Comments on: Tallahassee Spends $1,140,000 On Various Charities and Social Service Programs

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:55:18 +0000

I believe we should help those who cannot help themselves, but I feel that it’s not the local governments place to direct my tax dollars to the cultural and social services they see fit. Many of these organizations seem to have similar missions. Let me decide how I donate my money. No dance theater should be subsidized by the government beyond a tax exemption certificate.

By: Pace Allen

Pace Allen — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:37:42 +0000

To: County Commissioners and Tourist Development Council

Re: Green [Ecotourism] Cheeks in Seats = Heads in Beds

Please don’t raise bed taxes to cover the $500,000 airline subsidy. Don’t double dollars going to a performing arts center that may never be built. You don’t need to raise taxes. Simply put all cultural and non-tax regenerating programs, “Cheeks in Seats” programs on a $600,000 per year budget. Use the 4th cent for “Cheeks in Seats.” Use the rest for “Heads in Beds” tax regenerating expenditures. Don’t eat the seed corn.

“Cheeks in Seats” for the airline subsidy is not authorized by statute. “Cheeks in Seats” is authorized for building a performing arts center. But, it is not authorized for lobbing efforts to raise taxes by the PAC organization. http://www.taxteaparty.com/taxfortax

Ice Capades, French Horns, Mama’s, Spouse’s and Pivot Points aside, commissioners have done enough to “jump start” private contributions for the PAC. Over ONE MILLION DOLLARS have been spent to “jump start” private donations. Another million remains to be spent. Let the wonderful PAC organizers now raise some real private money.

Direct future 4th cent collections and the existing $1M reserve if you wish to “Cheeks in Seats” if you must. But, keep the remaining dollars focused on tourism marketing “Heads in Beds” and regeneration of the bed tax dollars for future marketing. Just say Ecotourism.

May I suggest that you redirect the 4th cent to Ecotourism “Heads in Beds”? I think one could make a case that a targeted airline subsidy could be designed around Ecotourism that might fit into the “Heads in Beds” tax regenerating model and statute.

Pace Allen, Tallahassee native, Attorney, CPA, former Chairman – Tallahassee Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

General Partner, Paden Properties, LLC
Professional Green Hotel Management, http://www.paden.info
Mobile: 850.556.0709

By: Scott Greer

Scott Greer — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:50:44 +0000

Report on how much the city and county spends on police officers that are mainly used for traffic…ie speeding tickets. How much for the cars and motorcycles and the radar and lasers. Then on the fines where does the money go. Court cost etc.

Thanks
Scott

By: Pace

Pace — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:27:46 +0000

Keep up the great work. I’m most agrivated about the John Dailey Goodwood Bailout. How Good Would you like a $300,000 bailout? The meeting space at Goodwood competes against private owners of meeting space. The commissioners raided the Tourist Development funds this past year.

There’s no virtue in taking from neighbors for charity.

Pace
Pace Allen
attorney, CPA, former Chairman – Tallahassee Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
http://www.taxteaparty.com/goodwood