I believe he is talking about what's happening since the massive bond tax increase. I have no doubt that there was a population increase between 2010 and 2020. But...
I know some of the increased taxes that the people of Nederland are now having to pay is partly due to the out of control Appraisal Board. Again, but...
Here's the article from Klein's website:
"Should we all FLASHBACK?
FLASHBACK 2019 – the School Board of Nederland, Texas, headed by the Nederland Economic Commission, and supported by a board of directors that had no idea what they were doing, put on the ballot a $151 million dollar bond. The excuse was that if they built it – kids’ grades would improve. As basic economics would tell you, the more money taken out of a community toward taxes leaves less spending in the community. We, here at the Review, warned the board that if they put a massive tax in the city (school district) young couples or 1st time home buyers could not afford taxes. As well, if the appraisal district increased the cost of homes and businesses it could cause a ripple effect inside businesses and flare inflation through the roof in some cases around a 20% tax increase. And so, on that fateful night around four years ago, the vote came in and these stupid asses hugged each other and laughed at us and others here at the Review and told us we had no idea what we are talking about.
Welcome back! That was a fun trip down memory lane! And guess what – we were right.
So here is where we are now in the amazing dumb-ass move to increase taxes in THE LARGEST tax increase in the history of Jefferson County, Texas.
The school tax and inventory business tax is now a whopping 26% increase over the past four years.
The average cost PER YEAR of a homeowner in taxes is now cresting (this year) just over $2,500 per homeowner in NISD.
Businesses both property and inventory now see a 48% increase in taxes due to the Appraisal District’s numbers, due to a now whopping and in some cases DOUBLE the appraised values of property in Nederland.
What does this all mean? What was to be (giggle) a “small increase in taxes” for this wonderful $151 million dollar facelift for the schools has now cost its citizens a 26% increase in hard dollars out of their family budgets. Leaving a bail-out in the city as it just costs too much to live in Nederland. And as we try and teach you elected officials: HIGH TAXES EQUAL HIGH CRIME AND HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT. The average rent home or apartment is now at an unbelievable $1,500 a month when four years ago rent averaged around $800.
Now three board members came by our offices to try and show us graphs, plans, and most of all a master plan towards what was going to help the community – which every single presentation was a lie. We called it then and we called it again today. Like the sinking HIGH SCHOOL. Oh, that is not going to sink? Right? Well, now after cost overruns and (count them) 11 architects and engineering firms being hired and fired by the district – they finally got one that would lie for them as construction engineers and the firm building the high school fell far behind because of ground structure problems. And Neild Construction, who is honest, kept telling the district that in the future there are going to be “major problems” and it put it into writing – that seems to have disappeared!
INSERT CHEERING! And strike the bands! GO DOGS!
Well, another shocker. Remember how we told you that the actual census for the schools in Nederland was down by almost 400 children? Well, add another 230 to that for a whopping 600 plus students gone from NISD. No teacher layoffs or cut back on management thank god! All the insiders still have their jobs! But don’t tell anyone – COVID will be what you get back (giggle again – GO DOGS). We guess baby-making is down as well and nobody is moving home post-college.
Here is our point – these tax and spenders on these boards that have a bad case of OPM (other people’s money) just do not get it. They have raised the taxes SO BIG NOW that young people just are going to other places where the crime is lower, the taxes are lower, and maybe even better quality of life.
All of you grazers that thought you were being cool kids are spending a whopping $2,500 a year more on school district taxes and a sinking high school!"
Now -- put your biases aside and prove where he's wrong. In other words -- attack the message, if you can, and not the messenger!