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Recreation gets resounding "yes"
Published Tuesday, November 3, 2009
NATCHEZ — Adams County voters overwhelmingly voted in favor of the recreation referendum on Tuesday’s ballot.
In unofficial results, 78.56 percent of voters — 7,679 total votes — voted on yes for the measure, while 21.44 percent of the voters — 2096 total votes — voted against the measure.
“This will send a message to the city and county officials,” County Supervisor Mike Lazarus said. “The public is in favor of recreation, and we need to do all we can to make it happen.”
The non-binding referendum read, “Do you favor the creation of a consolidated countywide recreation program to be funded by a bond and/or other financial device in an amount to be determined but not to exceed $5,450,000?”
Even though the referendum doesn’t obligate officials to any specific action, Lazarus said the next step will be to form a committee with three representatives by each of the three county governing bodies, the Adams County Board of Supervisors, the Natchez Board of Aldermen and the Natchez-Adams County School District.
“From here, we form the nine-person committee and have them make something happen, and hold them accountable for that,” Natchez Chamber of Commerce President Debbie Hudson said.
County resident Brent Bourland said the success of the vote could be attributed to the work of young people around the county, and of Leadership Natchez.
“This was more than saying the city is ready to move forward with recreation, it is ready to move forward on all fronts,” Bourland said.
The vote for recreation is something that has been needed for 20 years, Leadership Natchez member Will Devening said.
“This is something that Natchez will only benefit from,” Devening said. “Our youth will always be here.”
“Recreation isn’t the end-all of the area’s problems, but it is a piece of the puzzle for Natchez’s future.”
Comments
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on November 4, 2009 at 4:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Since I intend to profit from the recreation complex, Brer Rabbit Excursions will give a 5% discount to any Adams County resident with a property tax receipt who uses our services. I think it is proper in these public risk/private profit schemes that those profiting share the profits with the public.
I believe so strongly that this complex will give me increased business I will offer this 5% dscount immediately upon beginning operation in the next two weeks, and if the voters approve at least a $10 million bond issue I will offer an additional 5% discount to Adams County taxpayers.
I'm doing this in honor of former Governor Hugh White, whose vision brought Natchez its post-war prosperity through the Balance Agriculture With Industry program.
Now how long is it going to be before that canoe canal opens?
Posted by sandbagger (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 6:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This pass JULY 12th thru 17th a "WORLD" slow pitch softball tournament was held in TUPELO, MS. It was 18yrs. old and younger girls.There was 32 teams from 8 states with 12 girls on each team.Now lets do the math: 32x12=384. Lets use $60 as an average for hotel room. 384x60=$23,040 per day.The tournament was 3 days.=$69,120 JUST FOR ROOMS Also remember this.Age groups for these tournaments-18 AND UNDER,16 AND UNDER,14 AND UNDER,12 AND UNDER,10 AND UNDER AND 8 AND UNDER . HELLO?? HELLO?? DO YOU GET THE MESSAGE?
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 6:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I voted no but the election is over so now I wait for the,"I told you so moment to come."
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on November 4, 2009 at 6:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, I get the message that the hotels and restaurants profited from the public assumption of risk the taxpayers underwrote. Did these hotels and restaurants increase staff pay, and if so, by how much over what they paid before the complex was buit?
Do YOU get MY message?
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on November 4, 2009 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A local waitress showed me some of her paystubs. The restaurant logged her at 1/4 the hours she actually worked, paid her around $2.00 an hour, she averaged $70 a day tips; the waitress collects earned income tax credit on three children who all live with people other than her but are her children, and gets $600 worth of food stamps a month.
Contrast that with the $68 k payroll deductions I paid last year, and the $132 stimulus check my wife and I got to share. I had to work 32 years in the same industry to acquire the skills needed to earn what I earn, and have had to take a 30% paycut this year.
My own family has needs we cannot meet because of our tax burden, but we are determined to take care of ourselves.
All the local business should give up some of this anticipated increase in profit in return for the support of the taxpayers in underwriting the risk of the complex.
Its simple, honest, and right.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 7:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wanna build the gas station/quick store at the entrance to the place.
:)
Posted by sandbagger (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 7:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Make phone calls to CHAMBER OF COMMERCE in other towns and this is what they will tell you.Indsutry is down everywhere.We have 3 plants will just setting and rotting for years.Other towns have same problems so they turned to recreation.Here is what i want you do go look at.WWW.USSSA.COM. You can look at slowpitch just as 1 example.
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on November 4, 2009 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You don't have to sell me sandbagger, I'm already sold. All I'm saying is that socially responsible businesses will share the increased profit with the taxpayers who funded their increased profit. Or, they can be greedy, and hold the public under their thumb, and smile at them from their Navigators and Cadillacs.
Minimum wage is not in Brer Rabbit's vocabulary. Everybody is worth at least $10 an hour with the value of today's dollar.
Posted by sandbagger (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL@OldGrandDad
Posted by sandbagger (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Im dying to tell all yall something good BUT I cant right now. Just keep :))
Posted by cinnamonfern (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Regardless of how the project is funded each person in the City and County will have to pay for it. If property taxes go up then those that own property will pay a disproportional amount. Those that rent will have their rents go up. Commercial owners will simply pass on higher costs to their customers. If sales taxes go up then the burden is shared somewhat more evenly. O course those that spend more will pay more. If you say that no tax increase is necessary to fund the recreation complex then why am I taxed too much to begin with. 5.4 million plus overages adds up to a lot of money for a small county. I usually plan better for my vacations than what our leaders have done for this project. Nothing is free. We all must pay for it and keep paying for it each and every year to maintain just like Duncan Park.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
With all the negative pots on the previous articles on recreation I thought this wouldn't pass. I am very happy that it did. I guess there arent as many negative people in Natchez as you read on the Democrat.
Posted by thinkaboutit (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have a question for sandbagger. In what way does your math about rooms work in payback for the bond issue. The total money you are taking about is not profit. The money it takes to pay the bond back is from the taxes generated, not the total money a business takes in. All of the taxes are not local, some go to the State. And all money taken in does not stay locally. The hotel, for instance, may be owned by someone who lives elsewhere. I am for recreation, but we need to sit down with pen and paper and work out the payback as well as the plans. Everyone wants it to work, but no one seems to want to make the hard decisions to see if it will work. Let's do our homework on this one so it doesn' t turn out like our Convention Center (burden on the tax payers).
Posted by lightcatcher (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen "mike8427". This small group of naysayers may have hijacked the online democrat, but thankfully, they do not represent this town. With the "Yes" vote to recreation passing at an almost 80 % approval, there is the real representation of Natchez.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
mike8427, the posters here were also overwhelmingly against the 2$ hotel tax also.
Posted by sandbagger (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
thinkaboutit: so what you are saying is: put road blocks up and dont let nobody come thru town for no reason,O wait! Ive gotten rich of tourist
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
very few care about "details"....
they put more research into buying a washer/dryer than they do about a $5.5 million project, which will be paid back through higher taxes.
no one cares that the additional 9 holes built at DP "to bring in the conventions" really didn't do that.
no one cares that the City, BOE and County continue to raise taxes (and they built very little!).
no one care the civic center by Natchez High went bust.
no one cares that they have ZERO idea how much it costs to build a pool/fields or MAINTAIN THEM.
no one cares that DP pool closed; TWICE and still sits empty.
no one cares where anyone came up with the 5.5 million "budget" to begin with.
however, they DO CARE about who got cut on Dancing With The Stars.
Posted by tiredoflosers (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen NIDERBIP!!! They are a bunch of baffoons. Did anyone forget about RENolds Atkins and the Tax HIKE?
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank You Niderbip!
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tiredoflosers, since when does a tax assessor in this state "hike" taxes?
Posted by eawprops (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I voted for the recreation facility and am glad to see a positive move for the town.
WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT WITHOUT RAISING OUR TAXES?
Posted by Crakalakin (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was not aware that existing in reality was "being negative", as if just positively wishing for something to be indeed makes it so.
This is the stuff of fantasy. Nobody knows or cares where the money will come from to pay for it. Nobody knows or cares if tournaments will actually leave other cities with more amenities to come here. Nobody knows or cares why the school board is involved. Nobody knows or cares how the upkeep and maintenance will be paid for.
No, the people of Natchez want something for nothing, yet AGAIN believing the magic tourism fairy will come and pay the bills.
I'll leave you with the words of a far better thinker than I.
"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard."
H.L. Mencken
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The taxpayers of Natchez and Adams County need to form a Tea Party Express and Watch Dog group of the so-called "Elected Officials" and watch them and Guide them!
Posted by DumbBlonde (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Isn't Natchez designated as a Certified Retirement Community? Natchez is stricken with poverty, anyone that wants a solid career path moves away. I cannot believe our county is falling apart and all we care about is a recreation facilty that will cost lord knows wht and will most certainly raise our taxes.
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"I voted for the recreation facility and am glad to see a positive move for the town.
WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT WITHOUT RAISING OUR TAXES?"
I assume one would have run that tidbit down before voting for it.
Posted by grungebob (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Concernedcitizens(.com) are to be commended for the drive, dedication and - unless FNRG donated the air time for their radio spots - money expended to achieve this overwhelming result.
While I remain skeptical of this project, considerably more time and effort invested by many private citizens are essential if it is to succeed.
I sincerely hope they possess the energy and resources to see it through.
Posted by JoeBlow (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
eawprops, Paying for it is the question, I feel that the most fair way would be through a temporary sales tax for Adams county, possibly 1/2 cent tax. This would raise the required amount over a reasonable time period and would not have the drastic effect on property owners that an increase in property taxes would. This would have to be passed through the state legislature, However it would not put the burden solely on the shoulders of property owners, renters and visitors would contribute as well. Just a thought
Posted by rebel4ever (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well, so it passed. i guess with the impending tax increase to pay for it i will have to move. i'm struggling now to stay in my house and put food on the table. i can't take any more increases because the only thing not increasing is my take home pay. it is not that i am against the project, i just think it could have waited until things got better from an economic standpoint. i never did buy the line that we had to make a decision based on the "now or never" comment and since when does a government need a vote just to look into a project? i do not trust the officials and their comments on this one at all. we will bear a another tax burden, you can bank on that.
Posted by purecountry (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I said before this vote and will say again, if the county has the money to built this complex without raising taxes then why did we vote? The city has no money for a match nor does the county if grants are found to fund this. Who is going to keep it up? Someone has to be paid and by whom? What at the cost of water, lights, grounds, pool insurance etc. that has to be paid each month. The working people, like me, will have to pay for this and that means my taxes will go up. Why not poll the people who voted no and our taxes don't go up and if I choose to use the complex then I pay double the fee that day for the use of the pool? This would have been a great idea when things in the town where good, but the entire country is struggling. We need to get industry and doctors in this town and a complex is not going to do it. I wonder how many people who do not pay taxes or receive government $$ voted no??
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm glad.....
now to issue the bonds and secure matching grants....
and with the current bonds being retired, increased property tax, and good budget practices, Adams Co should have ( from my recollection of financial situation as explained by Supervisor Lazarus) anywhere from $1-3 million to pay down IN CASH......please correct me if I'm wrong on this....
Disasters aside (God Protect US) the county should be in good shape to pay for this and NOT raise taxes ANY....
those folks around the country that invest in municipal bonds will pay for this.....
I can't wait for a nice, quiet, peaceful Duncan Park, and new courts, to play tennis .....that will be AWESOME!!!
thank you Mr. Tedder and others, for your years of dedicated service....
Posted by robertgaines63 (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This will be great. A new complex set at the bean fields...within 6 months it will be a drug haven...mark my words, that is exactly what will happen if something is built across from the Wal-Mart and next to Natchez High School...nothing but a waste of our tax dollars in that location....Might as well call the Holiday Apartment Recreation Complex...
Posted by purecountry (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What tax dollars, remember taxes are not going to be raised as stated by Supervisor Lazarus or anyone else on this recreation committee.
Posted by thinkaboutit (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 2:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sandbagger, sorry for the delay in my reply, trying to work. But what in the wide, wide world of sports are you taking about? I was inquiring on your math reasoning and said nothing about "put road blocks up and dont let nobody come thru town for no reason,O wait! Ive gotten rich of tourist". If you can't answer the question that's fine but don't make up things because you don't have an answer. Back to my original theme, how are we going to pay for this? Any thoughts?
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"and with the current bonds being retired, increased property tax, and good budget practices, Adams Co should have ( from my recollection of financial situation as explained by Supervisor Lazarus) anywhere from $1-3 million to pay down IN CASH......please correct me if I'm wrong on this..."
you can stop the conversation right there.......................you are wrong.
Posted by sandbagger (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NO TAXES!
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The majority of people who will actually pay for this rec center are unfortunately the minority vote.
People seem to forget that you don't have to actually pay taxes to have a vote. Have we forgotten so soon how Obammy actually made it in the White House??
But the indication that our "leaders(?)" are spending money that they do not have should speak volumes when the next census rolls around in a few years.
This towns gonna dry up quicker than the ND's subscription base.
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