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| Magnolia July 4 spending conflicts with TML statutes on hotel/motel tax |
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The City of Magnolia’s expenditure of $10,000 for fireworks from the hotel/motel tax fund for the July 4 celebration conflicts with Texas Municipal League’s (TML) guidelines and statutes regarding hotel motel tax use.
According to documents on the TML Web site, use of hotel/motel money is first subject to a “two-part test.” The first part of the test asks if it puts “heads in beds,” and the second says, “every expenditure of hotel taxes must also fit into one of six statutorily-authorized categories,” those categories being convention and visitors center, convention registration, advertising the city, promotion of the arts, historical restoration and preservation and sporting events in a county under 290,000 in population. The article states that “It’s not enough to meet one of the two prongs of the two-part test, a city must meet both.” Magnolia motel owners Viren Vansadia and Darmesh Bhatka previously stated to the Tribune that they did not experience an increase in “heads in beds” during the city’s July 4 celebration. In addition, specifically concerning fireworks shows, TML published documents state that “Some may argue that such shows ‘advertise’ the city, but this is likely not what that category means. Advertising the city literally means some sort of print or other media that explicitly promote the city, otherwise, a city could simply say that any popular event advertises the city that holds it.” “Direct funding of fireworks displays and the like are, usually, not a very good fit.” Magnolia City Administrator Ryan Kelley was unavailable for comment on this story at press time last week.
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Hits: 1076 Comments (13)
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written by exposed, August 18, 2009
What's next, good question I guess no one (Kelley,council or Johnny Williams) bothered to check, but it does not matter we had a record crowed and the hotel/motel should have advertised more. Just another blatant disregard for how the money is spent.
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written by towncryer, August 18, 2009
When is the State going to send in a Special Investigator or Texas Ranger to totally investigate this town's missing funds and misuse of our scarce tax dollars ? I am sick and tired of all the insider and off the record spending on toys and fun with our money that should be used for street improvements, training of personnel and really needed programs. When you drive through Magnolia, you can see the place becoming blighted and more trashy by the day. Dilapadated buildings, empty weeded lots and unneeded businesses are all we have here now. If is was not for a few Mexican restaurants the place would dry up like a weed. By the way why are the Magnolia Police so rude and disgusting in their behavior and attitudes ? They work for us not themselves.
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written by vivian whitley, August 18, 2009
What unneeded businesses are you referring to. And when do you decide a business is unnecessary.
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written by vivian whitley, August 19, 2009
You keep asking when the state is going to send in a special investigator or texas ranger. For what? Their is no missing money or misuse of tax dollars. I read tml's guidelines and statutes for use of hotel and motel taxes and Magnolia seems to be within those guidelines. As for being a trashy town, no one denies the lots need to be cleaned up and trash needs to be removed. But there is more than a few mexican restaurants that make Magnolia a great place to live. I wonder what Magnolia's Chamber of Commerce would think of your statement? I think I'll go find out! As for the police, if they are unnecessarily rude and disgusting, they can be reported. On the other hand, Maybe some people warrant this type of behavior from them.
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written by exposed, August 20, 2009
Misappropriate use of funds, I think so. As I have continued to point out according to the audit the City is a negative 126k and nothing has been put on the agenda for the special people to move money. Who’s moving it, where is it coming from and where is it going and WHY IS IT NOT AN AGENDA ITEM to be voted on. What about the Judges money that is supposed to be used only for technology was it used to furnish City Hall and who moved it?
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written by vivian whitley, August 20, 2009
You keep saying that...but no one seems to care. Is it because it's not true. Reminds me of the little boy that cried wolf
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written by exposed, August 20, 2009
It has gotten your attention and I know others are also looking into this, just hide and watch.
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written by vivian whitley, August 21, 2009
You'd be surprised at what I know from talking to the nice people of Magnolia. And is it really me that's hiding?
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written by CitizenCane, August 21, 2009
Interesting how Vivian appears so sure that she has all the facts. Maybe she should run for Mayor next time. Could she be worse than the current Mayor?
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written by exposed, August 22, 2009
Yes citizenCane, you have to live in the City, there are all kinds of lots in Magnolia Ridge that are for sale just waiting for someone to move in.
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written by vivian whitley, August 24, 2009
I probably have more facts than most of you do. Like I said before, all of you unhappy with Magnolia right now have either been rejected by Magnolia or fired from your job in Magnolia. Move on! What's the point of all this. The majority of the people I talk to are happy with Magnolia, know who you people are and are laughing at you, not with you. You are a joke and not taken seriously
... written by CitizenCane, August 24, 2009
written by vivian whitley, August 24, 2009
I probably have more facts than most of you do. ____________________________________ Reading the rest of your comments proves that you do not have more facts than most, people may be laughing but they are laughing at your lack of the so called facts. You are Thornton's Chihuahua.
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 17 August 2009 08:14 ) |
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