John B. Kalb testifies at County Council
Posted by John B. Kalb - 8/13/08 @ 11:20 pm - Filed Under 2008 National Elections, Local Politics
I want those that had to be at work when Tuesday’s County Council heard public testimony before they voted on the proposal to approve the issue of a $25 million bond to aid in financing the Maplecrest Road Extension Project. So here it is:
Good Morning, Councilors. My name is John B. Kalb, I am a citizen, a property owner and property taxpayer in Allen County, Indiana. I have with me this morning my “spring” installment payment which I will be depositing in the county treasurer’s office later today.
I am here to express my opinion which is opposition to issuance of a $25 million bond for the “Maplecreast Road Extension Project”. I believe this project is no longer needed and should not be funded with a long-term “pay-later” financing scheme because:
A) I attended the hearing last month ehere 4 members of your august body questioned the necessity of this overpriced project - but then in a subsequent meeting, all except one voted to go ahead with the project in what was a complete turn-around surprize. I have questioned some of you as to why the change in reasoning and was told that “the project was already started (engineering had been done and had been paid for from the $11 million of federal funds)and Allen County would have to somehow repay $3 to $4 million if we didn’t go ahead. So this is the new way things are going to get done in our county (and City of Fort Wayne) - our governmental departments go out on a limb, spend $’s for land, buildings,et al to be used on an unapproved project AND THEN WHEN IT GETS TO THE BODY THAT NEEDS TO APPROVE IT, it’s a “fait acompli” - the elected entity is left with no choice but to approve the project - can you read my lips? HARRISON SQUARE BALLPARK!
B) Councilors - you are not working for Do-It-Best, Walmart or bridge and road contractors - you have sought and were elected to your position to represent the people who have chosen to live in Allen County - ALL OF US! Not just a few. Why can’t you listen to your constituents?
C) In Indiana, due to a revision in our State Code via Public Law 146 which was passed by our General Assembly and signed into law by our governor this spring, registered voters who are property taxpayers now have a method to express their opinions on bond issues like this one (exceeding $12 million) by way of a ballot question in the next general election….This is accomplished, per this public law, IC 6-1.1-20-3.5, by getting 100 or more signatures on a petition to the county election board in this case asking, ” Shall Allen County issue bonds to finance the Maplecrest Road Extension Project” to be placed on the ballot at the next general or primary election. Then the voters would have to, by a majority vote at this election, approve your council’s proposed debt service for this project or it could not occur using this bonding method.
If you vote today, or anytime at a future meeting to issue said bonds for this project, our group has the necessary signatories to file said petition. Contrary to what Mr. Fishering testifided, we are of the opinion that this bond DOES fall under this public law. Members of our state house of representatives Ways and Means Committee have indicated concurance with our interpretation.
D) It is time to stop these “local ear-marks” - this is no different than what we are so critical of our national congresspersons in using ear-marks to use public funds for very questionable projects. This project is one of those - it may have made sense prior to the builing of I-469, but is nonsense now.
E) It is also time to stop the “corporate welfare programs like this project, (and like the Harrison Square ballpark) that net unfair benefits to corporate entities like Do-It-Best, Walmart, building contrators, bond attorneys, (Hardball Capital), et al. I have a brother-in-law who manages and is one of the owners of a local building contracting firm. When I discussed my concerns about this type of project, he said, “John, you know that you are working to take the bread off our home table, don’t you?” I answered him, “Yes, I am, but these actions will allow many, not a few, to keep bread on their tables in Allen County”.
F) One of our Allen County Commissioners stated recently, “I think that one of my main jobs in my position is to seek the maximum dollar return of our federal tax monies, that Allen County sends to Washington DC, to fund projects in Allen County” This from an individual who tells us that he is “a fiscal conservitive”! This attitude is what has led to “Bridges to Nowhere”, $750 toilet seats, et al.
G) Later today, during part of your budget meetings, the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport authority will be asking for you to add $2.8 million to their property tax levy for the next tax cycle. This is necessary and due to a guaranty by Allen County that , if for any reason, the Airport Authority was unable to pay the deby service on bonds used to build hangers and aprons for Kitty Hawk Air Freight, the payments would be made out of general property tax revenues. Since this company went”belly-up”, we are stuck. How many times does this have to happen before we understand that “Government cannot operate as a profit-seeking business?”
I ask you to vote NO on this request. Thank You
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4 Responses to “John B. Kalb testifies at County Council”
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Thanks for the update John. The irony of the $2.8 million tax increase due to the Kitty Hawk failure is quite rich.
Indeed, thanks Mr. Kalb.
We appear to be stuck by compounding interests
from local & state funded bonds by borrowing money. What happened to saving and paying upfront?
Way to go, Mr.Kalb:
Now, what do you bet the “Guardians of a Public Trust” spend several thousand bucks on yet another piece of property for the police and sheriff that they then will buy. And, then find it “won’t quite work”.
I’ll sign with you. ANYTIME!
Absolutely right on point that government should not be involved in Corporate Welfare.