Bond & money - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Oct 25, 2004

Bond & money

Date: Oct 26, 2004

Let's see if this link works. If not, I'll kick it back up. If you wade through the waste and effluvia, you will find some good expressions of various perspectives on the bond issue.

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=24082&subForumID=36767&commentID=1034111&action=viewTopic&commentPage=1&topicPage=3

Date: Oct 26, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Not a Bond Girl
"I am at a total loss as to how I will vote on the USM bond. I would appreciate some thoughtful, non-argumentative (if possible) comments from others on the board. It does concern me that the newspaper has abandoned any pretense of objectivity on this issue. It concerns me that there is obviously so much money behind the passage of this measure. It makes me wonder what the "con" position is.
Also, just heard the local news and saw Mr. Ryan interviewed and ST briefly quoted. Love the gracious way they shared credit with their predecessors! And, does anybody believe their numbers?
Forgive me, I am old and cynical."

Dear "Not a Bond Girl"

I too am cynical because I do not support this administration. BUT, this bond issue would benefit the Bennett Auditorium, women's sports venues & facilities on campus.
Much has been said by the media that this issue does not help the east side of Hattiesburg. This is true that it does not bring improvements to that area of town, but during the summer months the university sponsors a summer youth program (NYSP) which will receive some benefits from this bond issue passing and services a large number of youth from the east side of town. In this issue, we should forget the administration and support the students, the campus and the community by supporting this . Just my two cents.

Date: Oct 26, 2004

There is no doubt that improving the athletic facilities on campus would be a plus for the university. The only question is the appropriateness of a local, regressive sales tax to support a state university. The fact that out of town visitors will pay some of the tax spreads the burden somewhat. Hattiesburg is a heavily poor and working class city, and most of its residents do not have much involvement with the campus. The benefits and costs to those people is the crux of the issue.

Date: Oct 26, 2004

The university announced that $38.5 million of the $107 Million campaign will be going to athletics. If this is true, why do we need the bond issue money? If this is true and we go ahead and approve the bond issue, why is all that money going to athletics when there is such great need elsewhere?

Date: Oct 26, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: About town
"The university announced that $38.5 million of the $107 Million campaign will be going to athletics. If this is true, why do we need the bond issue money? If this is true and we go ahead and approve the bond issue, why is all that money going to athletics when there is such great need elsewhere? "

Two real good questions, AT. I suspect the answer to the first is, "If some is good, more is better." I am sure the administration and athletic department will be able to spend $38.5 million as well as any proceeds of the bond issue. I have no idea how wisely they will spend it, although my recollection is that USM has one of the smallest athletic budgets of all Division 1-A schools. Who knows what that means? Historically, we seem to have done a lot with a little.

The answer to your second question is that the bond issue was approved by the Hattiesburg City Council and the Mississippi Legislature only for certain, limited purposes, i.e., a bunch of athletic facility improvements and some improvements to Bennett Auditorium. The idea (as it has been explained to me) is that typically bond funding is only appropriate, appropriated, and approved for "brick and mortar" types of improvements. A bond issue would not be the way to fund increased subscriptions in the library, for example.

Given the fact that a bond issue is not the way to address woefully underfunded programs at USM, it still galls me that so much community money, interest and effort seem to be available to support this bond issue, while so little community money, interest, and effort are directed toward improving the academic offerings of the university.

Date: Oct 26, 2004

All of the citizens of Hattiesburg should be wary of the inclusion of Bennett Auditorium in the bond issue. This is the same scam that they ran several years ago with the Convention Center bond issue. It failed the first time due to heavy opposition in west Hattiesburg. They came back after adding moneys to renovate the Saenger Theatre, and lo and behold, it passed. Strange thing happened during construction though; they spent too damn much money on the Convention Center and there were no pennies left to renovate the Saenger; they had to come up with those monies seperately. I see Bennett Auditorium as the same boondoggle. Fooled me once, not a chance EVER again.

Date: Oct 26, 2004

Thanks, all, for the excellent replies, which were what I had hoped for. I know there was previous discussion, but it's been awhile, and these answers were most enlightening. I especially appreciate the reminder about what happened to the Saenger. I note in today's paper that the bond will not, after all, fund skyboxes.
Could we not have a smaller bond for athletics and a separate, smaller bond for Bennett (and maybe for some other needs like Joseph Green and McLemore, which is a pit.)

Date: Oct 26, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Not a Bond Girl
"Could we not have a smaller bond for athletics and a separate, smaller bond for Bennett (and maybe for some other needs like Joseph Green and McLemore, which is a pit.)"

Yes we could, theoretically, but those bond proposals would first have to (1) be approved by the Hattiesburg City Council and (2) by the Mississippi Legislature, then (3) pass a referendum with a "super-majority" vote of 60%. (Also, I suspect there are economies of scale that make a single bond issue more attractive than several smaller ones, but that's just my guess.)

The current bond issue has already passed the first two hurdles; all that is left is to vote. If we vote it down, we start all over with no assurance that the new proposals will meet with success either.

Date: Oct 28, 2004

Bear in mind I am stealing these reasons from a post on EagleTalk.net, but he makes sense.

1) It's a voluntary tax, you don't have to pay if you don't want too. You can choose not to stay in a hotel in H'burg as well as choose to not eat in resturants in the city.

2) It has a sunset, when the $12 is raised, it ends. That's the only way, they tell me, that it got through the state leg.

Date: Oct 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Seeker
'It has a sunset, when the $12 is raised, it ends.'

Twelve million dollars, Seeker, not twelve dollars. It seems like all the fat cats supporting the bond issue have no idea of the meaning of money for the poor folk. Soak 'em seem to be their philosophy. Well, this feral cat doesn't appreciate what the selfish fat cats are trying to do to us.

Date: Oct 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Feral cat
"Twelve million dollars, Seeker, not twelve dollars. It seems like all the fat cats supporting the bond issue have no idea of the meaning of money for the poor folk. Soak 'em seem to be their philosophy. Well, this feral cat doesn't appreciate what the selfish fat cats are trying to do to us."

LOL

Just how is "the Man", the "fat cats" trying to keep you down.

Date: Oct 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Seeker
"Bear in mind I am stealing these reasons from a post on EagleTalk.net, but he makes sense.

1) It's a voluntary tax, you don't have to pay if you don't want too. You can choose not to stay in a hotel in H'burg as well as choose to not eat in resturants in the city.
."

Nearly all the restaurants in the Hattiesburg area are within the city limits. Annexation saw to that. Are you suggesting that people can voluntarily give up eating out or that they can voluntarily drive out of town to eat out?

That makes about as much sense as saying the Mississippi income tax is voluntary. You don't have to live here, right? Get real. Every time someone buys a hamburger or pizza or donut, they will pay the 10% tax. Most of that tax will be paid by working people who have little connection to the university.

Date: Oct 28, 2004

Uh that's a 1% tax not a 10%. That means when you take your family out and to Outback you'll spend $60.60 instead of the $60.00 you would have before. If that burdan is too much, then you probably shouldn't be eating out.

Date: Oct 28, 2004

Petal has some great restaurants. I wouldn't vote for the bond if I lived in the 'burg, but just to let you know . . . . . . we've got some great places to eat.

Date: Oct 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Seeker
"Uh that's a 1% tax not a 10%. That means when you take your family out and to Outback you'll spend $60.60 instead of the $60.00 you would have before. If that burdan is too much, then you probably shouldn't be eating out."

1+9=10

Date: Oct 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Seeker
"If that burdan is too much, then you probably shouldn't be eating out."

Why you pompous little Eagle. How dare you tell me how I should spend my hard earned money, or whether I should eat out, or where I should eat.

Date: Oct 28, 2004

Feral, of course Seeker is pompous. He's young and full of it, but we love him in spite of himself. Just every now and then you have to backhand him, but he's sincere, he's not a troll.

Date: Oct 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Not a Bond Girl
"Feral, of course Seeker is pompous. He's young and full of it, but we love him in spite of himself. Just every now and then you have to backhand him, but he's sincere, he's not a troll."

Bond Girl, I've followed Seeker's comments from the time he first started posting on the old message board. He waxes and wanes. Tonight he was waning. He needed a Dutch Uncle talk. Good luck in your quest for the nom d'Aplomb award, Bond Girl!

Date: Oct 28, 2004

Feral, of course you were *right* -- I was just sticking up for the cub. I've been following him too and have sometimes wished to throttle him.
Oh, the name is not worthy - - but thanks for the good wishes.

Date: Oct 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Not a Bond Girl
"Feral, of course Seeker is pompous. He's young and full of it, but we love him in spite of himself. Just every now and then you have to backhand him, but he's sincere, he's not a troll."

Yeah, give the kid a break. Unlike most USM alums, he's trying to stay involved, and youthful pomposity notwithstanding, he makes a lot of sense....some of the time. Besides, it's not as though he's the only pompous contributor to this forum, myself included.

Date: Oct 29, 2004

There's no imitation for the real thing...burdan, preceived, wholel, Fairly, dosen't, dammed...welcome back!

Date: Oct 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Bond Girl (ha)
"Feral, of course you were *right* -- I was just sticking up for the cub. I've been following him too and have sometimes wished to throttle him.
Oh, the name is not worthy - - but thanks for the good wishes."

Forgive me for asking but is "Not a Bond Girl" now a "Bond Girl"?
Or do we have two different individuals??????

What would Moneypenny think???????????

Date: Oct 29, 2004

No hidden meaning, just lazy and tired.

Date: Oct 29, 2004

Bond Girll/Not a Bond Girl

Not to sound sexist, but I'm sure Mr. Bond would be happy to have you as an elite member of all those lovely women who have graced the silver screen through out the years.

Green Hornet

Date: Oct 29, 2004

Thank you, Green Hornet. In my 1975 body, maybe - - -

Date: Oct 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: N.B.G.
"Thank you, Green Hornet. In my 1975 body, maybe - - -"

I LOL I almost spilled my Diet Coke