Free Money

GRAPEVINE — A gunfight between two train robbers will soon entertain crowds on Main Street. But the bad guys won’t be actors. They’ll be lifelike animated cowboys that will emerge from the city’s Convention & Visitors Bureau clock tower at noon and 6 p.m. daily. This week, the City Council approved $161,840 to design and install the animatronic figures.

The City Council made sure that people understand that it’s not their money that is being wasted here, rather it comes from hotel and rental car taxes. So – soak it to the city’s visitors.

If you wonder why that would bother me. . .or others who might choose a “staycation” because of increasing costs, here’s a good example.

The Church I attend is sending a Mission Team to Olympia, Washington to provide a nearby Church with Vacation Bible School. Without help the Church would be unable to reach out to the kids, so our Church provides all the resources needed to make it happen.

In the process of taking 24 people, there is a need for at least five cars. But rental cars are inexpensive – full-size, $20.95 per day times 7 days equals $146.65. But, behold, the actual price, including the “taxes and surcharges” is $238.32. That means the taxes and “cost to provide gunfighters” is $91.67 per car. . .and they don’t even have gunfighters.

I haven’t rented a car in “Grapevine,” but I am assuming the mindset is the same. I’m just wondering, if we could do without “gunfighters” and charge less for cars and rooms, perhaps tourism would increase. Silly me, I’m sure.

I guess it “burns” me because we will spend $458.35 for which we will get nothing – really. We won’t have time to look for whatever it is that they are using this money for in Olympia. And, I’d be willing to wager, precious few folks will be coming to Grapevine to see this “show.”

But we’ll pay! Sharing the Gospel with kids and adults who might not hear if we don’t go – is worth the cost, every time, all the time.