I know a lot of people are mad at me for voicing my opinion on the EPISD bond issue. I hear you and can assure you that I’m not just playing games here. The sad part is that I’ve done nothing but get even more upset with what they want as the day progresses!
The tax implications are not severe… until you understand that they are financing things like computers and software for 30 years. Can you imagine financing your new Dell for 30 years? Especially when you know it will be obsolete in less than three!
I apologize for not realizing the immediate tax burden this would bring us. My head was stuck on the east coast where certain bond issues work much different than ours do. No matter that, we have yet another tax increase without any performance increase. I don’t want to spend another few million bucks to shuffle our kids through a broken school system.
How come our school districts get to operate on the principle of, "give me the money now and I’ll show you progress later," when the rest of the world works on the, "show me results now and then I’ll give you money" principle? We haven’t received any promises other than they will build a lot of shit we don’t even know if we need.
I’ll support this bond issue if they do the following things:
1. Assess the manpower at the district office and reduce the labor force by 25%.
2. Redraw the district lines so that schools have equal attendance even if it pisses off the whiney westsiders. If it pisses them off so much they can put their kids in private school and just plan on buying them something less than a brand new Tahoe when they turn 16.
3. Promise us an academic result to the spending. Meeting that goal will go towards more future funds.
4. Only include items that will last the life of the financing. Do not finance things that will be worn out or thrown away after a term shorter than the loan’s life.
5. Provide an up to the minute tracking system for items within the bond. Provide us evidence that these items are being completed as promised.
6. Reduce the bureaucracy at EPSID in every department. Make it easier for businesses to apply for work and collect their earned money. Make everything easier!
Those six things would turn my thoughts on the issue around. Too often they are demanding we vote for their benefit and they never promise us anything. We are made to feel guilty for not supporting the issue and they have no right to do that. It’s our money and when we invest our money we should demand results.
p.s.
Jim Suerken on the Strelz tomorrow – make sure you listen! I have Dee Margo on at 10:30 so be prepared for some great calls!
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