In both the political and business worlds we are unfortunately seeing more situations where the power of government is used to oppress someone’s opponents.
We see it at both the national and local levels.
Adversaries used to fight in their own arenas but now some are involving government to crush their opponents.
We deserve better
Brutus
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City government, County Government, Federal Government, State Government | 
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Posted by Brutus
The Texas state law that would allow the city to file a lien on your property until you have paid the amount of their assessment is chapter 372 of the local government code.
All it takes for the public improvement district to be authorized is a petition to be signed by:
property owners owning more than 50 percent of the appraised value of the properties to be assessed
If two or three property owners in your neighborhood own the larger and more expensive properties then they could gang up and force the smaller property owners to pay for part of the improvements.
This is not one man, one vote. It is might makes right.
We deserve better
Brutus
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Posted by Brutus
In El Paso we have the third highest property tax rates of the 50 largest cities in the United States. That puts us higher than any city in Texas.
We have the highest hotel-motel occupancy tax in the state. In fact the state passed legislation to put a cap on hotel-motel occupancy taxes when El Paso boosted ours. You might argue that local residents don’t pay this tax but the higher the tax is the more it discourages conventions from coming to El Paso and spending money.
Our sales tax rate is the highest allowed by the state. The state allows local areas to charge up to 2%. In our case one half of a percent goes to the county and one and one half percent goes to the city and its bus system.
Now it seems that some of the people down at city hall want to get permission to go over the 2% maximum.
This came from a KFOX news report the other day:
“But, how can (we) come up with going about a creative idea pushing something at the state Legislature to try and get an increase at the overall sales tax? That’s something we’ve talked about to the council over the last two years now,” said Robert Cortinas, interim director of municipal finance.
They published this quote from the mayor:
“Well, given that, the only alternative would be to go back to the governor and say, ‘Fine. Give another half cent on our sales tax revenue because in 1987, we determined it to go to the county,” Margo said.
Didn’t he promise to hold the line on tax increases?
Is there no end to their money grab?
We deserve better
Brutus
4 Comments | City government, County Government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
The Texas comptroller has this graphic on his web site:
The site explains:
Texas county sales taxes were first authorized in 1987, when most city and transit sales taxes were already in place — and many were already at the 2 percent cap. For this reason, most county sales taxes are applied outside metropolitan areas, with the notable exception of El Paso County. At present, 123 Texas counties levy sales taxes, most at a rate of 0.5 percent. County sales tax revenue generally is earmarked by statute for property tax relief.
Contrary to what the mayor seems to be saying, the city is not giving any sales tax to the county.
More accurately, the voters of El Paso county decided to impose the tax on purchases. The city had nothing to do with it.
The city has a legal department with enough lawyers to make it one of the largest law organizations in the city. Maybe the mayor could get one of them to educate him.
We deserve better
Brutus
3 Comments | City government, County Government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus
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
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