The truth slowly emerges

January 11, 2014

Checking on our “minimal due to the condition of the building” remodel of multiple buildings that was caused by the city tearing down it’s old city hall to make way for the ball park, I saw this presentation on the city web site the other day:

fall2013buildings

It is now the winter of 2014 and as far as I can see we have not even started to occupy these “essential” buildings that we are somehow living without today.

Maybe the tear down and move were not as simple as the city told us.  The costs certainly have exceeded what they promised.

We deserve better

Brutus

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Schooling

January 10, 2014

Some people at the Ysleta Independent School District (YISD) are evidently considering trying to float a $155 million bond issue this year.  From what I can tell this money would be for maintenance and repair of existing facilities.

My thoughts here apply to the other school districts too.

Operating expenses

Repairs and maintenance should be paid out of the annual operating budget as far as I am concerned.  State law requires the school district to balance their budget every year.  Failure to keep up with maintenance means that they are not paying their bills as they go.

Fancy buildings

We spend too much money on our school buildings — not that we have too many schools, but we spend too much on the ones we build.

Why does each elementary school need to have a unique  design?  Why do the buildings have to be so fancy?  Does that contribute to the quality of education as much as instructional material and teachers?

Pay as we go

Word on the street is that the bond issue would not result in an increase in taxes.  That must mean that some old bills are expiring.  Why not continue at the old tax rate and save some money, or if necessary spend that money on pay as you go maintenance?  Twenty and thirty year bonds end up costing us a multiple of what we issue the bonds for.

Will Ysleta bow to the wishes of the architectural and construction businesses in El Paso or will they think about what is important to our children and teachers?

Ysleta is in an unusual position.  I hope that they take the lead and learn to manage the money.

While they are at it, it would be nice if all of the school districts spent less money on their central office staffing and worried more about helping the classroom teacher do her/his job.  Teachers having to spend their own money for classroom materials is ridiculous.

We deserve better

Brutus

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

It’s starting

January 9, 2014

The city is beginning to spend the money we authorized in the 2012 quality of life bonds.

Over budget already

The November 12, 2013 city council agenda lets us know that we will learn about  lots of city  mismanagement in the future.

Item 16E on the agenda was listed as:

Discussion and action on 2012 Quality of Life Project, Pavo Real pool enclosure project being under budgeted.

We deserve better

Brutus

1 Comment | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Physician do no harm

January 8, 2014

Our county hospital finds itself in a hot spot over procedures they evidently performed while working for the feds.

El Chuqueno provided this link to an out of town article about the mess.

The hospital is trying to calm the waters.  Our El Paso Times wrote about a press release from the hospital board and CEO.  You can read the article here.

Medical care?

The hospital’s statement tries to make this look like the woman needed medical care.  What they evidently did to her was not medical care.  It was part of an investigation — one that was evidently against her will.  They said:

“Our team of providers has just one focus – to take care of the sick and injured. When people come to or are brought to our Emergency Department, we mobilize whatever resources are necessary to stabilize their condition.”

Yes, I would agree that the hospital does an admirable job with the sick and injured.

What happened here had nothing to do with being sick or injured.  Some people that work for our governments have forgotten that their responsibility is to the citizens — they think that they can do anything in the name of official business.

Who pays

According to the stories the lady was presented a bill for the “services”.

That doesn’t wash either.  When you are in police custody the medical bills are the responsibility of the agency detaining you.  The hospital certainly knows this.

The issue with the bill is another example of how some government employees forget who they are.

Rock and a hard spot

The hospital finds itself in an awkward position.

They need to denounce what has happened or face the loss of public confidence.  Are we safe in that hospital?

On the other hand if they back off now are they agreeing that the lawsuit has merit?

The hospital board needs to act decisively here.  So do the county judge and commissioners since the hospital is their responsibility.

We deserve better

Brutus

6 Comments | County Government, El Paso Times | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Exercising control

January 7, 2014

I saw something good when watching part of the city council video for the January 2, 2014 meeting.

Governance

I saw the mayor and a couple of city representatives asking intelligent questions about agenda items.  Item 5.1 on the regular agenda related to a potential $4.2 million construction contract for “on call” services.  In essence city staff wanted the approval to spend the money for miscellaneous concrete work or as the backup material contained:

Install and/or construct various types of infrastructure improvements not otherwise addressed

A city representative asked what projects the contract was going to be used on.  City staff indicated that the contract would be used as things came up.  The mayor joined in and asked how staff could ask for $4.2 million and there not be a list of specific projects.  The item was postponed until city council could be briefed.

Typical

Staff felt that in a normal year a certain amount of unscheduled work needs to be done.

It was remarkable to me that staff was not able to articulate the facts.  It seemed to me that staff was taken by surprise that their judgment would be questioned.

The concept probably would make sense if there was a low dollar limit on each item authorized under the contract.  We have unfortunately seen in the past that staff will sell a contract like this as being only for small projects and then turn around and use the money for one or two larger projects without having to get competitive bids.

Fairness

A different agenda item concerned a citizen asking for reimbursement for taxes that were paid twice.  Staff requested that the request be denied.  City representatives questioned staff about the completeness and fairness of the process.

Rubber stamp

In the past we have seen city council fail to exercise governance when dealing with city staff.

In this meeting we saw council ask intelligent questions and provide direction that was contrary to what staff wanted.

I hope that council continues to do this.

We deserve better

Brutus

4 Comments | City government, Purchasing | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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