Veterans Day

Veterans: Discounts and Sales Tax (H/T – Daily Spin)

l3wis February 9, 2018 2Comments

Honorably discharged veterans now qualify for shopping online at military exchanges (retail & some services).  Active duty and National Guard already use this shopping.  The full service started November 11, 2017.  If you’re a vet, go to VetVerify.org.  There’s typically a 20 percent DISCOUNT with special arrangements for major purchases (appliances/furniture).  Prices are not posted until you’re logged in securely.  NO SALES TAX.

Given South Dakota government is principally supported by sales tax, there’s significant budget repercussion.  The state is 900K with 70K veterans.  Veteran dependents can use the service such that there is potential for more than 120K total customers.  Retail sales could decline 10% or more at first with awareness potential for 15% by 2020.  This is exempt interstate sales that are not reported to state or local government.  Some shopping sites let you fill in false information and make purchases.

www.shopmyexchange.com

www.mynavyechange.com

www.shopcgx.com

www.mymcx.com

Sales volume is focused on the two major cities in South Dakota.  Internet sales is why there are so many empty store fronts.  Sioux Falls has had and will continue having revenue short falls.  It’s more than just Amazon and other tax free online purchases.  There are signs the booming economy is over.  It will be harder to make bond payments on the half billion in debt.  This is not a time for play places, admin buildings, or parking garages.  It’s important to amend the charter so there’s no strong mayor veto power and no council overrides.  Take away the mayors’ credit card and put him on an allowance.  There will be tax increases.  Veterans can keep their quality of life with on line tax free sales.

Sioux Falls is NO PLACE FOR A VETERANS CEMETERY.  It has been proven in SD Supreme Court that the city is not democracy.  Circuit court cases decided that Strong Mayor Charter denies due process.  A cemetery must be on solemn federal ground.  The usual city scheme is to acquire undeveloped land then rezone for development.  The federal government does a magnificent job of maintaining cemeteries.  For the city it would be just another inferior golf contract.

State Veterans Cemetery

l3wis January 20, 2018 6Comments

Before we get in the weeds on this, for full disclosure I support ANYTHING that helps veterans.

So a veterans group has been trying to get a STATE veterans cemetery on the East side of the state for awhile. I think it is a great idea;

First, land needs to be bought or donated for the project. Council leaders said they’re confident the city of Sioux Falls will be willing to work with them.

While the Feds would possibly cover or reimburse the state up to $6 million dollars, there are a couple of sticking points. The state could possibly be on the hook to maintain the cemetery and the city could donate the land.

I’ll just say it. While I understand Federally funding war memorials and cemeteries, I have often argued for every dollar spent on war memorials we should spend the same amount on peace memorials.

I also think if we are going to spend money on veterans it should be on living ones for healthcare. Our country spends almost 3x more than our closest competitor in military spending, yet we have to have bake sales when it comes to healthcare for veterans or burial. It’s sad. I actually think veterans healthcare could be improved if we implemented a nation wide single payer system for ALL citizens, but that’s an argument for another day.

While I don’t take issue with a ‘partial’ donation of the city owned property or a reduced price, I don’t think we should give a 100% donation on such valuable property (Slip Up Creek area). I look at the Glory House land deal and how we had them pay a reduced price. While I disagreed with making them pay, since their services save taxpayers oodles of money, I also see the argument that ‘nothing is really free’.

I also see this with the city owned property. We have choices in the matter, we could certainly donate 100%, but we could also seek payment from the Feds or the State (which is really our money anyway) or we could say NO all together and sell it at a premium.

I think we should appraise the land, and sell it at a discount for the cemetery, but we shouldn’t just hand it over.

As we often like to say, ‘Freedom isn’t Free’ and neither is land.