New math

June 13, 2018

The news from EPISD sounds like what the news from the city did when they were building the ball park.

Years ago we wrote in Running total about the difference between what we were told by the city and what ultimately happened.

In short the ballpark started off as a $35 million project.

By the time we published Running total  the costs were over $220 million and that was before we learned that the bonds would cost us another $22 million because the city’s financial people did not sell them when they should have.

Now EPISD’s budget woes are the issue of the day locally.  The Times wrote an article where they questioned the $7 million shortfall that the district is now talking about:

“The figure is a difference of about $4 million from the $2.9 million deficit that the district presented at a May 22 budget workshop, less than two weeks ago.”

Hmmm

Later in the article the Times quoted a school board member:

“Back in the day, during the bond, our hope was that we’d be able to get there with bond money,”

He was referring to the $668 million bond that now looks like it will fail to solve their problems.

Who at the district is responsible for the numbers they are publishing?

We deserve better

Brutus

23 Comments | Ball park, City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Losing propositions

June 12, 2018

The city tells us that using tax payer money to facilitate building a “destination resort” will bring tourists to El Paso and make money for us.

We heard the same line when the city’s airport decided to build a golf course designed by a world class course designer.

I have yet to hear of anyone that has come to El Paso to use the course.

According to this article in the El Paso Times we about one million dollars each year operating the course.

Maybe they will build another one.

We deserve better

Brutus

8 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Another way to raise money

June 11, 2018

City council says that they want to make El Paso a “destination” city with resorts and golf courses and such.

Do they realize that we have the highest hotel occupancy tax in the state?  The rate is so high that our state legislature passed a law that will not allow us to raise it any more.

Does someone need to tell them that cost enters into the decision of where most of us go on vacation?

On the other hand taking more tax money from the citizens to build resorts for the benefit of business concerns would allow the city to collect more hotel occupancy tax money.  That’s money they can use to build even more arenas and stadiums.

We deserve better

Brutus

13 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Sub par

June 10, 2018

Our water utility owns a golf course out in northeast El Paso.

I’m not sure how a golf course is consistent with their mission.

Wanting to know how they are doing financially with the golf course I took a look at their comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for 2016 and 2017.

Struck out

According to the CAFR:   “The assets, liabilities, and results of operations [of the golf course] are included in
these financial statements as part of the Water and Wastewater Utility Fund.

In other words “none of your business”.  The report provides no information about the golf course finances.

We deserve better

Brutus

4 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Will the sun ever rise over Sun Metro?

June 9, 2018

Take a look at these numbers from the city’s 2017 official Comprehensive Annual Financial Report:

Despite the major investments that Sun Metro has been making, money collected from passengers decreased $676 thousand from the prior year.

At the same time they got $862 thousand more from our sales taxes.

While ridership revenue was down their operating expenses increased $1.1 million.

That in spite of the fact that their fuel expenses decreased $774 thousand.

We deserve better

Brutus

 

10 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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