Proposed Arlington tax cut — devil’s in the details; Getting help from opposite gender in bathrooms; Is it President Trump or dictator Trump?; Thanks to the 3 Musketeers; Where’s the defense money gone? Prison inmates treated like animals.

Proposed Arlington tax cut: Devil’s in details

Arlington has proposed a half-cent reduction to our property taxes from about $.645 per $100 valuation to about $.64. On the surface this sounds pretty good, but the devil is in the details.

As most homeowners are aware our county appraisal district has radically increased the taxable value of homes. As a result, it’s quite easy to lower a tax rate a fraction of a penny when home values soar on the city’s tax roll.

As per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s notice of the proposed tax rates, the effective tax rate to create as much revenue in 2017 as it did in 2016 is slightly less than $.60 per $100 valuation. So why is Arlington willing to reduce the tax rate by only $.005 when it could just as easily reduce it by $.045 with no loss in revenue? The notice indicates the extra money is needed for health insurance costs and compensation for employees.

When I look at what’s happened to my own health care costs and compensation, I think this revenue increase is a little too lopsided.

Getting help from opposite gender in bathroom

In all of the discussion of the bathroom bill, I have seen no mention of how it will affect adults and teens who need to be assisted or supervised in a public restroom but are accompanied by a person of opposite gender.

They prefer a family or single-stall restroom, but such facilities may not be available. While there is some tendency to make allowance for people in wheelchairs, many who need assistance or supervision do not use them.

Do any of the bills under consideration address this issue in any fashion?

President Trump or dictator Trump?

I don’t like what Donald Trump is doing to our country. He apparently is confused about the role of being president. He is acting more like a dictator. Anyone who disagrees with him is fired. People, wake up and call for impeachment!

Thanks to the three Musketeers

Thanks to U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and John McCain, as well as the Democrats in the Senate for fighting for those in need and keeping the Affordable Care Act alive. They are true representatives of the American people and true Christians: “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need,” Romans 12:13.

Where’s the defense money gone?

I’m very confused. How can our military readiness be lacking when we currently spend more than twice than Russia and China combined?

Desire for higher spending appears to have more basis in the promotion of fear and political support.

Inmates treated like animals

Did I get this all wrong? Are humans more valuable than animals? The fact that it gets up to 110 degrees in our Texas prisons is unacceptable.

They are in prison for some mistake they made, but not for a death sentence. They are still human beings and deserve humane treatment. When I read the gorilla in the Dallas Zoo has air conditioning in his enclosure, I wonder where our priorities are.

This story was originally published August 15, 2017 at 3:10 PM with the headline "Proposed Arlington tax cut — devil’s in the details; Getting help from opposite gender in bathrooms; Is it President Trump or dictator Trump?; Thanks to the 3 Musketeers; Where’s the defense money gone? Prison inmates treated like animals.."