Gulliford wants voters to decide on half-cent sales-tax to pay down pension

[thelakelander]

By Kevin Hogencamp, Contributing Writer

Jacksonville City Council member Bill Gulliford put the wheels in motion Tuesday for a referendum asking voters to approve a half-cent sales tax to reduce the city’s pension debt.
Gulliford introduced the legislation with the aim of having Jacksonville voters decide the matter in the May 19 general election.

The need for pension reform is dire and needs an abrupt resolution, Gulliford said.

“This will frame a community debate by virtue of the required referendum,” Gulliford said. “If there are other options, I’d like to hear them. If not, folks, we need to take action. Our future depends on it.”

He said the only other viable option for cutting into the city’s massive public employees’ unfunded pension plan liabilities is a property tax increase.

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=544870

[strider]

We already have the discretionary 1% making us 7%.  That is on par with the highest in the state with many areas at 6 and 6.5%.  Raising it to 7.5% appears to make us the highest rate in the state.  Local to us parts of Georgia seem to be 7% with higher rates in major cities like Atlanta (8%). This seems like it has a larger potential to hurt the county rather than help it.

[tufsu1]

^ yes...anything over 7% would make us the highest in the state...but several communities had referendums last year or are considering future ones that would raise taxes to 7.5% or 8%

[thelakelander]

I'd only consider an extra 1/2 cents if the money were to be used specifically to fund capital projects that would immediately enhance the quality of life for Jacksonville's residents, while also promoting additional economic development. Paying down the pension isn't what I'd have in mind.

[vicupstate]

He is crazy if he thinks the voters will approve this. A remedy is clearly needed, but this would never pass.

[MEGATRON]

I'd only consider an extra 1/2 cents if the money were to be used specifically to fund capital projects that would immediately enhance the quality of life for Jacksonville's residents, while also promoting additional economic development. Paying down the pension isn't what I'd have in mind.

How do you propose paying down the pension then?

[thelakelander]

The pension issue is a pretty complicated one. I have no problem saying I don't have the answers but they aren't paying me to come up with any either. What I do know is I'd vote against having the sales tax raised in order to pay down the pension....if it makes it to a referendum.

[Cheshire Cat]

The pension issue is huge and gets larger by the day.  I support the referendum for the tax increase to take the yoke from around the neck of our city and move forward.  I know some will get the "Heebee Jeebee's" and scream regressive tax, the sky is falling etc. but something has got to give and raising property taxes is not the answer for our pension woes and in fact can be more damaging to low income homeowners than a 1/2 sales tax would be.  We can decided what services and goods to buy and still keep our homes.  We cannot decide not to pay property taxes and the potential loss of ones home is frankly more obscene an idea that a sales tax increase.  Remember Ennis that once our pension issue is dealt with, our budget and spending will be impacted as well and I do believe with proper accounting, where we don't fine $12 million dollars of "lost" money for capital projects we will see the needed uptick in many other areas.  Bill Bishop and now Bill Gulliford have it right.  Let the people decide via referendum.  Everyone gets a say.

[coredumped]

Someone should tell Bill (who's running again for city council) to update his website:
http://billgulliford.com/

I WANT TO REPRESENT YOU AGAIN!

    Reduce taxes
    Hold Government Accountable

[Cheshire Cat]

^Technically, he is saying let the people decide, not the politicians.  What he is endorsing is a ballot referendum.  We choose the rate increase or we don't via our vote.

[CityLife]

Someone should tell Bill (who's running again for city council) to update his website:
http://billgulliford.com/

I WANT TO REPRESENT YOU AGAIN!

    Reduce taxes
    Hold Government Accountable

The pension issue isn't going go away and Duval County residents are going to have to pay for it one way or another. However, sales taxes are not paid for exclusively by Duval County residents. So essentially, the increase in sales tax will partially pass our pension burden on to tourists from all over the place, and shoppers from Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns. Its actually a clever play to not have to increase property taxes on Duval County residents.

[Jtetlak]

We can't trust the general public to make a fully educated decision, or to impose a tax on themselves. Putting the increase to a public vote is a way to pass the burden of decision making off on the public. We elect representatives to study the factors involved and make educated decisions on our behalf, but increasingly they are afraid to make the tough decisions or take a stand on something controversial for fear of losing votes and not getting re-elected. It's time we expect our elected officials to actually lead.

[edjax]

We can't trust the general public to make a fully educated decision, or to impose a tax on themselves. Putting the increase to a public vote is a way to pass the burden of decision making off on the public. We elect representatives to study the factors involved and make educated decisions on our behalf, but increasingly they are afraid to make the tough decisions or take a stand on something controversial for fear of losing votes and not getting re-elected. It's time we expect our elected officials to actually lead.

Or they just state no new taxes of any kind as they are afraid to make the tough decisions or take a stand on something controversial for fear of losing votes and not get elected/reelected.  What is your preferred method to deal with the pension issue?

[MEGATRON]

We can't trust the general public to make a fully educated decision, or to impose a tax on themselves. Putting the increase to a public vote is a way to pass the burden of decision making off on the public. We elect representatives to study the factors involved and make educated decisions on our behalf, but increasingly they are afraid to make the tough decisions or take a stand on something controversial for fear of losing votes and not getting re-elected. It's time we expect our elected officials to actually lead.

Bold campaign strategy: declare that the general public is not educated enough to vote on substantive issues.

[Cheshire Cat]

We can't trust the general public to make a fully educated decision, or to impose a tax on themselves. Putting the increase to a public vote is a way to pass the burden of decision making off on the public. We elect representatives to study the factors involved and make educated decisions on our behalf, but increasingly they are afraid to make the tough decisions or take a stand on something controversial for fear of losing votes and not getting re-elected. It's time we expect our elected officials to actually lead.

Bold campaign strategy: declare that the general public is not educated enough to vote on substantive issues.

I have to agree.  Jason, I think you took a misstep with this statement.  Remember as well that our elected officials have been struggling over this issue now for years and even those who claim expertise are divided on the solutions.  Several have tried to lead with no consensus.  The people are smart enough to know whether they want a tax increase to pay for pensions or not. They just need to understand the unadulterated facts about the pension and the fact that keeping the status quo means getting further and further into debt. Jeeze man.  lol  I think having the court ruling that Bill Bishop spoke about on the legality of the pension would also help the average voter to understand the issue.