Letters on sales tax initiative, supply-side economics, do-nothing Congress

Sales tax initiative represents us

I’ve lived all across North America, and I choose to make my home here because I believe in the power of Wichita to grow and be the even-greater community it aspires to become.

The sales tax initiative is a big step toward this goal. Its inception was born from the ideas and concerns of citizen stakeholders. The community spoke, and out of the opinions expressed in more than 100 citizen meetings, 4,000 completed surveys and mailings to more than 25,000 residents, the sales tax initiative was created.

The initiative comes from us, represents us and is for us: those who live here and want to see Wichita grow into its full, boundless potential.

I have the honor of leading Envision Inc., a not-for-profit organization serving individuals who are blind or visually impaired. For them, a bus isn’t just a convenient mode of transportation; it’s a lifeline.

The sales tax is crucial to stabilize our bus system and enhance routes. Currently, our transit system provides 2 million annual rides to jobs, shopping and medical appointments but could do so much more. Voting “yes” to this initiative will allow service improvements, including the addition of extended evening hours.

If we look at other thriving communities around the country, the transit system is more than an advantage to a small contingent of riders; it’s a vital component to the vibrant nature of the city.

This is why I’ll be voting “yes” to the 1-cent sales tax increase this November. I urge you to do the same.

City lacks plan

The local media have been thoroughly covering what various groups think of the proposed 1-cent sales tax increase that will be on the November ballot. As I visit with Wichita residents, the prevailing sense is that the Wichita City Council, while having good intentions, just doesn’t have a plan.

City staff and the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce have released documents with various versions of how they think the money could be spent. However, the only thing the City Council has actually agreed upon would be the tax increase and several other broad categories.

The city prepared a list of options for the water plan, including everything from use of gray water to paying El Dorado to build a water purification plant so it can sell Wichita water. The staff’s current recommendation is to budget another $250 million on the aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) program. Maybe.

The city manager estimated ASR improvements would cost $200 million, but the city intends to collect $250 million from the sales tax in case the project costs more. If the city staff’s water proposal is plus or minus $50 million, it is time for more analysis and planning, not a rush to raise taxes.

If we pass this tax increase and then allow the city administration to flesh out the details later, we might not be satisfied with what we’re paying for once we learn more about how the money will be spent. But by then it will be too late, and taxpayers will be stuck with the bill.

A brighter future

The largest city in the state should offer the brightest future possible for our emerging workforce. As a young professional who has chosen to establish my career in Wichita, I appreciate everyone working to educate the public about the need for a future water source, improved street maintenance, an expanded transit system, and job creation and retention efforts.

Voting “yes” for the sales tax on Nov. 4 sends the message to the young professionals already living and working in our city that the Wichita community and its leaders will not just repair our shortcomings and accept the status quo but will work together to shape a brighter future. Seeing the diverse and broad base of people who support this initiative gives our young professionals confidence that Wichita will continue to innovate rather than stagnate.

Flawed theory

Although I vehemently disagree with them, I do have a modicum of respect for the tenacity and audacity of supporters of supply-side economics. They continually find new ways to repackage and rename this flawed economic theory.

Time and again they tell us if we give public funds to wealthy individuals and companies, eventually these funds will “trickle down” and benefit the public at large. Jobs will be created, tax revenue will increase, and the economy will grow at record levels.

The problem is it never works. It didn’t work during the Reagan administration when even fellow Republicans called it “voodoo economics.” It’s not working at the state level, where Gov. Sam Brownback’s policies are leading us off of a fiscal cliff. And it won’t work at the local level by setting aside $80 million for an undefined economic incentive program.

For far too long, public monies have been diverted from public programs into the pockets of favored private developers and supposed job creators, with the end results nearly always falling short of those we’ve been promised. In the end, the only people who derive any benefit from this diversion of public money are the people who directly receive it. Enough is enough.

I support increased spending on infrastructure repair, water-system improvements and public-transit expansion, but I cannot vote for the proposed sales tax increase in its present form. It’s nothing more than a welfare program for people who don’t need it.

Vote them out

Aren’t we to the point of taxation without representation, now that Congress is back on recess until after the November elections?

Average Americans work about 250 days per year, but Congress only works about 140 days per year, and most likely less this year. We expect these people to represent us and lead our nation. Are we getting any value for the money we pay them?

The only recourse I can think of is to vote them out of office this November. We can’t force them to work, but we can vote them out of office. So get out and vote.

This story was originally published October 4, 2014 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Letters on sales tax initiative, supply-side economics, do-nothing Congress."