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Subsidizing the lives of illegal immigrants to an extent; high dropout rates, and few large employers with deep pockets. Several years ago, when Democrats were the majority in office in Texas, they passed a Robin Hood plan to fund schools.
::SNIPPED RANT::
Okay, sorry for the rant...
I hope that answers your question as to why some cities don't have as high tax rate as El Paso. 'Want change? VOTE!
Voting is what got us this new tax hike. See El Paso is a hand out city.. everyone here has their hand out with the curling of the GIMMIE fingers. We are a welfare city and the people here like it that way. Why work for what you want when the state or city will just give it too you. So they vote for things like this Children's hospital, in hopes it will give them yet another free hand out. So voting wont change anything.. The mentality of the populous has to change.. and we need to get a leadership that stop giving and giving.. only to take and take from the rest of us.
Subsidizing the lives of illegal immigrants to an extent; high dropout rates, and few large employers with deep pockets. Several years ago, when Democrats were the majority in office in Texas, they passed a Robin Hood plan to fund schools.
You have economies and businesses that contribute greatly to their respective school districts, or 'rich' schools as they were referred to. They even have excess money. The Democrats decided to take that revenue and give it to poorer school districts.
One such district with lots of money, and low school tax is Deer Park ISD in Pasadena, TX. You have a school district that also happens to be home to some of the worlds largest oil refineries and chemical plants. Shell Oil Company alone pays an exhorbanant amount to the school district, that's not including the other majors. So they have excess cash. In Houston there are also very many upscale neighborhoods, they pay taxes to their local districts who also have excess money like Katy ISD. More on this later...
Well, a few years ago, the Robin Hood plan was ruled unconstitutional in Texas. 'Didn't bother the Democrats in power, they knew that, but did it anyway. So the counties were back to square one on how to fund their school districts. What you see happening in El Paso, and other poorer counties in Texas is the result.
There was an article recently about a high school close to my home, Taylor High School. They had a fund raiser to collect money and donate it to one of the high school bands in El Paso so they could buy musical instruments. I got a lot teasing on that one at the office, but I pointed out that those kids had good hearts, and were fortunate to not be in need of anythnig, and be able to contribute. 'Shut them up quick.
But back to the taxes; school districts get 'paid' according to how many students they have. If they have a large dropout rate, they loose money. It all adds up, about $14K per student, but I am not certain. The schools have to make up the loss, and so you are taxed. Also, if you have a lot of students who don't belong (illegal immigrants), you have to pay for their ESL classes, special tutoring, etc. What makes it worse, their parents sometimes don't have valid SSN, or get paid in cash, so they do not contribute, which means more tax burden on the rest of us.
Now about the wealthy schools... you will never hear one say they have excess! They cleverly hide this by always increasing their budget to show that they are under budget. And the worse, perverse ploy they use against you is the voting on bonds.
The teacher's union absolutely will fight to the death in order to stop the state from requiring that their bond initiatatives make it on the general election ballots. Why? Because they know that if they put it on the ballot when people normally vote, they would get turned down. Instead they do it on off cycles, when it's almost guaranteed that people will not vote, except the teachers that is. So they always vote themselves more money! 'Sorry to offend you teachers, but it is what it is. I see through it, so do other smart people who know what's going on.
Okay, sorry for the rant...
I hope that answers your question as to why some cities don't have as high tax rate as El Paso. 'Want change? VOTE!
Robin Hood IS unconstitutional, but yet they have not found a good way to fund poorer schools.
My home county of Crockett in WT is considered a "wealthy" district, and has oil and gas revenue. They sent 10+ MILLION dollars to the state last year to throw at poor districts, so that leaves them struggling to find money to fund what they need. They voted on and passed a bond issue to provide for a new campus and needed major repairs, such as roofing, etc. It will save the district money in the long run because they are consolidating 4 campuses into 3.
Why should poor districts who don't pay nearly as much tax be entitled to money from those who do? This is the most communistic, socialistic stinking mess I have ever seen. People moved to wealthy districts in the past because of what they wanted for their kids.
Now what extra money they have gets thrown at so-called "poor" districts who don't generate nearly the amount of revenue that a wealthier district does.
You're quite correct in that districts like EP do pay through the nose for illegal aliens to attend their public schools. Thanks to 1982's Plyler vs Doe, the Supreme Court ruled that ALL children in Texas were entitled to a free (soak the taxpayers) public education, regardless of whether they were in the United States illegally or not.
So, we're stuck with it, whether we like it or not.
They are dragging their feet to finding an alternative to Robin Hood, and chances are slim that whatever else comes down the pipe later is going to be either fair or palatable.
OMG.. I am so glad I found this forum!!! I used to live in ELP (23 years ago).. and now that I am approaching.....seniorhood.... I was contemplating moving back! Oh boy!!
First, I am surprised that whatever hospital utilization review at the state level would even allow a children's hospital to be built. What about Providence? Does anyone remember when they separated the conjoined twins????? And that was back in the '80's.
Anywho...........back to the tax situation. It's quite similar to what I face here. A majority percentage of our property (Newport, RI) is off the tax rolls. Colleges and universities - both public and private, city, state and Federal.. in my case NETC Newport. So, the poor property owner takes it on the chin.
My last tax bill in ELP was $1346 for 1985. I noticed that the tax bill for 2007 for the same house.. was just over $4000. My taxes here are running about $6300.. but for a much more expensive property. In looking at the current taxable value of my old home.. and using my current tax rate here in RI.......... taxes would be $1937.
I pay 7% roughly in state income tax.... which after deductions etc.... set me back about $3500.
As far I see it, money-wise it's about a wash... if I were able to purchase my old home. which I wouldn't... I hated it. Wasn't my idea, but the ex's.
I also lived in Weatherford, TX.......taxes then were half of what I paid in ELP. That's why I moved.. and because the economy in Weatherford was so much better. A short commute to Ft Worth.
Yes, the tax situation is out of control, most definitely. And quite frankly, even IF there were a state income tax.. trying to get your city's share of the wealth is a proverbial PITA.. and you never get your fair share.
What typically happens when the taxes go up..........the house prices fall....which makes it a buyer's market... and bad for those trying to sell especially when counting on cashing in on your equity to buy something .. somewhere else.
I'm fortunate that I tele-commute.. and can live/work in any place in North America. I hate where I am.....but perhaps ELP would be just more of the same story, albeit with no state income tax......but better weather?
I think so as the last time i was there i seen them paving streets and also as we've talked before looks like new Mayor Brockett and the new council will be good .
OMG.. I am so glad I found this forum!!! I used to live in ELP (23 years ago).. and now that I am approaching.....seniorhood.... I was contemplating moving back! Oh boy!!
First, I am surprised that whatever hospital utilization review at the state level would even allow a children's hospital to be built. What about Providence? Does anyone remember when they separated the conjoined twins????? And that was back in the '80's.
Anywho...........back to the tax situation. It's quite similar to what I face here. A majority percentage of our property (Newport, RI) is off the tax rolls. Colleges and universities - both public and private, city, state and Federal.. in my case NETC Newport. So, the poor property owner takes it on the chin.
My last tax bill in ELP was $1346 for 1985. I noticed that the tax bill for 2007 for the same house.. was just over $4000. My taxes here are running about $6300.. but for a much more expensive property. In looking at the current taxable value of my old home.. and using my current tax rate here in RI.......... taxes would be $1937.
I pay 7% roughly in state income tax.... which after deductions etc.... set me back about $3500.
As far I see it, money-wise it's about a wash... if I were able to purchase my old home. which I wouldn't... I hated it. Wasn't my idea, but the ex's.
I also lived in Weatherford, TX.......taxes then were half of what I paid in ELP. That's why I moved.. and because the economy in Weatherford was so much better. A short commute to Ft Worth.
Yes, the tax situation is out of control, most definitely. And quite frankly, even IF there were a state income tax.. trying to get your city's share of the wealth is a proverbial PITA.. and you never get your fair share.
What typically happens when the taxes go up..........the house prices fall....which makes it a buyer's market... and bad for those trying to sell especially when counting on cashing in on your equity to buy something .. somewhere else.
I'm fortunate that I tele-commute.. and can live/work in any place in North America. I hate where I am.....but perhaps ELP would be just more of the same story, albeit with no state income tax......but better weather?
I would not recommend moving back here. Not now. I would consider someplace like San Angelo though.. same great weather less taxes, and more out door activities... like the river walk and park. Also San Angelo is closer to the Heart of Texas, so if you wanted to head to Dallas or San Antonio, you could more readily than from El Paso.
If you like the weather down here but hate the taxes... I would recommend looking next door at Dona Ana County, NM.. lots of really nice new areas all over the place. Same weather.. lower taxes. I went to Mesilla a few weeks ago and was amazed at how beautiful that area is becoming.
Plus you would still have El Paso right next door.
If you like the weather down here but hate the taxes... I would recommend looking next door at Dona Ana County, NM.. lots of really nice new areas all over the place. Same weather.. lower taxes. I went to Mesilla a few weeks ago and was amazed at how beautiful that area is becoming.
Plus you would still have El Paso right next door.
Chuco, dude read her post.. NO STATE INCOME TAX! New Mexico has a state income tax.
Chuco, dude read her post.. NO STATE INCOME TAX! New Mexico has a state income tax.
Yeah, dude, I read it..where does it say that ocngypz does not want a state income tax?
I think even with a state income tax, Southern New Mexico probably still has lower taxes than El Paso County. I'm not 100% on this, but I'm pretty sure that it is still cheaper to live in NM than in EP County..when it comes down to taxes. Now housing prices..thats a different story as housing prices are cheaper in El Paso than in Dona Ana.
If people like this area, I will also recommend for them to look at Southern NM as well as El Paso.
Yeah, dude, I read it..where does it say that ocngypz does not want a state income tax?
I think even with a state income tax, Southern New Mexico probably still has lower taxes than El Paso County. I'm not 100% on this, but I'm pretty sure that it is still cheaper to live in NM than in EP County..when it comes down to taxes. Now housing prices..thats a different story as housing prices are cheaper in El Paso than in Dona Ana.
If people like this area, I will also recommend for them to look at Southern NM as well as El Paso.
Your right, but from the post it would seem one of the pet peeves and sentiments is no State Income tax. But I maybe over reading into the statements made.
Housing is pretty cheap just outside of Texas along the I10 corridor between El Paso and Las Cruses. I wonder if Horizon falls under another tax base than El Paso?
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Boy, just had to remind me, didn't you, LOL?!?
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