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Note: Go to the Hays County web site here to download a pdf file of the Nov. 2 election sample ballot.
To Need or Not to Need?
There's a shouting match going on over on the county's east side between proponents and opponents of two proposed taxing districts to build new campuses for Austin Community College. Voters residing in the Hays Consolidated and San Marcos Consolidated Independent School Districts will decide the question in a special election alongside the many other races on the ballot in the November election.
We wonder why ACC is needed here when we already have our flagship Texas State University? Why not expand TSU programs and facilities, without all the extra taxation that ACC is bidding for?
Here's the question on the special election ballot that will be put before voters:
"Annexation of the following territory for junior college purposes: All the territory in Hays Consolidated Independent School District (same for San Marcos)."
_ ForThe East Side's Hays Free Press has come down solidly in favor of the question, saying ACC's presence will bring an economic boost to the region. (The paper typically sides with tax and spend policy, so no surprise there.) A former member of the Hays CISD school board, Bryce Bales, and others are arguing that school district taxpayers, as it is, are up to their necks in taxes and alligators. In a recent letter to the editor, Bales said, "We are already losing the battle to recruit and retain upper middle class residents. If annexation passes, expect a new wave of starter homes. School taxes go up again!" Read more on the No ACC Tax web site.
_ Against
18 comments:
SAVE the Hays CISD tax base, forget higher education....
It’s bad enough we have to pay through the nose for K-12 educationn, now this. Community Colleges are unnecessary regardless of where they are. Best to call them what they are, remedial learning centers for the lazy and drop-outs. VOTE NO!
If there are no jobs available why would we need more community colleges?
So we get a population of slightly more school experienced unemployed?
To keep kids off the streets?
Expensive day care centers for youth in their late teens?
The system seems designed to eat its own. It attracts people to an area, who later can't afford their mortgages and high property taxes in the next (and current) recession and housing bust. There's a slight hint of insanity in the ACC proposition.
You do not own your property as long as you have to pay a Tax on it. That is a basic truth. All property taxes should be abolished and the “Fair Tax” should be adopted for both State and Federal.
Y'all really against higher education? Hell, some of you have run your mouths off and wasted a lot of space in this blog bragging about being 'perfessers'.Yyou definitely have the "I've got mine thing" going for you now... I'll vote for it just to save money when I want to get more educated from one of you fine "perfessers". Count me as voting in favor of ACC. Education is a terrible thing to waste of self righteous selfish snobs. The cheap man pays the most, just ask any mechanic. You probably need to see what ACC has to offer.
It is no surprise that the ballot issue only mentions “Annexation” and nowhere does it mention the word “Tax”. I worry that some of the uninitiated and non-property owners will just think it’s a good idea. I think it is a bad idea and is only for the tax hungry education industry to acquire a larger sucker base.
Ironically, such cynical and negative assumptions from seemingly intelligent commentors is proving the point that we just can't get enough additional education options in Hays County.
In fact, community colleges are often more important than four year + higher education institutions as they can help prepare young people for future labor and professional service jobs that require state licensing and future apprenticeships.
Also, CCs can adapt more quickly than four year campuses to local economies - including recessionary conditions - by working with regional trade associations and industry to provide both practical and new skill training through internships and post-degree placement programs in sectors of the economy that are still growing - and hiring.
More immediately, new community college campuses can hire currently unemployed professionals and trade masters for full time and part-time teaching positions - expertise that can be conveyed to young people who need to have some hope in a world where the self-centered and cynical comments expressed herein would want to deny them.
Unfortunately, ACC is led by an expansion driven management who probably paid too much for the land on which the proposed HC site will be built. There is also talk of political payoffs to get the deal done, although I cannot confirm this rumor.
Moreover, the timing of the CC tax assessment is ill-timed due to current economic conditions - as well as being quite high at a time when the local tax sentiment is obviously negative.
Having a new ACC campus in Hay County is a great idea. However, now is not the time to add another property tax assessment. ACC should hold on to the Kyle property for a later time and expand by sub-contracting out with vacant or under-utilized HC commercial facilities - and offer additional satellite classes as they have aleady started doing.
Then, when the housing market stabilizes and the job market picks up, ACC should go ahead with their HC facility. Our children and grandchildren deserve it.
And for all you you who think life should be reduced to taxes and elite academic education, you may want to try Lexipro. I hear it has the least negative side effects.
If Community Colleges can’t exist on their own then they shouldn’t exist at all. Why does the education industry expect the government (our tax money) to subsidize their palaces of learning? I don’t know if I’m different but most of the State and local Taxes that I pay, goes for so-called public education. From what I see of their of their product, we aren’t getting our money’s worth.
I wonder if the ACC checks citizenship for enrollees. I heard they are teaching English to illegals. Providing education for dropouts, felons, druggies, and single mothers is one thing but providing for illegals is way over the top. NO MORE TAXES!
I think Rocky B. has hit the nail on the head: It's a good idea to have ACC move to Hays County, now's just not a good time, also look for locations not associated with insider crony land deals. I personally think kids should be steered into a vocational or professional education path much earlier. It would save the taxpayers a bundle. High schools are glorified wastelands of eager minds, talent, and our money. The only reason we have highschools and school districts and school property taxes is to support the Texas Highschool Football Institution. Hook 'em Horns!
Bevo makes a good point. It is ironic that taxpayers in the Hays Independent SD would complain about higher property taxes after they spent all that money on the UT clone football stadium at the high school.
Sure, high school football brings in money, but at what cost when we see local unemployment and foreclosures that help starve our children's practical and job enhancing skill development.
If Texas high schools were to spend the same money they do on sports to teach our children foreign languages and business skills, our children could better choose the option of moving to other countries where the future lies - and where more jobs are going to be.
And by the way, last Anonymous, blaming illegal aliens for the failure of our public education system is nonsense. Take responsiblity and blame yourself for allowing the "education industry" to use your tax dollars in ways that are unproductive and irrelevant in today's global economy.
I lay the blame for our poor performing schools squarely on the school boards and superintendents. I do not excuse the parents that expect the schools to do the parenting and then vote for the bums on the Board.
Over emphasis on football is mostly the fault of the sports oriented father/fans that couldn’t hack it when they were in high school.
Illegal aliens invading our schools is a product of our federal government maintaining open borders. Our schools, our economy and our culture is doomed if we don’t stop the invasion from Mexico. The Dems candidate (White) for Governor is a Sanctuary City proponent and will probably do the same thing for the State if people are dumb enough to elect him.
Again, the illegal alien anger is mostly misplaced. The education problem, the unemployment problem, the health care problem, are all the result of ignorant citizens voting in corrupt or incompetent politicians who are owned by their big business and/or crony special interests masters.
Scapegoating is simply acting like a victim, and being a victim only allows you to continue to be victimized.
Yes Rocky, I should have mentioned Obama and the Democrats as the cause. Sorry for the oversight. Silly me!
See, Anonymous, you just can't stop blaming others for your bad decisions. If you blame Obama and the Democrats, you must have voted for Bush and the incompetent Texas federal Republicans who caused our economic collapse. In that sense, you are more at fault for your anger than any illegal alien.
But since you can't take responsibility for your voting decisions, you need to find someone else at fault for your political and economic unhappiness.
Scapegoating - such as xenophobia - is a version of co-dependency. It's a treatable form of addiction. In other words, it is an addiction that we learn - usually from our parents or from important significant others.
It's OK, Anonymous, many Americans seem to have this addictive form of mental dysfunction.
And even if this is just liberal psycho babble and not an uncontrollable addiction, why would anyone want to harm the children of illegal aliens? The children are not to blame for their parent's decisions!
Where is your humanity, Anonymous?
Adding more community colleges is ludicrous before ensuring that there are jobs available. It's putting the cart before the horse.
Currently there are many Bachelor's, Master's and Phd grads out there driving taxis to get money. There are no jobs.
Sounds like Rocky and many others bought into the great Obama plan to send single moms, veterans and unemployed people back to college to get a degree so that they can be unemployed graduates.
It's another stupid plan developed by people who have no business being leaders for the community they serve.
The Education Industry is almost as bad as the Jesus Industry when it comes to taking your money. The Ed guys have a leg up though, they will just say you are against children if you complain then tax the Hell out of you. The Jesus guys just try to scare you about going to Hell.
I live in Hays County, but want to attend ACC. I wou ld rather not pay the out-of-district tuition fees. I am all for it!! I am excited and its a great location since its so close to the high school. Have some hope and faith in our economy. When there is an upswing and more jobs are created, then there will be that many more people available with marketable skills---including me!! Good Luck Hays!!
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