailout called the Research Triangle off the November ballot. Do it today, Otherwise, Brian Newby will send the file for the August ballot to the printer by this Sunday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JoCoNO.blogspot.com represents tens of thousands of voters who keep sending you a message: Quit raising sales taxes, live within your allowance, and NEVER ever put another forever tax on any ballot. Quit trying to rescue the rich while you try to PASS THE BUCK to us voters.

We told you no, loud and clear, when 54% defeated Bi-State II in JoCo.
We told you no, even louder, when 65% defeated Big Soccer.

Forever Jail Tax II:
1. Is going to lose, especially now that Elmer Gantry (Phill Kline) is on the August ballot. If you really want to support Sheriff Denning, you should NOT have given the cherry spot to Mary Birch, in November. JoCo is not “MULLIGAN COUNTRY”.

2. Your ballot language of FJTII is deceptive and misleading.
* NOT for the courts (mentioned 3x). (1/2 people just waiting for trial date. Speed up the courts
and you don’t need so many jail cells. Haven’t even tried 12 hour shifts. I just did the 8 hour
tour. The food is better than NutriSystem.)
* Crime lab not even mentioned—it’s IN next year’s budget. I support that. And only that.
* NOT a renewal! (Nutter/Brookside story)

3. Your campaign is illegal, used tax dollars for spin and political research.
Instead of a citizen advocacy committee, which you didn’t even name.
You’re throwing the Sheriff under the bus.
(by the way, the ONLY full busses in JoCo are the ones the Sheriff runs from Detention to
the Jail, because you keep building things too far away.)

CHANGE YOUR MIND TODAY BECAUSE: TIMES HAVE CHANGED.
When you contemplated this, gas was $2.69, and America’s corn crop wasn’t flooded.
JOCO taxpayers are already paying an extra $100 a month--$100 a MONTH—for gas and food.
(Food should not be taxed. Put THAT in your lobbying agenda in Topeka next year.)

Sprint may go bust in 5 years. Another 1,500 high dollar homes will go into foreclosure, and property values will drop even more! Their building looks like a jail anyway. Expand there.

The solution is to STAND STILL. CUT your budget. Stop being a pickpocket trying to stuff your hand in our sales dollar pocket too. Quit passing the BUCK to us. Quit these favors to big business that writes checks to fund your campaigns.

Come back next year. Charlotte O’Hara is right—we don’t trust you or the cities. Propose BOND ISSUES (NO 36% kickback to cities.)

Be leaders today. Do the right thing, despite the fact it’s me doing the asking! I’m working for free. I’m the only one here who isn’t earning a paycheck being here today.

PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. STOP THIS TAX VEHICLE. SERVE THE TAXPAYERS INSTEAD OF BAILING OUT YOUR BUDDIES.

It is disingenuous to say, “We’re just letting the people decide.” You’re wasting our time, because it takes time and money to defeat big business bailouts, like BiState, Big Soccer and the Research Triangle that only has one real leg.

Yes, I know, it’s flattering and fun to be courted. I’ve been there.

By the way, BiState II and Big Soccer BROKE THE TAX LAWS with their illegally financed campaigns, writing corporate checks for advertising, instead of making non-deductible contributions. Your buddies are being turned in to the IRS for fraud. I’ll turn in your triangle people, too.

Quit trying to solve our problems by hiring more bureaucrats to wag their fingers in our faces—
Including JIAC, and $350k for three recycling Nazis. Solve our real problems. Buy 1200 wood chippers and do a demonstration project for neighborhood homes associations.

Rethink endless sales taxes--take Forever Jail Tax II off the ballot Thursday!

2008-06-17T16:58:00.000-07:00

Welcome to JoCoNO.blogspot.com. We are Johnson County, Kansas taxpayers/voters who OPPOSE ALL SALES TAXES THAT HAVE NO SUNSET, including Forever Jail Tax II, on the Aug. 5 ballot.

This Thursday, we will ask the BOCC (Board of County Commissioners) led by Chairman Annabeth Surbaugh to TAKE THIS ISSUE OFF THE BALLOT. (That's allowed. The ballot goes to press Saturday.) When this was first proposed, gas cost $2.69 a gallon. Now it's $4.02, and we are paying $100 a month MORE per month just for gas and food. (And that's before Iowa's corn crop was flooded out.)

Now is NOT the time for a second 1/4 cent sales tax for public safety. (The first one was passed in 1995.) Pull this off the ballot. Call your commissioners at 715-5000!!

Come back next year. With a 10 year bond issue. Next year, you already put building the crime lab in the budget--WITHOUT COUNTING ON THIS TAX IN YOUR BUDGET. Tell your commissioners to quit PASSING THE BUCK TO US. It is disingenuous to act like it's a simple thing to just "let the voters decide." It costs time and money to defeat these taxes. Stop building up your social status by selling us out to your friends. Stop rescuing the schools and the KU fans who want a bigger campus/aka the falsely promoted Research Triangle.

Look out for US.