Oh, and by the way here’s another “story” related to the $100 million that city council seems to be determined sell.
Part of the $100 million will go to paying for cost over-runs on the quality of life projects.
We deserve better
Brutus
EPISD central office costs
November 20, 2019Take a look at what the EPISD central office costs have been:
The district is shrinking but the central office is not.
We deserve better
Brutus
15 Comments | 
El Paso Independent School District | 
Permalink
Posted by Brutus
There’s more to the story
November 19, 2019I’m not a reporter but I can think of another couple of stories that should be told about the debt that the folks at the city have run up on us.
This and prior city councils have approved projects that have yet to be completed.
I’m not talking about the quality of life projects or the recent bond election.
According to the city chief financial officer’s slide presentation there will be another $179 million needed to pay for previously approved projects that have not been completed yet.
The city was not sitting on a $100 million secret when they promoted the public safety bonds. They were sitting on $279 million.
Maybe that isn’t much money in our city manager’s view but it is to many of us.
We deserve better
Brutus
6 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
Nice try Mr. city manager
November 18, 2019I was interested to see how city council handled the $100 million certificates of obligation issue so I watched the video of the meeting.
The city manager repeatedly made the point that “there’s no story here”. He kept telling council that if someone was to make a “report” there is “no story” since all of the money was approved “years ago” and thus there is “no story”
He was evidently trying to tell council that they had nothing to worry about with the voters not liking the issuance of the $100 million in bonds.
I believe that there is a story here.
He, city staff, and city council knew that they were going to need to issue the certificates of obligation but kept that quiet while the $413 million bond issue was being considered by the voters.
A more honest group would have told the voters that the $100 million would be brought at their first opportunity after the bond election.
We deserve better
Brutus
8 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
They don’t care what the state says
November 17, 2019If you have any doubt about whether the folks at the city have found a way around the 3.5% maximum property tax increase that the state imposed last year take a look at this slide from a recent city council presentation:
The way they will get more money is to issue debt.
We deserve better
Brutus
3 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
Open line Saturday
November 16, 2019What’s on your mind?
Brutus
28 Comments | Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
Going backward
November 15, 2019Speaking of city taxes, take a look at this slide from one of the presentations to city council:
Are they proud of the fact that Dallas has been able to stay basically flat with their tax rate and Austin has been decreasing their tax rate while we have suffered a 33% increase in taxes?
Why would they present a slide with two cities that make our city government look bad?
We deserve better
Brutus
7 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
