The Amazing Karnak!

Remember how Johnny Carson used to come to his desk wearing a giant turban, place an envelope to his head, and announce the answer to questions that had not yet been read out? Let's play. I'll predict the answer. I'll even predict the question. And come late Monday night and the end of the LISD Board of Trustees hearing on the "proposed" May bond election, we'll see how good my magic turban is.

Answer: Fifty Cents.

Question: How high with the district propose to raise I&S tax rates?

(The secret -- Larry Lewis ALWAYS proposes to raise I&S to the ultimate limits. After than, he decides how much funding the maximum generates. And finally, he attempts to justify the borrowing with projects that seem to match the available funds.)

Answer: A tax cut.

Question: Will the increase in taxes be presented to the public as an increase or as a reduction -- a tax cut?

(The secret -- the Texas Legislature has forced districts to cut M&O tax rates. Maintenance and Operating funds are now increasingly coming to localities from the state -- with strings attached. But since the M&O will be down MORE than the I&S rates the local district controls will be UP, the TOTAL tax projected for next year, even with a big bond, will be presented as a tax cut. BONUS, the "spin" from the district will be such that a "yes" vote on the bonds will be NEEDED to get the tax cut.)

Answer: A school bus, "technology", and maintenance at the old stadium.

Question: What assets will the district propose to finance with new bonds that have a useful life much less than the length of the bonds.

(No secret -- just more shenanigans from our District.)


Answer: Another bus, even more technology, and a police car.

Question: What projected purchases will STILL be in the bond proposals for 2007 that have been purchased -- TWICE -- in 2006 with 2004 bond funds and windfall tax recoveries from sale of foreclosed real estate?


Answer: More than 20.

Question: How many years will the district propose to draw out payments for assets that fully depreciate in less than one decade?