It isn't hard to follow the Butler Plaza/Oaks Mall Road Map. You just have to keep in mind there are actually two roads involved ; one to be paid for by Mr. Butler and the other paid for by taxpayers.
There are dots to connect to form the map which is really a circle.
Starting Dot...
In order for Mr. Butler to get his $75-$100 million loan to expand Butler Plaza, the county taxpayers will have to spend at least $11 million to four-lane a dirt road that will join 34th St. Have you driven on 34th St. lately?
Old Dot...
In May, 2001, Commissioners Rodney Long, Robert Hutchinson and Dave Newport voted to spend over $1 million of our money to help fund the plan.
More Recent Dot...
On March 25, 2003, Commissioners Rodney Long, Cynthia Chestnut and Lee Pinkoson voted to spend taxpayers' money - now $11 million - to expand the road to 4 lanes. Why? Because Mr. Butler asked them to.
Big dot...
The county doesn't have $11 million to spend. There was a proposal to impose a 5-cent/gallon gas tax for "maintenance/improvements" of county roads. No vote was taken on that tax because of public opposition.
Bigger dot...
Now there is a plan to increase the sales tax by 1/2 cent for "recreation" - a few soccer fields and some bike paths - and 1/2 cent for "road improvements."
Interesting dot...
Commissioners Chestnut and Pinkoson want to lump them into just one vote for a 1 cent sales tax increase. Commissioner Long has not decided on how to put it on the ballot. Commissioner Byerly wants to keep the two uses separate so voters can have more choice.
Alarming dot...
Projected revenue from the 1 cent tax is a whopping $122 million for the first five years! Those soccer fields eat up the money, don't they?
Reality dot...
Most of that $122 million to be taken from taxpayers will be spent on road projects - paving the way for sprawl.
Close the circle dot...
Growth does not pay for itself; taxpayers pay.
Ellie