Happy Anniversary to us!!

​As I have shown over the years, I am not big on birthdays or anniversaries. But it struck me this summer that I had a very special anniversary this year. 30 years ago, in 1991, while still green behind the ears, Tracy and I began our business, McCully and Associates providing appraisal services to local jurisdictions.

Almost everyone told us not to - “It's a difficult business, it's too political, you don’t have enough experience, what are you- stupid?)”

They were right .... but we survived anyway - even thrived.

A few competitors tried to hire me, my old bosses were not happy, and the state regulating authority, PVD, was not always happy that a private company had a tendency to be argumentative and occasionally challenging.

Over the years, we have provided services in one form or another to about 1/3 of the counties in the state of Kansas and plan to continue to do so for many years to come. Surviving in this business where the life of a company is usually less than five years, has taught us a lot. (It’s probably much the same in other industries)

• For most people - the only fair tax is a tax that someone else pays.
• Everybody’s property is all but worthless until they plan to sell it.
• Lowering one group’s taxes is invariably going to raise another’s.
• Most people have absolutely no understanding of how their taxes are established, who establishes them and how the money is spent.
• Commissions/boards and elected officials are not averse to spending money that doesn’t come out of their own pockets.
• Compared to school districts, city government and state taxing authorities, county government is generally the most conservative with taxpayer money.
• With few exceptions, local officials are notoriously honest. They may be subject to “good ol boyisms” and stress aversion but in general, they try to do the best job they can, given the resources available to them.
• Most major changes in taxes result not from the local level (appraised value) but from state legislatures trying to buy votes or satisfy donors.
• Taxes continue to shift over the years to homeowners and small business (groups with the least effective or no lobby in the state capital.)
• Bureaucracy feeds upon itself and everything around it until it collapses under its own weight and we start the process all over again.

On a more personal note:

• Be careful who you hire
• Be careful who you work for
• Don’t be greedy – you won’t last long
• The client’s not always right but then again – neither are you
• Recognize the difference between a train wreck and a hang nail & act accordingly.
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A big thank you to those I have worked with over the years (some more than 30 years) and God willing -you’ll put up with me for a few more.