The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/12/birm...pprov.html

funny how they call one of the most regressive types of tax a "Revitalization tax"

Someone wanna give me the short version? My computer is messing up and I don't wanna have to wait an hour for another page to upload

Well, according to Leapin' Larry, it should be no big deal once you stop buying your kids $120 shoes.

Quote:The sales tax passed on a 7-0 vote, with Councilwoman Valerie Abbott abstaining.

This is HUGE NEWS for Birmingham... like it or not, Birmingham will have a dome, streetcars, trolleys, laptops for every student, and scholarships for every Birmingham City student graduating with a C average.

Anything is better than apathy, so let's see where the tax hike takes us.

Damn the Torpedoes! Full Speed Ahead!


Believe it or not this all will be a shot in the arm for UAB Athletics.

I think the most important part of the tax is the funding for scholarships... you're killing three birds with one stone with this idea.

#1-It encourages students with previously no shot at paying for college to stay in school and graduate
#2-It encourages parents to keep their students enrolled in B'ham City Schools
#3-It might attract families with motivated students to come back to the B'ham City school system, helping stunt the exodus out of the city limits.

LightEmUp70 Wrote:funny how they call one of the most regressive types of tax a "Revitalization tax"

you got that right. the rich won't be paying for the dome, the poor will

blazerboi Wrote:

LightEmUp70 Wrote:funny how they call one of the most regressive types of tax a "Revitalization tax"

you got that right. the rich won't be paying for the dome, the poor will

While, I'm no fan of regressive taxes, I think it's slightly misleading to say the poor will be the ones paying for this plan. A quarter of Birmingham's residents live below the poverty line. Something tells me their contribution will be negligible compared to the remaining 75 percent. But, I have been wrong before.

Regardless, I'm happy to see these proposals receive funding. Now, perhaps, this region can finally stop slapping Sen. Shelby in the face and claim that $80 million (plus future funding) he's been setting aside for us since the days of Sting and Boyz II Men. Sales taxes are a terrible way to raise funding, but given this state's propensity for latching onto stupid, antiquated documents, it really does seem like the only way Birmingham could have done this. 'Tis a shame.

BirminghamBound Wrote:

blazerboi Wrote:

LightEmUp70 Wrote:funny how they call one of the most regressive types of tax a "Revitalization tax"

you got that right. the rich won't be paying for the dome, the poor will

While, I'm no fan of regressive taxes, I think it's slightly misleading to say the poor will be the ones paying for this plan. A quarter of Birmingham's residents live below the poverty line. Something tells me their contribution will be negligible compared to the remaining 75 percent. But, I have been wrong before.

Regardless, I'm happy to see these proposals receive funding. Now, perhaps, this region can finally stop slapping Sen. Shelby in the face and claim that $80 million (plus future funding) he's been setting aside for us since the days of Sting and Boyz II Men. Sales taxes are a terrible way to raise funding, but given this state's propensity for latching onto stupid, antiquated documents, it really does seem like the only way Birmingham could have done this. 'Tis a shame.

ALL taxes are regressive. Even so, I believe that these investments will benefit the entire area.

One of the top 2 reasons Rudy Guilliani is a front-runner for the Republican nomination is because he revitalized NYC with his economic plan. The plan? Cut taxes, encourage business.

Birmingham needs a shot in the arm, and "facilities" are a major part of that. However, time and time again it has been shown that increased taxes does not draw nearly the amount of projected money because it does not take into account the decrease in business as a result of the higher taxes (oftentimes they make less money than they did before). I would like to see what Larry does to keep businesses open and coming to Birmingham in the wake of this, instead of leaving with their money. Hotels and tourism is great and the dome and trolley will help with that, but we don't have those things right now and we're counting on paying for that dome with projected money that will almost certainly not materialize.

You (Birmingham residents) elected a candidate that we knew was gonna play loose and wild with money, this is going to be interesting to watch.

Still, it's better than a property tax increase.

GreenMississippi Wrote:One of the top 2 reasons Rudy Guilliani is a front-runner for the Republican nomination is because he revitalized NYC with his economic plan. The plan? Cut taxes, encourage business.

Birmingham needs a shot in the arm, and "facilities" are a major part of that. However, time and time again it has been shown that increased taxes does not draw nearly the amount of projected money because it does not take into account the decrease in business as a result of the higher taxes (oftentimes they make less money than they did before). I would like to see what Larry does to keep businesses open and coming to Birmingham in the wake of this, instead of leaving with their money. Hotels and tourism is great and the dome and trolley will help with that, but we don't have those things right now and we're counting on paying for that dome with projected money that will almost certainly not materialize.

You (Birmingham residents) elected a candidate that we knew was gonna play loose and wild with money, this is going to be interesting to watch.

Is the sales tax going to make that big of a difference? I see it hurting the car dealers, for sure. And they are a significant portion of Birmingham's tax base. But take the business licenses. They haven't been adjusted in 25 years. I guarantee Hoover and Homewood have not kept their business licenses the same for 25 years.

The bottom line is this: the city needs some of these improvements desperately (transit, additional money for public safety). Some of them need to wait (the dome), but overall I think it's going to be a good thing. I still think Leapin' Larry is a crook and he'll probably make a ton of cash off this deal, but Birmingham HAD to do something, and no matter how much the suburbanites and residents of Hoover want to deny it, it will be GOOD for them.

I just hope that the plans for transit include cooperation with other cities in the county and with Shelby County, because the number one issue facing the metro area is REGIONAL transit, and that comes before a dome.

Until they get crime under control I'm not putting my family on ANY bus in Birmingham.

I'll NEVER buy a car in the city of Birmingham again. Can't afford it.

FYI property taxes are tax deductible and are much better than sales taxes. Only problem is out of towners don't pay property tax and Larry thinks he can get the suburbs to pay for Birmingham's problems. Sorry Larry I smell a BOYCOTT coming.

Still got that hole dug? Get in.

MC Blazer Wrote:Still got that hole dug? Get in.

+1

I have always been in favor of a dome for Birmingham. I think one point we all can agree on is Legion Field is a dump and it needs to be torn down and the pieces auctioned.

As for how to pay for a dome, that is another issue. I like the sales tax. I have a choice to shop or not to shop in Birmingham. Rich or poor we all have a choice. Rich or poor there is a grocery store, wal mart, or shopping center 10 minutes away in all directions outside the Birmingham city limits.

I agree with the earlier post that the projected $72 million will not come to fruition. But I also contend that we have to try. We have to move forward and do something in this city/community.

I look forward to going to a new facility to watch the Blazers play. I think it will be a tremendous advantage for our young program. An on campus facility will come one day, but we have to get out of LF now.

Go Blazers and see you at the dome in 2011 as we open the season against...???

Ole Miss

MC Blazer Wrote:Still, it's better than a property tax increase.

Aren't property taxes in B'ham lower than surrounding area's?
What's wrong with rising it?

BlazerRob Wrote:Until they get crime under control I'm not putting my family on ANY bus in Birmingham.

I'll NEVER buy a car in the city of Birmingham again. Can't afford it.

FYI property taxes are tax deductible and are much better than sales taxes. Only problem is out of towners don't pay property tax and Larry thinks he can get the suburbs to pay for Birmingham's problems. Sorry Larry I smell a BOYCOTT coming.

Actually, Sales and property taxes are deductible on your federal return. This was passed as part of the Bush tax cuts several years ago specifically related to states like alabama with very low property taxes. Their is a worksheet on the IRS website to be used in calculating the tax deductible portion of sales taxes and I have used it for three years now.