Monday, April 10, 2006
Mike Hammond researches Metro Government for Knox County
Knox County Commissioner Mike Hammond revealed Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale has asked him to be on a committee with seven other people to "look at combining services between the city and the county". Hammond goes on to say that they are not looking at combining governments but are looking to find efficiencies.
Some people say that Metro is goal number one for both Mayor Ragsdale and Knox County Commissioner Mike Hammond. What do you think? Why is it so difficult to get a straight answer from any local elected representative about whether they support Metro Government? Is it because Metro Government has failed three times in Knox County and is radioactive?
Just as Don Sundquist refused to talk straight about the State Income Tax our leaders in Knox County refuse to talk straight about Metro Government.
If it is so great why not have the courage to stand up and tell the voters what you stand for?
Some people say that Metro is goal number one for both Mayor Ragsdale and Knox County Commissioner Mike Hammond. What do you think? Why is it so difficult to get a straight answer from any local elected representative about whether they support Metro Government? Is it because Metro Government has failed three times in Knox County and is radioactive?
Just as Don Sundquist refused to talk straight about the State Income Tax our leaders in Knox County refuse to talk straight about Metro Government.
If it is so great why not have the courage to stand up and tell the voters what you stand for?
Comments:
<< Home
Farragut was formed to stop Knoxville from controlling us. Metro is no different than annexation. My vote is Hall, Sadler, and Phillips. No machine politics and NO METRO.
Dan
Dan
# posted by 
: 1:32 PM, April 10, 2006
: 1:32 PM, April 10, 2006
I wish Mayor Ragsdale would speak from the heart and tell us what his plans for Metro are. I support the Mayor but I aslo supported Don Sundquist. I felt betrayed by the income tax attempt.
FR, why are you so against Metro? It makes sense that it will save money.
Sue
FR, why are you so against Metro? It makes sense that it will save money.
Sue
# posted by : 6:21 PM, April 10, 2006
: 6:21 PM, April 10, 2006
The biggest obstacle to Metro government is the "top cop" issue with Tim Huthison being the most powerful politician in Knox County.
The most recent discussions have involved and urban service fee which would preclude county residents from paying for CURRENT city debt such as they convention center.
If this scenario worked, everyone would win...cost duplications would be mitigated with no unfair burden.
The most recent discussions have involved and urban service fee which would preclude county residents from paying for CURRENT city debt such as they convention center.
If this scenario worked, everyone would win...cost duplications would be mitigated with no unfair burden.
# posted by : 2:18 PM, April 11, 2006
: 2:18 PM, April 11, 2006
Metro is a rip-off for county taxpayers.
Did we save any money when the schools merged? No.
Did we save any money when the library system merged? No.
Why should the people of Knox County have to pay for the sins and drunken spending of the City of Knoxville? The Urban Services fee is a lie.
The duplication of services is a myth. The real truth is when departments merge no one gets fired and they get a larger office and buy new computers, phone systems, and make new fancy websites. They hire more staff and get a PR firm to write a "mission statement".
The usual suspects make out like bandits while the taxpayers get soaked.
Tell me more about how we have saved money when services merge. I like a good yarn. Do you really think the people in Farragut are that stupid?
Charlie
Did we save any money when the schools merged? No.
Did we save any money when the library system merged? No.
Why should the people of Knox County have to pay for the sins and drunken spending of the City of Knoxville? The Urban Services fee is a lie.
The duplication of services is a myth. The real truth is when departments merge no one gets fired and they get a larger office and buy new computers, phone systems, and make new fancy websites. They hire more staff and get a PR firm to write a "mission statement".
The usual suspects make out like bandits while the taxpayers get soaked.
Tell me more about how we have saved money when services merge. I like a good yarn. Do you really think the people in Farragut are that stupid?
Charlie
# posted by : 3:50 PM, April 11, 2006
: 3:50 PM, April 11, 2006
The most recent discussions have involved and urban service fee which would preclude county residents from paying for CURRENT city debt such as they convention center.
If this scenario worked, everyone would win...cost duplications would be mitigated with no unfair burden.
That's just crazy talk. Do you trust these people? All the big tickets items are gone. What services are left?
Metro is about sticking the county taxpayers with the city debt. Grow up.
As for Sue's question, Ragsdale will not talk about Metro unless he is elected for a second term. He will do more than talk, he will conspire will Bill Haslam to make it happen. Both of these guys are cut from the Don Sundquist cloth. They are phonies just like Sundquist. I live in Farragut and I oppose Metro no matter how nice a box it is wrapped in.
I pay too much in property taxes today. No more wasteful spending.
If this scenario worked, everyone would win...cost duplications would be mitigated with no unfair burden.
That's just crazy talk. Do you trust these people? All the big tickets items are gone. What services are left?
Metro is about sticking the county taxpayers with the city debt. Grow up.
As for Sue's question, Ragsdale will not talk about Metro unless he is elected for a second term. He will do more than talk, he will conspire will Bill Haslam to make it happen. Both of these guys are cut from the Don Sundquist cloth. They are phonies just like Sundquist. I live in Farragut and I oppose Metro no matter how nice a box it is wrapped in.
I pay too much in property taxes today. No more wasteful spending.
# posted by : 5:08 PM, April 11, 2006
: 5:08 PM, April 11, 2006
The biggest obstacle to Metro government is the "top cop" issue with Tim Huthison being the most powerful politician in Knox County.
That is not the biggest obstacle.
The biggest obstacle is that the people do not want Metro.
That is not the biggest obstacle.
The biggest obstacle is that the people do not want Metro.
# posted by : 6:03 PM, April 11, 2006
: 6:03 PM, April 11, 2006
Combining services is an urban myth. Metro government is a failure across America. Everyone talks about Nashville. Nashville has many times the amount of commercial real estate that Knoxville has. Of course the property tax is less in Nashville. It has nothing to do with Metro government.
Metro will double your property taxes if you live in Farragut. I like Mike Ragsdale and go to church with him. He is a good man who has gotten some very bad advice. Don't judge him too harshly. Mike lost my vote with the downtown library. He has a hard time saying no to those that give him advice.
If we were smart we would ask Mike to be our next School Board Superintendent. He would excel at that job. I will vote for Steve Hall for County Mayor and hope that Mike Ragsdale can be our next School Board Superintendent.
Metro will double your property taxes if you live in Farragut. I like Mike Ragsdale and go to church with him. He is a good man who has gotten some very bad advice. Don't judge him too harshly. Mike lost my vote with the downtown library. He has a hard time saying no to those that give him advice.
If we were smart we would ask Mike to be our next School Board Superintendent. He would excel at that job. I will vote for Steve Hall for County Mayor and hope that Mike Ragsdale can be our next School Board Superintendent.
# posted by : 7:04 PM, April 11, 2006
: 7:04 PM, April 11, 2006
I will vote for Steve Hall for County Mayor and hope that Mike Ragsdale can be our next School Board Superintendent.
That is a great idea. Since Mayor Ragsdale's first priority is schools it is a win-win.
Sally C. in Farragut
That is a great idea. Since Mayor Ragsdale's first priority is schools it is a win-win.
Sally C. in Farragut
# posted by : 8:50 PM, April 11, 2006
: 8:50 PM, April 11, 2006
The most recent discussions have involved and urban service fee which would preclude county residents from paying for CURRENT city debt such as they convention center.
Don't be stupid. The current city debt is one thing. Teh future city debt is what to be afraid of. Knoxville government is crooked. It is a make work system like Chicago. Taxpayer dollars for stupid projects like the Convention Center that only benefit the developer or contractor. Why should the people of Farragut have to pay for it?
Don't be stupid. The current city debt is one thing. Teh future city debt is what to be afraid of. Knoxville government is crooked. It is a make work system like Chicago. Taxpayer dollars for stupid projects like the Convention Center that only benefit the developer or contractor. Why should the people of Farragut have to pay for it?
# posted by : 10:14 PM, April 11, 2006
: 10:14 PM, April 11, 2006
If I could choose I would prefer Ragsdale to run the school system rather than be Mayor. He hasn't done much as Mayor except the wheel tax mess. I really think his heart is more about the school systme. He is qualified and would do a better job as school superintendent than mayor.
# posted by : 11:11 PM, April 11, 2006
: 11:11 PM, April 11, 2006
Wow...my post about an urban services fee brought out the name calling.
County commission would be in charge of the budget as the Knoxville city council would become defunct.
Everyone points to prior examples and this is relevant BUT not as relevant since term limits for both city and county officials.
Go to the "city / county" building and many floors are half city and half county. Opportunities to eliminate cost are abundant but would have to be implemented.
Wow...Farragut has a great many naysayers that gripe about the problem without trying to be part of the solution.
County commission would be in charge of the budget as the Knoxville city council would become defunct.
Everyone points to prior examples and this is relevant BUT not as relevant since term limits for both city and county officials.
Go to the "city / county" building and many floors are half city and half county. Opportunities to eliminate cost are abundant but would have to be implemented.
Wow...Farragut has a great many naysayers that gripe about the problem without trying to be part of the solution.
# posted by : 10:42 AM, April 12, 2006
: 10:42 AM, April 12, 2006
Wow...my post about an urban services fee brought out the name calling.
County commission would be in charge of the budget as the Knoxville city council would become defunct.
Wow...Farragut has a great many naysayers that gripe about the problem without trying to be part of the solution.
Okay, perhaps stupid was the wrong word. Naive would be better.
What makes you think that a new County Commission would be any different than the old City Council? How does that solve the spending problem? Over $285 million dollars has been spent downtown. Big money was able to comprise City Council. The people in Farragut don't want to pay for City projects. Why should they?
I live in Farragut and I do not want to be part of the solution because I am not part of the problem. Farragut doesn't ask the taxpayers downtown to pay for Farragut projects. Why should we have to pay for downtown projects?
County commission would be in charge of the budget as the Knoxville city council would become defunct.
Wow...Farragut has a great many naysayers that gripe about the problem without trying to be part of the solution.
Okay, perhaps stupid was the wrong word. Naive would be better.
What makes you think that a new County Commission would be any different than the old City Council? How does that solve the spending problem? Over $285 million dollars has been spent downtown. Big money was able to comprise City Council. The people in Farragut don't want to pay for City projects. Why should they?
I live in Farragut and I do not want to be part of the solution because I am not part of the problem. Farragut doesn't ask the taxpayers downtown to pay for Farragut projects. Why should we have to pay for downtown projects?
# posted by : 12:16 PM, April 12, 2006
: 12:16 PM, April 12, 2006
Isn't Metro more about consolidating power rather than trying to save money? The county schools are different from the city schools. I am not sure combining the school system was a good idea. It seems like the whole system suffered. I don't understand why people think Metro is a good idea.
Jenny
Jenny
# posted by : 3:22 PM, April 12, 2006
: 3:22 PM, April 12, 2006
Actually, taxpayers downtown and in Knoxville do contribute to Farragut via their county property taxes which covers the cost of sheriff's dept, parks, libraries and much more.
With that clarified, some might argue that we pay a high portion of these taxes...and they are right; however, if our sprawl had been controlled and many of the current Farragut developments had been built closer in, costs would be less. Why? Simple. Fewer libraries are needed, fewer parks, fewer deputies, fewer roads, etc. etc. etc. On the private side, costs would be lower for retailers as well which might result in lower consumer pricing.
Trust me...people downtown pay and pay and pay for our sprawl
Post a Comment
With that clarified, some might argue that we pay a high portion of these taxes...and they are right; however, if our sprawl had been controlled and many of the current Farragut developments had been built closer in, costs would be less. Why? Simple. Fewer libraries are needed, fewer parks, fewer deputies, fewer roads, etc. etc. etc. On the private side, costs would be lower for retailers as well which might result in lower consumer pricing.
Trust me...people downtown pay and pay and pay for our sprawl
# posted by : 9:53 AM, April 13, 2006
: 9:53 AM, April 13, 2006<< Home
