July
30, 2018
Buy
Local is Not Just About the Average Consumer …
Confession
time: my household purchases dry cat food online. It’s cheaper than anyone
local sells it. Free shipping. Delivered right to our door every few months.
Automatic ordering, so we never find ourselves “out” of cat food.
However,
I carry with me guilt over this purchase decision. I know it does not help local
vendors. I justify this decision within my mind by balancing the fact that we
buy other cat supplies (litter, wet food, toys, etc.) from brick and mortar
stores in town.
The Small Business Council of the Greater Topeka Partnership announced a program to encourage all businesses in Topeka and Shawnee County to shift 3% of current
spending outside of the area and instead spend those dollars with businesses in
the city and county.
A
shift of just 3% by all businesses in Topeka and Shawnee County could bring an
additional $200 million in spending back to our community.
Business
can take the pledge at www.topekasc3.com
This
is a worthwhile initiative that simply asks businesses to support others in the
community, and applies to business big and small.
Some
other points about this endeavor:
·
While
it would be great if the majority of these shifted dollars could be spent with small
businesses, it is not required. The goal is to shift the dollars from being
spent outside the city and county, to spending them in the city and county,
regardless of whether it is with a small business or a larger store.
·
Companies
do not have to be members of the Greater Topeka Partnership to support this
program. Any business in Topeka is asked to make a pledge in this effort,
regardless of membership. This is a program for the entire community, not members.
·
There
is no audit of your books! This pledge is made on the honor system, and a
belief that once you make the pledge, you will hold to it.
This
endeavor was created and put together by the Small Business Council of the Greater
Topeka Partnership. Full disclosure: I am a member of that group. But I would
not support this program if I did not believe it has merit and will benefit our
community.
Many
businesses make the same decision my household does each month: to purchase
something that seems small online or out of market, because of convenience. But
if we each take a close look at our spending, and the impact it has on our
community, we realize that even the smallest of purchases adds up to large economic
impacts for our city.
This
program is a way to ask businesses to look at that spending and realize just a
few of those dollars retained here will benefit their business and the
community if those dollars stay stay here.
July 9, 2018
It’s
My Pothole, and I’ll Cry If I Want to…
The
City has released information regarding what street projects have been
undertaken the past 10 years using the extra sales tax funds collected. This is
good information, but hopefully just the beginning of the release of
information, not the end.
For
instance, this does not detail what contractors were used on each project. That
would be helpful information.
The
City will likely be asking the citizens to extend that half-cents sales tax
this fall. (Originally, it was going to be a requested increase to a 3/4 -cent
sales tax, but the City Manager recently indicated his intent to go back to the½-cents).
For
now, we have this information to digest. Here are some of the highlights:
- Between 1997 and 2009, the city spent an average of $4.16 million annually on “major street projects”
- Since 2009, with the use of the sales tax, that number has increase to approximately $14 million per year.
- 99 projects have been completed
- 270 lane miles have been completed
- Six projects are currently under construction
- 25 projects have begun the design/planning stage
The
amazing number is that $119,754,566 million has been generated by the road
street tax. That is a staggering amount, and it seems difficult to understand
how our roads continue to remain so poor with so much money being collected and
spent.
It
is essential the City let us know how they plan to better spend the tax dollars
they are going to collect if the extension is approved by voters. That
includes:
- An explanation of how project timelines will be determined.
- A general outline of how the new plan will differ from the current plan.
- Assurance some dollars will be spent in areas previously not served by the current plan
- An explanation of how materials used will be improved, so projects last longer.
- A plan regarding how the City will work with contractors to ensure jobs are completed in a timely manner.
- A plan regarding how the City will improve coordination with utility companies so projects are not delayed.
- An assurance that dollars collected under the ¾-cent sales tax will be used exclusively for roads and infrastructure projects.
I appreciate the information the
city has put out so far. However, until we get a few more answers, I am not
sure where my vote is on the proposed sales tax extension. I also know we can't get everything fixed without the dollars.
July 9, 2018
It
is money well invested. Promise…
The
Topeka City Council agreed to not cut the subsidy it provides to the Topeka
Performing Arts Center, ensuring the facility will receive $150,000 in 2019. Originally,
the City Manager requested the amount be reduced to $100,000. By a vote of 9-0,after much discussion, the Topeka City Council put the funds back into the 2019
budget. This $150,000 is what the facility received the past several years, and
below what at one point was at much as $300,000.
Full
disclosure: I am the current President of the TPAC Board of Trustees.
As
the Topeka Capital Journal pointed out in its Editorial this week, I requested
the funding be restored. So, did many others in the community.
Let
me explain why these dollars are important and assure you these funds have a
direct return on investment to the community that far exceeds the dollars
provided.
TPAC is an essential component to Topeka’s
quality of life and has a documented economic impact of $9 million annually to
Topeka and downtown. This amount does not include the economic impact of the
facility on dozens of local organizations who utilize the building to generate
dollars essential for operation of their business and non-profit outreach.
TPAC has balanced use between local organizations
and national/international performances for three decades. It is essential to
continue that balance, as there is no other venue comparable to TPAC in Topeka.
The facilities are the only professional stage and backdrop available for use.
TPAC charges local organizations
break-even, below-market rates. For many local groups it is all they can afford.
It is one of our missions to help organizations succeed and serve Topekans. The
funds TPAC receives from the City are essential to maintaining this balance.
Our community mission is a financial challenge,
as on occasion we pass on national/international acts because dates are
reserved for local groups. This tradeoff is one of allowing a local
organization to use the facility at a reduced cost, versus what may be a larger
payoff with a national/international performance. However, while this creates
challenges it benefits local organizations in their ability to generate revenue
and promote their organization, which is an overall economic and quality of
life win for Topeka.
In
the past two years, TPAC has set, and met, aggressive goals:
·
In
the past year, TPAC has increased the facility usage days by more than 20%.
·
In
the past year, TPAC has increased overall attendance in the building by more
than 5%.
·
By
the end of this year, Friends of TPAC memberships are estimated to increase by
15%.
·
In
the First Quarter of 2018, we raised $60,475.54 in fundraising dollars, on our
way to our $200,000 goal.
·
In
January 2018, we hired a Director of Marketing and Development to assist with
fundraising and sponsorship efforts.
·
We
have three fundraising events remaining in 2018: Grape Escape, Illusionist Rick
Thomas and Gingerbread Home for the Holidays.
Our
goals for 2019 will include improving on these goals, along with maximizing our
in-house sponsorships and providing more opportunities for artists from all
parts of our community to use the facility.
It
is our priority to ensure the facility is bringing in acts that appeal to the
community, serving organizations within our community and bringing a return on
investment to Topeka.
Any
ideas, suggestion, or comments you have about TPAC, I encourage you to reach
out to me at any time.
