No WhiteWash!

Ben Mallicote, who is running for re-election as a Kingsport Alderman made the following statement at a recent Rotary Club Debate that was moderated by candidate Dennis Phillips who is running for re-election as mayor.

“When other municipalities are seeing double-digit drops in sales tax collections, Kingsport is seeing double-digit increases,” Mallicote said.

I would like to suggest to Mr. Mallicote that he become more familiar with the city’s finances before making such a statement.  Take a look at the data below and one can see that Kingsport has not seen double-digit increases in sales tax collections.

The retail sales data is from the following link.  Tri-Cities Retail Sales Report

Using the Kingsport retail sales dollars and applying the yearly inflation percent tells a different story.  Note the “% Growth after Inflation” column below in orange tells a different story.  The year 2003 had a positive growth of 2.53% after inflation was applied.

One can say that the retail sales for Kingsport in 2001 actually meant more for the city in buying power than the current retail sales numbers.

The graph below needs no explaining and one can see that Kingsport is not as progressive as we are led to believe.

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Listen to the April 23 WJCW radio interview with Ben Mallicote who is seeking re-election as Alderman on the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Alderman

Click here for interview

In the radio interview, he is asked about the regional sales tax and he stated that there is still debt that needs to be paid off at Meadowview.  The Convention Center was paid off in 2007 and the debt that Ben Mallicote mentioned must be for the debt for the Cattails Golf Course.  When the voters voted for the regional sales tax to be used for the convention center, I am sure that the golf course had not been dreamed about.

Since the Convention Center had been paid off, Alderman Marsh and Shull voted to return the regional sales tax to the citizens by the way of a property tax deduction.

Mallicote also stated that if the regional sale tax goes into the general fund, then it should be taken to the taxpayer to decide what to do with the regional sales tax.

Mr. Mallicote should check the current budget he voted for, because part of the regional sales tax is going to the general fund.  When can the voter expect the referendum Mr. Mallicote?

Ben Mallicote stated that if the Aquatic Center is built at Meadowview, then the regional sales tax could be used.  It seems that with this statement, Mr. Mallicote has changed his view about the location of the Aquatic Center.

A recent Kingsport Times-News article below gives additional information on Ben Mallicote.

Mallicote is a lawyer in private practice and has served the last two years of his first four-year term as vice mayor. Mallicote said the most important factor in Kingsport’s growth is the revitalization of downtown.

“Every city has a beating heart, and downtown has to be Kingsport’s. It has been the most important thing that has happened in Kingsport, in how we view ourselves and how outsiders view us,” Mallicote said. “The things we have put in progress will change the face of the city for the better. We are at a tipping point, a crucial point in Kingsport’s history, to where we can choose to push forward on those initiatives. I don’t want to see our hard-won momentum withered away.”

Given the national economy, Mallicote said there are two positions Kingsport could take to move forward.

“Scale back, pull in our oars, and quit trying to move the ship forward and hope things will get better. I think that is the wrong thing to do,” Mallicote said. “The city ought to continue making strategic capital investments that are within our ability to pay and generate a significant return on investment.”

A few quotes from members of the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Alderman

Listen to the April 17 WJCW radio interview with Mike McIntire who is seeking a seat on the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Alderman

Click here for interview

A recent Kingsport Times-News article below gives additional information on Mike McIntire.

McIntire worked at Eastman Chemical Co. for 34 years in research and development, business and corporate development, and retired in 1999. He then went to work at First Broad Street United Methodist Church in 2001 as church business administrator.

“I feel that I need to continue to serve, contribute and be a part of this community that I very much love. I bring skills and foresight to do that,” McIntire said.

If elected, McIntire said he would like to see the King College School of Medicine locate in Kingsport, possibly in downtown.

“The economy is our most pressing challenge, and I think we need to address that and not pull back,” McIntire said. “We need to keep moving in three ways — find ways to help our businesses, support the search for new businesses, and continue to promote the Move to Kingsport initiative. We need these people to come here to live, to work and who even are retired.”