APS is just one of the many governmental entities with taxation authority and they get to have their own elections with convenient voting locations for everyone who is most likely to vote for continued bondage. The Albuquerque Public Schools are asking us to authorize $616 MILLION in property taxes to pay for things like a $38 MILLION West Side sports complex.
Before you go an vote for this thing or don't vote at all - which is the same thing - consider for a moment the fact that rewarding APS by giving them more money is the wrong message to send to an organization who continues to fail when it comes to educating our kids. It's like giving APS a social promotion even though they're earning a failing grade.
One of the groups promoting APS Bondage is a group of contractors. The argument goes that approving the bonds would stimulate the economy by creating construction jobs. Of course the jobs are far more temporary than the taxes that support them. Government does not create wealth, it redistributes it or destroys it.
By taking our money and giving it to a group of contractors to build sports stadiums in an economic downturn, you may be stimulating a few select businesses but you're not stimulating the overall economy.
...Paul Gessing, President of the Rio Grande Foundation says the average homeowner would then see a ten to fifteen percent reduction in property taxes. "That is a lot of money when you're talking about over the span of 12 months and moving into the future," Gessing said.The last time an APS Bond package failed was in 2002 and it took a drunk superintendent and an inept school board to make voters mad enough to reject the proposal. Since that time the only constants have been continued approval of bond packages like this and failing students. Perhaps it's time to send another message to APS... we'll keep our money until you do your jobs.
12 comments:
"Your taxes won't go up" Yea right and the check is in the mail.
Why in the world would you risk credibility by quoting someone from the discredited "Rio Grande Foundation" (the name of which is itself misleading, sounding more like an environmental organization than the Club for Avarice it actually is)?
By all means, lets punish the children for the mistakes of the adults. And while we're at it, lets give the rich yet another unearned tax break. If public-school kids don't want to spend the rest of their lives living in portable classrooms and mobile homes, they should talk their parents into moving into a first-world school district... like the ones they have in Canada and England and France and Spain and Germany and Japan and........
Derek Bill, if you don't like it here, MOVE. Simple as that.
APS is the most corrupt taxpayer funded bureaucracy. I always keep my hand on my wallet when I hear someone start to utter the phrase; "it's for the children." If that was the case they would be learning something!
.....and Superintendent Winston Brooks is Daddy Warbucks!
Why is the only response folks on this blog make is "if you don't like it leave"?
Hmmmmm I guess that is what the British were trying to tell the folks who created the constitution. Good thing our founding fathers didn't listen to that sillyness back then.
So, some guy named Derek Bill says the Rio Grande Foundation is "discredited." Can you give me one example Mr. Bill?
By the way, we could have perfectly adequate schools for a fraction of the cost. Here are a few specific ideas: http://www.errorsofenchantment.com/2010/01/25/aps-616-million-bond-measure-do-they-really-need-it/
Instead of porking (fleecing) the public all the time, why isn't the state of new mexico kicking in for this.
We are supposed to have a fund from oil & gas in investments to the tune of 27 Billion. It's there in case we need it for education.
NOW is the time to start dipping into that and getting these schools up to par for once. Secondly; APS, get new roofing contractors. Eveytime we turn around we've got another half million dollar disaster due to rain or water flowing into the schools. Third; with all of the landholdings that APS has throughout the city and God knows where else, isn't it about time some of these properties be sold to generate funds instead of putting it on the back of the taxpayers? Oh no, we can't do that we're told, those are investments. For what, for when?
Now's the time to dip into the state sacret cow and time to sell properties. If not now when? Last bond election was for $150,000,000.
This time it's for $600 + million.
Can anyone elaborate on any of this out there in cyber space? Can anyone answer any of these questions? I anxiously wait for your thoughts and input.
APS is a black hole for New Mexico's money - there would never be enough money in the world to make them happy. And yet, the schools continue to fail. More money - larger fail. Typical government entity.
How dare the city council at it's meeting on Tuesday night tell us to vote for the APS bond issue. Liberal idiots! PS: Why doesn't Derek Bill just go away.
Why don't you attack Brad Winter. He is the person that will spend the bond money.
He was at neighborhood meetings calling the bond package a mini stimulus.
Brad Winter has his hands allover this BS election.
Brade Winter, just another "pro business" republican feeding on the taxpayer. He makes $150k working for APS.
Throwing more money at incompetent bureaucrats is never a solution. APS spends money freely on things unrelated to education, because it is free money! They just ask for more. Imagine your teenager coming and asking for more allowance, because he spent everything you gave him at the movies and now can't pay for gas. APS is no different. Show me improvements and I'll reward you. It is no wonder people are clamoring to send kids elsewhere!
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