Posted on 07/31/2006 11:34:01 AM PDT by ritewingwarrior
STAFFORD, Texas — They are not the words one expects to hear from a politician or a Southerner, and Leonard Scarcella is both: "Our city has an excessive number of churches."
Scarcella is mayor of this Houston-area community, which has 51 churches and other religious institutions packed into its 7 square miles.
With some 300 undeveloped, potentially revenue-producing acres left in Stafford, officials are scrambling to find a legal way to keep more tax-exempt churches from building here.
"With federal laws, you can't just say, 'We're not going to have any more churches,' " Scarcella said. "We respect the Constitution, but 51 of anything is too much."
Stafford, population 19,227, is the largest city in Texas without a property tax, and it depends on sales taxes and business fees for revenue. Nonprofits have been attracted by its rapid growth and minimal deed restrictions. "It's thrown everything out of balance, plus providing zero revenue. Somebody's got to pay for police, fire and schools," City Councilman Cecil Willis said.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
It is my opinion that small governments, that can not support themselves, need to be dissolved. Clearly a 7 sq. mile town, should revert to the county if it can not sustain itself. Many counties in America have unincorporated areas that are developed. Maybe its time for Stafford to revert back to the county, or to find a way of doing business for less.
You would think business would be booming for this florist with so many churches nearby. It is a good thing when people WANT to come to your city and build there (just ask the mayors of Philly and Detroit when the opposite happens). This town and it's citizens need to think out of the box to tap into this market.
Hmm, that population and that many churches comes to about 385 people per church. I'm not sure what significance that has, but it's an interesting number.
I remember that the church I attended while in high school had about 350 members (there was a board on the wall which listed the number of members, along with the hymns for that service).
I suspect that the number of churches will be self-limiting, based on the population of the town.
But...Stafford, Texas. For some reason, that sounds familiar to me. I just can't put my finger on it.
Yeh, Open up a Pew Restoral business!!!
Stafford is real close to Houston, the population density is a bit on the high side out there.
So, why did they give them permits?
"Stafford is real close to Houston, the population density is a bit on the high side out there.
"
That's not it, but never mind. Not a rich suburb, then? Well, it sounds like time to do some sort of property tax, I guess.
Still, it sounds like they have plenty of churches.
No but is is surronded by other suburbs of Houston. It is definitly part of the Greater Houston Area.
"No but is is surronded by other suburbs of Houston. It is definitly part of the Greater Houston Area.
"
OK, thanks!
Methinks they have an excessive number of foolish representatives
We have a christian university in our town of 32,000. It is growing rapidly. So many people resent the university because it is tax exempt, leeches off the town, etc. I always remind them of the jobs created and the students spending money here. Cater to the university and it will help our economy grow along with it.
Sounds like they need a good Christian bookstore and a higher sales tax.
"The churches don't depend on the population of the town. The worshipers are from out of town. Those churches are bleeding the taxpayers of the town to fatten their own pockets.
"
Ah, I see. So the 29,000 people in Stafford don't attend church? Is that what you're saying? That seems quite unlikely to me.
Or, perhaps, they all go to another suburb to attend services.
What you wrote makes no sense at all.
"There's no problem that can't be solved by more God, or more guns."
Liberals never complain about any other not-for-profits. Somehow it's only churches that are the problem! Typical anti-Religion garbage.
Get the ratio of taverns to churches more in line with that of Milwaukee, WI.
Upside - good revenue generator.
Downside - lower quality of life, greater law enforcement cost.
ping?
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