I’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
I don’t think you are thinking about the bonds that the city just voted on issuing. This may not as they claim add to the debt but it is also money that has to be paid back through Ad Valorem taxes.
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As Senator Dirksen said long ago, “A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money.” I wonder how many billions it would take for Gonzalez to think it might be time to stop.
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Does Gonzalez’s family even live here or is he just another carpetbagger?
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The City used a little sleight of hand and bet on the complacency of voters when they presented the recent $413,000,000 bond as a public safety bond. I’m pretty sure they just swapped the public safety items that should have been covered by the regular annual budget with all the shortfunded, overbudget QOL items and then some.
This way citizens are fooled (or shamed) into voting for another near half-billion in unnecessary taxes. And as you indicate, much more to come, including another $400,000,000 plus next year when Margo is pink-slipped out of office.
City knew that they could sell a bond based on EPPD and EPFD when they had zero chance if they packaged it as anything else.
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Don’t bet the ranch on the incumbent mayor losing.
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EPISD is now considering giving tax breaks to a chosen few corporations under the guise of economic development, which means that individuals and other businesses will be forced to make up the difference.
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