What's in the water over in Monroe? These folks are nuts.
What's in the water over in Monroe? These folks are nuts.
There are quite a few buying the economic development argument right now. They take the economic development bait and miss that it really is a university advancement tax with no direct economic development attached to it. It is all indirect if at all (good school equals Monroe is more attractive to businesses). ULM supporters are all in on the economic development argument, and why shouldn't they be - they are already giving why not force others to give too? That is a helluva deal
A vo-tech or community college providing degree and certification programs targeted to local workforce deficiencies would make a much stronger argument for an economic development property tax.
ULM has some boosters that are truly great people - they are so damn misguided at times.
ULM’s pharmacy department needs a major shot in the arm to regain its national perception. It is sinking - quickly.
I cant see this passing. SURELY people in Ouachita Parish are tired of paying outrageous taxes. Since I have to pay two different property taxes here, shouldn't I be able to vote twice?
This tax is about one thing and one thing only and that's to increase the athletic department budget at ULM. Yes, they'll take a few dollars here and there and fund a scholarship or two. They'll throw some dollars at Brown Theater at some point. But this is all about the athletic department.
They know what's been rumored for several years now and that's the fact a faction of presidents within the Sun Belt wants a minimum budget standard. I suspect it's at a level ULM can't meet.
That's what the student fee was about and that's what this tax is about, plain and simple.
This. Not my circus, not my monkey, but I can't help but try to think about Tech proposing something like this for Lincoln Parish. I would be opposed to it for Lincoln, too. Property taxes are a crappy way to fund anything. Folks who don't own any taxable property get the pleasure of voting an increase on others, which really sucks when you think about it. Then, as most "property" is owned by businesses and corporations, it hits them the hardest, but trickles down to everyone in higher prices for goods and services. Property taxes actually have the OPPOSITE effect of "economic development".
Just a quick question, what are the consequences for NLULM if this doesn't pass?