Want a clear example of how misleading local media can be on an important local government issue? Take this so-called “quick opinion” from the editorial board of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal newspaper on taxes at the largest local school district.
Here’s what the geniuses at the Mudslide wrote: “With some of our local taxing entities considering raising their tax rates, it’s nice to see the Lubbock Independent School District rate will remain consistent at $1.235 per $100 appraised property value. The rate, combining maintenance and operations and debt service, has been the same for 10 years. It’s a good job of keeping costs stable for taxpayers.”
With the first sentence reading: “With some of our local taxing entities considering raising their tax rates, it’s nice to see the Lubbock Independent School District rate will remain consistent…” how can you take this any way other than meaning that the district has not raised taxes?
Lubbock ISD adopted a rate, the 1.235 per $100 valuation rate, which is higher than the Effective Tax Rate of 1.217431 which makes the new rate legally, morally, financially, and any other way you look at it, a tax increase.
Note to the Mudslide editorial board and its muddy opinion: Just like other local governments you complain about, the Lubbock ISD did indeed pass a tax increase. The rate you speak of expires each year and the entity must adopt a new rate based off of the annually-set tax revenue neutral rate known as the Effective Tax Rate which takes into account annual property evaluation changes.
AJ editorialist should know that Lubbock ISD adopted a rate, the 1.235 per $100 valuation rate, which is higher than the Effective Tax Rate of 1.217431 which makes the new rate legally, morally, financially, and any other way you look at it, a tax increase.
I’ve seen exactly the same incorrect coverage in the press across Texas. If local press outlets are this consistently inaccurate, what purpose to do they serve for their customers?
Lubbock A-J quickly misleads on ISD tax increase
Robert Pratt
Want a clear example of how misleading local media can be on an important local government issue? Take this so-called “quick opinion” from the editorial board of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal newspaper on taxes at the largest local school district.
Here’s what the geniuses at the Mudslide wrote: “With some of our local taxing entities considering raising their tax rates, it’s nice to see the Lubbock Independent School District rate will remain consistent at $1.235 per $100 appraised property value. The rate, combining maintenance and operations and debt service, has been the same for 10 years. It’s a good job of keeping costs stable for taxpayers.”
With the first sentence reading: “With some of our local taxing entities considering raising their tax rates, it’s nice to see the Lubbock Independent School District rate will remain consistent…” how can you take this any way other than meaning that the district has not raised taxes?
Lubbock ISD adopted a rate, the 1.235 per $100 valuation rate, which is higher than the Effective Tax Rate of 1.217431 which makes the new rate legally, morally, financially, and any other way you look at it, a tax increase.
Note to the Mudslide editorial board and its muddy opinion: Just like other local governments you complain about, the Lubbock ISD did indeed pass a tax increase. The rate you speak of expires each year and the entity must adopt a new rate based off of the annually-set tax revenue neutral rate known as the Effective Tax Rate which takes into account annual property evaluation changes.
AJ editorialist should know that Lubbock ISD adopted a rate, the 1.235 per $100 valuation rate, which is higher than the Effective Tax Rate of 1.217431 which makes the new rate legally, morally, financially, and any other way you look at it, a tax increase.
I’ve seen exactly the same incorrect coverage in the press across Texas. If local press outlets are this consistently inaccurate, what purpose to do they serve for their customers?