This is an excellent story of an individual's desire for a better life and an individual's desire to help someone have a better life. Congratulations, Josh. Well done, Ms. Leonard.
Mr. Cobler, I totally agree, "local elections matter the most." I disagree with some of the opinions of the Advocate, but I agree with and appreciate the coverage you provide for local elections and the forum you provide for discussion.
What an astute observation. What really is the benefit of "expanding the tax base" and who really receives these benefits? Natural growth ... vs ... taxpayer funded, artificially sitmulated growth. This certainly opens up a whole new avenue of thought.
With each election of this type, it will become more and more likely that higher taxes will pass, strictly due to vested interest and voter apathy. There were 3300 people who voted in favor of this increase in taxes. It is almost guaranteed that every employee of Victoria College and their family members voted in favor to protect and further enhance their job. The more this governmental institution and other governmental agencies increase in size the larger that voting block becomes. As the Editorial Board says, 'it is momentum'.
The election is over. The voters have spoken. The only thing to do now is get out your check book and start writing for the next 20 years.
It would be considerate if the people at Victoria College at least put up a pretense of being responsible when they are spending this money.
BS Spotter, Thanks for doing the newspaper's job on this guy. Has the Advocate written an article of any kind on our new 'Republican' canidate?
Editorial Board, What an interesting concept. “Nothing good comes free of charge.”
Has it every occurred to you that people might want that ‘something good’ they could buy with their own money that is paid in taxes? You should go through your back issues and see how many times you have stated “it is only $xx amount to the owner of a $100,000 house.”
Victoria College has demonstrated they do not care about taxpayer’s money. Aside from the items previously mentioned just drive by the campus and look at the gigantic stone/brick/marble parking lot markers! These are what the powers at Victoria College think are important. (I wonder what a geologist a thousand years from now will think when he/she digs up those suckers??? What kind of people thought this was important??? The people in this town must have had unlimited funds.)
Your opinion: “We believe in continued investment in the community”. Layman’s translation: More and more and more taxes. I believe people know best how to spend their own money. I think there are very few people in this town that would mark their own driveways with these monstrosities!
In my opinion, voting an additional $22 million to Victoria College would be just like the chickens voting for Colonel Sanders.
Readers, Do NOT be intimidated by this statement!
*** "A vote in ignorance could do more harm than good." ***
If you have time to study the issues and candidates, fine. If you do not have the time or inclination, your vote still counts just as much as all of the members of this editorial board.
Do not worry that some may consider your vote, 'un-informed', to their way of thinking. There are no 'un-informed' voters. There are only people who vote ... and people who do not vote. If you vote, there is no way you are going to do harm. Let your voice be heard and let the chips fall where they may.
Editorial Board, You definition: ‘momentum’ = (the mass of an object) x (its velocity). You sure cannot argue with that. This certainly applies to Victoria College, just examine what is happening.
In 2006 a $15.5 million bond issue was passed for the county taxpayer to pay off over 20 years. In 2012 an additional $22 million bond issue is proposed for the taxpayers to pay off over 20 years. Using your ‘momentum’ scenario this will project to; in 2018 another $28.5 million bond to pay off and in 2024 another $35 million bond to pay off ……………… and the 2006 bond still has 2 more years of payments! This is, ‘Momentum’, in its highest form.
On top of this: the Board of Trustees regularly raises taxes on county taxpayers, just as they did this year, without giving the people a vote. Anytime they need to balance their budget, this is their method of choice.
On top of this: V.C. regularly raises the tuition on their students, just as they did this year. Why worry, the students can always get bigger loans to pay them and be further and further in debt.
Three months ago V.C. bought a building on Liberty St. This building was valued at $163,000 by the CAD. Victoria College paid $200,000 (a 23% premium) and is spending $100,000 more to make the building useable. The stated purpose is “industrial training”. The front page of today’s paper states that Victoria College plans to take over the Welder Center. This building has a track record of losing money and even V.C. states that they plan to lose money on it. The ‘mass’ of V.C. is definitely getting bigger and its ‘velocity’ is most certainly increasing, so … yes, V.C. has ‘momentum’ for sure! Now how about the rest of us?
If you are a tenured professor at V.C. making 6 figures for part-time work, you should definitely vote in favor of this. For everyone else, stop and ask yourself; Other than higher taxes, how has the last $15.5 million to Victoria College affected your life? You are paying more and more money to maintain and expand this institution. V.C. is just like all government entities, they say, “Give us more of your money and we will make life better for you.” The taxpayers of the county have been giving more and more of their money … has it worked yet? Again, just like all government entities, Victoria College exists solely to perpetuate itself, any way it can. If this means taking more of your money they will gladly do it. At least you have a vote on this one. Do not give them your money voluntarily.
It is most interesting how this particular item, was placed on this particular ballot. If you live in the city limits, you have a council-person and city charter changes to vote on with this election. If you live in the county, you will have to make a special effort to vote against this. I hope that you county residents think that $22,000,000 is worth the special trip to the polls. If this passes, you will certainly be paying your share.
Truer words were never spoken .... "The will of the community is only expressed if everyone votes," Butler said. Amen.
Early voting starts today. Vote NO! on more debt for the taxpayers of this county.
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This is an excellent story of an individual's desire for a better life and an individual's desire to help someone have a better life. Congratulations, Josh.
Well done, Ms. Leonard.
Mr. Cobler,
I totally agree, "local elections matter the most."
I disagree with some of the opinions of the Advocate, but I agree with and appreciate the coverage you provide for local elections and the forum you provide for discussion.
What an astute observation. What really is the benefit of "expanding the tax base" and who really receives these benefits? Natural growth ... vs ... taxpayer funded, artificially sitmulated growth.
This certainly opens up a whole new avenue of thought.
With each election of this type, it will become more and more likely that higher taxes will pass, strictly due to vested interest and voter apathy. There were 3300 people who voted in favor of this increase in taxes. It is almost guaranteed that every employee of Victoria College and their family members voted in favor to protect and further enhance their job. The more this governmental institution and other governmental agencies increase in size the larger that voting block becomes. As the Editorial Board says, 'it is momentum'.
The election is over. The voters have spoken. The only thing to do now is get out your check book and start writing for the next 20 years.
It would be considerate if the people at Victoria College at least put up a pretense of being responsible when they are spending this money.
BS Spotter,
Thanks for doing the newspaper's job on this guy. Has the Advocate written an article of any kind on our new 'Republican' canidate?
Editorial Board,
What an interesting concept. “Nothing good comes free of charge.”
Has it every occurred to you that people might want that ‘something good’ they could buy with their own money that is paid in taxes? You should go through your back issues and see how many times you have stated “it is only $xx amount to the owner of a $100,000 house.”
Victoria College has demonstrated they do not care about taxpayer’s money. Aside from the items previously mentioned just drive by the campus and look at the gigantic stone/brick/marble parking lot markers! These are what the powers at Victoria College think are important. (I wonder what a geologist a thousand years from now will think when he/she digs up those suckers??? What kind of people thought this was important??? The people in this town must have had unlimited funds.)
Your opinion: “We believe in continued investment in the community”. Layman’s translation: More and more and more taxes.
I believe people know best how to spend their own money. I think there are very few people in this town that would mark their own driveways with these monstrosities!
In my opinion, voting an additional $22 million to Victoria College would be just like the chickens voting for Colonel Sanders.
Readers,
Do NOT be intimidated by this statement!
*** "A vote in ignorance could do more harm than good." ***
If you have time to study the issues and candidates, fine. If you do not have the time or inclination, your vote still counts just as much as all of the members of this editorial board.
Do not worry that some may consider your vote, 'un-informed', to their way of thinking. There are no 'un-informed' voters. There are only people who vote ... and people who do not vote.
If you vote, there is no way you are going to do harm. Let your voice be heard and let the chips fall where they may.
Editorial Board,
You definition: ‘momentum’ = (the mass of an object) x (its velocity). You sure cannot argue with that. This certainly applies to Victoria College, just examine what is happening.
In 2006 a $15.5 million bond issue was passed for the county taxpayer to pay off over 20 years. In 2012 an additional $22 million bond issue is proposed for the taxpayers to pay off over 20 years. Using your ‘momentum’ scenario this will project to; in 2018 another $28.5 million bond to pay off and in 2024 another $35 million bond to pay off ……………… and the 2006 bond still has 2 more years of payments! This is, ‘Momentum’, in its highest form.
On top of this: the Board of Trustees regularly raises taxes on county taxpayers, just as they did this year, without giving the people a vote. Anytime they need to balance their budget, this is their method of choice.
On top of this: V.C. regularly raises the tuition on their students, just as they did this year. Why worry, the students can always get bigger loans to pay them and be further and further in debt.
Three months ago V.C. bought a building on Liberty St. This building was valued at $163,000 by the CAD. Victoria College paid $200,000 (a 23% premium) and is spending $100,000 more to make the building useable. The stated purpose is “industrial training”. The front page of today’s paper states that Victoria College plans to take over the Welder Center. This building has a track record of losing money and even V.C. states that they plan to lose money on it. The ‘mass’ of V.C. is definitely getting bigger and its ‘velocity’ is most certainly increasing, so … yes, V.C. has ‘momentum’ for sure! Now how about the rest of us?
If you are a tenured professor at V.C. making 6 figures for part-time work, you should definitely vote in favor of this. For everyone else, stop and ask yourself; Other than higher taxes, how has the last $15.5 million to Victoria College affected your life? You are paying more and more money to maintain and expand this institution. V.C. is just like all government entities, they say, “Give us more of your money and we will make life better for you.” The taxpayers of the county have been giving more and more of their money … has it worked yet? Again, just like all government entities, Victoria College exists solely to perpetuate itself, any way it can. If this means taking more of your money they will gladly do it. At least you have a vote on this one. Do not give them your money voluntarily.
It is most interesting how this particular item, was placed on this particular ballot. If you live in the city limits, you have a council-person and city charter changes to vote on with this election. If you live in the county, you will have to make a special effort to vote against this. I hope that you county residents think that $22,000,000 is worth the special trip to the polls. If this passes, you will certainly be paying your share.
Truer words were never spoken ....
"The will of the community is only expressed if everyone votes," Butler said.
Amen.
Early voting starts today. Vote NO! on more debt for the taxpayers of this county.