Stop complaining about how much we’re cutting your funding

Let’s see: The Legislature has balanced the state budget in recent years by keeping hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue it is supposed to share with local governments. Now it wants to eliminate taxes on new business equipment, the cost of which will be borne almost entirely by local governments. And when City Manager George Kolb and his top budget officials told local lawmakers Wednesday that the city might have to raise other taxes in order to cover its lost revenue, they were told to stop being so pessimistic. “I’m kind of disappointed with the city and county,” said Rep. Joe McLeland, R-Wichita (in photo). The feeling likely is mutual.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

11 Comments

  1. Joe Williams
    Posted February 3, 2006 at 7:34 am | Permalink

    I think the property taxes on equipment is rediculous. Talk about being a unfriendly business state.

    We will continue to lag behind other states so as long as we have too high of taxes on businesses.

  2. Gittin' madder by the minute
    Posted February 3, 2006 at 9:50 am | Permalink

    McLeland is just another gop stooge. And so are the dumbbells in west wichita who keep reelecting him.Snort!

  3. Jed
    Posted February 3, 2006 at 10:16 am | Permalink

    Why shouldn’t we tax business equipment? After all, we guaranteed the loans that bought much of it to begin with!

  4. ProudLiberal
    Posted February 3, 2006 at 11:32 am | Permalink

    Real wages rose under “high tax” Clinton and they fell (and keep falling) under “low tax” Bush.

    Under the Republicans, we have government that costs more and more and does less and less–the worst of both worlds.

  5. Ben Huie
    Posted February 3, 2006 at 12:10 pm | Permalink

    Jed – not the equipment my business uses and pays taxes on.

    My problem with McLeland is that he is one of those being paid by NE Kansas casino interests to protect their monopoly and who helped convince out Commissioners not to allow democracy. And now he wants to come down and tell local officials how to run their units of government.

  6. Jed
    Posted February 3, 2006 at 12:24 pm | Permalink

    Ben,Well, now you know whose campaign to contribute to!

  7. Marty Venick
    Posted February 3, 2006 at 3:21 pm | Permalink

    The following message was sent to Senator Brongardt the same messagewas sent to Rep. Svaty but as of this writing I have received no responce from him—Governor Sebelius’ proposal to exempt business equipment from taxation> is just another nail in the home owner’s financial coffin.> In my openion a business decision based on taxes is a very poorly run> business. A decision to buy business equipment should be based on it’s> profitability and NOT it’s tax savings.> A business can recoup their taxes in their pricing structure whereas a> home owner has no way to recoup the added tax to their home.> I think in place of adding exemptions, we should go back to taxing> inventories which will relieve heavily burdened family home owners> especially those home owners on a fixed income.Below is his responce —-

    You make valid points concerning the balance of taxes, property tax in> particular. We must also strive to be competitive with surrounding> states in being friendly to business. The extra incentive is enough to> display a willingness to work with business in encouraging new> purchases. That purchase, in turn, should help encourage the economy to> expand.> The practical effect is not large, we agree. I am working with a group> of legislators who are interested in lowering property taxes for> homeowners. We shall see. Thanks for writing.Below is my responce to his E-Mail—-

    Thank you very much for your responce to my E-Mail.Senator Brungardt you were elected to represent present day Kansas Citizensnot furure business. Your note is very disappointing in that I don’t thinkyou understand or care about home owners on a fixed income.That group of “legislators who are INTERESTED in lowering property taxes”.I am INTERESTED but that don’t mean anything. I would like to know what isbeing DONE and what you are doing about lowering property tax on homes.Thank you for your servicies, I know it’s not an easy job.So it looks like the home owners are getting it again.That is the problem with legislators of today (both state and federal) they pay more attention tothe wants of business then they do to ordinary people that struggal every day to make endsmeet and pay taxes. I am not opposed to paying taxes, I don’t like it but I know it must be done.But what I am opposed to is unfair taxes.It looks to me like, past yellow bellyed, lazy legislators put together an amendment and cond the voters into taxing home owners at will so they wouldn’t have to go back to the voters to justify increasing taxes for their pet projects, they just stuck it to home owners. Our reward was, business no longer have to pay taxes on their inventory.—–
    Hold on a minute! Phillip, why are you only taking the legislature to task on this? This was a proposal from the governor. Did you not listen to the State of the State? Or is this just another attack on the legislature. I know, they are easy targets and you think it sells papers, but come on man. You are better than that! And by the way, how does eliminating a tax on stuff people don’t yet own hurt anybody? Perhaps eliminating this burden from business owners would actually increase employment and help these communities. Do you think business is going to buy equipment and then let it sit idle? Hell no; they will hire workers to use the stuff they buy. Is productivity not a major economic indicator? The governor, the legislature, the chamber, the entire business community all agree this will help the Kansas economy. I’m disappointed in this one; it’s below you my good man.

  8. tellitasitis
    Posted February 4, 2006 at 9:46 am | Permalink

    This is something. The legislature wants to raise taxes for all of its citizens, yet gives themselves a raise in pay for doing such a lousy job. It is starting to look like they are practicing to become federal representatives. Guess they just need the practice.

    Don’t you just love Kansas. Maybe God is punishing Kansas with the draught because of all the stupidity that is prevalent in this state.

  9. A guy from up north
    Posted February 4, 2006 at 2:38 pm | Permalink

    MartyBuying equipment an/or hiring employs should be based on how much profit they will being. Not by their tax savings.Business keep manipulating the governments into beliving their whole business will fail if they don’t get a tax break. Tax is a very small proportion of their costs. Many corporations don’t pay any tax at all.However their expenses for tickets, trips, mar-toon-y meals is a different matter maybe less tax helps offset this expense.

  10. Rage
    Posted February 4, 2006 at 10:02 pm | Permalink

    Folks, you’re really getting off-message. This is Kansas, remember?

    Repeat after me: TAXES BAAAD! TAXES BAAAD!

  11. Joe Williams
    Posted February 4, 2006 at 10:25 pm | Permalink

    A guy up north. You are exactly right. Corporations and companies don’t pay taxes at all. They collect it from their customers and the consumers and pass it on to the government. Taxes to businesses are expenses. All they do is raise prices to compensate.

    Every time you buy a gallon of Exxon Mobile gasoline, you are also paying their corporate taxes for them.

    Businesses don’t pay taxes, only people do.

    Think about it liberals. If you want the government to tax Wal-Mart more all they are going to do is raise their prices the same percentage as their tax rate. Only person who is going to hurt is the shopper not Wal-Mart.

    Think about it the next time you want to punish “Big Corporations”.