"Everybody was griping about it, so I said, 'Okay, do you all want to do something about it? Let's do it.'" said Don Lemmons.
Lemmons has started a petition to eliminate the Development Corporation of Abilene. He said there isn't a whole lot to show for the amount of money they bring in. And he's not the only one against it, saying that lots of people in Abilene want to abolish the DCOA.
"For right now, abolishing the entity, cut the head off the snake, is the best thing to do," he said.
Lemmons said that his petition is to get rid of the 4A sales tax, the half-cent tax that benefits the DCOA. He said that he and the people of Abilene say it is unfair to pay for an entity that is supposed to create jobs when it seems like they haven't.
"That's the primary purpose, to create jobs," said Lemmons. "If these businesses aren't creating jobs, but they're giving them money for other things, what's the purpose?"
"There are a lot of true people that want to be on it. I've talked to several of those," said Lemmons.
Lemmons is planning on starting a real petition, getting volunteers to go around the city to collect the signatures he will need. He said it may take a few months to do, but it has to be done.
"It needs to be stopped. The money needs to be put back into Abilene. Not put into other people's pockets," said Lemmons. "You know it needs to just go back to the taxpayers."
The DCOA declined to comment on the petition.
Lemmons has started a petition to eliminate the Development Corporation of Abilene. He said there isn't a whole lot to show for the amount of money they bring in. And he's not the only one against it, saying that lots of people in Abilene want to abolish the DCOA.
"For right now, abolishing the entity, cut the head off the snake, is the best thing to do," he said.
Lemmons said that his petition is to get rid of the 4A sales tax, the half-cent tax that benefits the DCOA. He said that he and the people of Abilene say it is unfair to pay for an entity that is supposed to create jobs when it seems like they haven't.
"That's the primary purpose, to create jobs," said Lemmons. "If these businesses aren't creating jobs, but they're giving them money for other things, what's the purpose?"
The online petition, with comments like "more transparency" and "what a waste of money," is only the foundation to what Lemmons will really need to do to reach his goal.
"There are a lot of true people that want to be on it. I've talked to several of those," said Lemmons.
Lemmons is planning on starting a real petition, getting volunteers to go around the city to collect the signatures he will need. He said it may take a few months to do, but it has to be done.
"It needs to be stopped. The money needs to be put back into Abilene. Not put into other people's pockets," said Lemmons. "You know it needs to just go back to the taxpayers."
The DCOA declined to comment on the petition.
Lemmons said he will be speaking to government officials next week. He will need signatures from ten percent of the register voters in Abilene for the petition to move forward.
Comments
Don L.
April 12, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Don L.
April 12, 2012 at 3:11 pm
