▲
1
0
▼

The trouble with y'all moving to Texas


               
2014 Oct 1, 2:25am   9,105 views  23 comments

by JH   follow (0)  

Five of the 20 fastest growing cities in America might be in Texas, but they are also the municipalities moving the quickest toward failure of infrastructure and other acute problems the state's leaders ignore.

Our roads are a serious problem.
Because the Texas constitution requires a pay-as-you-go style government, officeholders used bonded indebtedness to avoid raising taxes and being politically punished. In fact, the gas tax in the state has not been raised since 1991 while lawmakers racked up a $23 billion dollar bond bill to construct roads.
Servicing and retiring that debt will cost taxpayers $31 billion over the next 20 years. As the governor of Texas tours the country trying to lure more businesses south of the Red River with tales of low tax rates, he never mentions his state has almost $45 billion in bonded indebtedness, and taxpayers will pay that bill, some how, some way.
But, hey, we can tell outsiders we don't raise taxes.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality predicts four dozen cities in the Lone Star state can expect to run out of water, possibly by the end of this year, if the drought does not break.

If you are considering relocation, we ought to have a chat about our onerous property tax rates in Texas and what they do to your prospective house payments. We can also talk about how the legislature never gives school districts the money they need to operate and has been sued by parents and educators for that very reason since 1968, and, just recently lost another constitutional lawsuit over how schools are funded.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/30/opinion/moore-texas-growth/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

#environment

« First        Comments 19 - 23 of 23        Search these comments

19   tatupu70   @   2014 Oct 7, 5:22am  

gsr says

That's the most unfair tax in existence. It also varies with the unemployment rate.

Fairness is an idiotic method for determining tax structure. Not only does "fairness" vary considerably from person to person, but the goal should be a structure that promotes a healthy economy. Not satisfies someone's emotional desire for "fair".

20   gsr   @   2014 Oct 7, 5:56am  

tatupu70 says

but the goal should be a structure that promotes a healthy economy.

Give me a trillion dollar. I will buy lots of stuff. I will make economy very healthy :). I will even loan out millions to a few of you so that you can afford shacks in the Bay Area.

21   gsr   @   2014 Oct 7, 6:01am  

tatupu70 says

but the goal should be a structure that promotes a healthy economy.

Moreover, California tax structure clearly does not promote a healthy economy. It has the highest poverty rate in the nation when housing cost is considered.

22   JH   @   2014 Oct 7, 6:13am  

tatupu70 says

but the goal should be a structure that promotes a healthy economy. Not satisfies someone's emotional desire for "fair".

Apparently you haven't watched any presidential debates in the last 40 years ;-)

gsr says

Moreover, California tax structure clearly does not promote a healthy economy.

It is highly dependent on capital gains taxes, which fluctuate wildly. Property taxes are not low compared to the rest of the country. Yes, it is unfair that a new buyer pays more than your grandma, but that is simply a distortion for some owners. Paying 1% here is equivalent to paying 2-4% elsewhere.

tatupu70 says

Fairness is an idiotic method for determining tax structure. Not only does "fairness" vary considerably from person to person

Athletes used to pay 90% on the top of their earnings. And a baseball game used to be an affordable outing. $8 box seats in the 80s. Their salaries were low. Now that taxes are significantly lower, their salaries are insanely high, going to a game breaks the bank, and we are running budget deficits everywhere. HMMMM. I guess ARod would say the tax structure is fair but I sure as hell would not.

23   tatupu70   @   2014 Oct 7, 6:32am  

gsr says

Moreover, California tax structure clearly does not promote a healthy economy. It has the highest poverty rate in the nation when housing cost is considered.

Clearly CA tax structure is not ideal. No argument from me.

« First        Comments 19 - 23 of 23        Search these comments

Please register to comment:

api   best comments   contact   latest images   memes   one year ago   users   suggestions   gaiste