Mayorial ignorance?

March 26, 2018

Could it be true that our current mayor is so profoundly ignorant of the situation that he actually thinks the city gives the county part of our sales tax revenue?

According to recent news reports the city is saying that the “gifts” amount to an average of about $43 million per year.

For the moment let’s assume that it is okay for the mayor not to know about the Texas laws concerning this.

As the leader of our city wouldn’t you think that he would be familiar with the city budget?  If the city actually gives the county the money we would see the expenditure in the city budget.  No such entry exists.

The city doesn’t give the county any sales tax money.

The money is collected by the state and a portion of it is returned to the eligible local governments.  Texas believes that the city is entitled to get 1%, the city bus system 1/2%, and the county 1/2%.

I would be embarrassed.

We deserve better

Brutus

11 Comments | City government, County Government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

The tax poem

March 10, 2018

This was sent in recently.  We don’t know who the author is.

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he’s fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for
peanuts anyway!

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won’t be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He’s good and sore.

Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he’s laid…

Put these words
Upon his tomb,
‘Taxes drove me
to my doom…’

When he’s gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.

We deserve better

Brutus

13 Comments | City government, County Government, El Paso Independent School District, Federal Government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

You said we could build it

March 8, 2018

There is no limit to the amount of assessment they can actually make against your property if a property improvement district is approved.

From Texas local government code:

Sec. 372.019.  SUPPLEMENTAL ASSESSMENTS.  After notice and a hearing, the governing body of the municipality or county may make supplemental assessments to correct omissions or mistakes in the assessment relating to the total cost of the improvement.

So if the petition asks for too small an amount they don’t need your permission to spend more money.

We deserve better

Brutus

10 Comments | City government, County Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Property improvement district approval requirements

March 7, 2018

Someone asked how many property owners have to sign the petition to authorize a property improvement district.

The first step is that the petitioners must define the geographic area that will benefit from the construction.

Then generally “owners of taxable real property representing more than 50 percent of the appraised value of taxable real property liable for assessment under the proposal” need to approve the petition.

It would appear that the big guys could gang up on the little guys.

We deserve better

Brutus

 

5 Comments | City government, County Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Childrens hospital continues to lose money

March 5, 2018

For the three months ended December 2017 our children’s hospital lost $3.466 million dollars.

That comes to $13.86 million on an annual basis.

The money will have to come from the taxpayers.

The new administrator of our county hospital is doing a remarkable job but he was handed a disaster.

We deserve better

Brutus

8 Comments | County Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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