Comments on: Nothing Comes From Nothing http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/08/nothing-comes-from-nothing.html Advancing liberty with responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy Thu, 24 May 2012 16:17:46 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Audrey http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/08/nothing-comes-from-nothing.html/comment-page-1#comment-7644 Audrey Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:57:27 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=21199#comment-7644 @Douglas Duckworth: What struck me most about the school district taking on debt was the fact that for every $2 raised in bond money, $1 was eaten up by debt-related costs, such as interest. That means that of the $155 million just approved, roughly only $77.5 million even has a chance of being used to improve city schools. Instead of financing building improvements with debt and spending 16 percent of its budget on debt service, SLPS could set aside an amount each year to pay for future building improvements. I prefer this to additional debt because this method would (theoretically) get me more bang for my taxpayer buck. I also wonder if this money will be used efficiently. Will this money actually improve buildings? As Dave Roland pointed out, SLPS has a poor track record of managing its finances: http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/08/funny-you-should-mention-it.html @Douglas Duckworth:

What struck me most about the school district taking on debt was the fact that for every $2 raised in bond money, $1 was eaten up by debt-related costs, such as interest. That means that of the $155 million just approved, roughly only $77.5 million even has a chance of being used to improve city schools. Instead of financing building improvements with debt and spending 16 percent of its budget on debt service, SLPS could set aside an amount each year to pay for future building improvements. I prefer this to additional debt because this method would (theoretically) get me more bang for my taxpayer buck.

I also wonder if this money will be used efficiently. Will this money actually improve buildings? As Dave Roland pointed out, SLPS has a poor track record of managing its finances: http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/08/funny-you-should-mention-it.html

]]> By: Audrey http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/08/nothing-comes-from-nothing.html/comment-page-1#comment-7641 Audrey Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:46:09 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=21199#comment-7641 @dempster holland: SLPS is not funded by the earnings tax. @dempster holland: SLPS is not funded by the earnings tax.

]]> By: Tim http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/08/nothing-comes-from-nothing.html/comment-page-1#comment-7635 Tim Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:34:19 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=21199#comment-7635 Thomas, Which garage, and how much money? Thomas,

Which garage, and how much money?

]]> By: dempster holland http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/08/nothing-comes-from-nothing.html/comment-page-1#comment-7619 dempster holland Sun, 08 Aug 2010 00:21:35 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=21199#comment-7619 If Rex Sinquifield has his way, the worst is yet to come. If he gets his way and no longer has to pay earnings tax, then either property taxes will go up substantially or city services--including schools--will have to be dramatically cut, or both. In either event, it will be a severe blow to the city--all from some crackpot theory which unfotunately has a lot of money behind it. If Rex Sinquifield has his way, the worst is yet to come. If he gets his way and no longer has to pay earnings tax, then either property taxes will go up substantially or city services–including schools–will have to be dramatically cut, or both. In either event, it will be a severe blow to the city–all from some crackpot theory which unfotunately has a lot of money behind it.

]]> By: Thomas Duda http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/08/nothing-comes-from-nothing.html/comment-page-1#comment-7613 Thomas Duda Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:56:18 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=21199#comment-7613 Doug, I would propose that the SLPS fund improvements to school buildings by using its capital funds for just that--school buildings. Did you know that SLPS spent millions to renovate a downtown parking garage? #justsayin' Doug,

I would propose that the SLPS fund improvements to school buildings by using its capital funds for just that–school buildings.

Did you know that SLPS spent millions to renovate a downtown parking garage?

#justsayin’

]]> By: Douglas Duckworth http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/08/nothing-comes-from-nothing.html/comment-page-1#comment-7607 Douglas Duckworth Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:19:15 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=21199#comment-7607 How else would you propose the SLPS fund improvements to buildings? How else would you propose the SLPS fund improvements to buildings?

]]> By: Papillon http://www.showmedaily.org/2010/08/nothing-comes-from-nothing.html/comment-page-1#comment-7603 Papillon Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:14:24 +0000 http://www.showmedaily.org/?p=21199#comment-7603 People are so used to tax increases, that 'no tax increase' is looked upon as a 'win'. Sunseting tax rates [why weren't they made permanent? I don't really remember] has its perils, too, as we are seeing nationally. People are so used to tax increases, that ‘no tax increase’ is looked upon as a ‘win’.

Sunseting tax rates [why weren't they made permanent? I don't really remember] has its perils, too, as we are seeing nationally.

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