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 penpop |
Metro Government. Here we go,,, |
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Posts: 569 03/28/08 11:10 AM |
http://www.bgky.org/citycommission/agenda_minutes/2008Apr1_Work_Session.pdf
Check out the 3rd item on the agenda. Maybe it's an April Fools Day joke. Should be a hoot to watch everyone get worked up about this again. 
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wimojo |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 453 03/28/08 11:56 AM |
Please explain what the BIG deal is about Metro Government, why do so many consider it a bad thing?
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 BGlifer |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 1282 03/28/08 1:35 PM |
wimojo wrote: I've asked that same question, wimojo, and don't think I ever got an answer. It seems like a good deal to me: less duplication of services; fewer local government employees; more efficient purchasing; fewer government buildings and autos; and, most important of all, fewer elected officials. What's not to like? |
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KC |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 5529 03/28/08 3:02 PM |
I ask. The only answers I ever got were we don't want your taxes and we don't want to have to live by your rules. This was back when, but one said you
guys are in debt and WE have eight million in the bank. Then there were the people who had their paychecks depending on the separation or had relatives who
were. My Magistrate who's district includes a lot of the city lives up the street from me and has for years. Economically and governmentally what we have
is a joke. There are people on this board who live in the county or even outside the county who constantly complain about how the city does business. You could
just pay city taxes or shut up. Not a chance.
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penpop |
Metro | #4 | ||
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Posts: 569 03/28/08 4:32 PM |
I think it would be a cost savings by cutting out duplication of many services. The details would have to be worked out as to how public services would be
handled and how far "city-type" fire and police service would extend into the county.
I'm not against it but lots of people will scream and raise heck about it. Like I said, should be fun to watch. |
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the brat |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 3513 03/28/08 4:32 PM |
There would be greater expense in certain categories.
It would be more expensive to deliver the level of service that the BGPD provides all the way throughout the county. Same goes for the Fire Department. The city spends far more on their parks than the county does, so I imagine they would be doing the same type of spending on all of the county parks. Code Enforcement as well. And I don't think there would be less elected officials. Jefferson County still has a Judge Executive and Fiscal Court. They just don't have any money to spend or anything to do. We would still have to have a County Coroner, County Attorney, PVA, County Clerk. Might have to keep the Sheriff since he is in charge of all the bailiffs over at the Justice Center. You might be able to get rid of the County Surveyor and Constables if the Kentucky Constitution allows that. But we don't pay anything to those offices anyway. Since the City gets most of its revenues through its occupational tax and 97% of the jobs are already in the city, there wouldn't be a huge flood of tax money coming into the city. There would just be some more property taxes and insurance taxes for them. But there would still be all those county things to pay for: the jail, the Health Department, their share of the Justice Center, the County Clerk's office and elections, the County Attorney's office. The County residents would definitely have to pay higher taxes. What would happen to Smiths Grove, Woodburn, Plum Springs, and Oakland? Would they dissolve as cities or be islands in Metro Bowling Green? The schools systems wouldn't necessarily merge. That's a whole other issue. There are pros and cons to everything. |
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nkfro |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 3028 03/28/08 4:40 PM |
the brat asked:
"What would happen to Smiths Grove, Woodburn, Plum Springs, and Oakland? Would they dissolve as cities or be islands in Metro Bowling Green?" Seems that in Louisvile, the individual communities retained their identity and their police/fire/rescue employees became Metro employees. LMPD could provide better insight. " |
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BGlifer |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 1282 03/28/08 7:28 PM |
Good points, brat.
I'd like to put more thought into this issue and discuss it more intelligently, but right now I don't want to. Maybe later. |
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LMPD2005 |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 2537 03/28/08 8:04 PM |
Seems that in Louisvile, the individual communities retained their identity and their police/fire/rescue employees became Metro employees. LMPD could provide better insight.It is really hit and miss. Examples are St. Matthews, Shively, and Jeffersontown that have kept independent police agencies while other areas, those that used to be under the Jefferson County Police jurisdiction, are serviced by LMPD. IF it ever happens in BG and Warren County it will take several years to complete. Back in the early 90s, when BG was itching to go metro, the county residents opposed it. I suspect it would be the reverse now but that is just a guess. |
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OOF |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 5081 03/29/08 12:22 PM |
KC wrote:Not gonna shut up !! Even tho I live in the county I contribute, and have for a long time, to the city coffers through various ways including city taxes and using businesses that pay city taxes. And BTW I normally travel on state or federal roads, not city streets, to get to those businesses that pay taxes to the city to spend my money. I chose to live in the county rather than the city when I moved to this area for various reasons. One of the major reasons was significantly less property taxes and I would imagine that if we had a metro government the property taxes would be closer to the combined county/city amount than what I am paying now (county). I don't think you will have many county residents voting to increase their property taxes significantly. |
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KC |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 5529 03/29/08 12:35 PM |
OK you are excused. I was not talking about you anyway. I was talking about everybody else. I misspoke.
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luckyinbg |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 3779 03/29/08 7:21 PM |
Ok, I don't really care. I can see how Metro would be a good thing, but I can also see how the people in the county would be against it. I'm sure
they'd be looking at increased local taxes. But, they'd get the benefit of better coverage/protection from fire and police departments. I'm
pretty much in the mindset of whatever at this point. If it becomes a real issue, I'll take a bigger interest. Right now, all I really want to do is fly
to the left coast and beat the crap out of that smug reporter that dissed on WKU.
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madbluebird |
#12 | |||
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Posts: 154 04/11/08 10:29 AM |
penpop wrote:
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rickmalek |
#13 | |||
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Posts: 431 04/11/08 11:12 PM |
I'm not convinced that Metro government would be a good idea right now, but the issue has not been seriously debated in this community in about 20 years.
I don't have a position on the issue, but it is certainly relevant to at least hear the pro's and cons in a public setting. |
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Kelly Greene |
#14 | |||
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Posts: 178 04/13/08 4:17 PM |
If Bowling Green/Warren Co. goes metro, does that mean I can open up a branch office of Hillbillies from Hell up by Cemetery Rd. and serve beer, liquor and
barbeque? Seriously I really wondered if the County would become "wet"? Seems to me if we will be paying city taxes and have city services we
should have all city services including bars and package stores. I bet we'll have to prepay for gas. If I am going to get the same thing here in the
county as in BG I want it ALL!
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bgpackrat |
#15 | |||
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Posts: 3065 04/13/08 4:46 PM |
Amen sister! I'm gonna go open a Bait & Tackle last stop watering hole with a road side farmers market too. Paid access to the Barren River needs to be
addressed, so the city folks don't trash the banks up.
I hope to take a trip starting at Martinsville Ford soon. I wonder if Dad will let me paint the old aluminum boat this year. |
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Kelly Greene |
#16 | |||
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Posts: 178 04/13/08 5:14 PM |
bgpackrat wrote: The USS Imahoe is ready to sail! You can put in at Martinsville and take out at Fatboy's Landing. We'll have the ramp cleared as soon as the rain
lets up and the water goes down a bit. Tell Dad you want to paint the boat so it won't rust, |
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bgpackrat |
#17 | |||
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Posts: 3065 04/13/08 5:23 PM |
I was think about flames and a pirate skull, but whatever is waterproof on sale is the best color I guess.
I was also thinking that Billy Beer 6 pack Dad's been hanging on to for years would make a great boat anchor. Did you know Dynamite Kid? |
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Kelly Greene |
#18 | |||
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Posts: 178 04/13/08 5:28 PM |
bgpackrat wrote: The one that lived down in Castle Heights? Yeah, he a relative? I tried that one time but I let someone else carry the stuff |
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MASONICELVIS |
#19 | |||
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Posts: 5753 04/14/08 4:19 PM |
just my opinion but Strow is a fool for even bringing up the word metro. there is enough county money to help fight against him in the upcoming election
should he wish to pursue it.
if i were running for mayor my platform would be very simple.
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wimojo |
#20 | |||
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Posts: 453 04/14/08 6:53 PM |
Elvis, why are you against Metro government?
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