We live in an extremely competitive society. From early childhood, we are taught the difference between winning and losing. In some families, more time is spent learning the difference between winning and losing than the difference between right and wrong.
The spirit of competition is in many ways a wonderful thing. It can teach us to strive to be our best, to set ambitious goals and to develop a strong work ethic. We learn that there is a price for achievement. We learn that success comes only after an investment of time and hard work.
The spirit of competition can also bring about negatives in a society. Some men and women lose a few times and learn to live in a spirit of defeat. Some learn to cheat. Some become bitter and jealous to the point that they undercut the goals and accomplishments of those around them. A spirit of rivalry can sometimes spur great achievement but other times destroy families, projects or the future of entire cities when people refuse to work together for the common good due to their personal agendas.
Instead of worrying about which new business or company is going to get a tax incentive, our community should be supporting the city in all of its efforts to develop economic districts that will create opportunities and spur growth. The more successful companies we have in town, the more jobs are created. More employed workers means more paying customers and more taxpaying citizens. That, in turn, benefits every existing business and the community as a whole. When one local company experiences success, the entire community benefits from that success.
Working against a project that could bring a lot of progress into our community as a whole simply because it might benefit the other political party, a political rival, a business rival or someone we see as being too successful already is counterproductive and abhorrent. Depriving our neighbors of jobs and depriving their children of winter coats and lunch money just so them Democrats or them Republicans won’t end up winning the next election is something that should keep a person awake at night writhing with guilt.
Our personal successes should never depend on undercutting the competition. They should instead depend on our excellence. If one doesn’t have what it takes to win based on his or her own ideas and skills then that person should admit defeat rather than pout and huff and attempt to tear down the accomplishments of his or her rival.
There are four existing TIF districts in Terre Haute. TIF (Tax Increment Finance) districts are a tool the city has used to spur economic growth on a number of occasions in the past. Sony, Bemis, Ampacet, AET, Tredegar, Jadcore, Ivy Hill and dozens of other companies have been encouraged to locate or expanded in Terre Haute because of TIF districts.
These companies pay new taxes on new development on a graduated scale in addition to their previous tax burden. Many of them provide business for existing Terre Haute companies who handle their supplies, packaging or shipping. The new employees hired by these new or expanded companies pay property tax, sales tax and income tax in Terre Haute. These new employees also become customers in Terre Haute.
Using a TIF district doesn’t lower the city’s income from current taxes. It temporarily lessens the increase from new taxes. Any projected revenue lost from companies that may or may not have chosen to locate or expand here under a full tax burden is gross and unadulterated speculation. Anyone who claims we would be losing money by offering an incentive must prove that as many companies would have located or expanded here without incentives in place. You can’t lose money from income you don’t have yet. We must entice companies to locate or expand in our community before we will increase our revenue at all. TIF districts are a powerful tool that enables cities to do just that. Part of something is better than all of nothing.
During my terms in office as mayor, Terre Haute earned a reputation as a city willing and able to work with industry to promote progress and growth. We worked hard to build that reputation. Keeping it should be a top priority for anyone involved in our local government today.
The primary responsibility of our elected and appointed city officials is to pursue economic growth for this community. It shouldn’t matter whether or not that progress benefits our personal, political or business rivals. It shouldn’t matter if a few of our more wealthy citizens make money in the process.
What should matter is that our community as a whole benefits from it. More jobs, better salaries, more opportunities — that’s what matters.
Pete Chalos, a longtime teacher, coach and public servant in Vigo County, was mayor of Terre Haute for 16 years. Send e-mail to pchalos@netscape.com.
Pete Chalos
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March 15, 2006
Pete Chalos: City’s leaders, citizens must be willing to support progress
- Pete Chalos
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- Pete Chalos: Fluoridation removal should be on local agenda Last year, 11 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employee unions, representing over 7,000 environmental and public health professionals, called for a moratorium on drinking water fluoridation programs across the country. I wrote a two-part commentary exploring the evidence that inspired the letter these professionals sent to the U.S. Congress.
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Pete Chalos: Traditional family unit has served America well
Much has been said concerning the institution of marriage this past few years. Elements of our society have been trying their best to redefine marriage. Every American tradition associated with raising a family has been questioned by some group or another. Some feel the rules concerning marriage and family have changed because our society has taken progressive leaps beyond any society the world has ever known. Others feel we are losing touch with the time-tested wisdom of our fathers and the tradition this great nation was founded upon.
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Pete Chalos: Never too soon to pay attention to 2008 election
The next presidential election is already a hot topic of discussion in the press and we aren’t even close to the election year yet. Everyone is interested in finding out which candidate will have an edge come 2008.
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Pete Chalos: Community needs leadership from best and brightest
What does it take to win an election? Last week, we saw the climax of months of hard work and well-organized campaigning. Some candidates had been preparing to run for several months or even a few years. Spouses, children, family, friends and colleagues had been organizing, recruiting and promoting before most voters were even aware an election was coming up. It takes a lot of time and effort and a great deal of commitment to win an election.
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Pete Chalos: A community must invest in itself to improve itself
This month, the Terre Haute City Council voted in favor of the proposed tax increment finance (TIF) district on Indiana 46, passing it 6-3. Council members Jim Chalos, Rich Dunkin, Chuck Miles, Todd Nation, Shelva Warner and Cliff Lambert voted for the resolution.
This evening, the Vigo County Redevelopment Commission is going to conduct a public hearing concerning the details of the resolution, outlining the specifics. Upon their confirmation, the resolution will go back to the Terre Haute City Council for adoption on May 11. -
Pete Chalos: In Iraq, we must get job done, then get out
You can call it what you want to call it but what is happening right now in the country of Iraq is a civil war. Fancy words like “insurgency” aren’t fooling anyone. You’ve got two sides fighting over the fate of a country. That is a civil war.
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Pete Chalos: America must maintain high standards of immigration
My father John Chalos arrived from Greece at Ellis Island in 1910 for the purpose of working in Seattle. He ended up losing his ticket while the train was stopped in Terre Haute.
- Pete Chalos: Your vote counts in numerous and hidden ways
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Pete Chalos: State has moved too quickly on Major Moves initiative
The reason the government builds fire stations, roads, sidewalks and parks is to accommodate the general public. No single private citizen can afford to build all of these facilities on his own so we all chip in and pay taxes. As a result, we all end up benefiting from the use of the facilities. Government facilities are built for the public and they belong to the public. That’s the basic premise of a tax-supported Democratic society. Government by the people and for the people.
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Pete Chalos: City’s leaders, citizens must be willing to support progress
We live in an extremely competitive society. From early childhood, we are taught the difference between winning and losing. In some families, more time is spent learning the difference between winning and losing than the difference between right and wrong.
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Pete Chalos: The future of elderly care in America
This past month, my family and I have been reviewing all available options for the future care of me and my wife Ulla. At 78 years old, I am finding that I can no longer take care of myself and my wife the way I once could. In truth, it’s been quite a while since I’ve been able to do so on my own, but learning to accept and admit it has been a difficult process.
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Pete Chalos: China poised to become next big economic, military power
“If the Americans draw their missiles and position-guided ammunition onto the target zone on China’s territory, I think we will have to respond with nuclear weapons. … If the Americans are determined to interfere, we will be determined to respond. … We Chinese will prepare ourselves for the destruction of all of the cities east of Xian. Of course, the Americans will have to be prepared that hundreds of cities will be destroyed by the Chinese.”
This statement was made a few months ago to members of the press by General Zhu Chenghu of the People’s Liberation Army, also a professor at China’s National Defense University, concerning U.S. opposition to China’s threats to invade Taiwan. -
Pete Chalos: Women’s basketball flourishing in the Valley
This month, the ISU women’s basketball team recorded its 18th straight win. The victory also marked the milestone 100th career win for ISU women’s head coach Jim Wiedie. He and Edith Godleski are the only two women’s basketball coaches to achieve that mark in ISU history. Local golf enthusiasts may remember Edith from her impressive record in local golf tournaments.
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Pete Chalos: Lack of opportunity raises concerns for future
Over the years, I have been invited to speak to numerous service groups, church groups and political organizations within the community of Terre Haute. After sharing a few of my own thoughts and ideas, I always take the opportunity to answer questions from the crowd. I look forward to these question and answer sessions. In fact, it’s my favorite part of the meeting.
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Pete Chalos: Diligent oversight of utilities an important mission
At the end of January, ExxonMobil Corp. revealed record-breaking profits, the highest quarterly profits ever reported by a public company in the history of America. Exxon’s annual profit was $36.13 billion. That’s a 42 percent rise since last year.
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Pete Chalos: Major Moves plan could be major disaster for Indiana
The governor is at it again. First, he closed down license branches in rural areas, forcing many Indiana citizens to take a day off from work and drive long distances in order to get anything done concerning their license or picture identification (which he made a requirement for voter registration). Then he established an Inspector General to act as his own personal prosecutor (along with a staff of lawyers in every Indiana county). Then he crammed his plan for daylight-saving time down our throats.
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Pete Chalos: Use baseball classic to unite us, not further divide us
No sound is more exciting than the crack of a baseball bat hitting the ball. It’s quite an experience to watch your favorite team score that winning run in the bottom of the ninth or pull off a double-play to ensure their victory. The crowd roars and stands to its feet.
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Pete Chalos: This nation needs purpose, trusted leaders to show the way
Just like individuals, nations need goals. In the 29th chapter of the book of Proverbs it is written, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” In the absence of a unified sense of purpose, progress is replaced with unrest. Like any nation, America needs a national vision, a national direction and national goals.
- Don’t get duped, be skeptical and ask smart questions
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