Vincennes Mayor Al Baldwin (D) wants the businesses and tax payers of this fine city to suck up yet another fee TAX. This time, he wants to force a storm-water utility fee TAX. The Mayor says that he may need up to 500,000 for a second study to the levy and possibly another 31 million for repairing the city’s entire storm water management system. But the citizens are not buying what he’s selling.

According to the Vincennes Sun Commerical, the Mayor had a meeting where about two dozens citizens showed up to let him know how they felt.

First problem is that the Mayor has no clue how much he may need want.  The second issue is that the citizens are upset that he spent nearly $750,000.00 of EDIT money to build a pole barn for counselwoman Shirley Rose (D). Third problem is that now is the worse time ever to pose a new tax on people. Vincennes University President Dick Helton said that the University would off-set their $120,000 tax onto the students. Others said that they would have to stop plans to hire additional employees. Others wanted to know why the rush and why are they just now hearing about this issue.

Another suggestion was that the Mayor utilize taxes that he has collected for a proposed overpass to help off set the repairs to the levy. Don’t think the Mayor liked this one! According to the Sun Commercial, the Mayor stated that “If you want to halt all economic growth ’cause we have some issues, then so be it”. Some problems? 31 million dollars is “some issues”?

Mayor, I don’t think that the people want to stop economic growth, they simply want growth that makes sense. You stopped progress on Ford Road for nearly a year delaying the possibility of additional jobs – something this city needs. They want you to focus on jobs, not jokes.

TJ