Sewage Tax

I see no comparison in the recent analogy, about law enforcement cooperation and the proposed Batesville sewage tax! In one, we get law enforcement, and the other we get to help Batesville pay for the terrible condition that they allowed the sewage system to deteriorate to.

So a Fayetteville Consultant said there was no other option, other than the one cent tax increase? I have never seen one consultant say that there was only one option. I would not do business with any doing this! There are always more options!

Usually, the annual cost for upkeep of the system, while allowing for future modernization, is determined. Customer fees are established accordingly. I am not asking why this was not done over the years, but the concept can still be an option. You have previously stated that there would be an increase to the users, even with the new tax, and much more without it. Why not set the fees at a proper level now and incrementally repair/modernize as funds become available. For the long term, this would be a better permanent solution, short of taxing Ash Flat, if funds are not sidetracked to other perceived needs. This way, the city could be self sufficient, even if you had to set fees higher for a few months for seed money. It has been my experience that the EPA will accept any reasonable approach.

Why not submit the project to be a part of the stimulus package, going through state government. They have been looking for such projects.

They could apply for state and federal grants. These things were conceived in five minutes! How many could one come up with in a day?

What is the source of divisiveness now? Those in the local area have little choice but to shop in the city, and they are the main cause of Batesville being a city. Doesn’t the State Constitution say that taxes may not be levied without a vote of the people. The outlying areas represent a majority in this case.

Don’t you trust democracy and the people to make right decisions? If not, the proposal must be a flawed.

The people in the outlying areas could boycott to the extent that you lose on the deal, and I would not blame them. I will decrease spending in the city by at least 50%. If the city does not give the county area a chance to vote on this issue, you may have less cooperation. Maybe we can find an option or two ourselves. The outlying areas are growing, especially Southside, which will make it less dependent upon Batesville.

The usual routine here is to personally attack those who disagree. That has been done, and I know about it. Enough said!

(Signed)
Don L. Bice (Colonel USAF Ret., and Management Consultant)
139 Rorie St.
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 251 2714