I would like to continue to address the REDCO boondoggle. It has been stated that the taxpayers of Rainier paid for the quote "beautification" projects with a special levy. The levy is REDCO. Rainier has so many special levies attached to the backs of the taxpayers of the city/REDCO I find it hard to hit upon the appropriate levy to refer to it seems that the city and REDCO are in a joint operation. I do know from extensive research that REDCO had a budget of $2,167,375 for the years 2007/2008. Through out several years REDCO paid out approximately $477,127.00 on city improvements/ beautification projects. Some of the improvements were for, a boat ramp, park improvements, new Sr. center, new boat slips, new little league fields and other small service grants. REDCO also paid in 2007, $100,000.00 for 1^st street plaza, $175,000.00 for A Street, $100,000.00 for River front Trail, $81,218.00 for Hwy 30 enhancement plan. REDCO received Grant money to pay the remainder of the costs of the projects. I want to remind everyone that GRANT money is taxpayer funded.
Because of the recent verdict from the Lane county judge, taxpayers in the REDCO area will have to pay between 47 cents to 50 cents per thousand to make up the USG shortfall, they are already paying 70 cents per thousand to REDCO. Combined charges will be about $1.20 per thousand. I truly feel bad for the people in Rainier who have to make up this shortfall, because of the stupidity of the REDCO board members who decided to cap the revenues from USG when it came on line. Why didn't the REDCO board members vote to take the tax monies in full from USG and pay back the debt first? Then when the debt obligation was met, divvy up the money to everyone? Rainier could of waited on their beautification projects, or done only one at a time. Now the taxpayers are going to have to make up the difference through taxes, how many more implemented tax charges can these people pay?
I believe that the people in Rainier were sold a bill of rotten goods when REDCO and the city promised them a pot of gold; instead the people have gotten their bank accounts drained to the very bottom and the city and REDCO are asking for more.
The REDCO board that brought USG in has made some very huge mistakes, why would you borrow money from USG to purchase property than turn around and give USG the property and pay back the loan to USG for the property? Sounds like a really good business deal for USG and poor business deal for the taxpayers of the county, why would you spend monies that should go toward a huge debt and spend it elsewhere? That does not sound like a good way to handle money. Would you run your family budget the same way that REDCO and the city of Rainier has managed their budgets?
Now that Rainier is in such financial troubles with RECO, their ex city manager has moved on up to St. Helens and who says that crap don't run up hill? One would think that a city within 17 miles would have listened and learned from Rainier troubles dealing with urban renewal not St. Helens! Not only have they hired Chad Olsen they have decided that they too want urban renewal in St. Helens, since it has worked so well for Rainier and the rest of the county.
The taxpayer's pocket books are being picked clean while corporate accounts are over-flowing. Watch out people of St. Helens you are targeted for more taxes.