tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113822124880734978.post2787923492746412480..comments2023-05-26T06:23:56.846-04:00Comments on OurConcord.com: Important hearings coming up ...Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08248633195693368939noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113822124880734978.post-90679408556055784662009-03-18T21:16:00.000-04:002009-03-18T21:16:00.000-04:00A bill to allow voters to amend the Concord school...A bill to allow voters to amend the Concord school district charter was passed by the committee on March 17. For details go to:<BR/><BR/>http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090318/NEWS01/903180308Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113822124880734978.post-87318334319961628082009-03-06T21:32:00.000-05:002009-03-06T21:32:00.000-05:00I have heard at least twice, once from a recent bo...I have heard at least twice, once from a recent board member and from Chris Rath on CCTV that additional borrowing was fine because it maintained the same debt payment level, basically once one bond is paid off, it is OK to get another one as long as it only goes up to the same cost that folks are used to paying. This kind of attitude, along with the notion that state money is free money, is what drives me bonkers. When you are done paying off a bond, lower the taxes. If you want to borrow money, the fact that people are used to paying the same amount should never be an acceptable argument. Showing that the best research applicable to our situation indicates that the money can be used to make a measurable improvement in things that matter, yes, keeping the same bond payment level, never.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113822124880734978.post-28161675982817476952009-03-06T06:39:00.000-05:002009-03-06T06:39:00.000-05:00Hey, we'll just agree to disagree. I'm of the mind...Hey, we'll just agree to disagree. I'm of the mindset that nothing is more important than teachers and programs. And you can't starve those in order to build capital reserves. As well, once the bond for CHS was paid off, that money should have been returned to the taxpayers until the next major project came up. Then, as a community, we should be able to have a discussion about the merits of said project(s) and then have a debate and election to support or reject said project(s).Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08248633195693368939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113822124880734978.post-52335757112116919482009-03-05T09:08:00.000-05:002009-03-05T09:08:00.000-05:00Building a capital reserve is a sound fiscal polic...Building a capital reserve is a sound fiscal policy. In fact, the credit rating agencies (Standard and Poors, et al) actually DOWNGRADE municipalities if their reserves drop below certain ratios.<BR/><BR/>So, no, this is most certainly a sound fiscal position.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113822124880734978.post-21656608284185545792009-03-04T21:57:00.000-05:002009-03-04T21:57:00.000-05:00Umm, yeah, but you don't take away basic services ...Umm, yeah, but you don't take away basic services and necessities in your household to save for long-term projects that may never happen. That's essentially what they have done.Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08248633195693368939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9113822124880734978.post-35749746200984685062009-03-04T16:51:00.000-05:002009-03-04T16:51:00.000-05:00Banking ones money is never a particularly bad ide...Banking ones money is never a particularly bad idea when you anticipate a large capital expense. Every dollar "banked" is a dollar less then would need to be bonded.<BR/><BR/>Not such a bad idea. Don't YOU save money when conducting your personal finances?<BR/><BR/>Come on now, lest we get too conspiratorial in our thinking!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com