CLARIFICATION: The Occupancy tax proposal is for a NEW tax. It will be a 3% tax just for the city, not for the county or the Wicker Center.
Another day. Another "let us tax again" drama scene from the Sanford City Council. This bunch just won't be happy until the line at the breadbasket forms all the way to Heins Palace. And we have plenty of fools in this town who believe they are owed our money.
That being said, the city council is proposing a [NEW] 3% Occupancy tax and will be petitioning the General Assembly for its approval. SOSDD. Yep. Same old stuff different day.
Sanford is a decent home town. I wouldn't call it a tourist spot, though. And even after incentive after incentive after incentive giving from the LEED Brat Pac and cohorts, we still have the highest unemployment in a four county radius. That's nothing to call home about. I would be remiss if I let you forget about property taxes. Lee County's rate is .75/$100. Compare that to Moore County which is .46/$100. Which county is prettier? You have three guesses and the first two don't count.
Anyway about this occupancy tax..I wonder how a certain gentleman who is a manager at the Hampton Inn feels about it? After all, those boys and girls on the city council who voted to do this have targeted his livelihood. Psssst: He's a LEED Pac Donor!
Might I ask: How's that LEED association benefiting you now, Mr. Woodruff? Or do you care? You're just an employee, right? Couldn't the boys who gather at The Flame persuade the council to give the Hampton Inn a break? After all, when the business privilege tax was passed the council conveniently let those in "their circle" escape while punishing others.
Mr. Woodruff: Just a few more questions: I realize all I know about for now is the $100 you gave that helped finance those atrocious ads. But are you so into the back pockets of the other LEED donors that you're guaranteed their business and anyone associated with them?
Do you have the run on providing STEM conference attendees with accommodations/meeting rooms? How about visitors and vendors for the Pottery Festival? I'm just asking. Inquiring minds want to know. Tell me: Was it a "safe" pay to play transaction with Donnie and company? Again, just asking. Mr. Woodruff, you have every right to respond and state your opinion as much as I, a blogger, have to ask the questions. But if the above would ever be more than just an assumption, it won't matter what taxes are implemented because the "Inn" will be safe and sound.
I personally hope the General Assembly marks this "occupancy tax request" DOA. I suspect the council will try to bypass Representative Stone. He was very instrumental in repealing the stupid business privilege tax the council passed not too many years ago. And I doubt the trash talk by Mr. Gaskins concerning Republicans and the NC Legislature would be welcomed by House Speaker Tillis. We will see. I have an FOIA request to the City Manager asking for Wednesday's video. And you can bet Tillis is getting a copy.
Until we can rein in unemployment, and see a positive recovery, we have no business allowing politicians run amok. Bottom line is Sanford doesn't need a tourism bureau. It needs something sorely missing - common sense LEADership.
23 comments:
Is the Gaskins Group pushing a new tax or a tax increase? Heard they use an occupancy tax to prop up the Dennis Wicker Civic Center.
Is this guy friends with Paul Gay or Chet Mann?
Sanford needs jobs, not a new tax!
that here is one on the books now specifically to fund Wicker Center upgrades and maintenance. it's falling way short of what is needed. that shouldn't surprise anyone.
Which guy were you asking about as a connection to LEED? The hotel manager or Gaskins? Woodruff is on paper as being buddy buddy.
Gaskins isn't listed as an original donor but who knows what we might find out with the next filing. Nestor is and we know they all travel in the same circle. Gaskins is pretty loose with the tongue.
Ughhh typing on an iPad sucks!! Sorry first few words should say: There is one....
Updated blog with CLARIFICATION statement on the occupancy tax.
Mr. Woodruff wants the tax to pass. It does not come out of his pocket and gives him walking around money to boost his business! I am sure he has a similar compensation model to that of our chamber leadership.
How much money does Woodruff's property get from the stem program on overnight stays?
Beats me. I am just asking the questions. If anyone knows some details post it.
Mr Woodruff in true LEED fashion wants this tax to pass. Think about....it cost him nothing, it really does not affect Hampton inn's bottom line BUT it does give them money to "walk around" with via a tourism bureau. I am sure Mr. Woodruff thinks his $100 investment might get him considered for a spot on that board.
Do some homework, Sheila. This occupancy tax was first proposed by Mike Stone several years ago when he was a member of the Sanford City Council. As you are so fond of saying ... "where was the outrage?"
And that means WHAT? That the city council has a right to propose it now with the economic conditions we have?
Well if that's the case as Woody in Toy Story 3 says: "REACH FOR THE SKY!"
And Toy Story One, Two...
Not every previous action deserves to be revisited. No matter who proposed it first.
But when the Dems do, it's A ok with a bunch of ya!!
Sanford needs some kind of tourism body. We have the Sanford Pottery Festival, The Downtown Fitness Fest and Bike Race, The Farmers Market, The Broadway Our Way Festival, The Old Mill Crank Up, The Lee Regional Fair, and countless Theatre and Musical Shows. Tourism equals money, and Sanford needs to diversify it's economy to be more than just manufacturing. Moore County is all about some tourism and those high dollar hotels help to bring down the property tax rate.
Now my idea that I have been floating around is to have a group set up a non-profit and then the City of Sanford could give them a one time 100,000 dollar grant to get them started. They could use the money as seed money to start a fall festival and the new fall festival could provide continuing funds to keep the tourism group going.
-Randall Lee Yow
P.S. No one who lives in Sanford would pay the tax unless they spend the night in a hotel or motel, and if Mike Stone can stay in Raleigh until the middle of the night about Livermush Festivals than we can have a tourism board.
Mr. Yow why set up yet another festival to increase tourism if the festivals we do have are not generating funds? Your logic on this one escapes me.
I know one thing about the LEED pac. They have powerful friends in high places. If it wasn't for blogs like Sheila's we would have no way to counter the propaganda they spew.
I have written several letters to the Sanford Herald editor. None have been published. I can write a letter about how the chicken crossed the street and it will be in the next day.
I guess they have figured out the last venue we have for reaching the people and gotten Mr Hight to fall in line. When people really find out what is happening they run from lead like the plague. Problem is getting the word out.
As I've shown in writing to Sheila, Mr. Marks has written exactly one letter recently which hasn't been published. He sent it to us on May 14 and it exceeded the word limit. It was sent back to him the same day with a request to cut to 350 words. He has not responded back. Shelia apologized to me in writing in private but continues to misrepresent and mischaracterize all this on her blog. It's a shame. Bill Horner, Publisher, The Sanford Herald. (919) 718-1234.
So Bill, Dale comments and you say I'm the problem. "Retiredteacherwoman" misrepresented Lee County conservatives on the Herald's website. So using your logic, it's your fault.
Geez.
Mr. Horner,
First, I'm not misrepresenting ANYONE! I have not privately apologized. Had I done such, I would stand by it. But I haven't.
Frankly, tell me why I should now that you are posting on this blog that I am still not telling the truth. I will refrain from using Liar since word association is an issue too.
Readers - at what point do you hear stuff enough and then say "ok I'll find out either or"? That's what I attempted. But you can bet your house it won't happen again. Not in an email. I have every right to do it here and I will. Never will I send another email to Mr. Horner asking for clarification because someone asks me the questions knowing I would do the right thing and find out.
I will let the readers believe whatsoever they believe.
The shame part in all of this bickering is it didn't have to be this way. Mr. Horner could have simply said "Here are the rules. If they are not followed, letters don't get published. Call us if anyone disagrees." Turned into "Kill the messenger. Forget the message."
I could dig up an email, because I keep every one from the Herald, that states that all letters are published.
So if you have written one to the Herald and it hasn't been published, post it here. Thanks.
Sheila
I never said it was bad idea when Mike Stone wanted to do it, nor did I say it was good idea now. But by all means, keep hiding from the point - which is that Mike Stone proposed an occupancy tax increase as a way to fund a tourism bureau. Where was your outrage?
Probably working my butt off and not paying attention. You know "life"! Asleep at the wheel! When I woke up it was all she wrote.
Besides so he did. He isn't in the city council now. Where's YOUR outrage for the ones doing it now? Still doesn't mean any of them should do it.
Just curious.
Hmmm So you can see where the hits will be when Mike's campaign ramps up.
Oh Randall! Darling Dumpling gave you the lottery at 2 am. You know, that little bill that has transformed NC to the top 10 educational system in the nation. Say what? We aren't? GASP!
Dumpling has a campaign theme. Wait Dumpling isn't running. Ha ha ha
Doesn't matter. Read the proposal. You'll see why.
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