Robert Layton Archives - Page 7 of 8 Voice For Liberty

31

Jan

Wichita city manager Robert Layton on the air

Yesterday Wichita city manager Robert Layton appeared as a guest on the Gene Countryman Show on KNSS Radio in Wichita and spoke on a number of topics brought up by the host and callers. Several times host Gene Countryman referred to Wichita theater owner Bill Warren and his assessment of Layton as "best city manager the city's ever had," calling Warren's assessment "high praise." Warren has good reason to heap praise on Layton. He and his partners have benefited handsomely from actions the Wichita City Council has taken at Layton's recommendation. Most recently Warren escaped paying property taxes on a…

27

Dec

By Bob Weeks

North Dakota TIF video reminiscent of Wichita

The North Dakota Policy Council has a video on YouTube that explains the mechanics of tax increment financing (TIF) districts and the public policy problems associated with TIF. The video is presented in three sections. The material in the first section is different from the way TIF districts work in Kansas, but the other two sections are very similar to the way the law works in Kansas. At the start of part 3 ("Problems with TIFs") the narrator states the problem succinctly: "Tax increment financing negatively affects everybody's property tax bill by taking the tax revenue from increased taxable valuations…

08

Dec

By Bob Weeks

For Wichita city government, open records are not valued

As a condition of renewing its contract with the Go Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau, I asked that the Wichita City Council require that the agency comply with the Kansas Open Records Act. As has been the case before, the city council and city staff say they are in favor of open records and government transparency, but their actions indicate that they are not. After my remarks, which are presented below, City manager Bob Layton said that my attack on the city attorney was unfair, that it was not he who made this decision not to comply with the Kansas…

11

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Economic development planning in Wichita on tap

Tuesday's meeting of the Wichita City Council features four public hearings concerning Community Improvement Districts. One CID also will have a public hearing on its application for tax increment financing (TIF). CIDs are a creation of the Kansas Legislature from the 2009 session. They allow merchants in a district to collect additional sales tax of up to two cents per dollar. The extra sales tax is used for the exclusive benefit of the CID. Under tax increment financing (TIF), developers get to use their property taxes to pay for the same infrastructure (or other costs) that everyone else has to…

31

Aug

By Bob Weeks

For downtown Wichita, Mayor Brewer has a vision

In Sunday's Wichita Eagle, Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer penned a piece that states his belief in the importance of downtown and prepares the people of Wichita for the start of a prescriptive planning process, with accompanying subsidy to politically-favored developers willing to fulfill the plan. The mayor used the word "vibrant" twice. Asking citizens a question like "Would you like to have a vibrant downtown?" is meaningless. Who doesn't? It's only when the question is accompanied by context that citizens can start to understand how they should answer. For example, in the mayor's article, he mentions the use of special…

25

May

By Bob Weeks

North Dakota TIF video informative, reminiscent of Wichita

The North Dakota Policy Council has a video on YouTube that explains the mechanics of tax increment financing (TIF) districts and the public policy problems associated with TIF. The video is presented in three sections. The material in the first section is different from the way TIF districts work in Kansas, but the other two sections are very similar to the way the law works in Kansas. At the start of part 3 ("Problems with TIFs") the narrator states the problem succinctly: "Tax increment financing negatively affects everybody's property tax bill by taking the tax revenue from increased taxable valuations…

11

Apr

By Bob Weeks

Wichita city hall silent on handling of ethics issue

A correction has been noted in this article. On Tuesday the Wichita city council will hold a public hearing regarding a request by Real Development for a $2.5 million increase in tax increment district financing. While this proposal should be opposed on its merits, there is reason to give extra scrutiny to this matter. That's because Real Development employs the services of Wichita public relations executive Beth King. What matters to public policy is that last year she and Wichita City Manager Robert Layton began a dating relationship which continues to the present. Documents released to me in response to…

14

Feb

By Bob Weeks

David Burk, Wichita developer, overreaches

Today's Wichita Eagle contains a story about a well-known Wichita real estate developer that, while shocking, shouldn't really be all that unexpected. The opening sentence of the article (Developer won tax appeal on city site) tells us most of what we need to know: "Downtown Wichita's leading developer, David Burk, represented himself as an agent of the city -- without the city's knowledge or consent -- to cut his taxes on publicly owned property he leases in the Old Town Cinema Plaza, according to court records and the city attorney." Some might say it's not surprising that Burk represented himself…

10

Jan

By Bob Weeks

Waterwalk hotel deal breaks new ground for Wichita subsidies

On Tuesday, the Wichita City Council will consider an agreement with a hotel developer that, besides awarding the usual subsidies to politically-favored developers, breaks new ground in the use of subsidy. Additionally, the deal contradicts recent promises made by a top city official. The proposed hotel, a Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites Hotel, would be located immediately south of the WaterWalk Place condominium building, at the northwest corner of Dewey and Main Streets. Site of proposed hotel at Dewey and Main Streets. View is looking northeast. WaterWalk Place is the large building at the left. The Intust Bank Arena can…

04

Jan

By Bob Weeks

Mark Gietzen should be compensated by Wichita

In 2000, a bridge was built by the City of Wichita near Mark Gietzen's house. Vibration from the construction process damaged Gietzen's house. Nearly ten years later, Gietzen has not been compensated for damages. It's not that Gietzen hasn't tried to receive payment for his damages. The mayor of Wichita at the time assured Gietzen that he would be compensated. There's been a number of lawsuits. But so far, that hasn't happened. According to Wichita city attorney Gary Rebenstorf, the city has no responsibility for damage. That lies with Dondlinger & Sons Construction, the city's contractor. Besides Gietzen's house, there…