Ballot propositions 1 and 2

February 21, 2018

One of the advantages to getting my ballot by mail is that I got to look at the propositions and think about them before I voted for or against.

There are seven proposition on this ballot.

  1. Right to a 21st century public education:  Should everyone in Texas have the right to quality public education from pre-k to 12th grade, and affordable college and career training without the burden of crushing student loan debt?
  2. Student loan debt:  Should everyone in Texas have the right to refinance student loan debt with the federal reserve at a 0% interest rate, as relief for the crushing burden of debt and an investment in the next generation of Americans?

Like most things with politics these days  these questions are couched in absolutes.

For example you might agree that our children should have a right to a quality public education from pre-k to 12th grade (I believe they do today, now that I think about it).  You might even believe that they should get college and career training without having to take on student loans.

Then again you might not believe that “everyone in Texas” should get these things.  Examples might include retired people or citizens of other states and countries  that come to Texas just for the free education.

Proposition 2 does not make sense to me.  Texans cannot tell the federal reserve what to do.  Texans could set up a taxpayer supported student loan system offers an interest rate of 0% however.

We deserve better

Brutus

9 Comments | State Government | Permalink
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EPISD–indicators of vendor favoritism

February 17, 2018

Read this article in the Times.

The headline is:

EPISD audit finds ‘indicators of vendor favoritism’ related to bond contract

Will anyone be held accountable?

We deserve better

Brutus

5 Comments | El Paso Independent School District, Purchasing, State Government | Permalink
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Sales tax rules

January 14, 2018

This comes from the Texas legislative council web page:

The sales and use tax (referred to herein as “sales tax”) imposed on most taxable goods and
services consists of a state sales and use tax and a local sales and use tax. The state sales tax rate is
6.25 percent of the sales price of taxable goods and services, and this rate is uniformly applied to
taxable retail transactions throughout the state. Local jurisdictions, including cities, counties, and
some special districts, may also impose a local sales tax after voter approval, but the sum of all local
sales taxes may not exceed two percent anywhere in the state. The maximum sales tax paid on a
taxable item anywhere in Texas is 8.25 percent.

The imposition of a local sales tax must be approved by the voters residing in the jurisdiction in
which the sales tax is to be imposed. Local sales tax revenues can be used for a variety of purposes,
including general fund purposes, property tax relief, health care for the indigent, crime control,
economic development, support of public libraries, emergency services, street maintenance, and
support of public transit. Because of the variety in local sales tax options, not all Texans pay an 8.25
percent sales tax. Some might pay only a 6.75 percent rate; others might pay a 7.75 or 8.0 percent
sales tax rate, depending on where they purchase a taxable item. This variation reflects the different
kinds of services and levels of services approved by the voters to be funded by local sales taxes.
Cities may levy a local sales tax of up to two percent; counties, up to two percent; transit
authorities, up to one percent; and special districts, up to two percent. State law governs the order in
which these taxes take effect, so as not to exceed the two percent cap on the sum of all local sales
taxes at any location in the state.

In our case 1.5% goes to the city general fund and .5% goes to Sun Metro.

We deserve better

Brutus

4 Comments | City government, County Government, State Government | Permalink
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EPISD–public facility corporation

January 9, 2018

These minutes from the EPISD administrative public facility corporation show that the district still intends to use the corporation to build the new central office:

The public facility corporation was created by the board of managers which was then headed by our current mayor.

Don’t worry about the cost–we can’t do anything about it.  The corporation has the power to issue bonds without voter approval.

If you are curious about the “summary of the project” that was presented, don’t bother to look.  The district does not post the agenda material for this special group’s meetings.

We deserve better

Brutus

4 Comments | El Paso Independent School District, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Not really paying

January 2, 2018

An ethics complaint about the actions of the Ysleta Independent School District superintendent and its then board president  was filed with the Texas Ethics Commission back in 2015.

They were accused of using public funds to pay for political advertising relating to  a pending bond issue.

The commission recently assessed a $500 dollar fine against each of the individuals.

According to the a Times article the superintendent  said:

“that he does not agree with the commission’s ruling but agreed to pay the fine to avoid using taxpayer dollars to litigate the case in Austin.”

We believe that his decision was the right one, without regard as to whether he actually violated the law or did not.

We find it unfortunate, however, that:

 “He said the district has paid both his and McClean’s fines, which totaled $1,000.”

The district did not violate the law.  Whatever happened was the result of their actions and the taxpayers should not be required to pay the fines.

You can read the ethics commission order here.

We deserve better

Brutus

4 Comments | State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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