POLL How long will the ATA be in Sparta? POLL

Some say things are looking up in Sparta. The naysayers are laughing using the same data. Does the ATA plan to stay? And where would they go?

I report. You decide.
Merlo out

 

I understand the premise but what happens to the money the ATA is collecting from shooters at the grand to save the HOF if they move? That mandatory HOF tax goes where?

 

Dead man walking.

 

They should have a statue of a vulture at the entrance.

 

The State of Illinois is and has been below the break even line for the longest time and they keep going lower ...The financial burdens on the State are absorbing any generated income from taxes to stealing you money one way or the other ... The New Governor Pritzger knows all of the secrets and how to get them out of the mess they are in, "More Taxes " on any and everything that can be taxed ... The WSRC has never been able to support its existence in all the years it has been in operation, but the ATA has been fortunate enough to get Major Sponsors to keep the place floating ... The cost goes up every year and there are many needed repairs in the States Parks which includes the WSRC that are not being attended to so in time it will all catch up ...The State could pull the plug without a moments notice and have been known to do just that so the ATA and all who attend shots there best keep their fingers crossed ... The democrapic organization is in control and that cannot be anything but making a bad situation worse ... Time will tell and for now its any body's guess but odds are not in its favor with the situation being what it is ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

The Illinois Policy Institute, a citizens watch group monitoring State government waste, reports the following on their webpage:

Illinois’ 2019 Budget Our of Balance

CHICAGO (Oct. 9, 2018) – Gambling, golf and butterflies sit higher on state politicians’ priority list than solving Illinois’ ever-growing fiscal crisis and budget deficit. That’s according to a new Illinois Policy Institute report, which reviewed the state’s more than 1,200-page spending plan for 2019 to discover $54.2 million in wasteful spending and $27.1 million in politically motivated special projects.

The state of Illinois’ most recent spending plan is already as much as $1.5 billion out of balance. With four straight years of population decline, irresponsible spending that wastes taxpayer dollars and funds special projects in exchange for lawmaker votes is dangerous and irresponsible.

While eliminating all of this unnecessary spending wouldn’t balance the budget, lawmakers should cut this low-hanging fruit as a small step toward improving the state’s finances and giving taxpayers more confidence in their government.

“Any amount of waste in government budgets is unacceptable, especially at a time when family budgets are being squeezed by growing property tax costs. Public officials owe it to these taxpayers to be good stewards of public funds,” said Adam Schuster, director of budget and tax research at the Illinois Policy Institute. “Unfortunately, the $81 million of wasteful spending in this most recent state budget is a slap in taxpayers’ faces.”

Wasteful spending in the state budget includes:

• $23.6 million on programs to promote and encourage bike riding in Illinois
• $13.1 million to the Illinois Arts Council chaired by the wife of Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, which has been subject to criticism for misusing taxpayer funds
• $3.6 million on the development of the Sparta World Shooting Complex, plus another $2.6 million for operating costs
• $100,000 to build a National Railroad Hall of Fame in Galesburg, Illinois
• $75,000 to the Illinois Professional Golfers Association to be spent on encouraging young people to take up golf
• $63,000 to a student newspaper at Southern Illinois University, the only school newspaper funded by the state
• $25,000 on monarch butterflies, a pet project of state Sen. Melinda Bush, D-Grayslake

Some other issues reported on this site are:


Illinois home values down 21%, property taxes up 9% since 2007

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill
07/19/2019

Without serious property tax relief – including pension reform – it is likely fewer will demand planting roots in Illinois.


New taxes fund $1.4 billion worth of waste in state budget and infrastructure plan
07/09/2019

Research from the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute reveals tax hikes are funding unnecessary dog parks, pools & sports courts


Poll: High taxes No. 1 reason Illinoisans consider leaving state

By Joe Barnas
09/27/2018

Over half of survey respondents have considered leaving Illinois, citing dysfunctional government, disappointing job opportunities and – above all – high taxes.


Illinois state lawmakers among highest paid in nation

By Ben Szalinski
07/16/2019

The Illinois General Assembly passed budget that included a $1,600 pay raise for state lawmakers, who already rank among the nation’s highest paid.


Nearly $2.5B in Illinois public pension payments flow to 70K out-of-state retirees

By Vincent Caruso
06/25/2019

Florida is the top destination for Illinois retirees collecting a public pension.

Illinois remains a troubled location for the Amateur Trapshooting Association and they would be wise to devise a rational strategy for the future.

HB

 

Thank You HB

plus another $2.6 million for operating costs

Wow, when Illnews decides to pull the plug again I guess the ata will have to tell them they will pay for everything.

That's going to be a LOT of $1.00 extra per event fees.

Dear members,
Due to the cost of keeping that place in Illnews open we, the management of your ata, have decided to mandate an extra fee of $1.00 per event for all ata events EVERYWHERE, FOREVER.

We realize that it was a bone headed mistake to move your beloved grand to that place but gee whiz it looked so good on paper. Now, after all the back slapping we know we screwed the pooch. We of course can't apologize because that would legitimize the fact that the poll we sent out way back then showed most of you didn't want to go there. Our bad!

We are sure most of you won't mind paying that fee EVERYWHERE FOREVER and we thank you.

 

They will be there until Gipson and Taylor find another house.

 

I said a long time ago those that go there to play should be the ones to pay for that exclusive right, the cost should not be absorbed by the entire membership … I don't think anyone responded to that, kind of like it wasn't said or they hoped that any way … I gave them all kinds of ideas on ways to pay for the grand American handicap championships rather than make the average member pay along with those who attend … WPT … (YAC) …

 

There is no way the place can stay afloat. Someone said Bradford’s folly. That place is ready to have the plug pulled. I wish the graphmeister was here to see the fall.

 

How long will that shoot be at that place?

Less time than the SCTP kids will be at the Cardinal Center?

 

Maybe the next piece of property that is found will be the new home for the ATA. Keep your eyes on the finder and the EC, so the $17,000,000.00 dollars does not vanish in the deal. Every one of their banking records should have been checked after the property sale and the machine deal. Roger C.

 

The ATA banks money every year because they got people paying the freight … The increase in their accounts are not because they are investment genius's, manipulators maybe but not investors … WPT … (YAC) …