$207 Million County Road Bond – Can You Handle It?

Email your comments and news tips to: online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net
or pstern@austin.rr.com

Editor's note: The letter below dated Aug. 19 was written by Hays County resident Peter Stern and addressed to Hays County Commissioners. Commissioners did not heed Stern's plea. Rather they voted unanimously on Aug. 26 to present to voters a $207.1 million road bond package for an up or down vote in the November elections. In May of last year, voters turned down a road bond plan of a lesser amount.

County officials estimate the new road bond proposal, if approved, would increase the county's property tax rate assessed to home and business owners by 4.15 cents per hundred valuation.

Reactions by commissioners court members were mixed, according to press accounts, and gives some indication whether they intend to actively campaign for the bond proposal (under the ethical radar for public officials, of course). Hays County Judge Liz Sumter was quoted as saying, "...207 (million) is a tough number. I think it will be difficult to ask voters to support this." An apparent supporter of the revamped bond proposal, Pct. 3 Commissioner Will Conley said, "I think we do have a good proposal. I think it does meet Hays County's needs." Pct. 4 Commissioner Karen Ford said the sheer dollar amount of the plan "takes my breath away. I see the impact on homeowners' (tax) payments." Pct. 2 Commissioner Jeff Barton was quoted as saying, "It's a little hard for me to swallow the tax implications. But I'm convinced . . . it will address our needs." Pct. 1 Commissioner Debbie Gonzales Ingalbe's reaction was not immediately available.

Dear Hays County Commissioners:

Deja vu on the November road bond package – again?

I guess some of you just are hell-bent on passing on a huge cost to Hays taxpayers.

Honestly, I probably would not mind so much if the plan was well thought out, environmentally friendly, community safe and NOT so costly to taxpayers at a time homeowners can least afford it.

I am serious when I ask you, "What are you thinking?" Does the Hays County community have to fight extravagant road bond plans every few months?

Last month there were more than 100 home foreclosures. Doesn't that mean anything to you? It does to me. It's a signal that we in Hays County are losing our homes at a record rate.

If you really want or need to approve a road bond package, at least have the intelligence and decency to develop one that is less costly, more cost-effective, on a lower scale, is environmentally sound and one that will improve traffic and community safety.

Please reconsider the financial tragedy you intend to add to taxpayer woes. Few taxpayers will be able to pay what you are asking; consequently, many homeowners more will lose their homes during an already dysfunctional economy. Taxpayers voted for you to watch our backs and our needs. If you approve this road bond package you are NOT doing the jobs you were hired to do.