Monday February 4, 2013 - 6:00PM
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor
Ordinance No. 12-1102, An Ordinance to Impose Impact Fees
Mayor
Rosewood Rental and Events
Mayor
Overtime
Tax Millage Increase
Mayor
Executive Session – Personnel
Mayor
ADJOURN
City of Liberty taxes are the second highest in the county.
Tax millage rates by municipality in Pickens County/Excludes credits.
EASLEY 58.0
LIBERTY 80.0
NORRIS 72.2
CENTRAL 72.0
CLEMSON 83.4
SIX MILE 31.8
PICKENS 58.3
12 comments:
Your article states there are two tax increases on the council's agenda, tax millage is one, what is the other? Your article also states that Liberty's tax millage is 2nd highest in the county so one would think this council is not satisified until we are number one on the list. It puzzles me as to why the taxpayers of Liberty are not raising cane about this mayor and council and the way they are doing business. Turn out for these meetings should be like the turn out that was demonstrated this past week in the county. Where are all the cuts in each department that was supposed to be made? What's the status of hiring a fire and police chief or is that what the secret closed door executive session is all about? It would be in the best interest of the taxpayers if they knew the way that these open positions were advertised to be filled or does the good old boy system apply? Impact Fees, I guess that means MickeyD's, KFC, Arby's, Long Johns Silvers, Bilo, Walmart, Autozone, Advance Auto, Ace Hardware and a number of other business's will be going on to Pickens to build because no Impact Fees in Pickens, Oh No wait thses companies are already in Pickens, makes you wonder why they didn't build in Liberty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't mince words Michael ...
A fee (an impact fee in this case) is also a tax!
A city that taxes its citizens and business to death will eventually do just that ~ die.
I don't mind calling you out on something Phillip as I don't mince words either. Increasing the millage rate would be a tax on the citizens/taxpayers of Liberty and an impact would not affect the citizens taxes,IMO. If I'm wrong then explain why you think its a tax and why its not called an Impact Tax.
This is from Wikipedia.....
An impact fee is a fee that is imposed by a local government within the United States on a new or proposed development project to pay for all or a portion of the costs of providing public services to the new development.[1] Impact fees are considered to be a charge on new development to help fund and pay for the construction or needed expansion of offsite capital improvements.[2] These fees are usually implemented to help reduce the economic burden on local jurisdictions that are trying to deal with population growth within the area.
Look at your property tax bill and see "Library fee"
Look at your water bill and see "sewer fee"
Any charge imposed by a government is a tax.
Any tax discourages growth.
All taxes decrease wealth.
ALL taxes are equalizations to socialistic societies.
Facts are, our city needs aggressive budget cuts and aggressive tax cuts to encourage citizens and business.
There are still many cuts that could be made within the city budget that would help us meet our obligations and probably even reduce millage rates.
Just because a tax seems like its on a business ... Really it's just a tax on citizens because the business is discouraged by the tax.
I understand that taxation is necessary and I also understand that the city is facing budgetary challenges.
I just see a lot of waste and no aggressive cuts or creative means of revenue.
And yes, I have specific examples of revenue streams and specific cuts in mind.
Another example ... Obamacare is a tax.
To Michael …
Who do you think owns businesses?
Could it be citizens and residents?
A fee on a business is a tax on resident either through stagnant growth or costs passed along to customers.
The city of Liberty is looking at this as an "us too tax" not giving a legitimate reason.
There could be NO justification for inhibiting business in Liberty.
I'm going to have to agree with that the last two Anonymous comments Michael.
Phillip, you stated that any charge imposed by a government is a tax. I'll have to disaree with you on that, lets take your water bill, true the fees for the library and the sewer fee are taxes but take the charge for water and sewer, the city government are providing a product therefore it would not be consided a tax. I agree with you on city budget cuts but I don't see or hear of any being made and good luck on the tax cuts. Anonymous #1,Obamacare is a tax because the Supreme Court ruled that way. Anonymous #2 You directed your comments to me but you failed to do one thing and that was to put your name to your comments therefore I decline to address your comments. I'm not trying to make anyone mad but I just feel its time for the good people of Liberty to come forward by name and voice for the good of our city. I grew up in this town, left for service in 1964 and came back in 1998, some people know me and some don't, some may like me and some may not but I believe in speaking my mind and if I'm wrong on something I'll at least admit it. I'm not ashamed of who I am, I did put anonymous on a couple of comments I've made but stopped because thats not who I am.
atlibertytosay has left a new comment on your post "Two Tax Increases On Agenda For Monday Liberty Cit...":
I'm not sure it makes sense to say one fee is a fee and another fee is a tax.
The water and sewer fees ARE ACTUALLY EPA/DHEC compliance taxes. <-- they are separate from the bill … which yes, we do pay to receive a service.
When you get your oil changed at a mechanic - they charge a disposal fee … what service are they providing? This is a tax.
I always get my oil filter back so I can scrap it for money BUT they still charge the fee.
The mechanics recycle the oil for money - they don't "dispose" of it.
The purpose of the impact fee is revenue.
Taxes are imposed to increase revenue.
While I don't like anonymous comments either, I do respect that the person that posted them wants to remain private due to possible shunning by the City.
Citizens own businesses. A fee imposed on a business will be passed along to customers by higher prices.
The city of Liberty has admitted on several occasions that the MAIN reason they are wanting the impact fee is because other Pickens County municipalities impose it. They have also been pleaded with by two citizens (one being myself) that this may have an effect of discouraging business to locate here ~ something we cannot afford.
Would the city rather collect $2500+ every year from two businesses or $1200+/- from one business - one time?
Been busy Phillip, didn't want you to feel I'd forgot about our discussion. Let me say this, my original question was about the impact fee, all this other comments about whether its a fee or tax means nothing to me. My understanding was that it would be a one time fee for any new business or mfg. that wanted to open or build in Liberty. The fee would be to provide public service to the business or delevopment whereas the city/taxpayers would not have to foot the bill for these improvements. Don't get me wrong I'm not in favor of the impact fee either but the way it stands it just seems like our mayor and council are not working toward getting new business inside the city limits. If City of Pickens can get new business in their town then I would think Liberty needs new leadership.
I don't necessarily think it shouldn't be levied.
I think you would agree that the fee is, in at least some small way, a barrier to business locating here.
About the only thing that could be worse is saying, "Please don't locate here" …. and from what I've heard, in a few cases, the City has said just that.
Convincing me that any NEW TAX is worthwhile or has merit is a lost cause ~ especially if there's too much muscle and way too much fat.
Sure, big box can afford a >$2000 or less fee. But, what about me? What if I wanted to build a small business location? $2000 may make me or break me in my first year - especially seeing the demographics of Liberty that one would have to base their business plan on.
I'm totally against the impact fee. If Liberty had the right person in office or a working Chamber that could sell Liberty to any business that wanted to locate here an impact fee would not be necessary. Lets use your term, say big box wanted to locate in Liberty, would it be beneficial to Liberty to do the improvements to get big box in knowing that it would be tax revenue and much needed jobs to the city. Not only taxes and jobs but water and sewer revenue as well for years to come. Sometimes you have to give a little to get a little. I think we've beat this horse to death so this is my last comment on this subject. Its been fun until next time.
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