Government

Does the “typical Branson show” and the Branson Airport have a lot in common?

Branson, Government, Opinion, Shows / /

At first blush they do, but do they at the end of the day? They both participated in a record breaking year for Branson tourism! Per the latest reports by the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB, 2016 was a record setting year, both for the number of tourist coming to Branson, an estimated 8.8 to 9.0 million, and “record high levels” of tax receipts. It was reported that “The City’s tourism tax receipts ended up 9.1 percent, with every business classification seeing annual increases” and that “theater tax collections were up 15.5 percent over the previous year.” …

Does the “typical Branson show” and the Branson Airport have a lot in common?Read More »

Does the “typical Branson show” and the Branson Airport have a lot in common? Read More »

TCED involves state senator Phillips in Branson’s $525 million dollar scandal?

Branson, Government, Opinion / /

“Darn Seagull, isn’t the involvement of a state senator in a ‘scandal’ a little harsh for a Sunday morning piece?” “Perhaps so, but what else can you call what’s happening?” In an Ole Seagull’s opinion, using whatever definition of “involved” one wants to, Senator Don Phillips’ submission of what the Ole Seagull believes is a deceptive application to the Missouri Attorney General for an opinion on the Tourism Community Enhancement District’s (TCED) scandalous diversion of millions of marketing dollars to pay on Branson TIFs certainly involves Phillips in the board’s consistent policy of doing whatever is necessary to avoid litigation and drag things out to keep paying the Branson TIFs as long as possible. …

TCED involves state senator Phillips in Branson’s $525 million dollar scandal?Read More »

TCED involves state senator Phillips in Branson’s $525 million dollar scandal? Read More »

No madam chairwoman, it was not “erroneous” and is “significant”

General, Government, Marketing, Opinion / /

At the August 28 meeting of the Tourism Community Enhancement District Board (TCED) the Ole Seagull, followed up on his March 27 presentation to the TCED which showed that the Missouri Supreme Court, in the case of “Jefferson v. QuikTrip,” resolved that case using a logic and statutory construction that had not been previously addressed in any of the prior legal opinions to the TCED that the Ole Seagull had seen or was aware of. He believed it provided more than an adequate basis for effective legal or other action to be taken that could stem the TCED’s diversion of millions of dollars to the pay the city of Branson’s TIFs and the loss of the hundreds of millions of dollars in economic and marketing benefit to Branson area shows, attractions, lodging facilities and businesses those marketing dollars represent. …

No madam chairwoman, it was not “erroneous” and is “significant”Read More »

No madam chairwoman, it was not “erroneous” and is “significant” Read More »

2014 Columns on Branson TCED “Dicta” Fiasco and failure to take effective action to eliminate loss of Millions in Tourism Marketing Funds

Branson, Government, Opinion / /

1st Column – Published in Branson Daily Independent on Mar. 30, 2014

Is TCED Tourism Tax Board inaction costing Branson $1 Billion in marketing and economic benefits?

For what it matters, in his opinion, the TCED Tourism Tax Board’s proclivity of blithely taking millions of taxpayer dollars intended for Branson marketing and using them to pay the Branson Landing and Branson Hills TIFs has cost Branson area retail businesses, theatres, attractions, lodging establishments and restaurants about $88 million per year in lost marketing and economic benefits.* Over the last five years that’s …

2014 Columns on Branson TCED “Dicta” Fiasco and failure to take effective action to eliminate loss of Millions in Tourism Marketing FundsRead More »

2014 Columns on Branson TCED “Dicta” Fiasco and failure to take effective action to eliminate loss of Millions in Tourism Marketing Funds Read More »

Does TCED and TIF Change the Difference Between “Before” and “After?”

Branson, Government, Marketing, Opinion / /

BRANSON, Mo., March 9, 2014 – In a September column the Ole Seagull suggested that, “As a condition precedent to the voters reauthorizing the TCED’s 1% Marketing Tax in April, one of two conditions should be met in order to prevent 50% of the taxes paid at ‘Branson Landing’ and ‘Branson Hills’ from being used to pay the city of Branson’s TIF debt instead of for marketing.” The alternative conditions were either the production of a Missouri Supreme Court Case saying that a new tax authorized by the voters after a TIF has already been put into effect automatically becomes part of the preexisting TIF or, alternatively, the TCED pledging to cease payment of any portion of the TCED taxes collected to the city of Branson for Branson’s TIFs until judicially directed otherwise. …

Does TCED and TIF Change the Difference Between “Before” and “After?”Read More »

Does TCED and TIF Change the Difference Between “Before” and “After?” Read More »

“Yes” for Branson TCED Tax extension on April 8 is a matter of “heart” for an Ole Seagull

Branson, Government, Marketing, Opinion / /

Those who are not interested in his rationale for voting “Yes” on April 8 Branson TCED Tax Extension should probably stop right here. …

“Yes” for Branson TCED Tax extension on April 8 is a matter of “heart” for an Ole SeagullRead More »

“Yes” for Branson TCED Tax extension on April 8 is a matter of “heart” for an Ole Seagull Read More »

Could it be “Three strikes and you’re out” even with the Taney County 911 Retail Sales Tax

Branson, Government, Opinion, Taney County / /

Strike 1. No civilian member on an unelected 911 Board responsible to no one, but themselves legislated by themselves for themselves – If the tax is passed, by statute, a 911 Board is appointed, not elected, which specifically excludes the appointment of a civilian member. Even worse that appointed Board “shall have the power provided in section 190.339 and shall exercise all powers and duties exercised by the county commission under this chapter, and the commission shall relinquish all powers and duties relating to the provision of emergency services under this chapter to the board.” (RSMo 190.335(12)). …

Could it be “Three strikes and you’re out” even with the Taney County 911 Retail Sales TaxRead More »

Could it be “Three strikes and you’re out” even with the Taney County 911 Retail Sales Tax Read More »

Will the 911 sky fall down if voters reject quarter-cent sales tax hike in November?

Branson, Government, Opinion / /

One’s first instinct is to say “Hey 911 is a necessary service, the tourists will pay most of it, so let’s vote for it.” Folks, on any retail sales tax “tourists,” as a whole will pay the majority of the total taxes collected because there are millions of them, but on a day to day basis, over the period of a year, those of us living in Branson and Taney County will, on an individual basis, pay more simply because we live and shop here every day and pay the tax day after day. …

Will the 911 sky fall down if voters reject quarter-cent sales tax hike in November?Read More »

Will the 911 sky fall down if voters reject quarter-cent sales tax hike in November? Read More »

It’s not about Obama or Romney, it’s about America committing suicide by GIMME PIG

General, Government, Opinion / /

In talking about what could destroy America, Abraham Lincoln said, “If it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.” Is it just possible that we are committing suicide by “GIMME PIG?” …

It’s not about Obama or Romney, it’s about America committing suicide by GIMME PIGRead More »

It’s not about Obama or Romney, it’s about America committing suicide by GIMME PIG Read More »

Could DIAS continue to “spring up” and cause the demise of America?

Government, Opinion / /

When the Ole Seagull read the words of Missouri Senatorial Candidate Todd Aiken, “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” relative to rape involved pregnancies, he was shocked at its stupidity and in-sensitiveness . As he witnessed, what he believes, were Aiken’s selfish actions regarding continuing in the campaign in the face of what his loss could mean to the conservative cause he professes to champion; statements of other political leaders and the acronym DIAS “sprung” to mind:
…

Could DIAS continue to “spring up” and cause the demise of America?Read More »

Could DIAS continue to “spring up” and cause the demise of America? Read More »