Check this out, I'm a Scoutmaster and if I tell the Scouts "you agreed to do so many merit badges at camp so go do them," they earn a few merit badges (3 days, 16 merit badges for 10 Scouts). Now at our last camp I held up a polished, carved staff and declared "whoever earns the most merit badges gets this staff." (4 days, 72 merit badges for 15 Scouts and three of them earned eight each.)
Rewards are better than "you'll do it" any day.
Elect me and I'll do the same for West Valley. We have all these ordinances for beautification; if we want beautification, let's do it right.
I propose for every $1,000 to $5,000 spent improving a home or landscape, you get the West Valley portion of your property tax waived for a year. The dollar amount would be negotiable. We wouldn't be able to waive the Salt Lake County or school district portions, but the WVC portion is $500 give or take.
Think of it, put on a new roof and you have 1 or 2 years without property taxes. A finished basement, remodeled kitchen or a new garage and we're talking $15,000 and a 5 years waiver on your property taxes. This would help you pay the loan on the improvements. The City would be being beautified, our taxes would be lowered and our property values would increase.
The City would be rewarding us for beautification instead of threatening us for not beautifying. My children and Scouts respond better to rewards; come to think of it, so do I. So do we all.
The Time is Right for Jeff White
09 September 2009
08 September 2009
Radio Interview Friday, 11 Sept.
Last Wednesday at the Meet the Candidates Night, a radio talk show host visited with me and asked me to join his show this coming Friday. What a day to be interviewed for City Council.
It will be Friday night, 11 September, at 9:30 pm.
The talk show is broadcast online at the following link.
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=38294&cmd=tc
The show is Reality Slate.
Christian Riehle (pronounced real) is the host and has requested questions from anyone for use in this interview. You may e-mail him at
ubermensch576@hotmail.com
You've read what I have to say in my blog, now you can listen to me live and ask your questions.
The Time is Right for Jeff White
It will be Friday night, 11 September, at 9:30 pm.
The talk show is broadcast online at the following link.
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=38294&cmd=tc
The show is Reality Slate.
Christian Riehle (pronounced real) is the host and has requested questions from anyone for use in this interview. You may e-mail him at
ubermensch576@hotmail.com
You've read what I have to say in my blog, now you can listen to me live and ask your questions.
The Time is Right for Jeff White
05 September 2009
You Said it First
I was campaigning door to door and explained why I was running to a couple; I explained that 90% of the people I visit with claim there are too many ordinances. They liked that I was listening to you and they liked my ideas to lower taxes.
They decided I needed a campaign slogan and we began brainstorming. The best one is now on my signs.
What's exciting to me is how many people like that I'm actually listening. You state you like that I'm committed to reduce ordinances and have real ideas on how to lower taxes.
The cool part, I had designed my signs and submitted them to a sign shop earlier that day. They gave me a slogan timely enough for me to redesign my signs and have them printed with your slogan.
You said it first…
The Time is Right for Jeff White
They decided I needed a campaign slogan and we began brainstorming. The best one is now on my signs.
What's exciting to me is how many people like that I'm actually listening. You state you like that I'm committed to reduce ordinances and have real ideas on how to lower taxes.
The cool part, I had designed my signs and submitted them to a sign shop earlier that day. They gave me a slogan timely enough for me to redesign my signs and have them printed with your slogan.
You said it first…
The Time is Right for Jeff White
04 September 2009
Manufactured Home Park Co-Ops
Did you know that until recently a manufactured home park owner could sell the park and give the residents only 30 days notice to vacate? Given that it's $10,000 to $15,000 to move a manufactured home and some are immovable, that's the same as stealing homes.
Recently the laws were changed and the residents have to be given a nine-month notice. This is good, but it's still not much time to obtain funds and find a place to move your home.
In New Hampshire, the residents are allowed first opportunity to purchase a park if the owner decides to sell. They form a co-op and the residents become the owners instead of a developer.
A park up North did this and paid off the co-op's loan in ten years. The lot rental is now $50.00 each month for maintenance and improvements. This would be something to fight for.
Manufactured Home Parks are a haven for fixed and low-income families and individuals. Whether someone earns six figures or $20,000, we all deserve the American Dream of home ownership. Through the Salt Lake Council of Governments, I would champion this cause to the State for appropriate legislation.
The Time is Right for Jeff White
Recently the laws were changed and the residents have to be given a nine-month notice. This is good, but it's still not much time to obtain funds and find a place to move your home.
In New Hampshire, the residents are allowed first opportunity to purchase a park if the owner decides to sell. They form a co-op and the residents become the owners instead of a developer.
A park up North did this and paid off the co-op's loan in ten years. The lot rental is now $50.00 each month for maintenance and improvements. This would be something to fight for.
Manufactured Home Parks are a haven for fixed and low-income families and individuals. Whether someone earns six figures or $20,000, we all deserve the American Dream of home ownership. Through the Salt Lake Council of Governments, I would champion this cause to the State for appropriate legislation.
The Time is Right for Jeff White
01 September 2009
Tightening the Budget
I just read in the West Valley Journal that the City saved several millions of dollars by cutting costs in different departments. This is great. Now for the hard part. Did I say hard part? I meant the fun part.
We all know that the initial cutting of expenses is the easiest, so we need incentive to find ways to save money after the initial round.
I propose we offer an incentive such as this. For each department of the City, whatever you can cut from your departments budget and save, without lessening services or having layoffs, we'll divide 25% of the saved money equally amongst all employees in said department as a year end bonus.
We can use the other 75% to do any number of wise things. Such as paying down the City's bond debts, building up a rainy day fund, applying towards next years budget and lowering the West Valley City portion of property taxes, hiring more law enforcement and fire fighters, etc.
The only thing we wouldn't do with the money is spend it on new programs.
We all know that the initial cutting of expenses is the easiest, so we need incentive to find ways to save money after the initial round.
I propose we offer an incentive such as this. For each department of the City, whatever you can cut from your departments budget and save, without lessening services or having layoffs, we'll divide 25% of the saved money equally amongst all employees in said department as a year end bonus.
We can use the other 75% to do any number of wise things. Such as paying down the City's bond debts, building up a rainy day fund, applying towards next years budget and lowering the West Valley City portion of property taxes, hiring more law enforcement and fire fighters, etc.
The only thing we wouldn't do with the money is spend it on new programs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)