Mayor Phillips: Medical College funding will raise taxes
King College laid out their plans for a $150 million school of medicine to be located in Kingsport and Bristol.
They stated that they were looking for $50 million from Kingsport, Bristol, and Sullivan County, $50 million coming from the state of Tennessee and $50 million in private donations.
Mayor Dennis Phillips stated if Kingsport were to fund $40 million for the project, property taxes would have to be raised 25 cents. He also said that if this project isn’t really sold to the citizens, there won’t be a board member here two years from now.
Could it be that Mayor Phillips out of control spending is getting himself in a tight spot over funding. What is Mayor Phillips willing to give up or does he want to the fund the college and all of the other planned pet projects that are on the drawing board in the future.
Is Mayor Phillips willing to give up on the MeadowView Convention Center Expansion that will cost about $15 million? What about the Aquatic Center, is the Mayor and his gang willing to give up on the new tourist pool? Is the Mayor willing to give up on the expansion of the library and the Justice building?
Mayor Phillips, what about the $34.7 million in new bonds that you recently got funding for? A little old $34.7 million didn’t stop you then for projects that would not have any or very little return in profits.
The solution to the above money dilemma is very simple! Let the voters decide on future spending projects by the city. I am sure that there are many voters that would like to re-visit the MeadowView expansion and stop pouring more money into something that does not make money.
Read the Kingsport Times-News article
Read the Comments for the Kingsport Times-News article
Famous Quotes from the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen
Mayor Dennis Phillips – ‘We need MeadowView to keep from reducing fire, police protection, and reducing trash pick-up to every two weeks.” October 21, 2008
Mayor Dennis Phillips –“We need to annex so we don’t have to raise taxes” February 5, 2008
Alderman Munsey – “We need to do the MeadowView expansion to keep from raising taxes” September 15, 2008
Alderman Munsey – Debt is neither good or bad,” June 3, 2008
Vice Mayor Mallicote – “I do not believe all of the doom and gloom about the economy”. June 3, 2008
Mayor Dennis Phillips – “If the taxpayers wanted the city to cut the spending, then we could collect garbage every other week” June 3, 2008
Mayor Dennis Phillips – “If there were no money to spend, then you would not need politicians” October, 2007