Tag: Interventionism
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In Wichita, how tax increment financing can channel tax money
The flow of tax dollars Wichita city leaders have planned for Douglas Place, a proposed hotel in Wichita, creates a mechanism where taxpayer funds are routed to a politically-connected construction firm. And unlike the real world, where developers have an incentive to build economically, the city has created incentives for Douglas Place developers to spend…
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For Wichita’s Project Downtown, goal keeps slipping
In selling a plan for the revitalization of downtown Wichita, promoters started with a promise of much private investment for just a little public investment. But as the plan proceeded, the goal kept slipping, and the first project to be approved under the final plan will probably not come close to meeting even the modest…
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In Wichita, historic preservation tax credits an inefficient form of developer welfare
As part of the subsidy plan for Douglas Place, a downtown Wichita hotel being proposed, developers plan to make extensive use of historic preservation tax credits to fund their project. This form of developer welfare, besides being inefficient, is largely hidden from public view.
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Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Thursday August 11, 2011
Today: Kensinger, Brownback chief of staff, profiled; New York charter schools seen as success; Morality of capitalism.
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Wichita city council to decide between rule of law, or rule by situation
Tuesday’s Wichita City Council meeting will provide an opportunity for the mayor, council members, and city hall staff to let Wichitans know if our city is governed by the rule of law and proper respect for it, or if these values will be discarded for the convenience of one person and his business partners.
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Job creation at young firms declines
A new report by the Kauffman Foundation holds unsettling information for the future of job growth in the United States.
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Clusters as economic development in Kansas
Is the promotion by Kansas government of industry clusters as economic development good for the future of Kansas?
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Despite subsidy program, Wichita flights are declining
Supporters of the Kansas Affordable Airfares Program are proud of the program’s success. But looking at the statistics uncovers a troubling trend that is obscured by the facts used to promote the program.
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Federal grants seen to raise future local spending
Not only are we taxed to pay for the cost of funding federal and state grants, the units of government that receive grants are very likely to raise their own levels of taxation in response to the receipt of the grants. This is a cycle of ever-expanding government that needs to end, and right now.