[Winona] Is our investment $325,000 ?

[mkirsch at hbci.com]

Thank you Kathy for your response.  How does GRSF fit the definition of 
"charitable"?
  I asked because I was thinking (at least I think I was) of bigger local 
ongoing taxation implications.  One of the problems the City of Winona is 
perpetually faced with is the huge percentage of  the local property tax 
base that is comprised of non-profits that do not and will probably never 
pay the property taxes that support our schools, arts, streets, arts, 
police, arts, fire departments, arts, ect.....  I think Jim Galewski once 
wrote that in Winona it is something like 30% of all taxable property.  That 
is a HUGE percentage!
  There is an un-discussed ongoing cost to taxpaying property owners when we 
speak about creating a new building for a non-profit, or even in simply 
taking the potential site off the property tax roles, or even other sites to 
build an auditorium ,that currently pay property taxes.
  As a blue-collar person, I happen to agree with C.E.W., and I think he may 
unknowingly be speaking for the thousands of blue-collar Winonians that 
don't post on WOD and will never darken the door of a GRSF production. 
These folks are the backbone of our community, who carry the majority of the 
tax load, for all the non-profits that benefit from their toil.  These are 
the people that actually pay for the bulk of all the grants, and in my 
opinion, they certainly don't need and won't embrace another "great cause" 
to support with their tax dollars.
  I support the intentions of the GRSF but not the use of public funds or 
"grants" to accomplish their goal.
  I also understand CEW's frustration with the park system.  His argument 
that newcomers (GRSF) get priority and preferential spending treatment over 
the longstanding locals who have chosen to stay and raise families in this 
community resonates with me.  It's hard to argue with when you see all the 
Buckthorn invading West Lake Winona and the condition of the east end park.
 Mike Kirschmann
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kathy Seifert" <kaseifert at hotmail.com>
To: "Online Democracy" <winona at mnforum.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 11:17 AM
Subject: Re: [Winona] Is our investment $325,000 ?


> [Winona Online Democracy]
>
> GRSF is a nonprofit 501c3 charitable organization. It is the same as the 
> Historical Society and other worthy community institutions in that 
> respect.
>
> Kathy Seifert
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <mkirsch at hbci.com>
> To: "Paul Double" <pdouble at hbci.com>; "Online Democracy" 
> <winona at mnforum.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 10:42 AM
> Subject: Re: [Winona] Is our investment $325,000 ?
>
>
>> [Winona Online Democracy]
>>
>> With respect to Tom, Kathy, and Paul's posts;  I'm unclear if the GRSF is 
>> operated as a for profit or as a non profit organization.
>> Mike Kirschmann
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