If you are in or around the KC area this wednesday with nothing to do, read up.

manspeaker:

Tim is my best friend from College.  He was destined to be a writer.  When I met him he told me that was what he was going to be. He was 16.  Fast forward fifteen years and my friend has made a movie.  And is actually a working screenwriter.

IF you are in or around the KC area on Wednesday night, he is having a free screening of his new movie.  The first showing it has had.  Here are the details and a link to the evite page.  

This is a test screening for the rough cut of The Brass Teapot movie.  We will be asking you to fill out a questionaire and stay after the movie to discus the film.  Please only attend if you can stay for the entire movie and question & answer period. 

ARRIVAL TIME: Attendees should arrive 15 min early (6:30PM) 

START TIME: Screening will begin promptly at 6:45PM

END TIME: Approximately 9pm

The Brass Teapot stars Juno Temple and Michael Angarano. Directed by Ramaa Mosley. Written by Tim Macy who currently lives in Kansas City.

There is room for 140 people so RSVP ASAP to confirm a seat.  Please feel free to forward this invite to as many people as you like.  In order to attend the screening people must RSVP on this evite. You may bring guests but please indicate on the evite that you are doing so. RSVP list closes at 9PM Tuesday night.

We ask that you arrive promptly and allow for a 24hr cancellation to ensure that your seat can be filled. There will be a questionnaire for everyone that should be handed in at the end of the screening.

RSVP here

Statement by Unified Government Commissioner Mike Kane 2012 Unified Government Budget

Statement by Unified Government Commissioner Mike Kane

2012 Unified Government Budget

As a Unified Government Commissioner, I support the economic development successes Wyandotte County is experiencing. Developments like Village West, Hollywood Casino and LiveStrong Sporting Park are positive for the entire city and will help us make improvements and start new developments in older parts of the city, such as redevelopment of the Indian Springs mall.

I have never believed the misinformation put out by the Wyandotte County Taxpayers League, a small group labeled “the gang that can’t shoot straight” in a recent Kansas City Star editorial.

My opposition to the 2012 Unified Government budget had nothing to do with their unfounded allegations. My no vote was a protest against the timing of the budget vote, nothing more. I felt with three new Commissioners we all needed more time to review the budget and receive additional information. The Unified Government faces financial challenges like many cities, but the budget plan is sound. 

I work hard to be an independent voice representing the best interests of the entire community, not just my district. I am a proud Union member, but I have no time for “gangs” or alliances which are damaging to the Commission and the community.  

Fact Sheet: Unified Government Budget and Finances

The Unified Government is in compliance with all State budget laws and accepted governmental accounting practices. It is a balanced budget which accurately reflects the policy decisions adopted by the Unified Government Board of Commissioners.

The increase in property tax rate was necessary to avoid further cuts in service, employee lay-offs and rebuild cash reserves. Even with the tax rate increase property owners will pay less in city-county property tax for the 2012 budget than they paid in 2009. The property tax rate is still much lower than before the Unified Government was created. In 1997 it was was 97 mills. Now its 81.6 mills.

The Unified Government receives less than half of the total tax bill paid by a Wyandotte County resident.

A number of other cities in the KC metro and across Kansas also increased property taxes to fund their 2012 budgets. Overland Park increased its property tax nearly 40% because it had spent its cash reserves from a high of $63-million in 2007 to $18-million by the end of 2011.

Unified Government debt, the money borrowed to pay for streets, sewers and other public improvements, is in line with other communities. The total Unified Government bonded debt per citizen is $1,741. The total city-county debt per person for Overland Park is $1,536. The total city-county debt per person in Olathe is $2,108.  

The Unified Government can and will pay off the money it’s borrowed. While the Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s credit rating agencies expressed caution about low cash reserves, both give the Unified Government a “AA” bond rating. Statements that the Unified Government is on the verge of bankruptcy are lies.

The Village West and Kansas Speedway development is an economic success. The STAR Bonds used to finance the development will be paid off in 2017, four years ahead of schedule freeing up millions a year in sales tax now used to retire the STAR Bonds.

Unlike the Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City or the Bass Pro development in Independence, the taxpayers of Wyandotte County are not at risk if the Village West development would fail and the bond payments fall short. That’s because the STAR bonds are backed by private investors, not taxpayers.

The Unified Government will soon collect millions a year in property taxes and gaming revenues from the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway.