Send city council back to school

May 30, 2018

EPISD sends a document to parents of kindergarten children titled “Understanding Your Child’s Kindergarten Dual Language and Monolingual Reporting Document” (the report card).

Under economics they use this criteria “Explains the differences between wants and needs”.

Citizenship includes “Uses voting as a method of group decision making”.

Responsible Decision Making “Considers the well-being of self and others when making decisions”.

Refresher course needed

Can we send our city council and mayor back to kindergarten?

We deserve better

Brutus

6 Comments | City government, El Paso Independent School District | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Planetarium

May 27, 2018

EPISD is finally trying to do something about the planetarium that will be destroyed when they vacate their current central office location.

From the Tuesday, May 15, 2018 EPISD agenda:

SUMMARY:
On November 16, 2017, the Board of Trustees approved the submission of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for the Gene Roddenberry Planetarium to be located in City District 4, or a location that will best benefit the district community.  In addition, the Board of Trustees approved for the application to be submitted with a 10% cost match with a funding amount to not exceed $1,390,218.00. Through a recent project defense, the City of El Paso has recommended an adjustment of the cost share. Therefore, the Department of Fund and Partnership Stewardship proposes for the Board to approve Ms. Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria, Deputy Superintendent of Finance and Operations, as the District’s appointee to be able to negotiate the amount of cost share for the CDBG program that will not exceed $500,0000.00.

It appears that they think it will cost 1.39 million dollars.  The district is hoping that the city will pay all but half a million of that.

City district 4 covers the northeast part of town.

We deserve better

Brutus

9 Comments | City government, El Paso Independent School District | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Does your boss buy you dinner?

May 16, 2018

This came in from Dan Wever:

Red are when Board of Managers was in charge but Trustees had been elected.  I am sure they were taken out to dinner to make up for not being allowed to take office until May of 2015.  Superintendent Cabrera arrived in Sept. of 2013.  Of course the Superintendents contract says he will be paid for all food and other expenses.  Guess he loves steaks!
5/3/2013 Indian Cliffs Ranch $1,241.27
5/10/2013 Indian Cliffs Ranch $420.03
5/17/2013 Indian Cliffs Ranch $519.40
5/23/2013 Indian Cliffs Ranch $3,602.47
6/7/2013 Indian Cliffs Ranch $1,433.85
6/14/2013 Indian Cliffs Ranch $641.40
6/20/2013 Indian Cliffs Ranch $542.10
6/27/2013 Indian Cliffs Ranch $989.70
7/11/2013 Indian Cliffs Ranch $472.60
4/4/2014 Indian Cliffs Ranch $270.00
4/25/2014 Indian Cliffs Ranch $869.25
5/2/2014 Indian Cliffs Ranch $1,954.00
5/9/2014 Indian Cliffs Ranch $553.94
5/16/2014 Indian Cliffs Ranch $1,718.75
5/22/2014 Indian Cliffs Ranch $1,626.53
6/6/2014 Indian Cliffs Ranch $1,090.15
10/7/2014 Indian Cliffs Ranch $510.00
4/24/2015 Indian Cliffs Ranch $479.55
5/1/2015 Indian Cliffs Ranch $673.46
5/8/2015 Indian Cliffs Ranch $430.00
5/15/2015 Indian Cliffs Ranch $3,502.10
5/21/2015 Indian Cliffs Ranch $2,001.60
5/29/2015 Indian Cliffs Ranch $1,697.31
6/12/2015 Indian Cliffs Ranch $620.10
6/17/2015 Indian Cliffs Ranch $895.50
6/25/2015 Indian Cliffs Ranch $486.50
6/25/2015 Indian Cliffs Ranch $653.30
4/22/2016 Indian Cliffs Ranch $1,249.00
5/20/2016 Indian Cliffs Ranch $1,345.20
6/3/2016 Indian Cliffs Ranch $1,198.50
6/10/2016 Indian Cliffs Ranch $632.45
6/17/2016 Indian Cliffs Ranch $476.00
6/30/2016 Indian Cliffs Ranch $859.45
3/31/2017 Indian Cliffs Ranch $303.45
4/21/2017 Indian Cliffs Ranch $416.50
4/28/2017 Indian Cliffs Ranch $704.45
5/19/2017 Indian Cliffs Ranch $2,959.70
5/25/2017 Indian Cliffs Ranch $579.00
6/9/2017 Indian Cliffs Ranch $607.95
6/15/2017 Indian Cliffs Ranch $694.80
6/29/2017 Indian Cliffs Ranch $447.75
4/6/2018 Indian Cliffs Ranch $1,061.50
4/13/2018 Indian Cliffs Ranch
$380.80
Total
    $43,811.36

53 Comments | El Paso Independent School District | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Almost as bad as you can get

May 4, 2018

Well things are getting measurably worse.

In 2014 we had the 5th highest effective residential property tax rate among the 50 largest cities in the United States.  See 5th highest taxes.

In 2015 we had the 3rd highest.  See Climbing to the top.

For 2017 we were the 2nd highest.

Remember that most of the quality of life bonds have not been issued yet nor have most of the school district bonds.

We deserve better

Brutus

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

Slight of hand

April 23, 2018

Our central appraisal district has re-appraised all of the properties in the county.

Many homeowners are seeing their appraised values going up.  State law limits the amount of the increase to 10% of last year’s appraisal.

A common misconception is that property tax bills will automatically go up as a result of an increased appraisal.

Actually each taxing entity is required to calculate the “effective tax rate”.  From the state comptroller’s web site:

The effective tax rate is the rate the taxing unit needs to generate about the same amount of revenue it received in
the year before on properties taxed in both years.

Thus if every homeowner’s appraisal goes up 5% the effective tax rate will have to go down 5%.

Where one might see a tax increase is if their home value goes up more than the average increase of all of the other home owners.

When our local elected officials publish their new tax rates don’t make the mistake of looking at the rate (percentage) they publish.

If home values go up 5% and the taxing entity’s rate stays the same as last year they are increasing taxes 5% even though the rate is the same.

We deserve better

Brutus

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

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