Open Letter: Dear Hays County Commissioners Court
(On Wednesday, September 14, 2016 the letter below was sent to: Debbie Ingalsbe, The Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Will Conley, Bert Cobb, Mark Jones, Mark Kennedy, The Honorable Donna Campbell, Ray Whisenant, and The Honorable Jason Isaac.)
Dear Hays County Commissioners,
I’m doing research on the upcoming bond election (for which early voting begins in 35 days) and am finding very little in the way of “education” on this issue on our county website.
The county recently entered into a $35,000 agreement with Prime Strategies/GAP Strategies to “educate the public” on the bonds. The scope of work is outlined below:
I have a question for the Hays County Commissioner’s Court:
When can citizens expect to see these maps, graphic exhibits, website materials, social media material, public information materials, power point presentations and the calendar for speaker opportunities?
Or is it already uploaded somewhere and I’ve not been able to find it?
How can citizens learn about the educational activities, which are being coordinated? Is there a calendar of events? An e-mail list we can join?
I must be missing something, because at this point, it appears this is all we’ve gotten for our $35,000: https://www.co.hays.tx.us/bond-referendum-information.aspx
With voting on a bond election (which will more than double our county debt load) starting in a little over a month, I was hoping citizens could have access to a more comprehensive body of “education” by now. (Honestly, I’m surprised that I can’t even find a detailed list outlining the scope of work for each road project listed in the multi-million dollar referendum.)
I’ve also found the information presented thus far to be very one-sided.
There is a big difference between education and advocacy. Education involves presenting more than one side.
– Ashley Whittenberger,
Hays County Resident
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Proposition 1 asks for $106.4 million in new debt. Proposition 2 asks for $131.4 million.
Facts on the website of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards show that a new jail is
not needed. Sheriff Gary Cutler sends inmates to other counties to create a "perceived
need" for one. (Proposition 1)
In Proposition 2 (road bonds), 25% of the money asked for can be spent at county
commissioners' discretion -- so long as the money is for "safety" or "mobility."
Those two words can be interpreted any way the commissioners decide. Citizens
have no idea what 25% of the road bond funds would be used for.
Can we get an answer to this? Thanks to Ms. Whittenberger for bringing this up.
People, including me, become so apathetic because of stuff like this... Such wasteful spending and never giving the full informed story behind the scenes.
Ill be voting NO on both bonds!
Great questions. The commissioners are pushing for this hard.
I will be voting No for both bond proposals. The current debt is too high and property taxes are rising significantly due to appraisals. The court has the power to adjust the effective tax rate downward. I also feel that the burden of the much talked about growth is on existing tax payers, rather than the "growth" (developers, etc).
I also do not agree with the bundling of the road bonds. I will not vote Yes for all when there are items I am against. This tactic is being used state wide by counties and other taxing entities in order to get things passed.
The court needs to get its fiscal house in order. It is our money they are responsible for managing. The spending and debt must be pulled back. This $35K expenditure is an example of frivolous spending, in my opinion.
I will be voting NO on these ridiculous bonds. Too much debt and this tax and spend local government has got to reign in their bad-spending habits.
Waaaaaaaaaaaay to much padding in these bonds. And they say they're for our "safety & mobility". Ridiculous.
Vote NO.
I have seen Commissioner WILL and Sheriff attending meetings at HOA's and other locations that they normally would not bother to attend. Both have little drums used to drum up support for their bond issues.
Maybe a NO vote will get the wankers attention that we are tired of being taken advantage of. Wasting millions on the failed water plan - of course Commissioner WILL killed it because it was not his selected favorite - Santa Fe -
Sheriff campaigned against incumbent - because the incumbent said we would be better off building a new jail - now Sheriff is campaigning for a new jail and a new emergency communication center.
Emergency Communications center to be built on land behind the Government Center that is currently owned by Commissioner Will's largest campaign donor. That same land developer has been trying to get city and county to build Stagecoach through to downtown area. That discretionary money will be used to make this happen - because Emergency Center must have two exits in case of emergencies.
Oh one more thing - the location is in a flood zone - who builds an emergency center in a flood zone?
The same wankers that enter into an illegal contract with ATSI>
Excellent questions Ashley. You are always at the commish court, and if you don't have these answers, then I doubt anyone does. All I know is, a jail thats at 63% capacity does not necessitate ANOTHER JAIL. A road that is at 9% capacity doesn't need MORE lanes. These numbers aren't adding up to me. Or maybe I haven't been educated enough yet by this outfit getting 35k to make a power point presentation.
Thanks Ashley for writing this letter. I hope the commissioners see your letter and respond accordingly.
There may be some roads that are needed, but by bundling this all together, there are too many questions and far too much money left undesignated to feel comfortable for this voter to vote for them. I will be voting "no."