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Taxpayers deserve input on spending
Published Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Lots of buzz is blowing up the bluffs again about a second, and perhaps even a third, casino development coming to Natchez.
And with the buzz on the bluffs comes dreams of great fortunes flowing into the city and county coffers.
Before we start cooking up ways to spend the green beans reaped from the magic casino beanstalks, we’d be wise to think carefully about how best to invest those dollars.
Too often elected officials are quick to spend money on large, publicly visible projects.
And, while sometimes those projects are good ones, taxpayers need input and involvement in the process.
Elected officials would be wise to seek input, publicly, in advance, of any decisions on how to spend any tax revenue gained.
Taxpayers, it’s your money and you should have an opportunity to say how it will be spent.
Perhaps all of the funds should be funneled into recreational endeavors. Imagine what a shot in the arm that would be for the area’s quality of life.
Or, perhaps, we should pay some of it toward reducing the city and county’s debt?
Even still, perhaps, we should consider a “rainy day” fund from which we draw in case of economic turbulence ahead.
The possibilities are endless, but the choice should include the public’s input. And we’d all be wise to discuss and consider not only our immediate needs — the instant gratification, if you will — but also the long-term needs, too.
Comments
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on July 31, 2007 at 10:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How about we just fix the roads in this town. Downtown's roads are in shambles. I have ridden down gravel roads that were smoother. How come the downtown area seems so bad when the rest of the town has relatively good roads?
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on August 1, 2007 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Or how about setting up The Kalamazoo Promise or The El Dorado Promise for Natchez and Adams County.
Posted by cherron (anonymous) on August 2, 2007 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
put it all in for our youth, no question about it. this city has gone long enough without anything for the next generation. New roads would be nice, but knowing that our kids are playing somewhere safe and drug-free is better. There is nothing for our youth to do but do drugs and get into trouble.
Posted by jaydubya (anonymous) on August 4, 2007 at 10:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How about all spending measures put to the public for approval before its done. Then we can cut out the middle men (Board of Supervisors) and put one person to the task of representing the people of Natchez and Adams County via our direct input. Save money by trimming the fat out of goverment.
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on August 5, 2007 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe the taxpayers should have the final say so on where the money needs to go. The Mayor and the Board of Supervisors should not!!!!!!!!!! There needs to be an election of where the money needs to be used. I'm tired of the local government using money on what they want and not on what the majority of the public wants. Let's change the "politics as usual" atmosphere in Natchez and Adams county!!!!!!
Posted by colio (anonymous) on August 8, 2007 at 5:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You would have an eaiser task of building a ski resort in hell than taking this money away from the Mayor and Supervisors...lol It will never happen because you cannot get the citizens of Adams County to stand together for anything.
Posted by cherron (anonymous) on August 9, 2007 at 12:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ur true on that statement colio, the ppl of natchez needs to unite, have city meeting, with or without the mayor and superviors. we need to get ppl involved thats not native to this city to prevent any influince from any organizations around here.
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