May

12

Deb Hermann proposes museum tax increase

May 12, 2008 | 8 Comments

City Councilmember Deb Hermann (1st District) is proposing a plan to boost funding for city museums by asking voters to increase the city’s museum property tax. The city currently has a very small 2 cent museum tax that goes to the Kansas City Museum.  Hermann want to raise it to 8 cents and include more museums. Union Station, Liberty Memorial, and the Zoo are all in need of more revenue to keep going.

While the idea is very worthwhile, we challenge the City Council to think bigger and revisit the idea of the regional cultural district.  The original bi-state compact is still in effect and can be used without any additional work in Jeff City or Topeka.  There are many museums in the suburbs that would also use a boost from regional cultural funding, and without the baggage of sports stadium subsisides, there is a good chance voters would agree.

Kansas City doesn’t have to look far for a great example. St. Louis has had a regional zoo/museum property tax for years, and it includes both city and suburbs. It not only supports the art museum, science center, and zoo, but it also allows those institutions offer free admission.

KC Star: KC Councilwoman proposes “big” boost in museum funding

KMBZ Radio: Council Member seeks more museum money

Categories: Arts/Entertainment


Comments

8 Comments so far

  1. Capt. Geoffrey Spaulding on May 12, 2008 12:01 pm

    Just how much taxes do these supposive elected bozos think we can tolerate?

    say s-e-w-e-r-s for example- then add energy and food costs for starters.

    Not to mentioned new and/or increased taxwes announced weekly.

    The elderly lady across the street was forced to move because she can’t afford to live in her own house anymore- and there’s a BUNCH of folks in the same predicament.

    Let Deb Hermann and the rest of the councilpeople donate their pay increase to the damn museums!

  2. Tim on May 12, 2008 7:10 pm

    Property tax increases have got to stop. I talk to people all the time who tell me theirs has gone up 400%…

  3. mainstream on May 13, 2008 10:53 am

    This is the first post you’ve made using the first person plural.

    Do you have a mouse in your pocket?????

  4. inafunkaboutthefunk on May 13, 2008 11:23 am

    I hope that each and every elected official is voted out or term limited out the next time up. This has got to stop. And by voting against them, we can make this happen.

  5. Tim on May 13, 2008 11:04 pm

    To mainstream-
    What are you talking about?

  6. jack on May 14, 2008 12:04 am

    Why the heck not. Shoot, we’re raising taxes for water, sewer, police expires in a year or two, rail, just rewarded the inefficient ATA with a tax.

    Sales taxes should be at 20% so we don’t have to worry about not being able to get there to shop when gas is at $8/gallon.

  7. mainstream on May 14, 2008 9:33 am

    Tim, I was referring to the “we” in the first sentence in the second paragraph of the post:

    “While the idea is very worthwhile, we challenge the City Council to think bigger and revisit the idea of the regional cultural district.”

  8. PAMM - People Against Mad Mothers on May 16, 2008 10:15 am

    I’m not as mad at the city for proposing new taxes as I am at the idiots that keep voting for them.

    (Non-ballot tax issues aside)

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