Whether the citizens of Hays are for or against the north Vine Street reconstruction project is currently an irreverent argument. What is important however is the current state of our nation.
With record unemployment to no fault of our own, most people’s retirement plans are suffering drastic losses due to stock market volatility, add to that the stay-at-home order has some of our fine local business closed temporarily or possibly worse. Oil prices for the first time in our history hit negative values. This will certainly cause unemployment numbers to climb further, let alone drastically reduce our ever-so-important tax revenue — valuable tax revenue created by our oil industry and local businesses! With the recent passage of the ½% sales tax and people’s personal property taxes increasing yet again this year we are feeling the pinch now more than ever. Just when we think the financial strain can't possibly get worse, we are hit with more bad news. Construction costs estimates for the Vine Street project have shot up $3.5 million before shovels have even hit the ground. I, like most folks, expect costs will, as in most government construction projects, increase further before completion.
Not to mention our city's other multi-million dollar projects already under consideration or construction. For example, the much-needed $38 million sewer plant's reconstruction or the water pipeline project from the R9 ranch to Hays. I believe the last estimate on that one was $68 million
On top of everything else, government is ordering non-essential residents to stay home, advising everyone not to travel, practice social distancing. All the while, this project will be bringing unknown out-of town construction workers into our city.
I decided to write a heartfelt letter expressing my concerns to our city manager, our mayor, vice mayor and our commissioners. As of this evening, only Mayor Musil and Commissioner Michael Berges have responded directly to me. I personally want to thank you to both for taking time and responding. While I have known Shaun for many years and have the upmost respect for him, we vehemently disagree on the need for this project at this time or the added financial strain I believe this will cause our community during these troubled times. The selling point “we have the funds in the bank and it will not cost us any tax dollars because of the hotel bed tax” is simply false. This project has millions of federal tax dollars being pumped into it and most of us pay federal taxes. Additionally I can not imagine the hotels are filling many beds right now.
Just because we have already invested funds into this project is no reason to continue spending given our current situation?
In conclusion, I once again ask our city leaders to do what your community is doing and tighten the purse strings. Given the fact that Vine Street is in great shape and has undergone recent reconstruction, I believe it is time to table this project while your citizens are suffering.
Chris J. Miller, Hays business owner and fourth-generation Ellis County resident