I thought I would write about the recent changes in our local situation.
Things we did not get to vote on:
$210 million for streets — city
$152 million for remodeling of the hospital and new clinics — county
$135 million and climbing for building the new ball park and replacing city hall — city
Closing 16 railway crossings throughout the city as part of the ball park deal
Multiple citizen initiative petitions that city council has chosen to either fight in court or deny voting.
Next assaults:
Now it appears that one of our state representatives wants to pass state legislation that would give city council the right to change contributions to the Fire and Police Pension Fund. Currently changes must be approved by the voters. Some say that the pension fund shortfall is in excess of $200 million dollars.
Proposition 4 on the upcoming city election we will get to vote on. If we vote yes we will give up the right to set the salaries of the mayor and council. Their pay adjustments would be automatic.
We did vote for:
$470 million for quality of life bonds
And interest
Between what we voted for and what we did not, we now have over $967 million in new debt. Add interest and we are probably around $2 billion further in the hole.
These numbers do not include the costs of operating the new facilities. We should see that starting to show up in our tax bills next year.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
So we should change our form of government to have all citizens vote once a month on every ordinance, every airport lease agreement, every bid, every engineering contract so that we can have a “voice”. Why bother voting then for a mayor and council? Are they just window dressing? Just think of the millions of laws we never get to vote on at the state and federal level. You don’t seem to have a problem with that form of government.
LikeLike
MEK,
Actually I do have problems with what is happening at the state and central government (I could only wish that it was federal) level. It is easier for me to see what is happening locally. There are some who think that the local governments should do most of the governing for that reason.
That is not to say that I do not think there is a place for state and central governing.
I did not suggest that we change our local form of government. My post was about debt. We have the fifth highest local taxes of America’s top 100 cities.
For the record I would not like to see a direct democracy. What I would like to see is representative government representing the voters.
Brutus
LikeLike
Change back to strong mayor – the absolute power form of government that invites corruption? Think things are bad now – just wait if that comes back into play. Don’t like the tax rates? Quit voting the same people into office. Pay attention to CAD and its budget and processes. Vote against every incumbent every election.
LikeLike
This town continues to implode physically, mentally, and in the not so distant future, financially. During the last 20.3 years, l’ve seen this town stumble, fumble, and crumble, but the last 1.5 years the typical El Pasoan idiot has decided to double-down on their stupidity. An educated guess would be that the typical El Pasoan imbicile probably believes that if something is paid for with bonds, that that is the equivalent of “free money.” The moron who’s “worried” that if we go back to a strong mayor that we might be more corrupt (l laughed so hard when l read that that l spit out my Cherrios) has got to be El Pasoan home-grown. Yep, in this town they breed ’em extra stupid. Why am l still here? Because l have a fetish for train wrecks.
LikeLike
You obviously have really never followed or understood the politics of El Paso and the power brokers and the levels of corruption when the form of government was strong mayor. I lived in the DFW region for 20 years before returning here and the corruption in the strong mayor government was as obvious as the nose on my face the first month I was back. You are out of touch and sadly have no memory of what really screwed up El Paso for the last 30 years.
LikeLike
MEK,
Since I am a relative newcomer, what did in fact screw up El Paso for the last 30 years? It still seems pretty screwed up, so maybe everything is relative. This is a serious question (not a challenge) for which I would appreciate a thoughtful response.
LikeLike
This is just too darn easy for me to pass up! ln a previous comment, “MEK” is foolish enough to equate voting for every ordinance (once a month) with voting for extremely expensive projects. Hey dummy, there lS a difference between once a month and once, perhaps twice a year. “Vote against every incumbent (in) every election.” – More simple mindedness. lf you think so little of those people, why did you vote for them in the 1st place? Since YOU have no grasp of reality, allow me to replace your delusionalness with reality: the last 8 years of a “strong mayor” we had the same if not lower unemployment, the streets were swept more often, the roads were in better condition, and there’s that little thing known as having very little debt. Now that l’ve slapped that mental midget who calls himself “MEK”, allow to explain why l was so insulting in a previous comment: All through-out 2012 l was commenting on all of the asinine things that this town was doing, (mostly in elpasoinc) but l thought to myself that in 2013 this town will be less foolish. We’re now about 40% into the year and the high level of stupidity has not subsided.
LikeLike