Opposition To The Sales
Tax
By The Guy
The Manhattan Mercury ran a very good article about the opposition
being conducted to the Riley County Commission half-cent sales tax that
will be voted on November 5th.
The Mercury reported correctly, “Brake (Jon Brake, Free Press Publisher)
refers to the $226,166.57 spent on roads and bridges between 1995 and 2001,
in contrast to the $4 million spent on capital improvement items.”
The Mercury then reported: “County public works representatives were
not available to confirm Brake’s figures.”
The Free Press has obtained a copy of “Riley County Capital Improvement
Program - Completed Projects” from the Riley County Clerks office. The
report shows that the completed projects “Total To Date - $4,081,247.62.”
It takes some work to find road and bridge work and the amounts but they
add up to $226,166.57. The report was prepared by Johnette Mueller Riley
County Budget and Finance Officer.
After reading the article the Free Press e-mailed a copy of the report
to the Mercury. You can obtain a copy from the County Clerks Office or
e-mail jonbrake@kansas.net and a copy will be sent.
The Mercury also quoted Riley County Chairman Bob Newsome, “I don’t
even pay attention to the guy,” (Free Press Publisher Jon Brake) “His information
is never correct.”
After reading this, the Publisher called Riley County Clerk Rich Vargo
and told Vargo that from now on the Free Press wanted “Correct Information.”
All information reported in the Free Press about Riley County is obtained
through Open Records Requests to the County Clerk Office. The Free Press
has found the Clerk’s staff to be very knowledgeable and friendly. Clerk
Vargo said he would let the Publisher and the Chairman workout this problem.
The Mercury also reported “Despite the anti-sales-tax yard signs, Newsome
said the opposition movement will have no effect on the final outcome of
the election.”
The response to that quote will be answered by the voters on November
5th and reported in the Mercury November 6th.