SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
August 17, 2008
Sullivan’s Salvos 8/19/08
I begin this edition of Salvos with birthday wishes for two very important people – my wife Melissa Fath on August 17, and my son BJ Sullivan on August 22.
Melissa is simply amazing. She is the best wife and mother a person could ever hope for; because of this, I often neglect to mention her scientific and volunteer work. Melissa is an amazing person. I am truly blessed.
BJ is our baby, but he is quickly growing into a young man. I am so proud of him; he really is a great kid. No one in my life has taught me more.
Happy Birthday, guys! I love you!
You may notice some additional white space in Salvos beginning this week. This is an attempt to make it easier to read. Please let me know if you do not feel this is a positive change!
The Landlocked Film Festival runs August 21-24 in downtown Iowa City. The least-appreciated piece of Iowa City’s Summer of the Arts, the Landlocked Film festival has really come into its own. Melissa and I partook of this last year, and we REALLY enjoyed ourselves! Admission is free – you simply must check this out!
A Taste of India - India Bazaar will be held Saturday, August 23 from 11 AM – 4 PM at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, Building C. This event will include food, arts, crafts, and henna painting. Even better - this event is a fundraiser for the Free Medical Clinic!
The Board of Supervisors recently discussed the idea of putting off tax collections until June of 2009. I think this is a very bad idea. In addition, I am frustrated with the way in which this discussion came about. Here are a few reasons why I feel this way:
1. I do not believe the Board should have discussed this without first finding out if it is even legal. It makes the Board look foolish when we do not do our homework.
2. Like businesses, local School districts, cities, and the County have to be concerned with cash flow. Any businessperson will tell you that income and expenses do not tell the whole story – cash flow is vital to the operation of any entity.
3. The Board can frequently be heard to complain when other entities make decisions that impact the County. Yet in this matter of extreme significance, whoever put it on the agenda made no effort to contact other affected taxing bodies. The County just lost a great deal of moral authority where issues of intergovernmental communication are concerned.
4. Worse yet, Iowa City specifically requested that Johnson County not pursue this course of action with the Iowa City portion of the tax bill. Yet the Board is still considering this option. I would be extremely upset if I were a member of the IC City Council.
5. The Board held this discussion before adequate research could be done. What would be the impacts of delaying tax payments on each taxing body? How much money are we talking about? Shouldn’t we know these impacts before we discuss any plan to delay? First do no harm!
6. Wanting to help flood victims is admirable. But budgetary recklessness is not. If people pay their taxes, local governments can try to target some help to those who need it. If people delay paying taxes, local governments have no resources they can use to help flood victims. Flood relief was already on the agenda that night – why the need for this unworkable scheme?
7. Many taxes could not be delayed even if we tried. Many properties have mortgages. While some mortgage holders are offering their own grace periods, most are going to require that taxes be paid, regardless of any plan Johnson County puts forth.
8. The process for putting items on the Board agendas typically involves the Chair. In this case, I was not informed of this late addition to the agenda until the day the agenda was posted.
9. Look – I like it when people introduce new concepts. We need arenas where elected officials can feel unafraid to float ideas, raise questions and make suggestions. I also feel that we need to have the confidence of the public – I want them to know that their elected officials are thorough and do the necessary homework. Many of the questions that were asked Thursday could have been researched prior to the meeting.
10. Opposing this plan does NOT mean one opposes aid to victims of the flood. Johnson County can still help flood victims - it already has. I am confident we’ll do even more. This is an important topic – far too important to use the situation as a political tool. I simply hope we have the political courage and common sense to do things the right way.
What is your opinion? I’d like to know!
Saints Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Cosgrove holds its annual Pork Day on Sunday, August 24. This is a neat event and a great meal– I urge everyone to give Cosgrove a look!
DID YOU KNOW? Citizens for Tax Justice has lots of information on tax fairness at their website - http://www.ctj.org/.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
www.johnson-county.com
"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
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As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 8:24 PM
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