2009 FBISD Tax Hearing (On YouTube)

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2009 FBISD CONTROVERSIAL TAX HEARING (YES THEY ARE RAISING THEM AGAIN--see petition of over 500 district taxpayers asking for board accountability) --In case anyone missed it they raised the property tax rate again (4th time) in 2010 and more than likely will do so again in 2011 facing another projected 15-20 million dollar budget deficit, according to some media reports. ***NEW*** ..Petition TO STOP THE GSTC (Global Science Museum being planned at the district central office--near $30 million dollar project that superintendent Jenney is pushing): http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopthegcst/ (see update below on this apparently ending this project after 2 years)

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

FBN Reports On Missouri City Mayoral Race

Follow this link for more:

http://fortbendnow.com/pages/
full_story?article-Poats-Announces-Another-Run-For-
Mayor%20=&page_label=home&id=15669&widget=
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6 comments:

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
February 13, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Anonymous said...

Related comments from area blogs:

1. Untitled
Guest User, Unregistered
I just want to wish Mr. Poats the best in his efforts to improve the community. It is a noble effort and one that more should participate in.
Posted 2008-02-11 09:29:38
2. Keep the promise
Taxpayer, Unregistered
[smiley=think]

Hopefully a new administration and other challengers will be able to keep the promise made repeatedly by this mayor and council to lower our taxes, which they have broken many times over the last few years on the promise of more commercial development. They seem to forget that city services must expand when you seek this pace of growth, which, in turn, is carried on the backs of the current taxpayers.
Posted 2008-02-11 10:31:43

3. Time for change
Chris Calvin, Ph.D., Unregistered
Owen, Wyatt and Jimerson have been in office long enough (several decades) to have addressed many of these issues, but instead they neglect all for two primary areas (their own subdivision and new development near the city limits). According to a chronicle article only a few weeks ago the city manager admitted to "slipping" the bonds. This means changing what the funding is for that the taxpayers have approved. I wonder which projects they are "slipping" them for? A road near the ETJ is being looked at for a developer that contributes to many on this council along with diverting millions to the lone solution presented by these gentlemen regarding the QVCC. Have Owen, Wyatt and Jimerson, who live and belong to that golf club, even considered recusing themselves from the voting? Have they considered alternatives to LIMIT the cities risk exposure on the purchase and reclamation of the closed courses? Their own NGS study, that city taxpayers footed the bill for, estimated 10-20 million to get the courses up and running again. Why isn't the QVMUD and QVFund involved with contributing to the purchase and revitalization on this Owen lead project? Why didn't the mayor do something about this years ago when the development company, known for selling off old courses, purchased it? Why isn't the city enforcing the current ordinances for grass and property maintenance on the owner now (the high grass and endless ant mounds can't be helping the property values in that neighborhood). If this is about the city and not THEIR course then why didn
Posted 2008-02-11 13:25:22
4. Time for change continued...
Chris Calvin, Ph.D., Unregistered
(continued). . .If this is about the city and not THEIR course then why didn't they attempt to save the WillowWisp GC last year in MC district A? Perhaps because 4 of the current council (including the mayor) didn't live in that area?

Posted 2008-02-11 14:02:14
5. Untitled
Guest User, Unregistered
Good luck to all candidates and those thinking about running for office!
Posted 2008-02-11 16:33:26

February 13, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Anonymous said...

more:

« Muckraker wrote on Wednesday, Feb 13 at 11:58 AM »
“We need term limits in Missouri City so desperately. We need the people who we elected to run our city and not land developers and special interest groups from Houston.”

I couldn’t have said it better joe! Without independent office holders we will continue to get our tax dollars spent on special interest insider projects. Clean them out while you still can!
« justonemore wrote on Wednesday, Feb 13 at 11:07 AM »
Perhaps if these council jobs weren’t treated like retirement positions we wouldn’t attract such disinterest. It looks like we deserve what we get for not being more involved.
« transparencyingovt wrote on Wednesday, Feb 13 at 08:44 AM »
Joeschmoe,

I’m sure if the information below is correct that new leadership is long over-due. Watching the community age and elected county and city officials do very little to update those areas hardest hit has many worried. I just watched the ant course video produced by FBN and I would be very worried about my home value if I owned property in that community. I remember driving by it last summer how pretty it was with the fountains and groomed courses. It makes one wonder how long the court battle will go on and how much will it cost taxpayers? I also wonder if there are other options they haven’t considered that weren’t quite as dramatic as this staged land fight? Whatever the case those high taxes won’t be coming down anytime soon no matter what the council has been telling everyone.
« joeschmoe wrote on Wednesday, Feb 13 at 08:34 AM »
I support Mr Poats in his bid for election. He will have my vote, my families vote and most of our neighborhood. We need term limits in Missouri City so desperately. We need the people who we elected to run our city and not land developers and special interest groups from Houston. We need to face issues that are really important to citizens of Missouri City. City services such as infrastructure that should be maintained by the city and not by taxpayers, decent saleries for police and fire department.. help 2234 become a viable part of Missouri City and not an eye sore. This can only be done with new ideas, the old ones arent working. My dad once said ” politicians and diapers need to be changed often and for the same reasons”
« Muckraker wrote on Wednesday, Feb 13 at 07:27 AM »
I think FCG you will find Mr. Poats a fair and honest man that will listen to the citizens of the city and do the best job he possibly can. I know him and he is a man of integrity who, other than some local contributors, is financing his own campaign much like he did in 2005-06. He understands the problems the city faces and is a former asst. city attorney for a much larger community before he moved to Missouri City 25 years ago.

He has vowed off the special interest funding, which his opponent brags on. I think it is time for a proactive change, 24 years on council is more than enough for Mr. Owen.

Here is the last public list I’ve seen on the incumbent Allen Owen’s campaign finance report (from a google search):

Campaign Contributions (Public Record)-

Political Contributors To

Mayor Allen Owen

1999-2005

(Developers in order of giving)

____

1. Clinton Wong (Land Development Co.)

2. Larry Johnson (Land Development Co.)

3. Paris Schindler (Land Development Co.)

4. Rocky Lai (Land Development Co.)

5. Larry Wong (Land Development Co.)

6. Bob Perry (Land Developer)

7. Jim & Sandy MacNaughton (Land Developer)

8. Pat Cagle (Land Developer)

9. Thomas Cagle (Land Developer)

10. E. Blake Hawk (Land Developer)

11. Scott Reamer (Land Developer)

12. R.E. Reamer (Land Developer)

13. S. Jay Williams (Land Developer)

14. Eugene Arensberg, Jr. (Land Developer)

(c) calvin 2008

February 13, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Anonymous said...

more:

« FirstColonyGuy wrote on Wednesday, Feb 13 at 07:14 AM »
I appreciate Poats’ comments (except for the typo) and I think he’s got the leadership skills, knowledge of how the City works, and a huge following to assist him with the position. The purpose of the Mayoral position is to serve the constituents of the City, not a person’s self interest. As a resident of First Colony/MoCity, I look forward to meeting with Poats and effectively dealing with sidewalk issues (which have yet to be resolved-no sidewalks fixed), our concerns concerning a fair pay rate for our Police and Fire Department workers and the lack of community buy-in for the Golf Course acquisition.
« transparencyingovt wrote on Wednesday, Feb 13 at 06:51 AM »
I just wanted to take a minute and wish all the candidates the best in the coming elections. I do support term limits and sincerely hope that all candidates will pledge off out of area special interest backing from city or county vendors. I think the voters would sincerely appreciate it. I know it can be tough getting local voters to contribute, but it really is worth in the long run. They certainly won’t be doubting your honesty or whom you represent on the hot button issues.

February 13, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
February 13, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Anonymous said...

It would be nice to see an end to such longevity in office. It is hard to believe that people have sat in those seats for so long. It isn't any wonder they no longer respond to the taxpayers.

February 18, 2008 at 5:52 AM

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