8/14/2019 Suttle Letter to White

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Office of the Mayor1819 Farnam Street, Suite 300Omaha, Nebraska 68183-0300

(402) 444-5000FA..X:(402) 444-6059City of Omaha

Jim Suttle, Mayor

January 18, 2010Senator Tom WhiteDistrict 8P.O. Box 94604Lincoln, NE 68509

Dear Senator White,

I want to again express my disappointment in your introduction of Legislative Bill 952 and request that youwithdraw this legislation now that you have been informed this is a tax shift that will undoubtedly place agreater burden on the property taxes paid by Omahans. Frankly, I believe language from state politicians whosuggest Omahans need to pay higher property taxes is reckless in this economy.

Let me be very clear about the ~xtent of my disappointment in the roll out of this legislation. The concept wasmentioned by another senator inhe presence of my staff at Cine meeting in October. My Chief of Staffresponded at the time that Omaha officials could not support such a proposal because it would be an unfundedmandate from the state and shift an additional burden to local property taxes.

Imagine my reaction when I was told just this week that this ill-advised legislation was being sold around theUnicameral with the false impression that the bill was being crafted with the knowledge and insinuatedcooperation of the Mayor's office. I don't know who is responsible for this boldface lie, but I would appreciateyour cooperation in correcting the record.

My office never saw a copy of any draft proposal. Neither I nor any member of my staff discussed this bill withyou. My staff was first called about the introduced legislation the day before it was to be the subject of anarticle in the Omaha World-Herald. I was told this notification was a courtesy. No offense, but that is indeed avery small courtesy. We have extended a greater courtesy by withholding public criticism of this bill for themoment.

The Mayor and City Council have a responsibility to keep our municipal budget solvent. This proposal willdirectly harm those efforts. These exemptions to the sales tax will force us to consider proposing an estimated3-cent property tax increase directly related to this Tom White bill.

8/14/2019 Suttle Letter to White

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January 18, 2010Senator Tom WhitePage Two

Let me also debunk the myth that surrounds a part of your legislation that is not currently advocated by MUDofficials. There is no truth to the concept that there is a need to eliminate a "tax on a tax" with respect to thesewer use fee. If the language is not sufficient evidence, let me state plainly that this is a fee, not unlike thecharge for any other utility, telecommunication or regulated service.

You have an opportunity to right this-wrong. Please withdraw, bracket or table LB952. I look forward to yourresponse.

Sincerely,

(1:,~~c:Mayor, City of Omaha

JS/dd