Letter to the Editor: Former Mayor O'Reilly Reacts to Ellisville Walmart

Former Ellisville Mayor Ed O'Reilly submits his thoughts against the city's Walmart development.

Dear Editor, Professor William Black, former federal bank regulator and current economic professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia, wrote the book 'The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One.' His book focuses on misdeeds done from within an organization. I believe the best way to rob a city is through Tax Increment Financing (TIF). The principle is the same. Those within the City of Ellisville, the majority of the council and several members of the staff, robbed local fire departments and local schools of taxes due them by providing TIF for development. Would Parkway and Rockwood School Districts be making severe budget cuts had they received all tax funding that technically is due them? TIF provides a financial advantage to those …

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