December 7, 2002

“Hey Opie-
The point I am trying to make is this:
Towndawg feels like we could have huge crowd of folks- The site fee has been covered by a small group folks-
If everyone planning to come would count on throwing in a few bucks we could do this so it only costs everyone a few bucks.
I hope we can avoid any sort of "credentials" or "sponsored by"
labels.”

“Sales tax increases in Tn to a 9.75% max today-”

“WTF? I leave town for a couple of weeks (Ft Lauderdale was great by the way) and come back to find the cost of doing business has gone up again.

Josh, the sales tax increase is just the tip of the iceburg. I think we are going to see more and more tax increase in TN. A state income tax is just around the corner.

You would think that someone in our mail room would have sent out a note about the postage increase. But then again, I am the last department in the whole company to still meter my own mail. Everyone else just ships it to the mail room to be metered.”

“I heard on the radio this morning that alcohol and cigarette taxes went up too. Counties just across the line from Tennessee in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi are salivating at the prospect of increased tax revenue from Tennesseans crossing the state line to purchase big-ticket items.”

“Mississippi will be seeing more of my dollars. It is just as easy to spend money there as it is in Tennessee. The way I see it, it should be about 3 or 4 percent cheaper on the tax savings alone.”

“Hey chili, what are property taxes like in Tennessee? They are extremely low here in Alabama.”

“Well bp, they went up so we could build the pyramid. It was supposed to be the last sporting venue we would ever need.

They are going up again to build the new NBA arena. Guess what, it is supposed to be the last sporting venue we will ever need.

Rural areas have reasonable rates however. I am moving my a$$ out of Memphis at the first available opportunity.”

“OK, I was just curious. Here, you have to have a referendum to raise property taxes, and they regularly get struck down. So property taxes are very low here. We have a state income tax as well, but it's pretty low too.

All this about the governor of Tennessee pushing for an income tax started me thinking about people I know who live in Tennessee but work here in Alabama. (There are quite a few, BTW) They pay Alabama State Income tax because they earn there living here, and I suppose that they would have to pay Tennessee State Income tax as well. Some of those people might opt to just move to Alabama and take all their tax money with them. Tennessee might do better to tax the one thing you can't get anywhere but Tennessee, that is, property in Tennessee.”

“ya pa went up 1.00 a pack today... I would now be paying more in cig tax then property taxes unless I alter my habits. It almost cheaper to smoke weed now.... :)”

“I am not ready to concede that an INCOME TAX is just around he corner-you should see he protests that happen here in Nashville as a result of calls to arms by some in the media-
The main platform for the August elections in no state income tax.
Some state departments have had 50 & 60 percent increases in the last 2-3 years, Tenn Care mismanagement-it is ridiculous. Our state does not have revenue problem-it needs to cut spending.
During the recent shutdown when all non-essential employees were furloughed -they kept golf course groundskeepers on staff-
Now we have to pay back those who had a three day vacation.
What really kills me is to pay sales tax on something that has already been "Sin Taxed" like beer & smokes...”

“Josh,

I agree that spending needs to be cut. However, it is typically a knee jerk reaction like shutting down the state parks that results from a "slash" in spending.

Our current woes primarily result from budgeting against anticipated revenue that did not materialize. Unless someone can put together a plan to cut the current budget, I am afraid this sales tax increase will not get us over the hump. Despite the very loud and very visible opposition to a state income tax, I think the increases in the sales tax will send a substantial amount of money across the state lines to our neighboring states that have an income tax and lesser sales taxes.

I just can't see us being any better off this time next year. IMHO, the latest increase is like putting a band aid on a gaping wound.”

“is all this tax stuff going to happen on december 7th?”

“baume: see today's posts on the "Ya-ya Sisterhood" thread...”

“that explains alot of what goes on around here.”

“Right your are Chili-but the cross the border stuff has been going on for years. It will kick up for a while then folks will get tired of driving.
The best thing to do is audit the entire state purchasing system-Especially TennCare-cut the waste and live within our means-”

“Joshman, I sure can tell which radio station you work at.”

“Hey Ewker-
Listen Saturday mornings from 7 to 9 am.”

“I am never up that early on the weekends. I usually crawl out of bed at 11:00 AM or noon. I don't get off work till 1:00 to 2:00 am and then stay up till 3:00 or later to have a few beers and unwind.”

“I can't agree with trying to shame folks into paying, by having those who did being marked.

What is really wrong with asking people up front?, it is very simple idea, capitalism. Folks these days will not think a thing about spending 200.00 each on a sleeping bag, hiking boots, tent, and whatever Backpacker Mag says you need to have. But ask for a 5 or 10 buck user fee, and oh my land...we will fight for the death. Let's put things into perspective folks...we enjoy getting away...lets do our part to help secure a place to get away to. Whether it be a National Park trail or a Cookoff Contest, like it or not, bottom line it takes funding to make it happen and we should all do our part if we wish to participate.

If someone can't (really) afford a 15 dollar fee, I will be happy to gather the masses and start a fund to help out, so everyone can enjoy the fun. But if I see someone (who can't afford it) show up in some 85 dollar North Face pants, there is going to be an a.s.s kick'en. That's what I think.”

“yeah, maybe the cookoff could be canceled for a tag team cage match.

scattergoods-vs-skinflints”

“I would like to see the girls mud wrestle.”

“One vote for mud wrestling.

Someone put that on the entertainment check list.”

“It's in December, for Pete's sake. Don't you guys have any sense of propriety?









Hot Mud Wrestling....”

“I vote we get a bus load of Hooter's girls, a kid's swimming pool and a couple hundred gallons of Lime Green Jello.

That should draw some attention. Jello wrasslin'!”

“Don't forget lyra was to handle all of the entertainment for Saturday night...see TC2-my thanks thread”

“You know, life would be much more simple if TownDawg had just kept the TC2 posts on just ONE thread.”

“"handle" the Hooters girls, what??

LOL!

i had a friend who worked at Hooters, she was about as flat as me, hahahaha... and might i suggested warmed-up chocolate pudding for the wrasslin'.”