If you have any doubt about whether the folks at the city have found a way around the 3.5% maximum property tax increase that the state imposed last year take a look at this slide from a recent city council presentation:

The way they will get more money is to issue debt.

We deserve better

Brutus

 

I hope you enjoy RumpToons No: 159!

What’s on your mind?

Brutus

Speaking of city taxes, take a look at this slide from one of the presentations to city council:

Are they proud of the fact that Dallas has been able to stay basically flat with their tax rate and Austin has been decreasing their tax rate while we have suffered a 33% increase in taxes?

Why would they present a slide with two cities that make our city government look bad?

We deserve better

Brutus

Donald Trump and the Republicans have decided that the best way to respond to the impeachment hearings is […]

The lovely Ms. Tamayo filed to run for the District 76 house seat on the actual first day you could sign up (November 9th). I'm a fan of her eagerness and a bigger fan of her campaign staff not letting... Brad Kanus

Time is ticking. As of today, you’re next state senator is Cesar Blanco (D-San Antonio). Apparently though, polling was done. By who? I dunno. But per that poll Blanco is “weak on the West Side.” So what does that mean? Sweet phuck all if nobody else announces. Is West Side-weak... Max Powers

I came upon this piece of local history the other day:

Brutus

As much as I try to leave El Paso corruption behind the more it seems to rear its […]

I got word over the weekend that the former mayor trying to be the next mayor will not hire Lily Limon in any capacity if he wins. This is good news. However, I still don't get why she's connected in... Brad Kanus

As part of the requirements the city must meet before city council can approve the $100 million of certificates of obligation the city must notify us of what their current debt situation is.

From their notice:

the current combined principal and interest required to pay all of the City’s outstanding public securities secured by and payable from ad valorem raxes on time and in full is $1,818,279,445.84 (iii) the estimated combined principal and interest required to pay the certificates of obligation to be authorized on time and in full is $173,780,312.50;

The $100 million will turn out to be $173 million by the time interest is paid.

Before issuing the new certificates of obligation, and before issuing the $413 million that the recent election gave them, and before issuing the $180 million for the multipurpose performing arts and entertainment facility they will have to pay out $1.818 billion dollars.

That does not include the approximately $400 million that the police and firefighter pension plans are underfunded by.

Let’s add this up:

Existing debt                              1,818,000,000   (that’s 1.8 billion)

         New certificates of obligation       173,780,000

Police and fire pension                  400,000,000

Recent bond election                    413,000,000 (that’s without interest)

Total                                 $2,804,780,000 (that’s 2.8 billion dollars)

Our city population is about 685,000 people.

Each of us owes about $4,094 at this point.

We deserve better

Brutus

 

Today marks the beginning of a historical event in American history – the beginning of the impeachment inquiry […]

I hate to say it, but I can't feel sorry for those of you whining about another certificate of obligation (CO)vote for tens of millions of dollars. You keep electing these people. Guys like Max Grossman who complains daily about... Brad Kanus

My future fiance Elisa Tomatillo is giving away pizzas and knocking on doors. Meanwhile, Claudia Ordez Perez is taking selfies with her treasurer. On paper, Claudia IS the more experienced candidate. But voters are not voting for pieces of paper. You can say all you want about Tomatillo being a... Max Powers

One week after the voters approved $413 million in bonds for the city they are back at the trough getting ready to issue $100 million in certificates of obligation without our approval.

Could this be a coincidence?

Or did city staff know that they would ask for the $100 million while the voters were considering what to do about the $413 million?

Would you have voted yes in the bond election if you knew that they planned to pile on more debt without our approval?

If you don’t have an opinion read this slide:

They planned to do this when they passed the budget.

Shame on them.

They clearly planned to put one over on the citizens and they did.

Is there anyone at the city that we can trust at this point?

We deserve better

Brutus

As you may know, Turkey is deporting terrorists back to their countries. Donald Trump argues that he demanded […]

Today is Veterans day, a day where we honor those who have served in the United States armed forces.

By the way the official spelling does not include an apostrophe.  The day does not belong to the veterans but instead is about them.

Memorial day is a holiday in May where we honor those who died while serving in the United States armed forces.

Armed forces day also occurs in May.  It is a day where we honor those currently serving in our armed forces.

I thank all of our veterans.

Freedom is not free.

Brutus

I hope you enjoy the following cartoons courtesy of Cagle Cartoons:

EPISD enrollment is evaporating.

According to their newest five year budget forecast the average daily attendance at the district is down 1,829 students this school year.

Have you heard anything about cutting back at the central office?

We deserve better

Brutus

I hope you enjoy RumpToons No: 158!