re: The Metro Council declared war on the unincorporated area tonight

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The proposal to incorporate a new city in southeast East Baton Rouge Parish would: – Remove $85 million in tax revenue from East Baton Rouge Parish. – Create an annual city-parish budget deficit of $53 million (20% of the entire budget). – Result in tax increases and/or service cuts for ALL residents of East Baton Rouge Parish, including southeast residents, to make up for revenue losses and create duplicate municipal services. – Pose a threat to the economic stability of the metro region. – Increase distrust and division across our community.

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All of that was determined by independent studies by LSU economists and BRAC. Not lies and not by Better Together.

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That's true. What they fail to state is that 1) that area was under the jurisdiction of the consolidated government so people living in that area's taxes were paying for improvement and 2) revenue received from these improvements was/is being used to subsidize services only available within City limits.

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Everyone knows taxes go across the entire parish.

Services like the fire and police departments servicing outside the city limits like they routinely do?

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All of that was determined by independent studies by LSU economists and BRAC. Not lies and not by Better Together.

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Then they lied too, no way SG incorporating removes 85 million in tax revenue from EBR Parish.

No way does SG incorporating result in tax increases for ALL residents of the parish.

And the economic viability is highly debatable, and I think more BS but that is strictly opinion.

That I agree with. Each city needs to only vote for that city, and each city needs only pay taxes to its city.

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I agree that the logistical sense of a consolidated government isn't as great as it used to be.

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It makes zero sense. There are 230K in BR City and 445K in EBR. That's a 52%/48% split between BR and non-BR.

There is absolutely no reason for a consolidated Parish-City Government. Honestly, this is what the SG people should be fighting.

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He said one thing for two weeks. Immediately after the vote, literally within minutes after the vote, he said the opposite. That is admitting he lied

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Ok.

So, you are saying he lied...not that he admitted he lied. They are different, and you said it so many different times I was wondering if you were referencing something different.

Why did you feel the need to stretch the truth to make your point? You could have just said that Rainey was caught in a lie?

Do you know how I know you know you're losing the argument?

It's because you no longer debate substance, merely form. This entire thread is filled with you doing that.

Would you now like to start debating what the meaning of "is" is?

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Their bullet points are pure propaganda, I'm calling them a lie, you call them projections; who cares. They are misleading and not supported by FACTS.

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Because everyone involved in this is honest, right? RIGHT?

LINK

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The only thing that has been over board is the one Facebook post by Delgado. Other than that, they have not lied like Rainey has.

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So quick to excuse Delgado while vilifying Rainey.

Mickey, you keep hammering this drum, asking why we St. Georgians aren't upset about Rainey changing his position last night after the board meeting. There are very few of us who care about Rainey and his personal integrity. That might seem shocking to you, but I doubt you could find that many people in St. George who even know who Rainey is. His integrity isn't going to derail the effort. St. George's incorporation or failure to incorporate doesn't hinge on his personal qualities as a leader.

The drive to incorporate will succeed or fail based on the long-held beliefs of people in this area that our school system is failing us and that we are not getting out of our local government what we are putting into it. That's what the fight hinges on.

None of us are looking at Rainey like Moses, leading us to the promised land. The issues alone are strong enough to get the required signatures for the ballot.

I'm not saying you're wrong, Mickey. I'm just telling you no one is listening to you. You can bang the drum harder, but it's not going to move the needle.

In the end, St. George will decide St. George's fate. And all the bullshite about who said what and when... and which store in the mall is in which town... and whether this fire protection zone is impacted or not... will fall to the wayside.

This vote will come down to two things:

1. Will St. George be closer to having its own school district?

and

2. Are St. Georgians better off governing themselves?

That's the only two things that will sway the votes one way or another when this hits the ballot. St. George has been waiting on this vote waaaaaaaay too long to let something as lame as a flip-flop at Metro Council stall it.