I’ll have to admit, I don’t know much about this dude:
Tracy Turbak served as Watertowns’ finance officer for the past 17 years. He’s expected to start his new job in Sioux Falls next month and says this is an exciting time because the economy is turning around.
If any of my South DaCola foot soldiers from the Watertown area can fill us in, that would be great. He seems to have a lot of experience as a finance director in a major SD city, so that is good.
I find Huether’s choice ironic though, considering he railed on Staggers during the campaign for being in the public system too long, then Mike turns around and picks a 17 year veteran of the public system.
Hmmmmm?
Holsen likes him . . .
http://jenholsen.blogspot.com/2011/01/yacker-tracker-flashes-green-for-new.html
Holsen likes him . . .
That carries little weight with me. Jennifer’s Musings are sometimes point on, but the woman lives in a bubble. Working that many years for the city has tainted her views thru already rose colored glasses. Jennifer and Turbak worked together in the South Dakota Municipal League? Red flags should be rising with that statement. There is not a regressive tax the SD Municipal has not been an advocate for. Keep in mind as you read on, last years SDML president, Vernon Brown, just turned over control to Turbak.
Part of their mission? From their webpage.
SDML Executive Director Yvonne Taylor says South Dakota cities face challenging economic times which will require creative ways to finance city infrastructure and quality of life improvements. SDML’s leadership will play a pivotal role in the upcoming legislative session advocating for local control.
One proposal would allow city governments to enact a time-limited sales tax option.
“The proposal would let local taxpayers decide if they want to pass a third penny sales tax for a limited amount of time to fund everything from streets and sewers to swimming pools and events centers,†Taylor said. “It’s impossible for lawmakers in Pierre to gauge the local needs and willingness of taxpayers to move their city infrastructure forward. This legislation would give local government leaders the ability to creatively fund those projects but with the ultimate control always being in the hands of taxpayers by requiring a vote on the funding.â€
….The SDML opposes any legislation that would reduce, remove, repeal or reallocate the municipal sales tax, liquor tax reversion or any other municipal revenues to any other unit of government or that would expand the power to impose a sales or use tax to any other unit of government.
The SDML opposes any further exemptions from the sales tax laws.
The SDML opposes the repeal of the sales tax on groceries.
The SDML strongly supports legislation to amend SDCL 10-52A-2 to allow up to 2 percent “bed, booze, and board†tax.
The SDML supports legislation to allow municipalities to impose an additional tax on the leases or rentals of hotel, motel, campsites, or other lodging accommodations within the municipality.
The SDML opposes any attempt by the state to extend their authority over the collection, administration, and redistribution of the municipal sales tax for any purpose.
The SDML supports a sales tax on all catalog and Internet sales.
The SDML strongly opposes any formula-driven redistribution of sales and use tax revenues.
The SDML supports allowing broad, local-option authority to municipalities that would enable the return of any potential tax revenue increases to entities or persons deemed appropriate by the municipality.
The SDML supports a sales tax collection allowance for all sellers, whether in or out of state.
The SDML supports continued local control over local rates and opposes weighted averaging or a state-imposed single rate.
The SDML supports retaining the ability of municipalities to impose, adjust, and determine local rates, protect current revenues, prevent loss of revenue, and to account for any future growth.
The SDML opposes any moratorium on taxation of Internet services.
Sure, let’s see if we can’t dig up some real “dirty stuff” on this guy even BEFORE he get here. Sounds like a wonderful idea! We can then keep adding as he does work for the city and build a file. Yeah!
Sure, let’s see if we can’t dig up some real “dirty stuff†on this guy
Dirty stuff PH? Not really. In fact, some find a tax, tax, tax mentality to be a virtue. I’d say based on the SDML Turback presides over, TAX, TAX, TAX is what we have in store for us. Might fly in your neighborhood ph. Not mine. Or most for that matter.
So finding out info on this unknown person is digging up “dirty stuff”??? I may disagree with some of his positions in that report, but there’s no crime with a difference of opinion.
Scott and Poly are tits on. Raising regressive sales taxes and attacking people for stating the truth about someone’s position on taxes is not old news or mud raking. It is what it is.
Most of the things above come from the mayor and city council of Watertown, who are opposed to any repeal of sales tax on food or clothing. When the internet sales tax issue went to where the city was charging 1.9 instead of 2%, Watertown was one of the first to do so.
Always thought Tracy was doing his job in a satisfactory matter, but am certain he is not going to step on toes and risk losing it either.
If he can work with some of the “leadership” that Watertown has had in the past, he should be able to work in Sioux Falls.
When the internet sales tax issue went to where the city was charging 1.9 instead of 2%, Watertown was one of the first to do so.
Should have read one of the first to raise it back to 2%
Most of the things above come from the mayor and city council of Watertown
If yer talkin about the tax proposals I have listed, they come word for word from the South Dakota Municipal League, of which Turbak presides.
Did you read Sam Kephart’s letter today? Boy if the legislature thinks they can raise sales taxes in this economy by 1% they are freaking crazy, and he points out the flaws with the idea;
http://www.argusleader.com/article/20110110/VOICES09/101100314
Did you read Sam Kephart’s letter today?
I suggested over on Jennifers blog she read the same article. These tax, tax, tax people just don’t get it. THEY WILL.
Why does this guy’s head look like at least two characters from Family Guy and/or the guy from American Dad.
Costner, I don’t mean to point this out, but if you watch video of him, it looks like he had a head injury (maybe a car accident?) by his right eye. Probably can’t see it in this photo. Not sure if that is the case, but it looks like scars.
Yea I noticed what appeared to be scars, but that wasn’t even my point. The man just has a huge head…. massive in fact.
Do a side by side with the American Dad cartoon character and I think they might share a jawline.
That’s good. Means he has a big brain. Glad he is working for the city.