The Llano Ledger
Newsletter Text V20
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*************************December 13, 1999**************************
The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) may begin paying property
taxes on its electric utility assets. Further action by the Board of
Directors as well as the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is required.
Although far from fruition, Chief Appraiser Gary Eldridge and County
Judge J.P. Dodgen are salivating in anticipation. After all, the County
will have more to loot.
Think we'll see a reduction in taxes? ... For a year or two before the
Commissioners find additional ways to waste funds and line the pockets
of their cronies? Readers should clearly understand this is no windfall
to the County. Despite assertions to the contrary, electric consumers
will ultimately bear the brunt and pay the price. -- Someone has to.
Nothing is free, -- except the bull from our officials.
Our illustrious Chief Appraiser apparently thinks the addition of LCRA
to the rolls will enhance tax stability. Is that right, Mr. Eldridge?
Let me pointedly remind you sir, you and your cronies could quickly and
truly accomplish the same purpose much more effectively by appraising
lakes' area properties properly and fairly, -- instead of approximately
twice reality. We can't have that now, can we sir? After all, lakes'
area taxpayers from Tow to Horseshoe Bay are indeed convenient targets
for looting, aren't they? Who else can carry the County, no?
Our equally illustrious County Judge is crowing about a possible
reduction in taxes. Amusingly, to the tune of some 7%. Is that right,
Mr. Dodgen? How would you know? ... The properties haven't even been
"appraised" yet by Gary and the "Boys". Besides sir, any possible
reduction won't make up for the increase in taxes looted from property
owners this year due to another egregious increase in appraisals. -- A
bit disingenuous, aren't you Judge?
Corporate welfare is indeed alive and well in the City of Llano.
Hotel/Motel Tax funds distributed to the Llano Chamber of Commerce will
increase $10,000 to a total of $35,000. How sweet it is, no? How many
of these greedy hypocrites argued passionately against welfare and food
stamps for the state's impoverished women and children? -- Nothing like
"rugged individualism", no? ... As our government officials and
business leaders gleefully laugh all the way to the bank. ... Giving
thanks each Sunday for THEIR good fortune. -- "Ain't" hypocrisy grand?
Chamber Executive Director Regina Eldridge will apparently receive a
50% increase in salary to $24,960, -- courtesy of Hotel/Motel funds.
... Readers should carefully consider the significance of this last
statement. -- We have a business leader in private enterprise receiving
a 50% increase in salary directly from Hotel/Motel Tax funds. Money has
been legally looted from taxpayers to pay the salary of an official in
private enterprise. ... Can it be any clearer? This is indeed "welfare"
in all its splendor and glory. Whatever happened to capitalism and free
enterprise? Now, not only are taxpayers legally looted by the Chief
Appraiser, but by the Executive Director of the Chamber as well.
"Ain't" welfare grand? Where's the indignation of this county's Extreme
Right? Their current silence is indeed deafening. ... Who can forget
their self-righteous and phony piety during welfare reform? While the
economy is certainly booming, there ARE hungry people in this county.
-- Many of them elderly. ... Think our government bureaucrats and
business leaders will go without this Christmas?
Readers are reminded Ms. Eldridge ignored repeated requests for
information from _The Ledger earlier this year during an investigation
of a proposed Hill Country Wildlife Museum (HCWM)-Chamber merger. HCWM
President James Babcock had apparently pressured Mayor Terry Hutto and
Councilman Lance Center to threaten the Chamber with a loss of
Hotel/Motel Tax funds if it didn't quickly agree to the deal. ... Of
course, our illustrious prosecutors apparently had their heads securely
lodged in a bodily orifice that seldom sees the light of day. ...
What's new, right?
Who says Llano doesn't need a second hardcopy newspaper? Sadly,
this electronic publication was the only area media outlet to expose
the fiasco. When Ms. Eldridge stonewalled repeated requests for
information, copies were sent to every Chamber member for whom I could
find an e-mail address. -- Dozens. Apparently, enough pressure was then
brought to bear, forcing Babcock to back down. Readers should fully
understand these businesses were not spammed. Each copy was sent
separately with a cover message. -- An enormous amount of work. ...
Relentless? You bet. Determined? No question. ... Should this
publication become profitable, think Regina will extend an invitation
to join?
All joking aside, receiving considerable taxpayer support, why
isn't the Chamber subject to the Texas Open Records Act? Not an
attorney, maybe it is. If not, why not? Receiving public assistance,
why shouldn't it be subject to disclosure? At the time of the proposed
HCWM-Chamber merger, I had no time or interest to force the issue. Time
to reconsider, no? Readers should also understand the Chamber wanted
the County to pay for an upgrade to the Courthouse electric service
system. The upgrade is necessary to provide power for Christmas
lighting Chamber businesses directly benefit from. While the Chamber
has spent some money of its own this year, the issue has NOT been
settled. -- Clearly, there's no end to corporate welfare or greed.
While Ms. Eldridge's husband, the Chief Appraiser, has been a
frequent and continued target on this website, this writer has
carefully kept both issues separate. Apparently, Ms. Eldridge cannot,
-- as her failure to reply to information requests would indicate.
Sadly, providing information to this publication WAS indeed in the best
interest of the Chamber, -- especially when it was faced with an
unethical, unwanted merger attempt.
From recent remarks in another publication, apparently Mayor Terry
Hutto has finally seen the light and now understands the Council cannot
manage the Chamber. Interesting, no? Clearly an epiphany. Not to be
slighted, HCWM received $9,000 in Hotel/Motel funds. ... The Council
has to take care of everyone, no? -- Except the taxpayers. Sadly, all
seem to have forgotten this money has been looted from citizens
visiting the city. Downright neighborly, no? So much for rugged
individualism. That's reserved for the poor, right? Not the "haves".
Certainly not for business. Taxpayers are apparently willing to
obligingly bend over and await the shaft. ... Rest assured, it'll
continue unabated. This writer is not opposed to small business, and
has been self-employed since graduate school in a variety of endeavors.
My opposition is to the greed, guile, and hypocrisy.
Indeed, the level of hypocrisy, greed, abuse, disingenuousness, and
outright lying in our community is staggering. It's time for the
taxpayers to finally wake up and understand what's happening. It's
certainly the function of this publication to facilitate the process,
-- no matter whose beak's tweaked. My apology to the readers for not
getting to the jail statistics this edition. Late-breaking shenanigans
of our government and business leaders must take precedence.
Regarding the jail stats, there is indeed much to be presented,
analyzed, and discussed. This will take weeks, if not several months to
adequately cover. I'll intersperse their presentation with other
ongoing issues. If necessary, I may publish more than one edition
weekly. We'll see. ... Readers should understand there is much going on
behind the scenes not readily apparent, but critically required for
production of each edition. More importantly, there is also a
continuing time-consuming effort to contact former prisoners listed in
the jail records. Some offenders have been clearly and egregiously
abused by the system. Others have not. Determining the truth takes time
and considerable effort. Fairness to officers as well as offenders is
paramount.
I had originally intended to start presenting the results of the
jail study this edition with the Public Intoxication and Driving While
Intoxicated figures. It will have to wait until next week. Suffice it
to say for now, the numbers are truly staggering for a small community.
Indeed, these charges have become a financial cash cow for the County.
While alcohol is certainly used and abused, the legal system is
employing questionable tactics, -- particularly in the area of Public
Intoxication. All this will be fully discussed next week.
... A gentle reminder: As previously mentioned, the pop-up and banner
advertising belongs to Maxpages. _The Ledger receives no income from
either, and remains non-profit. As always, this publication needs and
appreciates donations from readers. Sadly, no other publication is
willing to challenge corrupt and abusive officials. Readers can expect
continued aggressive, relentless, officious, tireless pursuit of our
most egregious offenders. ... Figuratively speaking, a "take no
prisoners" approach, regardless of whose toes are stepped on, feathers
ruffled, tail feathers plucked, or beak tweaked. Things CAN change in
our community. Be part of it. Help me to help you. Support this
publication.
Tim Chorney, Publisher
Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam Tx. 78609
llanoledger@mailcity.com
Page Updated Tue Oct 9, 2001 1:30pm EDT