It’s almost showtime, y’all!! Or: Here come the November elections

Ladies ‘n germs, it’s almost that time – less than 30 days before filing opens for the Copperas Cove city council November election. This year, places 1 and 2 and the mayor are up for election.

So, ya think you might wanna put your name in there? Let’s dish about this for a minute or two. 

Then, Curmudgeon will end with a few predictions. Here we go –

Who is eligible to be a candidate?

Here’s the qualifications, according to the Copperas Cove city charter:

Sec. 2.04. - Qualifications.

A candidate for office must:

(1) Be a United States citizen.

(2) Be 18 years of age or older upon the commencement of the term to be filled at the election.

(3) Be a qualified voter in the City of Copperas Cove.

(4) Be domiciled within the corporate limits of Copperas Cove for at least one (1) year next preceding the day of the election at which they are a candidate.

(5) Not have been convicted of a felony for which he or she has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities.

(6) Not have been determined by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be: (a) Totally mentally incapacitated; or (b) Partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote, and

(7) Not be disqualified by reason of any section of this charter or by state or federal law.

How do you file to be a candidate?

There is a special application form with the city secretary’s office. The application time period this year runs from July 23 through August 20. You can see it here: http://www.copperascovetx.gov/files/city_secretary/election/app_deadline.pdf.

And now, Curmudgeon’s candidate tips!

Aside from filling out the form and filing it with the city secretary’s office, what does Curmudgeon think a candidate should do?

File your candidate forms with the city secretary ON TIME. That’s a biggee.

You have to name a treasurer. It can be you. In fact, you don’t have to spend a dime. Nor do you have to accept donations from anyone.

But follow through on the financial reporting forms, or it’ll cost ya!! And by that, literally cost ya!

Place 7 councilman Sorry-Charlie Youngs found out the hard way when he did “whatever” he did whenever he wanted, and didn’t file the correct forms. And when he did file, he filed late. It cost him $500 bucks payable to the Texas Secretary of State’s office. Here’s a refresher on that one:

http://copperascovecurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2018/04/sorry-not-sorry-charlie.html

What was the deal with Charlie? Read more here:

“According to the TEC documentation, Youngs was 147 days late filing his 30-day pre-election report, which should have been filed by October 10, 2017 but was filed on March 5, 2018, in which he disclosed $500 of political expenditures without accepting any political contributions.”

Link to full article here: https://www.coveleaderpress.com/news/former-councilman-calls-out-ethics-violation-alleges-city-charter-violations

Is it important to file correctly and accurately? Yes, dear readers, it is.

When you are a Copperas Cove city councilman, or councilwoman, you should adhere to the charter and regulations you are approving. You are not above the law or the charter. Also, people, namely other candidates particularly, are watching you. Any citizen can lodge a complaint with the correct evidence and there are serious consequences. Complaints can be regarding campaign signs and filing of appropriate reports.

I still wonder about Charlie, what the deal was with him. I mean, if he can’t read simple instructions…I have little faith in him other than one can tell he loves to hear himself talk about how things were when he "used to be on council before."

Well, boys and girls, we’re stuck with him for two more years unless someone starts a recall. 

Difficult, but not impossible. But as long as he shows up for meetings and is not incapacitated, there’s little anyone can do.

Curmudgeon’s predictions for election 2018:

First, Curmudgeon will not predict if any incumbents will run again. At least one of them is, Mr. James Pierce Jr. So, that’s not a prediction if it will 98% happen.

Also, Azeita “Fourth time’s a charm” Taylor has announced on Facebook that  she will run.

Curmudgeon does predict we will see some faces which have been absent from Copperas Cove politics for a few years. It would not be surprising in the least if we see Bradi “I’ve lived here longer than you, buddy” Dewald Diaz run again, and possibly some other former council members to include Mark Peterson and Cheryl Meredith. 

Curmudgeon predicts there will be at least one three-candidate election for council and a run-off that will occur in December.  

Curmudgeon predicts there will be at least one “unknown” dark-horse candidate. Someone who’s got a burr under their saddle about an issue (Business 190 median, FATHOM, etc.) but is new to municipal government elections. Someone earnest and well-meaning.

Curmudgeon’s Tips to candidate newbies: 

• You’d better sit down and show up to meetings or catch the replay on the city website. 
• Know the issues, more than complaining about them. 
• Know how things work. 
• Talk to people. Connect with them.
• Open a Facebook page for your candidacy and use it.  Engage them there.
• Hire an ice cream truck to drive around with your campaign sign on it. Get signs. Big ones. Lots of them. Follow those rules, too, for signs!
• Make it easy for people to find you and talk to you, one way or another. 
• Be in the community. Offer ideas and solutions rather than a *itch and moaning perspective (AKA FATHOM. We get it. The whole FATHOM ‘transition’ was a fiasco of epic proportions.). 
•  Be prepared to read. A lot. Especially the meeting agendas, which can be hundreds of pages depending on the night.

Peace, love, and bunnies, y'all! Stay hydrated. It’s hot out there.

Coming up on the Curmudgeon: Some dishin' about the Chamber of Commerce, the long-promised post about what tourism is/isn't, a post on "so you think you wanna run for council", and another post on CCISD (hey, I never said I *wouldn't* post about it again!). 

Money, money, money! Or: "We should just save up for things"

Right off the bat, Curmudgeon needs to let out that big sigh of relief

I know, I’ve been a-squawkin’ about what the council would do if it DIDN’T approve the certificate of obligation bonds for 2018, i.e., the city’s annual loans. Particularly, the part of the loans that would go to pay for the Business 190 median design.

I know, I’ve been a squawkin’ that we’d be in a world of hurt for the city’s budget if it had to make up the more than $300,000 or as much as $700,000 – or whatever it has paid for the design so far.

Well, the “CO” bonds were passed, so that’s covered.

BUT – and here’s a little somethin’-somethin’ for the median-haters. IF the median does not go through. Whatever remaining funds that were approved in the CO loans can go to “transportation” projects. That doesn’t mean it HAS to be spent right away at a certain point – but those funds will be available, should there be OTHER transportation projects, i.e., work on streets that needs to be done. Which, there is a bunch that needs to be done. So, the funds could be used for that IF the median project gets the axe.

Even with that provision, I don’t see why James Pierce Jr. voted against the bond issuance. I realize his vote was probably the “principle” of the thing, but as above, there is a provision for using that money. So, in voting AGAINST the bond issuance, he would rather the city be in the hole for $300,000-$700,000 in its budget planning process because of it? I realize his term is nearly up and we’re at the brink of election season, but this isn’t a wise move on his part.

But his vote was a much more quiet affair than the ridiculous grilling that Marky-E-Marc Payne tried to give the financial services guy, who might as well have been a Texas ribeye over an open flame.

Mark-E-Marc was very worried about what would happen if the city defaulted on its loans.

Also, he seemed to think that the city ought to save up for things and not just take out a loan because it’s something nice and we want it now.

Seriously, Marc, can you give someone credit?

Er, um, Mark-E-Marc, did you even LOOK at the project list that the bonds will fund?

We’re not talking trying to buy a 2018 Dodge Ram Pickup when we already have an adequate 2010 Ram.

We’re not talking a purchase “just because we want to buy it now instead of later.”

Seriously, folks, Mark-E-Marc sounded that he would rather the city only take out loans to buy things in an emergency.

Well, there’s been a lot of chitter-chatter about the city taking out loans every year, sometimes as much as $10 million. There’s been a lot of chitter-chatter about how much debt the city has.

Let’s take a look, first, at the projects that these loans will fund. Here we go, in the photo below. 

Under that, is the link to the WHOLE document. (Curmudgeon really wishes people were good at research instead of tossing around rumors.)

Curmudgeon has heard it said that "any" loans taken out by the city should be decided by the voters. Uh, well, the way people DON'T vote, it would be a wonder if the city got anything done. ALSO, judging by past history, the whims of the people can change.

Remember, last post, when I mentioned a RECREATION CENTER was put on the ballot for a vote in 2008, and, well, voters said NO, they did NOT want the city to take out a loan to fund a recreation center. And now, all we heae is there's nothing for kids to do. Well, the voters said no so...

And are we the experts on when water lines get replaced?

Curmudgeon can hear it now: "HELL NO, Y'ALL - WE DON'T WANT A $2 MILLION WATER LINE REPLACED! WE'D RATHER BUILD US A STEAKHOUSE WITH $2 MILLION! WOOO HOOO!" Okay, sorry, but that's about how it is sometimes....and I firmly believe that you, dear reader, are smarter than that. Let me pause and compose myself while you scroll down to read the items on the list:

Tax supported – self-explanatory and includes the transportation projects and the median design. These are typically 20-year loans.

Water/Sewer supported – This part of the bond funding is paid for by the city’s water and sewer fund, not taxes. (Matter o' fact, that's what's paying for our almost 2year old water meters - the water and sewer fund, not taxes.)

Anyhoo, the biggest item on the bond list is a 20-inch water transmission line replacement – the council has talked about this already and it’s a big project because it helps get our water to Copperas Cove. (How is this a “nice thing” that we should put off spending on, Mark-E-Marc?)

Next is the Rattlesnack (ha ha I bet they mean Rattlesnake) pressure plane elevated storage tank. Curmudgeon has not read up on this one.

Solid Waste supported – About $638,000 project that is part of the “capital outlay plan.” It will be paid back with Solid Waste funds. Not taxes. The city’s capital outlay plan – which you can find on the website – is a list of projects and a timetable for getting them done. This is one of them.

After that are Golf Course and Court Technology supported loans.Not paid for by "taxes."

And, here’s the link to the WHOLE document. Again, Curmudgeon merely wants to turn on the light and hold up the mirror. Grand total? Almost $10 million.

http://67.79.126.21:8085/docs/2018/CC/20180619_1285/7998_Proposed%202018%20CO%20Item%20Detail.pdf

Yep, $10 million is a lot of money to borrow. We all pause to take a collective gulp. We’ve heard horror stories of cities – larger ones – defaulting on their loans.

Well, the Mr. Kimball the financial guy refused to sizzle on Mark-E-Marc Payne’s grill.

Did anyone notice Mr. Kimball said that last year, Copperas Cove paid off $5 million dollars of its principal debt, and then is on track to pay of $6 million this year?

Also, there were NINE bidders who were lined up to loan Copperas Cove money?

They don’t just hand out $10 million to anyone, or any city, rather.

Did you notice, the financial guy, Mr. Kimball, said Copperas Cove has a smaller debt ratio than other communities?

Here is a link to the 55-page “advertisement” that went out to bidders to see who would like to loan Copperas Cove money. If you have insomnia, have at it. If you truly want to see the city’s financial position, have at it: 

http://67.79.126.21:8085/docs/2018/CC/20180619_1285/7998_2018%20CO%20Preliminary%20Official%20Statement.pdf

(This was taken from the city council agenda item and is available to EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE PUBLIC! The sweet ladies addressing the council during the hearing, were VERY WORRIED that no one else was seeing the figures and the numbers. Well, here are some of them! You just have to look for them.)

Look at the image below, taken from the above CO bond documentation:

Note, particularly, the column where it talks about the city’s funded outstanding debt. The city has LESS funded outstanding debt than it did in 2014, by about $500,000.

Let’s look at the documentation from the council meeting the other night, on the debt repayment schedule. This was also available to the council AND the general public. It shows how much debt goes down, year by year. The blue is debt the city already has, the pink is the new debt for 2018.

If you noticed that this is the tax-supported debt chart, you win a prize!

I don’t know what prize. Maybe I’ll get some Cove Curmudgeon caps. “I am Curmudgeon”.

Hmmm….. 

Peace, love, and bunnies, y’all! Thanks for sticking with me on this one. It was longish, but it’s important to note the information available instead of what you hear at the bar or the water cooler. Or both.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Or: It’s budget planning and tax season, y’all!

Curmudgeon often hears that “Copperas Cove has the highest property tax rates of anywhere!”

And so, I took it upon myself to look back historically at what Copperas Cove property owners have paid, annually, from 2003 to 2017, in city property taxes. Because, that is what Curmudgeon does. I wondered, how do the city’s property tax numbers stack up over the years? 

On the city’s website, you will find budgets annually from 2003 through the present. Let’s see what Curmudgeon finds:

The tax rates over the years are as follows, with the below amounts in number of cents per $100 of property valuation.

2003  - 77.5 cents

2004 - 77.5 cents

2005 - 77.5 cents

2006 – 74 cents

2007 – 74 cents

2008 – 74 cents

2009 – 76 cents (Oops, the tax rate popped up after going down for two years, but still not as high as in 2003.)

2010 76 cents

2011 76.39 (bumped up a little bit)

2012 76.39 (stayed the same).

2013 77.74 (up again, a little more than a penny).

2014 79.79 (where we have been for four years running).

2015 79.79

2016 79.79

2017 79.79

So, dear readers, what happened that caused the property tax rate to bump up in 2009?

Dear readers, something significant happened on November 4, 2008.

Copperas Cove voters went to the polls, where they were given four propositions to approve or disapprove.

What were they?  Here we go:

Bond Proposition No. 1 – $3,700,000 for a new police headquarters facility. (opened in spring 2010)

Voters were 4307 for, 3668 against.

Bond Proposition No. 2 – $8,650,000 for a new multipurpose recreational center.

Voters were 3936 for, 4031 against.

(Interestingly, this was the only measure of the four that did not pass. It would have constructed “a multi-purpose recreation center that will provide a natatorium, indoor pool, children’s activity center, gymnasium and administrative offices.”)

Bond Proposition No. 3 – $8,025,000 for several projects to include the city’s share for the Southeast bypass, the construction of Highway 9, and work on Summers Road.

4944 for, 3009 against.

Bond Proposition No. 4 – $5,125,000 for extending and improving the City’s waterworks and sewer system.

Voters were 4882 for, 3101 against.

You can see more here, dear readers, about those results and the infamous recall election of 2008 that was held at the same time: http://www.copperascovetx.gov/files/agenda_archive/2008/11-14-08%20minutes.pdf.  

I do not want to “tell” you something without having paperwork to back it up.

Now, more from the city’s annual budget presentation for the 2008-2009 budget year:

“In November 2008, two months into the budget year, four members of the City Council were recalled from their council seats by the citizens.

From a financial standpoint, this action created the need for court action and an off season election in February 2009. The court action and additional election created an increase in election and legal expenses that were not included in the original FY 2009 Adopted Budget.

Furthermore, the voters approved a bond proposition authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds for the construction of the police facility. Consequently, the project began in January 2009 and required the debt issuance prior to 2009 fiscal year end to ensure the project completion. The additional debt issuance was projected and disclosed to the voters to require a tax rate increase.

In March 2009, the newly seated City Council reversed the bulk trash collection fee for three cubic yards or less, which created lost revenue for the Solid Waste Fund. (Curmudgeon here: why did I bold this? It shows how a move to "save people money" can hurt people in the long run.) The City’s first ever Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was introduced to the City Council in June 2009 and was adopted by the governing body in October 2009. The economy and troop movement also impacted the 2009 fiscal year revenues in multiple areas.”

Let’s crunch the tax numbers for just a sec.

In 2006, a homeowner paid 74 cents per $100 for a $150,000 home = $1,110 to the City of Copperas Cove. (150,000 divided by 100 = 1,500 x 0.74 = $1,110) Stay with me, y’all! I know, it’s math…

Let’s bump up the tax rate to 76 cents, thanks, for the new police station and the other projects:

76 cents per $100 for a $150,000 home = $1,140 to the City of Copperas Cove.

Okie dokie, let’s go to where we are right now, with the 2017 tax rate:

79.79 cents per $100 for a $150,000 home = $1,196.85 to the City of Copperas Cove.

Let’s do a quick subtraction problem. Stay with me, dear reader. I know you can.

$1,196.85 (2017 tax rate) - $1,110  (2006 tax rate) = $86.85 difference.

At the lowest rate in the past 15 years, a homeowner with a $150,000 appraised home paid $86.85 less than they did for their 2017 property tax bill to the City of Copperas Cove.

Back in 2003, with the tax rate of 75.75 cents per $100, that city tax bill was $1,136.25. So, back in 2003, if you owned a $150,000 home, you were paying $60.06 less annually than you did in 2017.

(Here's some of the rub: the city doesn't set the appraisal values. The county appraisal district does that for ALL entities that tax - city, county, school district, etc. So when our properties are valued more, our tax payments go up too. How much does one's property value increase year to year? It depends.) 

Let's say your property is now appraised $200,000, when it only appraised $150,000 in 2006:

2017 - $1,595.80

2006 - $1,140.00

Difference = $455.80

Mind you, it's an annual bill/payment. $37.98 more per month between then, and now.

Something to think about when someone says we “pay more in property taxes than anywhere else.”

Yet, dear readers, we who own property know that our tax bills are not made up of Copperas Cove city taxes alone. More about that, another time.

Tonight, we get to hear from the interim city manager about the budget for next year!

Wonder where he’ll make up the shortfall if the council does not approve the Business 190 median design on those certificates of obligation bonds (loans) for 2018??? Even if we’ve paid but a portion of the cost of the median design so far, that money has to come from somewhere, if not the bonds!!

As the council resolved last August, that the city would reimburse itself for the money it has already shelled out. 

Curmudgeon is all ears!

Peace, love and bunnies, y'all!