Ramsey promises Jonesborough voters 20 year Governnor's Pork Project @ $1.554 million per year

[doeriver]

Ramsey stresses importance of NE Tennessee governor
http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/News/article.php?ID=79586

By Heather Richardson
Press Staff Writer
[e-mail]



TNGA Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey

Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey made a stop in Jonesborough Wednesday afternoon for some last-minute campaigning and to offer some revitalization reassurance to town leaders and local business owners.

The state’s lieutenant governor and his wife started off the week in Memphis and have worked their way across Tennessee campaigning nonstop. Wednesday’s visited included six counties in Northeast Tennessee.

“We are making that tour to make sure that I turn out the votes in here in Northeast Tennessee,” Ramsey said. “We’ve had a plan for the last 18 months on what it takes for me to win this election and part of that plan includes a huge turnout for me in Northeast Tennessee. So that’s the reason I’m ending up here, to tell people how important it is to have not only someone who agrees with them on the issues but for someone from Northeast Tennessee to be governor.”

The last time there was a governor from Northeast Tennessee was in 1920.

“Ninety years is about long enough to not have a governor from Northeast Tennessee,” Ramsey said.

Ramsey stood outside the Storytelling Center for some time talking with Mayor Kelly Wolfe, Town Administrator Bob Browning and the president and Jimmy Neil Smith, founder of the Storytelling Center, discussing downtown revitalization and the courthouse square revitalization act. State Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, who was on board in introducing the bill to the Legislature also was downtown for the discussion.

Ramsey said he believes if he is elected governor the Jonesborough will have a much easier time getting it passed next year.

“I think this year we will have the correct information to begin with and, No. 2, I hope I’m governor so that I can submit it in the budget when I submit the budget and then it will be a whole lot easier to pass.”

After reassuring town leaders Ramsey strolled down Main Street stopping in local businesses that would be affected by the bill, also offering reassurance to them.

Ramsey said he understands how the revitalization program works and believes it is a good thing for the state to invest in.

“In the end there will be a net gain for the state I believe because you reinvest that money in the community, allow those businesses to grow and prosper and in the end the sales tax revenue is more. But you have to get passed that initial hump on the loss of net revenue in the state in the first year.”

TNGA socialists lusting over state sales tax: Hill, Crowe seek to divert $400k per year to J'Borough
(The fiscal note attached to this bill shows a much higher cost to the Tennessee taxpayer in the form of lost state revenues)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=179x5055



Rep. Matthew Hill, shown captivating the crowds during a 2008 Republican Primary debate in Jonesborough.

Rep. Matthew Hill is pushing his socialist legislative graft to divert collected state sales tax revenue to pay for local "improvements" within a created and fictional Jonesborough "courthouse square revitalization and tourism development zone" - apparently, the socialist Rep. Hill is totally unfamilar with the concept of a "special property assessment" and let private Jonesborough downtown property owners themselves pay for all their own whims instead of diverting collected state sales tax revenues from all Tennessee taxpayers!

HB 2682 by *Hill. (*SB 2547 by *Crowe.)
Municipal Government - As introduced, enacts "Courthouse Square Revitalization and Tourism Development Zone Act." - Amends TCA Title 6.

Fiscal Summary
Not Available

Bill Summary
This bill authorizes the governing body of Jonesborough, in Washington County, to designate the boundaries of a courthouse square revitalization and tourism development zone by adoption of an ordinance or resolution. The zone must generally be within approximately 700 feet of the courthouse property or within a business district in a downtown historic zone or property in which a public arts facility is located within a downtown historic zone that is approved and certified by the department of finance and administration as meeting the requirements of this bill.

Under this bill, sales and use tax revenue would be apportioned and distributed to Jonesborough, if Jonesborough contains such a zone, in an amount equal to the amount of such revenue devised from sales or use of goods, products, and services within the zone. The amount so distributed to Jonesborough must be used exclusively for maintaining and improving the viability of the courthouse square and tourism development zone area through any means deemed appropriate by the governing body of Jonesborough, including making loans or grants to any public or private person, entity or association for the use of infrastructure, marketing, economic development and other purposes related to revitalization and tourism development.

To be entitled to receive the allocations described above, Jonesborough must first file with the department of finance and administration an application seeking approval and certification of the proposed courthouse square revitalization and tourism development zone. Similarly, the department must approve any addition to the zone in order for Jonesborough to receive such allocations derived from the addition. This bill details the information that the application must include. Each zone must be of such size and form as to include all properties that in the judgment of Jonesborough and the department constitutes an integral part of the courthouse square and downtown area. If the department determines that the boundaries of the proposed zone exceed the area that is reasonably deemed to be integral to the courthouse square and downtown area, the department may adjust or reduce the boundaries of the proposed area. In reviewing the application, the department of finance and administration must consult with the department of revenue and may consult with the department of economic and community development and the department of tourism.

The apportionment and payment of tax revenue as provided in this bill must be made by the department of revenue to Jonesborough within 90 days of the end of each fiscal year for which Jonesborough is entitled to receive an allocation and payment of such tax revenue.

This bill would be repealed on June 30, 2030.

HB2682 Municipal Government - As introduced, enacts "Courthouse Square Revitalization and Tourism Development Zone Act."
(Adobe Acrobat .pdf file)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/HB2682.pdf

HB2682 Fiscal Note ($1,554,000 decreased state revenue per year)
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Fiscal/SB2547.pdf