A Window of Opportunity
We need to think about the amount of money our largest companies in Snyder pump into our economy through taxes and employment.
Patterson UTI alone paid in taxes $1,483,000 to Snyder ISD, $325,000 to Scurry County, and $147,000 to WTC.
They employ 183 people in the county, with a payroll of millions of dollars.
Although I don’t have the figures, Kinder Morgan has a similar impact.
And the list goes on.
There is a very real possibility that when Cloyce Talbot retires, Patterson heads for Houston.
Right now, Patterson drilling rigs are rendered for taxation in Scurry County even though the are actually drilling in other counties.
As reported in the Snyder Daily News, Patterson has spent over $500,000 to fight lawsuits brought by other counties trying to get the rigs on their tax rolls.
One of the main problems with keeping the headquarters in Snyder is that some top executives refuse to live in a small town.
However, there are others who would like to live here if they don’t have to sacrifice too many of the activities found in large cities.
That is why Snyder must address these issues now while we are booming.
We have a new school and the park renovations are great.
The commissioners have made the decision to preserve the Scurry County golf course.
We need to develop activities at the coliseum such as the Motor Cycle Rally and Western Swing.
We need a new swimming pool. We can have one for much less than the three million dollar figure that I saw in the paper recently.
Patterson UTI alone paid in taxes $1,483,000 to Snyder ISD, $325,000 to Scurry County, and $147,000 to WTC.
They employ 183 people in the county, with a payroll of millions of dollars.
Although I don’t have the figures, Kinder Morgan has a similar impact.
And the list goes on.
There is a very real possibility that when Cloyce Talbot retires, Patterson heads for Houston.
Right now, Patterson drilling rigs are rendered for taxation in Scurry County even though the are actually drilling in other counties.
As reported in the Snyder Daily News, Patterson has spent over $500,000 to fight lawsuits brought by other counties trying to get the rigs on their tax rolls.
One of the main problems with keeping the headquarters in Snyder is that some top executives refuse to live in a small town.
However, there are others who would like to live here if they don’t have to sacrifice too many of the activities found in large cities.
That is why Snyder must address these issues now while we are booming.
We have a new school and the park renovations are great.
The commissioners have made the decision to preserve the Scurry County golf course.
We need to develop activities at the coliseum such as the Motor Cycle Rally and Western Swing.
We need a new swimming pool. We can have one for much less than the three million dollar figure that I saw in the paper recently.
posted by SnyderTexas.net at 2:53 PM
5 Comments:
You make some excellent points including the fact that Snyder is a small town that lacks the amenities of a metropolitian area. The limitations of size and location alone should dictate that our political, civic, and business leaders be prudent and efficient with their financial decisions.
It is difficult to mandate accountability of leadership when being politically incorrect is viewed as personal. Such is life in a small town and I do not see that changing.
When times are good is the time to make prudent investments and build reserves. I hope our leadership has the expertise and discipline to prepare this community for the times when our cash-flow isn't what it is today.
If there is a real possibility, as you state, that Patterson is eventually heading to Houston, is this community prepared for the impact?
Your solution seems to be that we need to offer the activities and amenities that are readily available in the metropolition areas. Is it economically feasible to do so? What do the demographics of Scurry County suggest?
Snyder has been my home over 50 years. I have seen it up and down several times.I agree with the comments 100%. We need to do whatever it takes to keep Patterson and Kindermorgan here.
We have lost families due to lack of jobs, housing, schools and facilities were not updated. The revenue we have had over the years was not used to the highest and best use and we are paying the price now.
We need to all face the facts that small West Texas towns are dying and I for one do not want to be left to "turn the lights out".
Let's get more aggresive and take some pride in our community. I want to have something to leave my grandchildren.
Faye Blackledge
Heritage Homes Realtors
YES, KEEP PATTERSON DRILLING IN SNYDER. AND OTHER MAJOR BUSINESES.
WE DESPERATELY NEED A NEW SWIMMING POOL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE OLDER YOUTH DO NOT HAVE ANY THING TO DO IN THE SUMMER.
I WAS BORN HERE, GRADUATED FROM SNYDER HIGH IN 1953. MOVED TO IRVING WHEN IT WAS A SMALL COUNTRY TOWN. THE CITY FATHERS WERE VERY AGGRESSIVE TO HELP IT TO GROW. WE NEED OUR COMMUNITY TO BE MORE PROGRESSIVE AND AGGRESSIVE. THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN NEEDS THEIR ROADS TO BE RE-PAVED AND UPDATED.
WE HAVE A SMALL CONSTRUCTION CO. WITH THE HIGH PRICES OF BUILDING MATERIAL THEN WE HAVE TO FIGHT CITY HALL ON UTILITIES AND PAVING WE NEED HELP TO BUILD HOMES FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION .ONE OF OUR SUB-DIVISIONS HAS 16 LOTS NOT PAVED OR GUTTERED AND HALF OF THOSE LOTS HAVE ACCESS TO UTILITIES THE COST TO US TO HAVE THESE LOTS READY TO BUILD ON IS COST PRO-HIVITED,BUT THE CITY COULD DO THIS FOR HALF THE PRICE . WE HAVE CACULATED THE REVENUE BROUGHT INTO SNYDER WITH TAXES, CITY SEWER AND WATER WOULD BE CLOSE TO $50,000.A YEAR THIS IS NOT INCLUDING OTHER UTILITY SERVICES AND THE FACT THAT PERHAPS HALF OF THESE BUYERS WOULD BE NEW FAMILES MOVING IN. WE NEED GROWTH AND TO GET MOVING WE NEED HELP. HOPEFULLY MY COMMENTS WILL HELP. SHIRLEY DRUM
I don't see the other executives that Patterson has moving to Snyder. These are not the kind of country folk that would enjoy small town life. However there are some small benefits to Snyder that you need to work on. One of the benefits I see to the corporate office staying in Snyder is the low cost of labor here. If the corporate office moves, they are going to have to pay people more in a bigger city. I was working at Patterson, and I was making 18,000 per year with a college degree. I moved 80 miles away to make over double that amount.
Also, I am sure that the Patterson property in Snyder is paid for. If they move to Houston, they are looking at a big expense for renting or purchasing a building.
I can say to the people of Snyder, do something now before this place dries up and withers away. This boom will again go away, and you don't want to be stuck like you were in the 80's. If Patterson leaves or even if KinderMorgan leaves, where will you be???
Love,
A Former Snyderite
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