City Center--Let's Get Real
Why has the latest version of the City Center project been crafted outside of public view?
The city's recent announcement states the project is now $28 million (excluding interest expense), replacing the $49 million (excluding interest) proposed in September 2011 primarily because the multi-level parking garage has been removed.
The public doesn't know who came up with this abrupt change. However, we do know there were no public meetings about this project shift and the Nugget/City Center Advisory Committee hasn't met since August 2011.
So who is behind the latest project re-shuffling? Are there blatant violations of the state's Public Open Meeting law that call for the state Attorney General to investigate?
Why is it that the Board of Supervisors have abruptly added a +$57 million sales tax initiative ($1.9 million/year x 30 years assuming level taxable sales of $760,000,000) to allegedly fund all of City Center's expense on their May 17th agenda? Why can the sales tax increase last 30 years, but the construction loan supposedly paid back in 20 years? How will the 10 years of extra revenue be used? What if taxable sales decline and the barren general fund must be further tapped to meet the debt service?
The public deserves answers about any back-room deals hatched to again try and foist this project on a justifiably skeptical community.
What is our Board of Supervisors thinking when they can't balance the city's annual budget unless they hike property taxes 15%? The unassailable fact: the city's credit card is maxed out. Unlike the Federal government, the city cannot print more money to cover such dalliances as the City Center follies. All it can do is increase property taxes on the 20% of land and buildings that actually pay them and anyone who might choose to buy taxable merchandise in Carson City.
Frivolous public expenditures at a time of widespread economic hardship hardly suggests good stewardship. Carson City has four public libraries, plus libraries in all the public schools. . .none of which are linked or managed in a cohesive manner. How about first using our existing public library resources in the most efficient manner possible before pursuing an edifice complex?
The lack of logical, fact-based analysis centered on an objective examination of at least seven City Center alternatives continues to flabbergast this concerned citizen.
City Center promoters will next be telling us that if their project is built, enduring world peace and a cancer cure are just around the corner!
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