MoCity’s Lenton-Gary Defends Vote Against Tax Increase
October 20th, 2009 | by Jamie Mock | Published in News | 60 Comments
An update on the Texas Parkway Corridor project led to a not-so-friendly exchange between Missouri City Councilman Jerry Wyatt, At-large Position 1, and Councilwoman Cynthia Lenton-Gary, District B, at Monday night’s council meeting.
City council voted earlier this month to approve the effective tax rate of $0.5284 – the rate the city has to levy to generate the same amount of money as the previous year – which was about a penny higher than last year’s rate due to decreased property values. Lenton-Gary was the lone nay vote on the rate, with Councilman Robin Elackatt absent.
Following City Manager Frank Simpson’s presentation on the Texas Parkway project, Wyatt commented that projects such as rehabilitating the corridor cost money – taxpayer money.
“When people don’t support the tax rate, which definitely affects their district, it creates a problem,” said Wyatt at Monday night’s meeting. “When the district person doesn’t support it, it makes it hard for everyone else to have to deal with this.”
“I have to comment because I feel like a finger was just pointed at me,” said Lenton-Gary, to which Wyatt responded that “the finger was pointed at you.”
“You know, Jerry, I think as council what we have to do is respect each other’s opinion,” said Lenton-Gary. “No, I didn’t support the tax rate, and I didn’t support it for my reasons, and I think that instead of attacking me for my opinion, my opinion should either be respected or questioned – you should talk to me about why I made that decision.”
Lenton-Gary explained that she voted against the tax rate because people in her district were approaching her and questioning higher taxes when they say there have been no noticeable improvements in their part of the city.
“I have to think about the people who actually put me in office,” said Lenton-Gary.
“But at the same time, I would tell those same people that I am supporting them, this is what we are doing,” said Wyatt. “And that’s your opinion and I respect that. The fact is your opinion is wrong.”
Lenton-Gary said she did not think that the general public needed to hear council members “debating in a negative way,” to which Wyatt replied, “I think your public needs to hear this kind of conversation.”
Councilman Brett Kolaja made the comment that to decrease the taxes you have to “decide what you want to do without” and said the tax rate is based on the costs of running the city.
“Absolutely,” said Lenton-Gary. “But you have to realize we are individuals…if I choose to vote against a tax increase, that’s my choice.”
The current budget cut almost $700,000 from the previous year’s budget, and with the newly adopted tax rate the city had to cut about $750,000 more. According to city representatives, $350,000 will be saved by not filling all open, full-time position vacancies, other than those in the police department, fire department and public safety dispatchers. Lower than expected employee health insurance premiums will save the city $100,000, and the city will lower the contingency account by $200,000. An additional $50,000 will be saved by a reduction in various line items, such as conference training, travel accounts and minor tool accounts.
“I am going to stand firm on what I believe,” said Wyatt.
“And so will I, I can promise you that,” responded Lenton-Gary.
October 20th, 2009 at 1:30 pm (#)
Lenton-Gary wants the free ride for her voters. Sound familar?
October 20th, 2009 at 1:33 pm (#)
Leave it to our crony defender “conman” to attack the reformer fighting to hold the line on higher taxes during a recession. You are too predictable fbc (wadefishin/jbb/etc…).
Defend those tax, borrow and spenders……hahaha
October 20th, 2009 at 1:36 pm (#)
“Following City Manager Frank Simpson’s presentation on the Texas Parkway project, Wyatt commented that projects such as rehabilitating the corridor cost money – taxpayer money.”
Jerry shouldn’t have approved the purchase of the bottom land from the development company that gave to his last election cycle (you know the one he swore he would never take funding from)??? He shouldn’t have approved tax dollars going to the ETJ for the same company.
FBC, maybe that’s where your tax dollars are going. There and to the golf course that the city doesn’t have clear title to. lol
–Keep spinning toadie/charlie-boy…
October 20th, 2009 at 1:41 pm (#)
where was the other “reformer” hiding?
Lenton-Gary an educrat like you just doesn’t live in the real world, if you going to be one of the top 100 places to live in the USA it costs money. “Let someone else pay for me” doesn’t cut it in MC. That only works in Detroit/NOs/Chicago, etc. In MC we believe in “paygo”.
October 20th, 2009 at 1:46 pm (#)
I think you missed the crux of the argument as well as who has their handout to the big Houston developers building in the ETJ on the backs of those living in the city and paying those taxes as usual tax, borrow and spender:
“Lenton-Gary explained that she voted against the tax rate because people in her district were approaching her and questioning higher taxes when they say there have been no noticeable improvements in their part of the city.”
Joe didn’t label you the “village idiot” for nothing….hahaha
October 20th, 2009 at 2:07 pm (#)
This is something. Any fort bend county elected official voting against a tax increase.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:11 pm (#)
How exactly does she think any improvements are going to get made with no $$ to fund them?
October 20th, 2009 at 2:13 pm (#)
Wow, these conservative named poster’s arent’ that conservative. Let me explain it to you ( Right )Conservative = less government and ( Left )Liberal = more government. That is PolySci 101.
Go get them Lenton-Gary! It seems Mo City wants to just charge more and more during tough economic times, doesn’t make sense from a conservative point of view. Nothing wrong with asking questions and maybe delaying projects that cost too much right now.
If the other representatives are dirty and practicing cronysim, then VOTE THEM OUT.
Here is a couple tips everyone in MoCity. vote for the candidate that works for your lower tax rate and brings business to the community to help fund government. Stop all the multi-family housing that erodes your land values and look for ways to move things to user pay for you “paygo” people. If you have a low tax rate you will create a bigger demand for your land.
Lesson over Libs.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:14 pm (#)
I here a fbc echo, echo, echo……maybe someone should get the budget and see where in the ETJ the money has been going, going, going…..gone (apparently Gary has)……
PS It sure took the fbc echo long enough to get here, here, here…..LOL
October 20th, 2009 at 2:16 pm (#)
You think Lenton Gary is a Conservative, C1?? She’s voting out of spite it looks like to me. I guess you also think $$
grows on trees?
October 20th, 2009 at 2:17 pm (#)
“I guess you also think $$
grows on trees?”
Nope it looks like he thinks you think there is a money tree…..LOL
Try again tax, borrow and spender…..
October 20th, 2009 at 2:22 pm (#)
Megabite, I don’ know. I just jumped on the chance to help my MoCity neighbors out, they need lower tax rates. Do you think Lenton-Gary didn’t get her shrimp cocktail? Is that why she desented? Or is she REALLY taking care of her constituents? Will the improvements help her district?
October 20th, 2009 at 2:28 pm (#)
Excellent Conservative 1, but don’t leave out:
Smaller government does not mean privatizing everything so that we are stuck with a bloated, non transparent, fascist private government.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:29 pm (#)
I believe Lenton-Gary was asked which service did she want cut, I didn’t here her response but I suspect she didn’t want to cut any. So here’s a lesson in econ 191 for those who don’t live in the real world. If appraisals go down, you cut the budget which MC did. With a shortfall you have a chioice cut city services or fund it.
So which service did lenton-Gary want cut? Police, Fire, etc?
once again where was the other “reformer” MIA?
sometimes when the going gets tough some cutNrun.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:34 pm (#)
With layoffs happening in our area, we should not be increasing ANY taxes, period.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:36 pm (#)
What service(s) would you cut?
October 20th, 2009 at 2:37 pm (#)
Thanks to Jerry Wyatt for pointing out to Lenton-Gary the Texas Parkway Project in her district costs tax dollars apparently she didn’t realize that.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:43 pm (#)
“Lenton-Gary explained that she voted against the tax rate because people in her district were approaching her and questioning higher taxes when they say there have been no noticeable improvements in their part of the city.”
Good for her, standing up! If the money was there two years ago when the City first approached that section of town and proposed revitalization, and nothing has been revitalized, then why should she vote to increase taxes? She shouldn’t. The City is all talk.
Funny thing is, I seem to recall the Mayor was up for re-election right around the time that whole ‘revitalization’ of Texas Parkway was being proposed last time. They held a nice little town meeting for all the residents, put together some drawings and here we sit - with nothing to show. BUT WAIT! It is almost another re-election year! Which means, the topic of revitalization should be knocking at the door once more! Hooray! Let’s see if we can’t trick those dumb residents off Texas Parkway one more time!
Bull.
“So which service did lenton-Gary want cut? Police, Fire, etc?”
Why is it that we always come to this? ‘Well, if you know so much - which one of these essential programs are you willing to cut?!?’ How about we leave the essentials where they stand (and will continue to stand regardless of where the taxes sit) and cut the crap?
Good job Cynthia. Keep up the good work. Things are a-changing, aren’t they?
October 20th, 2009 at 2:45 pm (#)
Funny you should bring up yet another broken promise from 2006 from mayor Owen and the boyz. You know they never established a TIRZ for that area like they were supposed to and promised during the ‘06 and ‘08 races? You keep defending those tax, borrow and spenders “conman” from the crony-boyz. Eventually the public will wake-up to you liars!
Fake conservative (real conman)…..hahahaha
October 20th, 2009 at 2:46 pm (#)
I did not mean, cut and run or privatizing everything. If the constituents say no more taxes, guess what, you cut taxes and cut services. And no, you can’t have both. Some one needs to gut up and make some decisions. And largely from my experience, that means less trips, less meetings, maybe a project or two gets delayed, that’s it. Manage your business.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:48 pm (#)
They sure don’t mind spending the dollars on bottom land to their favorite Houston developer contributor or the golf course without clear title, oh that’s right. It’s because that is the mayors subdivision and biggest contributor……LOL
“conman” (wadefishin-charlie) is just too transparent this evening mocty….
October 20th, 2009 at 2:53 pm (#)
conservative1 some want “only the best” but don’t want to pay for it, I’m merely pointing out you can’t have it both ways.
I don’t want to live in Houston so I’m willing to pay more to get more, but I’m not paying for someone to get a free ride like Houston/Detroit/Chi-town/NOs does.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:55 pm (#)
It is possible to cut taxes and maintain essential services. However, when non-essential services are cut, no one pays attention.
‘Oh, that was cut? Didn’t realize it was even in the budget.’
When essential services are cut, suddenly everyone freaks out, which makes it easy for a politician to come back with, ‘Well, we tried to make it work by cutting only a portion of the essential services, but it didn’t work and people suffered. I guess we will just have to raise taxes like we said in the first place.’
Cut the crap, not the essentials, and watch your budget fall in line.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:55 pm (#)
calvin whats wrong no one’s paying you any attn, goodboy sonny.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:55 pm (#)
MoCity, has come out with the real story, this has been promised before and now they want more money to do it. HeHe looks like Lenton-Gary called them on the carpet with this one.
October 20th, 2009 at 3:02 pm (#)
Good point cons1. It’s amazing how often broken promises catch-up. Kinda like the sidewalk issue, the landfill Owen supports and all those other games the specs. like to play while the residents pay.
PS-Who are you talking to charlie, our resident crony defender “conman”? Did you stir up a hornets nest….hahaha
October 20th, 2009 at 3:02 pm (#)
so we’re in agreement the Texas Parkway Project should be cut.
I don’t think thats the free ride lenton-Gary promised her voters.
October 20th, 2009 at 3:04 pm (#)
Those are your words “conman” not conservative1. You sure love stuffing BS in other mouths jerk.
October 20th, 2009 at 3:05 pm (#)
BTW, why did they purchase all that bottom land at above market? Isn’t it amazing it is close to the budget deficit amount. Gotta luv it when they catch you boyz at it.
October 20th, 2009 at 3:11 pm (#)
The Texas Parkway Project is already non-existent… much like a half dozen other projects that the City is ‘working’ on. It is only a project if work is being done. Without the work, it’s just a vision.
October 20th, 2009 at 3:20 pm (#)
santhony, I don’t know any of these guys. I just like the publication and want to support it with comments. I like talking about these issues, it’s down and dirty local politics. I am amazed why more people don’t pay attention.
October 20th, 2009 at 3:29 pm (#)
Amen to that conservative1.
I wish more people would pay attention as well. Instead most individuals will sit back and expect the government to ‘do the right thing’.
Sadly, the question is not ‘Will they do the right thing?’ The bigger and better question is, ‘Who is defining what the right thing is?’
October 20th, 2009 at 3:46 pm (#)
Cons1, many do read it. More used to post, but the troll likes to divert the threads and they changed the format about a year ago. It shows less stories with threads and makes it easier for the troll to spam the forums.
Much goes on that needs this kind of exposure. I think Gary did the right thing in standing up for her constituents, rather than feeding the spec. ints. as seems to so often be the case in this highly taxed county and several of its municipal governments (I think the tax foundation has us ranked #1 per median home value in TX and 11th over-all)….
October 20th, 2009 at 3:47 pm (#)
MoCity its called perspective. Some see everything as negative and some see the good. I made a life decision many years ago to not be negative apparently some here enjoy feeling miserable and trying to bring everyone else down.
What a sad miserable life.
October 20th, 2009 at 3:55 pm (#)
MoCity, you are right, sometimes the people that get involved aren’t good stewards of their elected positions. That’s why we are here, to call them out and keep them honest. Locally, most officials are good, and most get the job done, you just have to watch out for the boss hogg’s of the world trying to shrimp cocktail it on your buck. And…on the other side, make sure the utopians don’t take away your rights because they know better than you how you should live your life.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:00 pm (#)
“Tom Wilcox is chairman of the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development’s Council Program Oversight Board.
“There are many quantifiable facts about Fort Bend County that are impressive and demonstrate what a great place it is for businesses and families to thrive and grow,” Wilcox said. “Our county’s low crime rate, low tax burden, educated workforce and overall low cost of doing business foster a very favorable business climate for those looking to relocate or start a new business.”
santhonyTheTroll says:
October 20th, 2009 at 3:46 pm (#)
“rather than feeding the spec. ints. as seems to so often be the case in this highly taxed county”
who am I to believe?….”the nut” or Tom Wilcox.
Yep I know its hard….hahaha
October 20th, 2009 at 4:02 pm (#)
Here are 3 examples of what fbc calls his decision to not be negative (too bad it only seems to apply when he’s defending that certain tax, borrow and spend clique):
““FtBendConservative says:
September 4th, 2009 at 8:36 pm (#) SillyAnthony don’t you have some little old ladies to kneecap?
« JohnBernardBooks wrote on Monday, Jun 30 at 06:45 AM »
Joe do you even know how to be positive? I’m sorry if life is so bad for you…maybe you’ll ened it all soon?”
FtBendConservative says:
September 24th, 2009 (#) …Joe are you smoking crack?”
These are direct quotes btw….hahaha
October 20th, 2009 at 4:06 pm (#)
BTW, the crony-boy (”conman”) mentions Mr. Wilcox who is an employee of one such Houston based company that gives to mayor Owen on a regular basis. It is no coincidence that our “Mr. Positive” as he now likes to call himself is quoting one of his clique mocity. Certainly not a big surprise to anyone though…
Like I said it’s like a bad soap opera. It rarely changes…..or maybe a bad “B” movie…..Gary and Robin aren’t part of that clique so they get dumped on by the money boyz….
October 20th, 2009 at 4:07 pm (#)
ahh my stalker is back
October 20th, 2009 at 4:09 pm (#)
Crony-boy (ftbendconman/wadefishin/johnbernardbooks) likes to ignore little facts like the US Tax Foundations that don’t agree with the official party and spec. ints. line he quoted above (without providing any data of course)….but that’s his norm too….
Like I said a very slow and sad soap opera that the public continues to pay for…
October 20th, 2009 at 4:10 pm (#)
# santhony says:
October 20th, 2009 at 4:06 pm (#)
Like I said it’s like a bad soap opera. It rarely changes…..or maybe a bad “B” movie…..Gary and Robin aren’t part of that clique so they get dumped on by the money boyz….
where was you boy Robin did he cutNrun?
what are you smoking wackytobacky?
October 20th, 2009 at 4:10 pm (#)
PS JBB/charlie–Whose talking to you AH. We are talking about you…..hahaha
October 20th, 2009 at 4:11 pm (#)
still needing some attn calvin?
October 20th, 2009 at 4:12 pm (#)
“# santhony says:
October 20th, 2009 at 4:10 pm (#)
PS JBB/charlie–Whose talking to you AH. We are talking about you…..hahaha”
calvin you can’t STOP talking about me, its called a mancrush yanno?
October 20th, 2009 at 4:14 pm (#)
calvin I was there the day the cops threw you out of the council meeting, I’m stilling laugh at that.
it got real quiet then someone said “what a nut” and the room exploded with laughter.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:15 pm (#)
when I’m feelin blue
I think of you
and laugh……hahaha
October 20th, 2009 at 4:17 pm (#)
FtBendConservative, I disagree with your willingness to pay more because I moved from Houston because it is cheaper in Sugar Land not more expensive. My home is 3x’s more expensive in Houston compared to Sugar Land. My schools are exemplary and my neighborhood is safe and clean. But, you are willing to pay more, OK. But there are other citizens that say enough to this tax, tax, tax mentalilty. If the constituents from Gary’s district say no, then they say no.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:26 pm (#)
“Feeling” is not the issue here. My HOA dues are going up again, my taxes are going up again, toll roads are going up, property values are going down, foreclosures are up, and my hours have been cut by 20%.
These are all reasons to cut spending, NOT INCREASE IT! Who are these local economists?! And if the conman is forcing me to say what should be cut, I say do it across the board. Do it because it must be done. When I tell my wife to cut our spending by 20% because the money is not coming in, I don’t expect her to make me tell her no more new dresses and expensive makeup. So I will tell conman like I told her, “Sweety, the money just isn’t there. We must cut the spending by 20%!”
Our government and our privatized governments MUST do the same. Stop this vortex of fiscal insanity
October 20th, 2009 at 4:30 pm (#)
Oh man I sure wish there was a Youtube vid of that FBC! haha
October 20th, 2009 at 4:42 pm (#)
santhony, megamouth can only add insult to his own ignorance, when what we need is is a fiscally conservative and responcible local government. Who would object to that except those who benefit from the corruption?
If our local governments were as conservative as they advertise, we would have nothing to worry about nationally. As it is our local government, is as irresponcible and fiscally corrupt as they come. Stop the spending. We are pushing ourselves into a fiscal vortex that we will not be able to escape.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:46 pm (#)
Hey scud, don’t you have some HOA whining to do somewhere? WHAAA WHAAA WHAAAAAA
October 20th, 2009 at 4:47 pm (#)
When did this turn into the OH-WHOA-IS-ME board anyway?
October 20th, 2009 at 5:00 pm (#)
Wow, do I hear a neighborly person expressing concern for the well being of others in his community, or is it the worst form of a parasite who can’t wait for others to hurt?
These parasites must be eliminated from the “public service” that they are providing. They are an irritant in a healthy economy, but they will kill a fragile economy.
October 20th, 2009 at 6:49 pm (#)
mega/jbb claims he doesn’t live in MC, but me doth think he’s lying again….lol
October 20th, 2009 at 6:52 pm (#)
Time for a history lesson for the community organizers.
At one time subdivisions in MC paid off duty officers to patrol their subdivisions. The community organizers like Shelia Hackson Lee and Lenton-Gary cried “thats not fair” and the entitlement crowd said “we want it too”. The dem politicians agreed and passed laws stopping subdivisions from paying for services. Thats right made it illegal to pay for services. So The subs told their councils we still want the services and the entitlement crowd cried “me too”. What happened? HIGHER TAXES!
Now dems are trying to shift the burden of taxes to repub voters by buying votes just like Shelia Lenten-Gary wants to do. She wants the free ride for votes.
If you want the extra services you gotta pay for them. If you want to live in a golfing community you gotta pay the dues.
Now once again Shelia Lenten-Gary which services do you want cut to your voters?
MC is a no free ride zone.
October 20th, 2009 at 8:01 pm (#)
Your logic and “story telling” sounds good, but as usual it is pure fantasy and your name-smithing is undeserved. What is really sad is the fact that it took Gary to give Owen’s bunch of toadies a lesson on fiscal conservatism.
When she first took office her first vote was to vote down another Owen lead increase and she stood on her own as she did again this time. And it has been you repeatedly that has tried to derail the conversations about where the money has been going (golfer). It is you and Owens bunch that refused to purchase the club outright in a deal with the QVMUD and QVHOA and now are locked in renovations for a course that they do not have clear title to. It is your buddies that voted and paid for several roads in or near the ETJ for a Houston developer and kept the money and emphasis going to the hwy 6 area. It was your buddies who voted in the purchase of bottom land from Houston developers at above market price for bottom land that just happens to be a similar amount to the current deficit. As a matter of fact you defended the TIRZ that was established for several ETJ developers that is diverting tens of millions of potential tax dollars away from city coffers. Jerry W. defended that initiative too along with Owen and both accept contributions from executives of that same company.
You see twit-charlie, you are a lying again as usual and libeling council-woman Gary for listening to her electorate unlike Owen/Wyatt who take campaign financing from big corporate developers doing business with the city and they turn around and vote in their projects, which in most rational peoples minds is a conflict of interest at the very least. They take their orders not from the voters.
“MC is a no free ride zone.” ftbendconman/wadefishin/johnbernardbooks (charlie)
It is a free ride for the “pay to players”, but not for the taxpayers who are footing the bill for your crony-boys.
“…services do you want cut to your voters?” ftbendconman/charlie again
The answer is simple. Stop feeding the crony machine with abatements, special zones and other tax incentives. Reduce city government and those city administrative positions added over the last several years (including the asst. city mgr and extra PR person they hired from SL).
When the city lets the private corps invest and build their own properties that they will reap the benefit from, I’m sure the budget will look a hell of alot different. Just think, you’d be out of a job crony-boy and they would have to put in their own roads as the state law requires, but never enforces…..how’s that corporate welfare queeny-charlie?
October 21st, 2009 at 7:11 am (#)
“santhony says:
October 20th, 2009 at 8:01 pm (#)
Your logic and “story telling” sounds good,”
how true you claim a Phd but don’t know fact from fairy tales.
At least learn how to spell ddecent.
MC is a no free ride zone.
October 21st, 2009 at 8:30 am (#)
Titled a History Lesson For Community Organizers
“Time for a history lesson for the community organizers.
At one time subdivisions in MC paid off duty officers to patrol their subdivisions. The community organizers like Shelia Hackson Lee and Lenton-Gary cried “thats not fair” and the entitlement crowd said “we want it too”. The dem politicians agreed and passed laws stopping subdivisions from paying for services. Thats right made it illegal to pay for services. So The subs told their councils we still want the services and the entitlement crowd cried “me too”. What happened? HIGHER TAXES!
Now dems are trying to shift the burden of taxes to repub voters by buying votes just like Shelia Lenten-Gary wants to do. She wants the free ride for votes.
If you want the extra services you gotta pay for them. If you want to live in a golfing community you gotta pay the dues.
Now once again Shelia Lenten-Gary which services do you want cut to your voters?
MC is a no free ride zone.”
October 21st, 2009 at 9:13 am (#)
See #55 and stop repeating yourself and misdirecting on the tax increases. Gary has voted against 2 of the last 3 rate increases. How’s that for a history lesson? And how can you raise taxes while voting against them? And how can you raise them on one party and not the other? You are a funny liberal, tax, borrow and spend troll… LOL
October 21st, 2009 at 9:24 am (#)
“santhony says:
October 21st, 2009 at 9:13 am (#)
stop repeating yourself and misdirecting”
I think thats wonderful advice for you to follow troll