It looks like Mississippi
lawmakers will renew Southaven’s
so-called “penny for parks”
tax… but with an important
change…. a provision that lets
voters petition to end it.
State Senator Dr. David Parker
gets credit for realizing the
the tax has largely accomplished
it’s goal, and voters should
have the chance to end it if
they choose.
After all, in America, those who
govern, do so with the consent
of the governed.
Too many so-called “temporary
taxes” become permanant, well
after they’ve accomplished their
goal.
I once asked one government
leader what he’d so once the tax
he depended on faded into the
past. He answered… “oh, we
plan to keep expanding and
improving to keep this tax in
place forever.”
That’s not what leaders intended
when they levied that tax or
“penny for parks” in the first
place… or was it?
Thanks to the DeSoto County
Conservative Coalition, leaders
may now have to justify
continued expenses AND taxes on
projects.
Mayor Darren Musselwhite likes
to complain voters twice
approved the park tax, and that
mostly out-of-towners pay it.
As usual, that misses the point.
The two votes came due to a
technicality.
Besides, as long as he can show
a need, what does he have to
fear in putting such a “grand
idea” to a vote every so often
to make sure he has the consent
of the governed to carry out his
“grand vision” for Southaven.
Think about it.
I’m Dennis Turner
Think About It
It looks like Mississippi
lawmakers will renew Southaven’s
so-called “penny for parks”
tax… but with an important
change…. a provision that lets
voters petition to end it.
State Senator Dr. David Parker
gets credit for realizing the
the tax has largely accomplished
it’s goal, and voters should
have the chance to end it if
they choose.
After all, in America, those who
govern, do so with the consent
of the governed.
Too many so-called “temporary
taxes” become permanant, well
after they’ve accomplished their
goal.
I once asked one government
leader what he’d so once the tax
he depended on faded into the
past. He answered… “oh, we
plan to keep expanding and
improving to keep this tax in
place forever.”
That’s not what leaders intended
when they levied that tax or
“penny for parks” in the first
place… or was it?
Thanks to the DeSoto County
Conservative Coalition, leaders
may now have to justify
continued expenses AND taxes on
projects.
Mayor Darren Musselwhite likes
to complain voters twice
approved the park tax, and that
mostly out-of-towners pay it.
As usual, that misses the point.
The two votes came due to a
technicality.
Besides, as long as he can show
a need, what does he have to
fear in putting such a “grand
idea” to a vote every so often
to make sure he has the consent
of the governed to carry out his
“grand vision” for Southaven.
Think about it.
I’m Dennis Turner
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