New bond proposal for Northside ISD? (San Antonio, Alamo: for sale, foreclosure, mortgages)

[mastercone]

Originally Posted by FCF's Wife

Yes, but there are more San Antonians working and more out of work as evidenced here:

Bureau of Labor Statistics Data

Your local link concerning unemployment data was helpful but the data does not offer a complete picture. If one takes a look at the underlying unemployment data below, you will see that the national Official Unemployment Rate(U-3) is 9.8% for September 2009. The fully unabated, unadjusted, unmolested unemployment rate(U-6) is actually 17.0%. Also, because the nation's self-employment do not pay the Unemployment Tax(FUTA) and therefore cannot draw unemployment compensation, these workers are NOT included in these figures at all. Hence, the unemployment picture is not as rosy as it might seem.

BLS Unemployment Data Table A-12. Alternative measures of labor underutilization

[mastercone]

Originally Posted by txlnghrn

...I'm a child-free homeowner who pays a hefty property tax bill every year...

...Incidentally, Texas has one of the lowest effective state & local tax rates in the nation...

What I could NOT deduce from your post is whether or not the property taxes are actually high or low in Texas. For FY2007, the latest figures available, TEXAS ranked 14th nationwide in property taxes per capita. With regard to Texas' "effect local & state tax rate", Texas is one of the highest in the nation. According to the Census Bureau's 2005 American Community Survey, Texas ranks 15th nationwide real estate tax paid, 2nd nationwide in tax as a percentage of real estate tax paid at 1.82%, and 12th in tax as a percentage of median income at 3.53%.

Tax Foundation - State and Local Property Tax Collections Per Capita by State, FY 2007
Same link above via City-Data post
Property taxes: Where does your state rank? - MSN Money
American Community Survey (ACS)

[txlnghrn]

Originally Posted by mastercone

What I could NOT deduce from your post is whether or not the property taxes are actually high or low in Texas. For FY2007, the latest figures available, TEXAS ranked 14th nationwide in property taxes per capita. With regard to Texas' "effect local & state tax rate", Texas is one of the highest in the nation. According to the Census Bureau's 2005 American Community Survey, Texas ranks 15th nationwide real estate tax paid, 2nd nationwide in tax as a percentage of real estate tax paid at 1.82%, and 12th in tax as a percentage of median income at 3.53%.

Tax Foundation - State and Local Property Tax Collections Per Capita by State, FY 2007
Same link above via City-Data post
Property taxes: Where does your state rank? - MSN Money
American Community Survey (ACS)

I was referring to our overall effective tax rate, which is made up of state income taxes, state & local sales taxes, and local property tax. While property taxes are higher here compared to other states, we have no state income tax. Sales tax in Texas in pretty much on par with the rest of the nation. Overall, our individual overall effective tax burdens are quite low compared to the rest of the US.

The Tax Foundation - State and Local Tax Burdens: All States, One Year, 1977-2008

Per the following link:
During the past three decades Texas' state and local tax burden has been consistently below the national average. Estimated at 8.4% of income, Texas's state and local tax burden percentage ranks 43rd highest nationally, well below the national average of 9.7%. Texans pay $3,580 per capita in state and local taxes.

The Tax Foundation - Tax Research Areas > Texas

So yes, property taxes are higher here, but are greatly offset by no state income tax and reasonable sales taxes, leaving Texans with a overall lower tax burden than 42 other states.

[tgannaway89]

Northside ISD is a well supported school district. They have proven they can manage bond money responsibly. NISD is a very desirable school district and encompasses a desirable area of town. I am confident that the residents will support the school in providing such great opportunities to our children. If you don't feel your children deserve low student-teacher ratios, access to current technology, or updated facilities to learn in sell your NISD property and move elsewhere.

Here is the summary of proposed projects. Keep in mind this is NOT the final draft.

http://bond.nisd.net/2010/committee/...ts_Summary.pdf

2 new middle schools, 5 new elementary, and planning for a new high school are proposed. Land for 10 future schools and new security at ALL elementary schools is also included in the proposal.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by FCF's Wife

How do you all feel about this? Property taxes on the rise?





Northside Independent School District voters made history in 2007 when they passed a $693 million bond proposal, the largest school bond in San Antonio to date.
Now, officials in Bexar County's largest district are considering going back to voters in May for more money, as they face a continued influx of students. Though students are not pouring in at quite the rate they had in previous years — 2,000 new students this year versus 3,000 in the past — officials are projecting enrollment to increase by 14,000 over the next six years.




Northside school officials considering 2010 bond

NO NEW TAXES!!! Times are already tough with many ppl out of work. Wages also have not increased and are not projected to increase anytime soon. If there are more students added to the district, doesn;t that also mean that there are more taxpayers? Doesn't that make up for the added burden for the District?

[firstclassflyer]

Originally Posted by wehotex

NO NEW TAXES!!! Times are already tough with many ppl out of work. Wages also have not increased and are not projected to increase anytime soon. If there are more students added to the district, doesn;t that also mean that there are more taxpayers? Doesn't that make up for the added burden for the District?

Go back and read through the thread...it's been discussed somewhat. I don't think there will be any new taxes...just some increases on taxes that are already in place.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by firstclassflyer

Go back and read through the thread...it's been discussed somewhat. I don't think there will be any new taxes...just some increases on taxes that are already in place.

it's STILL an INCREASE in taxes. Charge those parents of those schoolkids some tuition is you must, but taxpayers are paying enough now.

[firstclassflyer]

Originally Posted by wehotex

it's STILL an INCREASE in taxes. Charge those parents of those schoolkids some tuition is you must, but taxpayers are paying enough now.

You didn't say anything about increased taxes...you said "No new taxes"..there won't be any.

[HillCountryHotRodMan]

Part of living within a desirable school district area is paying taxes to support it. I will be voting in support of the bond issue, as usual.

[majormadmax]

As will I. For one, everyone benefits from a better education system. Today's students are tomorrow's workforce (and taxpayers), and the better we as a society can prepare them the better everyone's future will be.

Secondly, school taxes are no secret, anyone buying a home anywhere should research what taxes they will have to pay on the property. In Bexar County, we also pay for Bexar County Road and Flood, the San Antonio River Authority, Alamo Community College, the University Health System, NISD (where we live) and Emergency Services along with the usual county taxes.

Well, since I use the roads, have kids in NISD and potentially could need emergency services, I should be fine with paying those; but since I live on high ground, don't swim in the San Antonio River, don't attend ACC, don't use the University Health Care System does that mean I get to opt out on paying those taxes as well?

Obviously not, as it is a civic responsibility imposed on all property owners. Don't like it? Well, you can either rent or live elsewhere; but we all have a social obligation that is funded through taxes, and we don't get the luxury of picking and choosing what we want and don't want to pay for.

Your voice is through your vote, but again it is majority rules and if most people want to fund a better education for future generations; everyone has to accept that decision. It is that simple.