There are couple of other misconceptions that have been part of the propaganda regarding the Ketchum 1% LOT tax.
At election time we were told that approximately 77+% of LOT taxes are paid by tourists and non residents. Technically true, but did you know that non-residents are those who live outside of the Ketchum City Limits? So all of our neighbors and friends who live in the county are considered "tourists" when they spend money in Ketchum. And I guess that makes us tourists when we buy in Sun Valley and Hailey!
Not all flights into Friedman are subsidized by MRG's. The Delta flights from Salt Lake City chose not to participate.
The taxes, not the airlines, pay for the bus service needed for flights diverted due to weather. But those taxes are not allowed to be used for bus service from the airport to our communities.
We have been told that Sun Valley Company contributes 50% to Air. My understanding is their commitment is 50% to the Minimum Revenue Guarantees (MRG's). Are they still? Is their commitment in a contract? Since there is an HUGE excess of funds in the FSVA account it may or may not be necessary. Note that prior to the LOT for Air, Sun Valley Company was the primary financial supporter of bringing air service for visitors into our area. Now it appears we are.
And speaking of the huge excess (millions!) sitting in a FSVA bank account, why are they not subject to the Ketchum City Code (3.12.060) and placed into the Property Tax Relief Fund? Why are the elected officials that are board members of SVASB and Fly Sun Valley Alliance (FSVA), allowing this to happen? Don't they get to look at the books...
Yes I was irritated when the last ballot options were 1% to air, 50/50 with housing, but no option for 1% to housing. Then again you've not shown that the housing program isn't doing what we thought either.
What is it that you think the housing program. Is supposed to achieve? That’s a critical question and one I examine in Issue #5. I’d welcome your thoughts on that. Thanks!
And at the April Sun Valley City Council meeting a citizen alleged that there is a current Sun Valley City Council member who lives in Ketchum…..not Sun Valley …..yes a tangled web……only the Shadow knows the truth
Oh what a tangled web we weave...
There are couple of other misconceptions that have been part of the propaganda regarding the Ketchum 1% LOT tax.
At election time we were told that approximately 77+% of LOT taxes are paid by tourists and non residents. Technically true, but did you know that non-residents are those who live outside of the Ketchum City Limits? So all of our neighbors and friends who live in the county are considered "tourists" when they spend money in Ketchum. And I guess that makes us tourists when we buy in Sun Valley and Hailey!
Not all flights into Friedman are subsidized by MRG's. The Delta flights from Salt Lake City chose not to participate.
The taxes, not the airlines, pay for the bus service needed for flights diverted due to weather. But those taxes are not allowed to be used for bus service from the airport to our communities.
We have been told that Sun Valley Company contributes 50% to Air. My understanding is their commitment is 50% to the Minimum Revenue Guarantees (MRG's). Are they still? Is their commitment in a contract? Since there is an HUGE excess of funds in the FSVA account it may or may not be necessary. Note that prior to the LOT for Air, Sun Valley Company was the primary financial supporter of bringing air service for visitors into our area. Now it appears we are.
And speaking of the huge excess (millions!) sitting in a FSVA bank account, why are they not subject to the Ketchum City Code (3.12.060) and placed into the Property Tax Relief Fund? Why are the elected officials that are board members of SVASB and Fly Sun Valley Alliance (FSVA), allowing this to happen? Don't they get to look at the books...
Annie thanks for this context. It’s even worse than I thought!
Yes I was irritated when the last ballot options were 1% to air, 50/50 with housing, but no option for 1% to housing. Then again you've not shown that the housing program isn't doing what we thought either.
What is it that you think the housing program. Is supposed to achieve? That’s a critical question and one I examine in Issue #5. I’d welcome your thoughts on that. Thanks!
And at the April Sun Valley City Council meeting a citizen alleged that there is a current Sun Valley City Council member who lives in Ketchum…..not Sun Valley …..yes a tangled web……only the Shadow knows the truth
You're doing deep research...maybe you need this, maybe you don't....https://www.openthebooks.com/benjaminthechatbot/