IS IT TRUE September 21, 2013

IS IT TRUE the barrage of centrally orchestrated public relations actions to try to convince, cajole, threaten, and shame two members of the “Responsible SIX” members of the Evansville City Council to vote YES to some permutation of a hotel development agreement on Monday night is getting more and more desperate and off the charts of blarney?…the latest shot from the supporters is an editorial in the Courier and Press online edition titled “THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE MIDWEST”, in which the editor of the CP asserts that the deliberations of the City Council that have spilled into the public arena are fodder for jokes from Peoria to Pennsylvania?…the Midwest is indeed full of towns that were at one time cities that in prosperous circles are indeed laughing stock?…the ultimate laughing stock is of course Detroit that has gone from being the innovation capital of the world to a bankrupted beggar city in a scant period of 60 years?…there are plenty of other Midwestern cities including Cleveland, Youngstown, Gary, St. Louis, and a host of others that would be pot calling the kettle black if they are actually pointing at Evansville with humor in their eyes over a renewed demand by the City Council to vet projects?

IS IT TRUE the Evansville of recent history does indeed have things in common with these laughing stock republics?…first and foremost is the misguided belief that temples to sports, entertainment palaces, and even publicly financed hotels are a solution to the loss of skilled jobs and a magic bullet that will bring education young professionals to town?…all of these bankrupted shrinking cities already did the things that Evansville has been doing in the last 5 or 10 years?…all have either flirted with or found themselves in bankruptcy?…to brand responsible diligence as “laughing stock” is the kind of thing that makes the one who asserts the “laughing stock” badge worthy of wearing the jesters cap and being branded a fool?

IS IT TRUE the barrage of idiocy started Thursday with County Commissioner Marsha Abell’s threat to shutter the Centre, the old Courthouse, and the Coliseum?…it was followed up Friday by a meeting of the union bosses that resulted in phone calls to the “Responsible SIX” threatening non-support or even support of opponents in future elections?…of course today was the Courier’s day to throw a plastic rock at the thinking offenders of the status quo?…we wonder who will get into the act on Sunday and Monday?…we may be able to expect Brando’s ghost to come to town and offer the “Responsible SIX” a deal they can’t refuse?…these kinds of antics are what really make a place slide into obscurity and join the other cities that borrowed themselves into impotence while failing to maintain critical infrastructure?

IS IT TRUE perhaps the most ridiculous thing in the article was the claim straight out of the Vietnam War protests that “THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING”?…having travelled the world extensively what this writer can assure you about the world is that it does not know Evansville from Banger, Maine?…Evansville has no reputation and no recognition outside of about a 300 mile radius of the bend in the river?…even in the western states of America Evansville is thought to be a Chicago suburb and is known for nothing?…contrary to the latest CHICKEN LITTLE claim “THE WHOLE WORLD IS NOT WATCHING”?

IS IT TRUE that things like falling for the Earthcare Energy scam, failing to balance the books for two years, being blindsided by Whirlpool’s departure, and having a series of stoplights on an expressway are things that cause a place to be a laughing stock?…carefully deliberating a public investment in a private business in a professional manner is something that can separate Evansville for the plethora of laughing stock cities already dying in the Midwest?

True Analysis of Centre Finances

This spread sheet on the link below is a great illustration of the true financial results of the Centre’s operation, when you account for the Innkeepers Tax Subsidy. Joe Gries, County Auditor confirmed they have a $4.1 Million Dollar cash reserve, which is very close to the calculations found from the Centre’s financial statements prepared by SMG and data provided by Brian Gerth.

In addition, please find a copy of the Innkeepers Tax code IC 6-9-2.5 which provides the language regarding the Vanderburgh County Innkeepers Tax. Specifically, I draw your attention to section IC 6-9-2.5-7.7 titled Convention Center Operating Fund where the County Treasurer is required to establish a convention center operating fund; deposit into this operating fund the amount of 2% rate (of the gross receipts of hotels, motels cabins, etc… in Vand. Co.); and the money can only be expended for the operating expenses of a convention center.

As previously reported, generally accepted accounting principles have NOT been followed in regards to the reporting of the results of operations. The attached analysis clearly indicates that innkeepers’ tax revenues have bypassed the income statement, misleading the public as to the true financial condition of the Centre. If Marsha Abell should elect to close the Centre it will be on the false premise that the Innkeepers tax is not part of the Centre’s income stream.

Ms. Abell’s well timed and most likely orchestrated by some puppetmaster “the sky is falling so give me my hotel” manifesto turns out to be nothing more than part of the hotel supporter’s last ditch PR campaign that thus far has been based on false claims, last minute concessions, undue distress directed at the Evansville City Council (more on this later), brow beating by union officials, and veiled threats to any opposition with influence.

Centre Financial Analysis

VanderburghCountyInnkeepersTaxStatute