Thursday, August 13, 2009

Special Springfield City Council Meeting Called

5/8 or 3/4 cent sales tax, that's the question

There has been a special City Council meeting called for Thursday evening to have first reading and public hearing of two separate bills. The two bills, 2009-206 and 207, give the City Council a choice of approving the call for an election to institute a 5/8 cent sales tax (2009-206) or a 3/4 cent sales tax (2009-207) on retail sales within the City of Springfield.

Both sales taxes would provide revenues for the Springfield Police and Firefighters Pension System if approved by voters in November, 2009. If passed, both ordinances also provide for sunset of the tax, either five years from the date of passage or when the pension fund reaches a fully funded status, whichever comes first.

If you would like to attend the meeting tonight, it will be held in the City Council Chambers at Historic City Hall. Council Chambers are on the 3rd floor. The meeting time is 6 p.m.

If you wish to speak to the Council, you'll need to sign one of the cards provided and present it to City Clerk Brenda Cirtin. Public comments will be limited to 5 minutes per speaker.

Source: City of Springfield Public Information Office

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

6 comments:

Busplunge said...

I understand the hearing was suspended.

??

Jackie Melton said...

Yes, that's what I saw on the summary I received in my email last night.

The Council isn't required to take more public comment. They could have closed the public hearing after taking all comment last night and simply discussed the bills among themselves and voted on the 24th but, they chose to suspend the public hearing instead and take more public comment before they vote on the 24th.

Anonymous said...

Would the tax have a better chance if Mr. Finnie would leave City Utilities ??

Would the tax have a better chance if he would leave town ??

That might be a good survey to make...

Jim Hornaday said...

Hey, Anonymous:

You got the first two elements right for what Finnie ought to do --

1) Resign from the CU board,
2) Leave town, and

finally and most importantly,

3) Leave behind a letter to Springfield citizens telling us WHO else screwed up this pension mess. I don't think he did it all by himself.

Anonymous said...

Jim,

If we just knew someone with a little yellow bus who could load them ALL UP and take them away.....

Or simply place a saddle on them and ride them out of town.

chestnut expressway said...

If Finnie, Carlson and the Cumley's all leave town by November 3rd,

I will vote YES....