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Voting for change in the Kansas Senate … not
Read more: Voting for change in the Kansas Senate … notThe Americans For Prosperity — Kansas blog has a post Voting for change in the Kansas Senate that explains the importance of the recent leadership elections in the Kansas Senate. This election was important because there was a clear choice. As the post says: “A vote for the current team is essentially saying that everything…
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Letters to Wichita City Council and Sedgwick County Commission Regarding Downtown Wichita TIF District
Read more: Letters to Wichita City Council and Sedgwick County Commission Regarding Downtown Wichita TIF DistrictJohn Todd has prepared letters that we hope will influence local governments regarding the downtown Wichita TIF district. One, to the Wichita City Council, asks them to conduct a proper public hearing. A second letter to the Sedgwick County Commissioners asks them to not consider passing this TIF district until Wichita conducts a proper public…
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The Process Should Be Most Important
Read more: The Process Should Be Most ImportantA confusing move last week by the Wichita City Council didn’t help build public trust, unfortunately. Without time for public consideration, city leaders added up to $10 million for parking structures to the proposed tax-increment financing plan for the 16-block area around the arena; the council unanimously approved the plan Tuesday.
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Wichita Taxes Cancel Development
Read more: Wichita Taxes Cancel DevelopmentCarrie Rengers’ Wichita Eagle column from yesterday (Warehouse plans near airport are called off) reports on two Wichita real estate developers who have canceled a project that would be a valuable addition to our city. The reason for canceling? Wichita’s property tax environment. In Wichita, we’re separating real estate development into two classes. There are…
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Many Wichita developers pay for infrastructure
Read more: Many Wichita developers pay for infrastructureI think this perception, wrong as it is, is common: that when we see developers building something, the City of Wichita magically builds the supporting infrastructure, and at no cost to the developers. But it isn’t quite so.
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Randy Brown: Reopen Downtown Wichita Arena TIF Public Hearing
Read more: Randy Brown: Reopen Downtown Wichita Arena TIF Public HearingIn a letter in yesterday’s Wichita Eagle, Randy Brown comments on my recent op-ed piece in the same newspaper. He is senior fellow at the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University, and also the executive director of the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government. He’s done a lot to promote openness and transparency…
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Sharon Fearey’s Bad Joke
Read more: Sharon Fearey’s Bad JokeSharon Fearey asked this question: “Do we all get free nuts or anything?”
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Wichita TIF District Reveals Lack of Confidence
Read more: Wichita TIF District Reveals Lack of ConfidenceTell me, if real estate developers require an incentive to do something, what does that tell us about their level of confidence?
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Low marks for Gov. Sebelius on Cato Institute grade card
Read more: Low marks for Gov. Sebelius on Cato Institute grade cardAmericans For Prosperity — Kansas reported last month on Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius regarding taxation and spending in Kansas. As reported in Low marks for Gov. Sebelius on Cato Institute grade card, she doesn’t fare well. While supporting some business tax cuts, spending in Kansas has been out of control for some years. This rapid…