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

Fewer students, fewer employees, less cost

June 8, 2018

Dan Wever makes a good point with this note that he evidently sent to the school board members:

Trustees,
Before you give the El Paso Taxpayers false information please look at your own figures for the last 5 years of State money per student.  These are Texas Education Figures.
The EPISD gets paid by the State for educating the students that attend their schools.  You do not lose 30 million dollars of revenue because of decreased enrollment, you just do not get paid for students you do not have.  Also, how much money is it supposed to cost to educate students that you do not have.
You need a forensic auditor!
Regards,
dw
****************************************
That’s a good question–“how much money is it supposed to cost to educate students that you do not have”
We deserve better
Brutus

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

If you have too much, get some more

June 7, 2018

Would someone explain to me why EPISD actually needed a $668 million bond issuance in order to  “right-size” (their words, not mine) the district when nearly 30% of their existing schools are operating at 65% of capacity or lower?

They knew these schools were underpopulated when they asked for the bond money.

We deserve better

Brutus

 

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

Local baloney maker

June 6, 2018

EPISD announced that they are going to close some schools that are underpopulated.

The school board president is telling us that they need to do this to save money.  In the same conversation:

“He said each school closure could save the district more than $1 million per year, adding that the funding could be used for employee pay and technology. “

How are they cutting costs when they plan to turn around and  spend the money on payroll and computers?

Further he evidently said:

“the district has “exhausted all other efforts to cut costs,” saying the district slashed $10 million from central office last year.”

All other efforts

The only one exhausted here is me and that’s from listening to nonsense like this.

There is still an enormous amount of waste that should be cut.

We deserve bettr

Brutus

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

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »