Welcome to Vote4Fields's Website

Keeping taxes low. The question is how this can be achieved. Well looking to balance the level of economic development in the area. Currently, there is an imbalance in terms of the taxes collected. Currently, (according to COB data) 90% of the tax burden is on the citizens (in the form of tax receipts). By improving economic development in the city, we could see that 90% number decrease, whereby keeping taxes as low as possible.

Next are public safety, community safety and road improvement. Moving people is a public safety (or community safety) issue. This cannot be done without focusing on ensuring we have a well staffed police (and Fire) department, and other first responders. When people feel protected, people feel safe. Identifying and promoting the current location of the police department would not have happened if I did not identify that location for the police department. The location clearly allows for the police department to grow by adding additional officers to protect and serve.

Next is road improvement. I started working on improving roads and road projects by applying for federal funding for 155thstreet, and the parallel road project. As a result, I clearly lead the charge in earning over 12 million dollars to complete those projects. But it is more than just that. Basehor is large than 155th street or Parallel Road, it is the entire city of Basehor. I am highlighting a few examples of how I will support keeping people safe and secure in Basehor.

While I understand the use and importance of TIFs, CID s and other incentive options, I really struggle with giving out incentives for businesses to come to Basehor. Basehor has continued to attract business to the area without incentives being offered. For example, two of the most recent businesses, did so without incentives (Taco Bell and Dollar Tree). Incentives have an impact on any person that shops or purchase items from shops or stores that incentives have been implied (in other words, you are paying more for the items you purchase). The City of Basehor has an incentive policy that needs to change. The incentive threshold is too high (up to 2.0%).

Next is growth (But at what cost?) The question is at what cost. 25 years ago, I was transferred to Kansas and I selected to live in Basehor (the only place that I live in Kansas is Basehor). I love living here. I use to get up in the mornings, set on my back deck and see the farm animals’ grazing in the fields. Not any more, Basehor has grown over the years (as expected). Growth is important, but it should be heavily monitored. Back in 2012, I was interviewed by the local news paper and as early as then – Growth is important but uncontrolled growth can be detrimental.

I do not believe in tax and spend. While services must be maintained, streets repaired as well as other City operated activities. The city must maintain a budget that can support the day to day operations of the City. This should be able to be done without an additional tax burden on the people of Basehor. I feel the impact with each tax season and realize that my tax bill has increased every year to the point that my taxes are now tripled (3 times) as they were with I moved to Basehor.