the Controversial Committee Report
“We don’t raise sacred cows...we just butcher them.”
“Swamp Overflow”
Well, dear readers, the time is now to put the sand bags around your home. This safety measure will be required due to the expected tidal overflow of the ‘political swamp’ created by the actions of the Irving City council.
The ARK TIF funding issue has become a match between Irving’s Bumbling Bureaucracy (with consent of a majority of current council members) vs. Successful Business Enterprise (with an impeccable record of development).
Swamp Tide #1
The city manager and council failed to pass the agenda item to pay ARK the $44M TIF funding due them, but did approve a new city ordinance.
The city council will now require a strict dress code for all those who speak before the council against the ARK funding. Citizens will be required to wear a brightly colored clown wig and red rubber nose.
This new citizen attire will be in keeping with -- what the city manager, mayor and a couple other council members have now turned your city government into — a circus.
And what a circus it was at the last council meeting. With highlighted talking points on document copies provided to them, in all probability, by Chris Allen, who spoke at the meeting and has a law suit filed against the city, the Crankies, Flying Harpies, Social Media Trolls, and, of course the paid agitator, Anthony Bond, lacked the proper, colorful decorum due the city council.
(Should citizens, being paid to opine on issues before the city council, disclose this -- much like a lobbyist would have to do?)
Perhaps, the most disingenuous moment, by a citizen, was when they attempted an exorcism by intoning ex—mayor BVDs mantra of “forensic audit.”
After all the drama by the city manager and council, regarding whether the council would approve the $44M TIF funding to ARK, the issue reached the swamp overflow point. The funding item was pulled and was not voted on by the council. This means the city has opened the flood gates and the reek of this decision, which is overflowing with political Torofeca considerations, could flow all over ‘beautiful downtown Irving.’
What might be the final skirmish on the TIF funding will transpire at the October, 2018 city council meeting.
Be prepared. Protect your homes with sand bags. Anticipate the possibility of outrageous legal fees…paid with your tax bucks.
Swamp Tide #2
For those who thought they would obtain some tax relief from the city manager and council for the 2018-2019 budget year — forgetaboutit. The city manager’s budget was presented to the city council based on utilizing the Current Tax Rate of $59.4/$100 evaluation.
This means tax payers have been taken advantaged of due to the higher appraisal values. The budget will have an influx of more money than what will be collected during this current year budget cycle.
The Effective TaxRate of $58.2/$100 evaluation would have allowed only the level of income collected for the 2017-2018 budget.
Additionally, the projected tax collections for the 2018-2019 budget will be set at a lower rate than what will actually be collected. In essence, the city manger and city council will be getting a double dip of new income from your tax payments!
This double dip will amount will be approximately $5M which is not currently budgeted. Nice slush fund for the city manager and council to play with down the road.
Should you be surprised? Probably not, as this is the way the city bureaucracy and council works...collecting your tax bucks and spending them like Monopoly money.
Swamp Tide #3
Would someone please contact the Irving Animal Shelter and City Code Enforcers to ensure the goats, on the lot next to Councilman Meagher’s home in this residential development, are moved to safety and higher ground due to the impending swamp overflow? After the swamp tide-surge subsides, should the goats be returned to this residential location?
Even with cooler weather on the horizon, the reek of the swamp will be present when the next election cycle starts.
Isn’t it time for council members to start listening to citizens, and not kowtowing to special interest concerns, crony capitalist, and those wearing brightly colored wigs and red rubber noses?
………………………………..Mark Holbrook
