I was recently reading a book Executive Intelligence: What All Great Leaders Have by Justin Menkes and he reviews several aptitudes of great leaders. One of the leaders he reviews is Jack Welch the former CEO of GE. Mr. Welch points out that all great leaders question assumptions and anticipates consequences.
Based upon some of the posts some feel great leadership is not needed. However, as long as I and others are a part of the financial picture of this bond election we will exercise the qualities of great leaders to question assumptions and anticipate consequences.
All great leaders have passion, and they know how to control that passion. Great leaders know how to recognize underlying agendas, gauge the conflicts, draw conclusions and then steer the organization toward fulfillment of its strategic objectives.
Great leaders have open minds and are open to the opinions of others.......................................
Some of those posts are not very open minded nor open to the opinions of others and they are quick to assign blame on others. It is hard to understand the fact that a first grader in the PISD system will be 36 are older when this bond election is finally paid in full.
Is a new high school complex needed? Most likely not. However, I believe there is a need for some additional classroom space. Why were we not presented with options as to what we would like to support and not support? I am being told from a school superintendent friend of mine that this is the usual process. Go for the big money first and if it passes you get it all. If it does not pass you come back to the voters for what you actually need. Our neighbors to the west have tried to pass a bond election twice now and it has failed both times. Our neighbors to the north west tried to pass a bond election and it failed as well. I asked friends of mine from both communities as to why they thought it failed and the answer was the same for both. "If we give them the money it will never be enough. They will continue to want more and more." This does not only apply to schools this applies to all governmental entities.
The only pay raise I got last year was the school tax rate decrease given to me by the Texas Legislature. Quite frankly folks I am like a lot of tax payers in Camp County, we just don't have it to give, and we were thankful for the pay increase we got due to the school property tax decrease. We have only asked that you look at our situation, and not conclude that we are all well off with lots of spare change.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Elite and masses
In the Elite Model, the policy making flows downward. The policies are designed by those with wealth and power. The policies will then have the greatest impact on the majority of the population with lower economic status and no political influence. Often times the majority of the population does not have the proper facts or knowledge concerning any given situation and are more easily led by the elite. C. Wright Mills depicts the Elite Model as a pyramid of power; the elite policy makers are on the top of the pyramid and the masses are on the bottom of the pyramid. (Mills, 1956)
I am one of the masses and I want to have the proper facts and knowledge. If your numbers are challenged it does not mean I do not agree, it means I am on a fact finding mission. If I post some data then provide your case for disputing the post, but don't treat others as if they are not part of the elite.
I am one of the masses and I want to have the proper facts and knowledge. If your numbers are challenged it does not mean I do not agree, it means I am on a fact finding mission. If I post some data then provide your case for disputing the post, but don't treat others as if they are not part of the elite.
Why is it
You put up a site to help with the debate on the bond issue and a place to provide a forum for both sides, and you end up with personal attacks. Is it possible to debate the issue without personal emotion? A debate involves two sides of an issue. Individuals read the responses and they draw their own conclusions. I have read some of the information provided by both sides and both have valid arguments at times. However, the personal attacks being made are uncalled for in either case.
I have noticed the traffic numbers for hits has increased greatly over the past week. Several are viewing the site and not leaving a post. However, they are leaving with an impression...........so keep your posts on the issue of the upcoming bond election. Some are reading for the actual content to aid in their decision making process.
I have noticed the traffic numbers for hits has increased greatly over the past week. Several are viewing the site and not leaving a post. However, they are leaving with an impression...........so keep your posts on the issue of the upcoming bond election. Some are reading for the actual content to aid in their decision making process.
Feeling lucky
"How could one community be so lucky for all them to end up inPITTSBURG, TEXAS. Most of them are not native Pittsburg people, no children in school here, not involved in any Community Civic program but they want to tell everybody else what to do & how to do it because they are Smarter, More wealthy, and lots of know howon every subject."
Intelligence is shown with a post like this! The PISD property tax bill for the "not native" is most likely more than the average tax bill for others in the county. Before you decide that we don't participate then why am I always giving to those fund raisers held by the school children, buying stale cakes at a bake sale for the band, and purchasing raffle tickets from girl softball players?
Just cause you don't know who we are, does not mean we don't participate! Have you ever introduced yourself? What have you done to make us feel welcome in the community? You are much smarter and don't appreciate the value we have to offer.
Other than our tax dollars!
Intelligence is shown with a post like this! The PISD property tax bill for the "not native" is most likely more than the average tax bill for others in the county. Before you decide that we don't participate then why am I always giving to those fund raisers held by the school children, buying stale cakes at a bake sale for the band, and purchasing raffle tickets from girl softball players?
Just cause you don't know who we are, does not mean we don't participate! Have you ever introduced yourself? What have you done to make us feel welcome in the community? You are much smarter and don't appreciate the value we have to offer.
Other than our tax dollars!
Thinking of the children and the grandchildren
Perhaps one needs to think about the kids and the fact that you will be putting this mountain of debt on their shoulders. For this will last 30 years and those in the 1st grade today will be 36 when the debt is paid off.
You help a community progress by having lower taxes not higher taxes!
You help a community progress by having lower taxes not higher taxes!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Another week of Letters to the editor
Wow! Mr. Baker presents some good information for consideration. The real cost of the bond is $72 million over 30 years. Do you want to mortgage your home with a tax lien for the next 30 years?
Mr. Boyd presents some information for thought as well. However, you must understand that Mr. Boyd is employed by the PISD. He has something to gain - he might get to work in a brand new facility. However, when I reviewed the property tax rolls at the appraisal district I do not find Mr. Boyd's name on the rolls. Does he not live in Camp County? Why would someone who does not own property want to cause others to pay a higher tax burden? Mr. Boyd's data is the same as supplied by the school district. I remind you that the data supplied by the school district does not match the data on the TEA web site. The data supplied by the PISD does not match the data at the US Dept. of Education. Some will tell you that this is due to the fact that the data is reported at different times of the year. Numbers are not going to change that much, so why the disconnect? Truth is that over the last four years the numbers have been trending down. The bond agency reported a ONE (1) student increase in the high school population over the past four years.
I like that Mr. Boyd goes back to the years of 1986-1987 to prove the increase in numbers. This makes the numbers look large. If you look at the numbers from 2000 the numbers are showing a slight decrease. As we move through the current junior and senior classes then the school numbers actually start to trend downward. There are two large classes, but these are temporary and should not be the reason to place a large property tax burden on those who pay the bills for the next 30 years.
One other point made by Mr. Boyd in favor is "If we want to continue to have the best faculty then we need to give them the best we can to teach our students. If we want to continue to bring in the best new teachers, we must have something to offer them in return." Guess Mr. Boyd thinks a new building will motivate someone to teach in PISD, when in reality it takes a higher paycheck. People are motivated by money not structures.
In all fairness, I offered Mr. Boyd an opportunity to have an active role in the debate on this blog and he declined.
Mr. Boyd presents some information for thought as well. However, you must understand that Mr. Boyd is employed by the PISD. He has something to gain - he might get to work in a brand new facility. However, when I reviewed the property tax rolls at the appraisal district I do not find Mr. Boyd's name on the rolls. Does he not live in Camp County? Why would someone who does not own property want to cause others to pay a higher tax burden? Mr. Boyd's data is the same as supplied by the school district. I remind you that the data supplied by the school district does not match the data on the TEA web site. The data supplied by the PISD does not match the data at the US Dept. of Education. Some will tell you that this is due to the fact that the data is reported at different times of the year. Numbers are not going to change that much, so why the disconnect? Truth is that over the last four years the numbers have been trending down. The bond agency reported a ONE (1) student increase in the high school population over the past four years.
I like that Mr. Boyd goes back to the years of 1986-1987 to prove the increase in numbers. This makes the numbers look large. If you look at the numbers from 2000 the numbers are showing a slight decrease. As we move through the current junior and senior classes then the school numbers actually start to trend downward. There are two large classes, but these are temporary and should not be the reason to place a large property tax burden on those who pay the bills for the next 30 years.
One other point made by Mr. Boyd in favor is "If we want to continue to have the best faculty then we need to give them the best we can to teach our students. If we want to continue to bring in the best new teachers, we must have something to offer them in return." Guess Mr. Boyd thinks a new building will motivate someone to teach in PISD, when in reality it takes a higher paycheck. People are motivated by money not structures.
In all fairness, I offered Mr. Boyd an opportunity to have an active role in the debate on this blog and he declined.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Out of town and lots going on
Returning from LA and catching up. Read the March 13th edition of the Gazette and read a couple of Letters to the editor. Mr. John H. Griffin wrote a fine letter and should be admired for his past accomplishments. I find it odd that Mr. Griffin did not post his position as a past Appraisal Review Board member. Guess he knew it would be seen as a possible negative. Bricks and mortar don't make a school and the issue is not about bricks and mortar. The issue is about the false facts the PISD is using to sale the bond election. Mr. Griffin has fell for the staged DVD. Make no mistake the PISD has an environment conducive to learning that is safe and sound with clean classrooms. One reason I think Mr. Griffin chose to leave out his past service as an ARB member. Also, after reviewing Mr. Griffin's records at the Central Appraisal District I see that he has a 65 exemption. Mr. Griffin is not going to be associated with reducing this debt if the bond passes. His school taxes are frozen!
It would be wise for Mr. Griffin to visit with Mr. Sneed. It appears that Mr. Griffin presented the emotion, and Mr. Sneed presented the business facts. Decisions should be based upon facts and not emotion. I am not sure who is the foolish!
It would be wise for Mr. Griffin to visit with Mr. Sneed. It appears that Mr. Griffin presented the emotion, and Mr. Sneed presented the business facts. Decisions should be based upon facts and not emotion. I am not sure who is the foolish!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Update on Sucker Born Every Minute
Many school districts across the state are using the mandated state property tax cuts as cover for massive school bond packages. The interesting thing is that these districts are trying to convince you that they are lowering your tax rates. In many school districts tax payers are being told that approving the maximum tax rate would result in a lower rate than last year's. Don't be a sucker!
Informed people know that the legislature gave school districts enough money this past year to cut property tax rates by 33 cents. Deception and misleading the property tax payers should not be tolerated! Don't let your school district pilfer your tax cut. Don't let them convince you that they are actually providing you a tax cut. If you are a business owner make sure you understand what you will be paying under the new gross receipts franchise tax structure that was put in place to offset local property tax cuts. Don't vote to put yourself out of business!
Here is another argument being used. "It is for the children." Make no mistake this is not for the children. The children could care less about the structure. Another argument being made is that it will enhance our community economically. There is absolute no data to support this argument. From an economic standpoint it is better to have a school based upon student results and absolutely has not one thing to do with the physical structures. The product being produced (educated students) carries the weight. My family has relocated three times and the actual structures never played a part in our decision making process. The results of student achievement was the key to our decision. Truth be told added taxes have caused more harm in a small community like ours due to the tax base shrinking from the added tax burden. Many companies will not move into a community where there is a high tax burden. The community with the smaller tax burden will win every time.
In to the wild blue yonder.................................................
Informed people know that the legislature gave school districts enough money this past year to cut property tax rates by 33 cents. Deception and misleading the property tax payers should not be tolerated! Don't let your school district pilfer your tax cut. Don't let them convince you that they are actually providing you a tax cut. If you are a business owner make sure you understand what you will be paying under the new gross receipts franchise tax structure that was put in place to offset local property tax cuts. Don't vote to put yourself out of business!
Here is another argument being used. "It is for the children." Make no mistake this is not for the children. The children could care less about the structure. Another argument being made is that it will enhance our community economically. There is absolute no data to support this argument. From an economic standpoint it is better to have a school based upon student results and absolutely has not one thing to do with the physical structures. The product being produced (educated students) carries the weight. My family has relocated three times and the actual structures never played a part in our decision making process. The results of student achievement was the key to our decision. Truth be told added taxes have caused more harm in a small community like ours due to the tax base shrinking from the added tax burden. Many companies will not move into a community where there is a high tax burden. The community with the smaller tax burden will win every time.
In to the wild blue yonder.................................................
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
A sucker born every minute
P.T. Barnum once said, "there's a sucker born every minute." This is a bond election that has implications concerning your pocketbook. As tax payers you have the right to scrub the numbers so that you will be conscious of all possibilities. Weak intention is lack of clarity about the real needs. Ask the hard questions to arrive at the true intent. Willingness to do a through review will bring the clarity you seek. If you intend to vote "yes" then come October don't grumble about how much higher your school property tax bill has become. You can be guaranteed that you will see a $200 - $500 a year increase. Hope there have been no home sales in the area that have enhanced the value of your place - if so your valuation increase will add another $100 or so on top of the $200-$500 increase.
How many more buildings and land does the tax payer need to own? The PISD should sale some of the excess land they currently own to help fund a new school facility. As long as the PISD owns it then no property taxes are collected on that parcel.
You have the right to scrutinize the numbers, so exercise your right. Take the word of no one in this bond election. Do your homework. It's appalling that the elected trustee's hardly questioned the data presented just as they did when they decided without your permission to spend your tax payer excess funds on a rug for a field. One of the reasons cited for the need is they need a gym for PE class. What is wrong with the outdoor arena for PE? After all it has a rug so no one should get dirty, and tax payers will get more use for the excess tax money spent. If someone told a PISD trustee to jump in a fire what do you think the reaction would be?
Don't become one of P.T. Barnum's suckers.
In to the wild blue yonder......................................................................
How many more buildings and land does the tax payer need to own? The PISD should sale some of the excess land they currently own to help fund a new school facility. As long as the PISD owns it then no property taxes are collected on that parcel.
You have the right to scrutinize the numbers, so exercise your right. Take the word of no one in this bond election. Do your homework. It's appalling that the elected trustee's hardly questioned the data presented just as they did when they decided without your permission to spend your tax payer excess funds on a rug for a field. One of the reasons cited for the need is they need a gym for PE class. What is wrong with the outdoor arena for PE? After all it has a rug so no one should get dirty, and tax payers will get more use for the excess tax money spent. If someone told a PISD trustee to jump in a fire what do you think the reaction would be?
Don't become one of P.T. Barnum's suckers.
In to the wild blue yonder......................................................................
All research is based on Assumptions
I must say that I have reviewed the web site mentioned in an earlier post that I am assuming was created by the facilities committee. I find some of the information troubling. The web site mentions an option seven and the February 28th edition of The Pittsburg Gazette mentions an option seven, but my sources inform me that there was no option seven. The most expensive option presented was option D according to the architectural firm. The other troubling item I find is the graphs associated with the enrollment numbers. These numbers do not match the data on the TEA web site.
Guess that is the reason all research is based on assumptions! I guess it really matters who is doing the assuming.
I understand through communications at home that there were several letters in this past weeks paper regarding the bond issue. I will have to catch up when I return home and do a follow-up.
In to the wild blue yonder...................................................
Guess that is the reason all research is based on assumptions! I guess it really matters who is doing the assuming.
I understand through communications at home that there were several letters in this past weeks paper regarding the bond issue. I will have to catch up when I return home and do a follow-up.
In to the wild blue yonder...................................................
Flying today from Denver to LA I was reading a local newspaper article about one of the local school districts in the Denver area. It seems they are going through a similar process now as we are in the PISD. The district has evaluated their needs and most in the public are not buying off on the numbers.
One statement made by a parent of a child attending the local elementary school caught my attention. "If you must spend money on education spend it in the classroom where it counts." Based upon what I gathered from the article it appears the performance of the school is average, and most of the parents are upset at the amount of money being spent to be average. I don't know how the schools are funded in Colorado, but it sounds like they have some upset folks.
Guess you could call it reading, writing and spending!
In to the wild blue yonder........................................................
One statement made by a parent of a child attending the local elementary school caught my attention. "If you must spend money on education spend it in the classroom where it counts." Based upon what I gathered from the article it appears the performance of the school is average, and most of the parents are upset at the amount of money being spent to be average. I don't know how the schools are funded in Colorado, but it sounds like they have some upset folks.
Guess you could call it reading, writing and spending!
In to the wild blue yonder........................................................
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Mountain Climbing
While waiting to catch my plane out of Denver today I was reading a great story about Alison Levine. Alison climbed her first mountain after having two heart surgeries by age 30.
What does mountain climbing have to do with the PISD bond issue?
Trim down. Think about what's essential.
"You learn to get rid of things you don't really need," Levin said. "You figure out how to get by with what you have in order to climb to the top."
Perhaps the PISD backpack is a little heavy on overhead items and somethings need to be discarded from the backpack in order to make it to the top. It is the belief of many that adding additional baggage like debt to the tax payer, and an additional brand new high school will not help PISD achieve its true goal of reaching the top of educating our children.
In to the wild blue yonder............................................
What does mountain climbing have to do with the PISD bond issue?
Trim down. Think about what's essential.
"You learn to get rid of things you don't really need," Levin said. "You figure out how to get by with what you have in order to climb to the top."
Perhaps the PISD backpack is a little heavy on overhead items and somethings need to be discarded from the backpack in order to make it to the top. It is the belief of many that adding additional baggage like debt to the tax payer, and an additional brand new high school will not help PISD achieve its true goal of reaching the top of educating our children.
In to the wild blue yonder............................................
Monday, March 17, 2008
On the side of fairness
It appears that someone by the name of Boyd has posted a website concerning the bond issue, so please check it out. He states that his data comes from the PISD. There in lies a potential problem. This writer has already researched data available from the TEA and the Dept. of Education and neither set of numbers seem to match what is being reported by the PISD.
It appears we have a little Soothsaying taking place in regards to the numbers. It was reported on Friday last week at one of the Coffee Shop Round Tables that the bonding agency who will push the bonds in the marketplace reported in their report that PISD had a net increase of 1 (ONE) student at the high school over the past four (4) years. Why all the confusion? More reason for the public who foots the tab to be skeptical of the inside numbers.
Anyway in fairness I have posted the website for your skeptical preview:
www.footprints4future.webs.com
The site appears to be well designed; however, we question some of the facts posted to the site.
It is a little cool here in Denver today, but I guess at higher elevations it should be.
In to the wild blue yonder................................................
It appears we have a little Soothsaying taking place in regards to the numbers. It was reported on Friday last week at one of the Coffee Shop Round Tables that the bonding agency who will push the bonds in the marketplace reported in their report that PISD had a net increase of 1 (ONE) student at the high school over the past four (4) years. Why all the confusion? More reason for the public who foots the tab to be skeptical of the inside numbers.
Anyway in fairness I have posted the website for your skeptical preview:
www.footprints4future.webs.com
The site appears to be well designed; however, we question some of the facts posted to the site.
It is a little cool here in Denver today, but I guess at higher elevations it should be.
In to the wild blue yonder................................................
Orchestration
As for the idea of 'orchestration' there is no getting around the fact that the PISD has turned into a harmonic symphony gone bad. PISD is trying EVERYTHING in its power to perform CPR on a bad bond proposal.
All the orchestration in the world can't solve the problem for the credit-strapped tax payers. The PISD administration and trustee's just don't understand the reason for the skepticism and the challenge to their internally generated numbers. A recent letter in the local paper points out that the numbers put out by the PISD don't match what the PISD reports to the US Department of Education. After further review the numbers of the PISD and the US D of E, don't match the numbers on the TEA website.
Wonder why those who are going to have to foot this bill for the next 30 years are so SKEPTICAL?
On a more serious note, this bond election is not about the ability of those teaching our children. This writer encourages both sides to be cautious of personal attacks. Personal attacks will do nothing to help anyone regardless of the outcome of the bond election. On that note school district employees who are local property owners need to evaluate their personal family budgets to make sure they can afford an additional $200-$500 a year increase in their property taxes. If you as a district employee support the proposal then determine what lifestyle changes you will have to make to accommodate the decrease in your personal family budget. While reviewing your budget don't forget to include $4.00 a gallon gasoline along with that higher property tax bill that comes every October. Now maybe you see the reason why some are so skeptical!
I am now in Denver and reading about school problems here as well, guess it never ends.
In to the wild blue yonder.....................................................
All the orchestration in the world can't solve the problem for the credit-strapped tax payers. The PISD administration and trustee's just don't understand the reason for the skepticism and the challenge to their internally generated numbers. A recent letter in the local paper points out that the numbers put out by the PISD don't match what the PISD reports to the US Department of Education. After further review the numbers of the PISD and the US D of E, don't match the numbers on the TEA website.
Wonder why those who are going to have to foot this bill for the next 30 years are so SKEPTICAL?
On a more serious note, this bond election is not about the ability of those teaching our children. This writer encourages both sides to be cautious of personal attacks. Personal attacks will do nothing to help anyone regardless of the outcome of the bond election. On that note school district employees who are local property owners need to evaluate their personal family budgets to make sure they can afford an additional $200-$500 a year increase in their property taxes. If you as a district employee support the proposal then determine what lifestyle changes you will have to make to accommodate the decrease in your personal family budget. While reviewing your budget don't forget to include $4.00 a gallon gasoline along with that higher property tax bill that comes every October. Now maybe you see the reason why some are so skeptical!
I am now in Denver and reading about school problems here as well, guess it never ends.
In to the wild blue yonder.....................................................
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Underdog
Satting in the Admirals Club Lounge at Logan airport in Boston on Sunday I was reading a piece on Mr. Spitzer. I spent most of Sunday in the hotel room watching all the 'talking heads' analyze his career going forward. I could not help but think about that old saying, "Being the favorite is not easy. Everybody loves the underdog." I don't know if Mr. Spitzer is a favorite, but he is now the underdog.
As I continue to analyze the PISD bond proposal I see that it and Mr. Spitzer have something in common in being the favorite. The PISD will find out like Mr. Spitzer that being the favorite is not always easy.
Here it is we are talking buildings, but a presidential panel on Thursday recommended hammering home the basics, such as addition and multiplication, and increasing the focus on fractions and some geometry. The report never cited the need for additional buildings to help student learning improvement. This writer is not sure that a new building will bring forth greater educated students.
Why critical thinking? Everyone thinks; it is our nature to do so. But much of our thinking, left to itself, is biased, distorted, partial, uninformed or down-right prejudiced. Perhaps this is the path the PISD facilities committee took since most on the committee are drawing a paycheck from the PISD. Several on the committee have a spouse in the system that helps pay the bills in their households. Kind of hard to think clearly when the boss in charge cuts your paycheck.
Proper critical thinking requires coming in unbiased from the start!
In to the wild blue yonder.......................................................
As I continue to analyze the PISD bond proposal I see that it and Mr. Spitzer have something in common in being the favorite. The PISD will find out like Mr. Spitzer that being the favorite is not always easy.
Here it is we are talking buildings, but a presidential panel on Thursday recommended hammering home the basics, such as addition and multiplication, and increasing the focus on fractions and some geometry. The report never cited the need for additional buildings to help student learning improvement. This writer is not sure that a new building will bring forth greater educated students.
Why critical thinking? Everyone thinks; it is our nature to do so. But much of our thinking, left to itself, is biased, distorted, partial, uninformed or down-right prejudiced. Perhaps this is the path the PISD facilities committee took since most on the committee are drawing a paycheck from the PISD. Several on the committee have a spouse in the system that helps pay the bills in their households. Kind of hard to think clearly when the boss in charge cuts your paycheck.
Proper critical thinking requires coming in unbiased from the start!
In to the wild blue yonder.......................................................
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Follow-up to Getting Your House in Order
It has been reported at another Coffee Shop Roundtable that the expense numbers may have been reported on the high side. It really makes no difference about the size of the amount of the expense at this point. It matters as to wether you are using the tax payers money properly. Perception is still the main issue and if people perceive you are not spending the money properly then they are less likely to give you another $38 million. The very reason the other area superintendent cut the spending off.
In to the wild blue yonder............................................................
In to the wild blue yonder............................................................
Pittsburg ISD Web Site
In its "Asked the Editor" column in the Pittsburg Gazette on Thursday, March 13, the paper reported, according to an ISD source, that the Pittsburg ISD Web Site had been fully updated. I have just checked the site and can find no up dates at all. In my opinion, there is not one piece of information on the site that is helpful to the public in general and tax payers in particular. For example, I did not see a breakdown of students per grade, an enrollment trend by grade or any information on "Cost Per Pupil" compared to other schools in the region. To give the ISD benefit of the doubt, maybe it is just too difficult to maintain a web site that is current and helpful and usefull. On the other "cynical" hand, maybe it's better for the ISD to keep the public and especially the property tax payers of Camp County in the dark.
I also noticed that a bio has still not been posted for Mr. Mitch Carter, Board of Trustee (School Board Member). I suppose that writing a short bio can be a difficult thing to do. I just find it odd that one of the most liberal School Board members has the time to work on and help to propose a 30-year tax burden on the property tax payers of Camp County but doesn't have the time to tell us something about himself.
I also noticed that a bio has still not been posted for Mr. Mitch Carter, Board of Trustee (School Board Member). I suppose that writing a short bio can be a difficult thing to do. I just find it odd that one of the most liberal School Board members has the time to work on and help to propose a 30-year tax burden on the property tax payers of Camp County but doesn't have the time to tell us something about himself.
Patients wake up during surgery
What a nightmare it must be for someone to wake up during a surgical procedure. I was recently reading a study by Washington University in St. Louis that stated an average of 30,000 Americans wake up during their surgical procedure each year. Now you ask what does this have to do with the upcoming PISD bond election?
Perhaps we are going through a surgical procedure and we are in the process of waking up because we are starting to feel the pain!
In to the wild blue yonder.......................................................
Perhaps we are going through a surgical procedure and we are in the process of waking up because we are starting to feel the pain!
In to the wild blue yonder.......................................................
Talking Heads
By now you have heard a lot of chatter out of the 'talking heads', Presidential candidates, and others who think they have the answer to all our problems in regard to the big oil companies charging so much for the petro you put in the tank. The real fact that petro is so high is the lack of refining capacity in the US.
Fact #1 - No new refinery has been built in the US since 1983.
Fact #2 - In 1982 the US had 301 refineries turning oil into petro for the things we drive
Fact #3 - In 2007 we had 149 refineries turning oil into petro
Fact #4 - We still refine 17 million barrels a day with 149 refineries as we did in 1982 with 301 refineries
Fact #5 - Since 1982 the US economy has grown by 125%
The opinion of Bill Day who works for Valero (the big refining operation based out of San Antonio) says "Valero believes there will never be another refinery built in the US" and he cited lawsuits as one of the main reasons.
More buyers with less capacity to produce will cause a price increase every single time. This is historical and not a matter of business cycles!
Get ready cause the refinery squeeze is going to cost us all more at the pumps. This cost is going to be in more ways than one for the tax payer. Someone has got to pay to keep those school buses running up and down the roads.
In to the wild blue yonder........................................................
Fact #1 - No new refinery has been built in the US since 1983.
Fact #2 - In 1982 the US had 301 refineries turning oil into petro for the things we drive
Fact #3 - In 2007 we had 149 refineries turning oil into petro
Fact #4 - We still refine 17 million barrels a day with 149 refineries as we did in 1982 with 301 refineries
Fact #5 - Since 1982 the US economy has grown by 125%
The opinion of Bill Day who works for Valero (the big refining operation based out of San Antonio) says "Valero believes there will never be another refinery built in the US" and he cited lawsuits as one of the main reasons.
More buyers with less capacity to produce will cause a price increase every single time. This is historical and not a matter of business cycles!
Get ready cause the refinery squeeze is going to cost us all more at the pumps. This cost is going to be in more ways than one for the tax payer. Someone has got to pay to keep those school buses running up and down the roads.
In to the wild blue yonder........................................................
Friday, March 14, 2008
Recall When
you went to school and the air conditioning was wide open windows. Technology came along in the form of a floor fan that was used to stir the air. Heck, I remeber when they heated with a pot belly stove. Students sure seemed to be better educated when they came out of those old drafty buildings! Modern convenience must be creating more problems than we anticipated.
the PISD trustee's did not seek tax payers permission to spend our 'horded' tax money on an outdoor rug and a MEGA-fieldhouse, and then a year later had to spend some more of your hard earned tax money on having the outdoor rug fluffed. Wonder if that new double court gymnasium includes a new rug that may need to be fluffed from time to time? That might fall into the category of a modern convenience.
Into the wild blue yonder.........................................................
the PISD trustee's did not seek tax payers permission to spend our 'horded' tax money on an outdoor rug and a MEGA-fieldhouse, and then a year later had to spend some more of your hard earned tax money on having the outdoor rug fluffed. Wonder if that new double court gymnasium includes a new rug that may need to be fluffed from time to time? That might fall into the category of a modern convenience.
Into the wild blue yonder.........................................................
Nonsensical Chatter
"Flying to west Texas for a speech this week, I chatted on the plane with a very nice lady, Samantha, who was furious about her property taxes. She was disgusted by the nonsensical chatter of those we elect to represent our interest. And as a small business owner, she was outraged by the imposition of the state’s new business tax."
The school district in which she lives has called for a bond election that will elavate her property tax decrease she just received last year from the legislature back to higher than it was before our representatives reformed school finace.
"Did she vote in the primary? Nope; she wasn’t too excited by the presidential choices. Bad move. It’s hard to affect change if one isn’t voting."
According to Michael Quinn Sullivan of Empower Texans "you and I can correct bad policy decisions, and promote good legislative thinking, by our active vigilance. When elected officials know we’re watching, and holding them accountable at the ballot box, their performance will improve. Or the performance of their successor will be an improvement!"
The quoted material comes from Mr. Sullivan's Empower Texans Website
Into the wild blue yonder....................................................
The school district in which she lives has called for a bond election that will elavate her property tax decrease she just received last year from the legislature back to higher than it was before our representatives reformed school finace.
"Did she vote in the primary? Nope; she wasn’t too excited by the presidential choices. Bad move. It’s hard to affect change if one isn’t voting."
According to Michael Quinn Sullivan of Empower Texans "you and I can correct bad policy decisions, and promote good legislative thinking, by our active vigilance. When elected officials know we’re watching, and holding them accountable at the ballot box, their performance will improve. Or the performance of their successor will be an improvement!"
The quoted material comes from Mr. Sullivan's Empower Texans Website
Into the wild blue yonder....................................................
On A Side Note
We will give Mr. Obama credit for thinking of something, unfortunately it is the thinking like a politician that gives us gas pains. Donuts a plenty. Wonder if they used the "donut holes" from the donuts bought by the PISD?
Obama's proposal is to make a significant change to the payroll tax system:
• Currently, all wages below $102,000 are subject to a 12.4 percent Social Security payroll tax, but all wages above that amount are not subject to the tax.
• Obama wants to eliminate the cap, but, in a concession to taxpayers, exempt wages between $100,000 and $200,000; he wants to create a "donut hole" in the taxing mechanism that pays for the nation's largest retirement program.
Source: Andrew G. Biggs, "The Obama Tax Hike," Wall Street Journal, March 12, 2008
Into the wild blue yonder.......................................................
Obama's proposal is to make a significant change to the payroll tax system:
• Currently, all wages below $102,000 are subject to a 12.4 percent Social Security payroll tax, but all wages above that amount are not subject to the tax.
• Obama wants to eliminate the cap, but, in a concession to taxpayers, exempt wages between $100,000 and $200,000; he wants to create a "donut hole" in the taxing mechanism that pays for the nation's largest retirement program.
Source: Andrew G. Biggs, "The Obama Tax Hike," Wall Street Journal, March 12, 2008
Into the wild blue yonder.......................................................
Getting Your House In Order
A discussion this AM at one of the coffee shop round tables had to do with getting ones house in order. It appears that trustee's are willing to hand property owners a larger tax bill; however, it was reported this AM that the PISD forked over money for the following in the previous months:
Coaches got new bags at a cost of $1,000. Wonder what they carry around in those bags?
T-shirts for making the football playoffs at a cost of $1000.00.
Coaches pullovers for $800.00. Wonder if this is a special type of clothing?
It would not be fair to only concentrate on Athletics so,
It appears the food service staff does not like to eat in their own facility so money was spent on a meal at an eating establishment outside the county. Spending tax payer money outside the district is punishing the businesses that have to pay tax money to support the schools. Wonder if that eating establishment helped contribute to one of the many fund raisers conducted by the school? At the same time the students get left with the chicken burgers!
The district purchased a bucket load of raincoats for someone.
It was also reported that a nice sum of money was spent on Donuts!
It is said that one school district in the area wanted to float a bond and the superintendent put a note out to staff that even though money was in the budget that no money would be spent until after the bond election. This superintendent wanted no perception problems!
Getting your house in order sounds like good advice.
Into the wild blue yonder..................................................................
Coaches got new bags at a cost of $1,000. Wonder what they carry around in those bags?
T-shirts for making the football playoffs at a cost of $1000.00.
Coaches pullovers for $800.00. Wonder if this is a special type of clothing?
It would not be fair to only concentrate on Athletics so,
It appears the food service staff does not like to eat in their own facility so money was spent on a meal at an eating establishment outside the county. Spending tax payer money outside the district is punishing the businesses that have to pay tax money to support the schools. Wonder if that eating establishment helped contribute to one of the many fund raisers conducted by the school? At the same time the students get left with the chicken burgers!
The district purchased a bucket load of raincoats for someone.
It was also reported that a nice sum of money was spent on Donuts!
It is said that one school district in the area wanted to float a bond and the superintendent put a note out to staff that even though money was in the budget that no money would be spent until after the bond election. This superintendent wanted no perception problems!
Getting your house in order sounds like good advice.
Into the wild blue yonder..................................................................
Total Taxable Value and New Pain
Out of the total taxable value - wonder how much of that carries a 65 exemption?
For all you young folks under 65 this means you will have to make up the difference. Sure hate that those under 65 are going to be strapped with this debt load. For all you folks over 65 don't forget to show up at the polls on election day so you can help relieve the burden on those who do not qualify for the 65 exemption tax freeze. For those of you who are about to turn 65, there is just not much we can say to help your new found pain of thinking you were about to reach that milestone of relief.
It is interesting that some of our school administration want experience this added tax burden for they do not live in the area that will bear this added property tax burden. What do they have to lose?
Into the wild blue yonder...............................................
For all you young folks under 65 this means you will have to make up the difference. Sure hate that those under 65 are going to be strapped with this debt load. For all you folks over 65 don't forget to show up at the polls on election day so you can help relieve the burden on those who do not qualify for the 65 exemption tax freeze. For those of you who are about to turn 65, there is just not much we can say to help your new found pain of thinking you were about to reach that milestone of relief.
It is interesting that some of our school administration want experience this added tax burden for they do not live in the area that will bear this added property tax burden. What do they have to lose?
Into the wild blue yonder...............................................
Coffee Shop Roundtables
The pulse of the Camp County coffee shop roundtables seems to agree with Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson thought it a sin to compel a man to furnish "money for the propagation of opinions" he opposes. I think it would be fair to say that Jefferson knew the Pot-of-Gold at the end of the rainbow belonged to the taxpayers, and the taxpayer is capable of taking care of his own Pot-of-Gold. Into the wild blue yonder..................................................................................
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Many public schools are little more than drop-out factories.
one student drops out of school every 29 seconds. Every hour of every day, 93 Texas students drop out of public schools. According to the Associated Press, 20% of Texas schools are "dropout factories."
Pot-of-Gold
Wonder if there is a Pot of Gold at the end of that rainbow? Who's Pot of Gold might it be?
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
PISD Calls $36.5 million bond election
PISD calls bond election. In November 2007 Superintendent Pollan said the school district's needs were vast. So the magic answer to all the problems is a new high school campus complex that taxpayers will be hung with for the next 30 years. It is interesting that not one thing has been mentioned about the physcial needs of the facilities that really need the repairs and the additional room. A new $36.5 million high school campus will solve all our problems. Superintendent Pollan informed the public of this at the second informational session conducted by the district's administrative staff.
An individual with an average pay of $8.00 an hour will forfeit a 1/2 days pay each month for the required 43 cent per 100 valuation a year increase for the bond issue. This is equal to 6 work days a year just to pay the increased tax associated with the bond for a high school complex that has yet to be proven of its real need. This is for the next 30 years of a taxpayer's life.
An individual with an average pay of $8.00 an hour will forfeit a 1/2 days pay each month for the required 43 cent per 100 valuation a year increase for the bond issue. This is equal to 6 work days a year just to pay the increased tax associated with the bond for a high school complex that has yet to be proven of its real need. This is for the next 30 years of a taxpayer's life.
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