Almost every generation of Americans is dissatisfied with the current state of affairs, and when you think about how each group's expectations are working out these days, it begins to make sense. In Texas there has been a 'much to do' with regards to school financing. Threatened teacher layoffs, schools shutting down, and the list continues on and on and on..................
For many years this writer and several others have expressed concerns about the spending by local school districts without regards to where the money actually comes, and now the 'proof is in the pudding' and is starting to be revealed for the whole state to see. Lavish athletic facilities, performance halls, etc. were built all in the name of providing a better education for students. When in reality school districts of all levels were throwing taxpayer funds down a 'rat hole' in hopes that students would achieve a better education. Educating is not just a matter of money! Sure it helps; however, it only helps when it is used properly during the process of education.
A recent investigation into the spending habits of the Dallas ISD produced some interesting educational spending results. If the Dallas ISD has a problem determining how taxpayer money should be spent then every school district in the state most likely has the same problem for they all come from the same mold.
"Amid hardship protests, DISD spends lavishly" was the most recent editorial title from the Dallas Morning News. From a period beginning in 2006 through December 2010 the investigation uncovered $1.7 million for T-shirts and promotional trinkets. The DISD is like all school districts in the state for it has a captive audience; therefore, what is being promoted? When did school districts feel the need to compete for students?
Teachers and administrators for the DISD dined on rib-eye steaks while discussing teacher layoffs and budget cuts. When money gets tight at my house we discuss our budget cuts over a bowl of beans and cornbread. The investigative report has determined that the DISD mishandled, misspent, whatever you want to call it $81 million in taxpayer funds from 2006-2010. $81 million = 1,527 teaching positions within the DISD. Perhaps teachers should be conducting audits of their own school districts rather than spending time in Austin complaining about unfairness. Illegitimate expenditures undermine the legitimate concerns associated with the hardships that teachers and students will experience over the next two years. However, all school employees are only as good as their leader and in most cases their leaders were the biggest wasters of taxpayer funds. A case of 'monkey see, monkey do" is the necessary order of the school business in this state.
One additional example of bad decision making by the DISD (and countless other districts most likely) took place on June 7, 2011 when the district paid $2,406 to rent a ballroom at the Hilton Anatole and multi-media equipment for a district meeting. Are all the DISD school facilities filled with summer school students? With all the technology money handed out in the form of grants over the past ten years one would think that the DISD would have ample multi-media equipment available for such a meeting. Then again the $1.7 million spent on T-shirts most likely caused the technology staff to be laid off.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Ideas have consequences
Prepare yourself.
While traveling recently to visit relatives I attended a coffee shop round table within this fine community with a relative who is a daily regular participant. It was interesting that their issues were similar as the other round tables I have attended. However, some how the discussion got turned into a thought provoking exercise about what is a life worth. The discussion was centered around a gentleman I assumed that most seated knew or had known. Perhaps he had been a participant in the past. The discussion centered around many topics with regards to the worth of a life.
In summary the value of a life relates to how much we are willing to pay to try to sustain one, it really does not as it plays out in the real world, unless you have an unlimited amount of money, which most of us, much less the government or insurance companies, don't have. Rather than ask how much are we willing to pay, the real question is, "How much can we afford?"
Ideas have consequences. Prepare yourself.
While traveling recently to visit relatives I attended a coffee shop round table within this fine community with a relative who is a daily regular participant. It was interesting that their issues were similar as the other round tables I have attended. However, some how the discussion got turned into a thought provoking exercise about what is a life worth. The discussion was centered around a gentleman I assumed that most seated knew or had known. Perhaps he had been a participant in the past. The discussion centered around many topics with regards to the worth of a life.
In summary the value of a life relates to how much we are willing to pay to try to sustain one, it really does not as it plays out in the real world, unless you have an unlimited amount of money, which most of us, much less the government or insurance companies, don't have. Rather than ask how much are we willing to pay, the real question is, "How much can we afford?"
Ideas have consequences. Prepare yourself.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
John C. Calhoun
While on vacation I took the opportunity to read some about Mr. Calhoun. The South Carolina politician had some interesting thoughts regarding majority rule versus consensus rule.
Mr. Calhoun pointed out that American federalism had an apparent flaw in that the federal government could not be the final judge of its own powers. Citizens had to be able to defend themselves when national majorities in Congress violated Constitutional limits with the complicity of the executive and judicial branches of the national government. If the seperation of powers and checks and balance system is not in working order then citizens have a right to defend themselves against the federal government.
"Calhoun reasoned that because the people of the states gave their consent to the Constitution through the state ratification process, they, not the national government, were sovereign. Thus, the people of the states possessed the legal authority to protect both themselves and American liberty by declaring unconstitutional acts of Congress null and void within their respective states."
Perhaps Mr. Calhoun is correct in his assessment. If so health care reform should be a non-event.
Mr. Calhoun pointed out that American federalism had an apparent flaw in that the federal government could not be the final judge of its own powers. Citizens had to be able to defend themselves when national majorities in Congress violated Constitutional limits with the complicity of the executive and judicial branches of the national government. If the seperation of powers and checks and balance system is not in working order then citizens have a right to defend themselves against the federal government.
"Calhoun reasoned that because the people of the states gave their consent to the Constitution through the state ratification process, they, not the national government, were sovereign. Thus, the people of the states possessed the legal authority to protect both themselves and American liberty by declaring unconstitutional acts of Congress null and void within their respective states."
Perhaps Mr. Calhoun is correct in his assessment. If so health care reform should be a non-event.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Appraisal homework
Conducting research on appraisal techniques used by local Central Appraisal Districts v. licensed real estate appraisers and real estate professionals produces a common theme............flawed cost-based assessments are a common cause of unlawfully high property taxation. These flawed methods of assessment require property owners to fight annually for correct assessments.
It appears to be a fact that CAD appraisers impose excessive, flawed assessments because they often employ error-prone appraisal methods in the interest of expediency. At one of the local coffee shop round tables a local gentlemen who has completed extensive homework on Central Appraisal District issues stated "the technique of mass appraisals is a flawed system and penalizes property owners. Property owners have to review their valuations each and every year are they might end up paying more property taxes than they should. The system of mass appraisal is not perfect, and property owners must remain vigilant with their valuation reviews each year."
Based upon this gentleman's comments it appears that on the surface the possibility of conspiracy does exist between taxing entities and Central Appraisal Districts. After all who stands to lose if appraised values should decrease? Not the taxpayer!
It appears to be a fact that CAD appraisers impose excessive, flawed assessments because they often employ error-prone appraisal methods in the interest of expediency. At one of the local coffee shop round tables a local gentlemen who has completed extensive homework on Central Appraisal District issues stated "the technique of mass appraisals is a flawed system and penalizes property owners. Property owners have to review their valuations each and every year are they might end up paying more property taxes than they should. The system of mass appraisal is not perfect, and property owners must remain vigilant with their valuation reviews each year."
Based upon this gentleman's comments it appears that on the surface the possibility of conspiracy does exist between taxing entities and Central Appraisal Districts. After all who stands to lose if appraised values should decrease? Not the taxpayer!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Healthy diet
9 out of 10 Americans describes his or her diet as healthy. Surely these healthy diets have nothing to do with the reason the United States has the highest percentage of obese people in the world.
If it is not the diet then a lack of outside time?
One thing is known for sure McDonald's has been recording record profits throughout the recession. Big Macs and fries must be the new healthy diet for Americans. These same folks are the one's not complaining about the increased costs of medical services. Why? They don't pay for medical care. Taxpayers pick up their medical care tab.
We pay day care for working parents that are considered in the poverty category. Guess we should start picking up the tab for a gym membership to work on the obese problem.
If it is not the diet then a lack of outside time?
One thing is known for sure McDonald's has been recording record profits throughout the recession. Big Macs and fries must be the new healthy diet for Americans. These same folks are the one's not complaining about the increased costs of medical services. Why? They don't pay for medical care. Taxpayers pick up their medical care tab.
We pay day care for working parents that are considered in the poverty category. Guess we should start picking up the tab for a gym membership to work on the obese problem.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Never ends
Income taxes were due on April 18, 2011 this year due to some holiday celebrated in Washington, D.C., and most thought that was a welcomed relief. However, on April 16, 2011 most of you got that timely notice of Assessed Values for property tax purposes. Like the ole' saying "only two things are for certain in this world - Death and Taxes".
One just never seems to get used to the ideas of death and taxes. Be glad when the Tea Party Patriots takes over and reduces all the unnecessary spending by all levels of government. Don't get me wrong for most don't resent paying taxes. Most understand that the money is crucial to supporting local police, fire fighters, schools and government operations. However, a bureaucrats idea of how to efficiently spend funds is much different than that of those paying the tax assessments. For example, do schools really need to provide bus services to able body students who have two legs, two feet, and have been taught how to walk? A bus picking up a student within six blocks of the school is wasteful spending in the taxpayers mind. Spending $900 on a hammer is wasteful as well.
If you read the local rag then you have read how the local taxing entities may have to reimburse Pilgrim's approximately $800,000 for money they collected and have already spent. Sounds like the credit card crisis all over again, just different participants. Don't forget that if the Camp Central Appraisal District is not successful in their suit they (taxpayers are the they in this case) are out legal fees for the defense and if they end up in the lost column then they (YOU) will have to reimburse Pilgrim's for their legal expenses. TAXPAYERS are the real losers not the taxing entities nor the Camp Central Appraisal District.
In the real world someones head would be on the chopping block! Then again perhaps someone has a severance clause contained within their work contract. The City of Pittsburg paid off one of the former city manager's when the city decided they no longer need the individuals services. It is only TAXPAYER money! Who gives a hoot?
Into the 'Wild Blue Younder'..................
One just never seems to get used to the ideas of death and taxes. Be glad when the Tea Party Patriots takes over and reduces all the unnecessary spending by all levels of government. Don't get me wrong for most don't resent paying taxes. Most understand that the money is crucial to supporting local police, fire fighters, schools and government operations. However, a bureaucrats idea of how to efficiently spend funds is much different than that of those paying the tax assessments. For example, do schools really need to provide bus services to able body students who have two legs, two feet, and have been taught how to walk? A bus picking up a student within six blocks of the school is wasteful spending in the taxpayers mind. Spending $900 on a hammer is wasteful as well.
If you read the local rag then you have read how the local taxing entities may have to reimburse Pilgrim's approximately $800,000 for money they collected and have already spent. Sounds like the credit card crisis all over again, just different participants. Don't forget that if the Camp Central Appraisal District is not successful in their suit they (taxpayers are the they in this case) are out legal fees for the defense and if they end up in the lost column then they (YOU) will have to reimburse Pilgrim's for their legal expenses. TAXPAYERS are the real losers not the taxing entities nor the Camp Central Appraisal District.
In the real world someones head would be on the chopping block! Then again perhaps someone has a severance clause contained within their work contract. The City of Pittsburg paid off one of the former city manager's when the city decided they no longer need the individuals services. It is only TAXPAYER money! Who gives a hoot?
Into the 'Wild Blue Younder'..................
Monday, May 2, 2011
What a day for the US of A
Took a thirty day vacation, and low and behold on my return enemy number one is no more. Regardless of who wants to take credit......makes no difference.....thanks goes to all involved over the last ten plus years.
Just because the number one is dead means number two is not capable; therefore, we must remain at the ready.
Just because the number one is dead means number two is not capable; therefore, we must remain at the ready.
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