Published: April 23, 2008 01:19 pm            

The Battle for Payne Springs

Dear Editor,

There is a battle going on in Payne Springs. On one side is a very vocal minority, most of whom do not live in Payne Springs, and the other side is the residents of Payne Springs. Somehow, the vocal minority of primarily non-residents feels that they should control the city and its future direction, while the city residents are just trying to go about their lives.

Up until recently, these non-residents actually controlled the city because they are more organized than the Payne Springs residents who just want a safe and friendly city to raise their families and live their lives.

Unfortunately, this does not set well with the city outsiders who want to keep a lid on the growth and maintain just a shell of a Police department. For those who are unfamiliar with recent city history, less than one year ago the city had a Police department of 3 officers including a Chief.

Since November 2007, the city has had one officer and the Council, backed by these non-residents, has done everything it can to stop the hiring of a second police officer. The result is a significant drop in Public Safety throughout the city.

Now the non-residents are really upset. They are angry that the citizens of Payne Springs, in an effort to raise city revenues without an ad valorem tax, have had the audacity to sign a petition to allow alcohol sales for Off-Premises Consumption Only (meaning no bars or drinks could be served in the City of Payne Springs.)

This ballot initiative has been approved by Henderson County and is on the May 2008 County ballot. The outsiders, and a very few residents, have continued to ignore that alcohol sales are available in the cities to the north and south of Payne Springs, and therefore much needed Payne Springs city revenue is being taken from the city.

Contrary to the non-residents’ mantra of keeping alcohol out of Payne Springs, they ignore the fact that alcohol is already in Payne Springs and will continue to be here. What the enlightened residents of Payne Springs who signed the petition and all those who support it want, is to keep the sales tax revenue from alcohol sales in the city.

Payne Springs’ primary source of income is sales tax revenues and allowing local Payne Springs businesses to sell alcohol will create a significant increase in city sales tax revenues, plus add jobs at those businesses. These revenues will go to increase Public Safety and Improve Roads.

The non-residents who are vehemently fighting growth in Payne Springs want to keep the city the way it was and are even happy to propose an ad valorem tax for the city’s residents, that, of course, these outside agitators would not have to pay.

The simple fact is that no one will start drinking just because they can buy alcohol in Payne Springs. Nor, will people not drink in Payne Springs because they have to go north or south on 198 to buy it. This is simply an intelligent business decision for the city to make. After all, this is not about alcohol, but about revenue for the city. Alcohol is already here. We just want to keep the revenue in the city.

I ask that the residents of Payne Springs consider this proposition in the context of how it can help our city. Listen to your fellow residents, and not those who live outside our city and have no financial stake in Payne Springs.

Michael McDonald

City of Payne Springs

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.