Don’t be mislead about home ruleDear Editor: Voters should not be mislead about voting “yes” for home rule. With elections and the political process becoming a game of deception and misleading statements, there are those who continue to state that voting “yes” for home rule will automatically increase your taxes, destroy our country-like landscape, force landowners to sell, cause small businesses to close, and require the city of Bulverde to pay a city manager a $120,000 salary. These statements are misleading and need further clarification. Home rule will not bring about an automatic increase in taxes for Bulverde residents. Yes, should property or business owners ever become annexed they would be responsible for additional city taxes, the same as everyone else. These taxes, in itself, would not force the sale of one’s land or close a business. And owners of larger tracts of land usually qualify for a reduced tax burden. To indicate home rule would destroy our landscape and country charm is simply unfounded. We all know that growth is inevitable. So, do we want managed growth with home rule or uncontrolled growth - the latter of which would surely rape our landscape of its natural beauty and country charm. Where is the documentation stating the city will pay a city manager $120,000 annual salary? It seems logical that a salary would not be determined until the city researched job qualifications and market salaries. Finally, annexation is not a rapid process or policy of home-rule cities. The process takes approximately three years and restricts the amount of territory annexed in a given year. Home rule also provides the residents with more control over city officials through recall and referendum, a very important provision for residents. Voting “yes” for home rule will give Bulverde and its residents the ability to control future growth. John Davenport
Bulverde Read the proposed city charter and make an informed decision Dear Editor: First, let me say as a citizen of Bulverde, I cannot believe people I encounter on a daily basis have chosen to believe what they hear rather than gather the information for themselves. I guess if you vote ignorantly, you do not have to take the blame if something goes wrong. Two years ago, I was so shocked by our elected officials I decided to attend City Council meetings to learn what was being done or not being done. As I attended meetings, I realized that even though we, as citizens, could go to the meetings, make our opinions known and present them to City Council, they could and would vote the way they saw fit. I began questioning this and was told the same thing every time, “If home rule would have passed it could be voted on by the citizens of Bulverde.” When an opportunity came up for a seat on the Home-Rule Commission, I said why not. This was not a decision I made lightly. Reading the home-rule charter in plain words made me believe that this is what our city needs for its future. I hope that my fellow citizens will take it as seriously as I have and read the Home-Rule Charter that was mailed out to each residence. I asked the opposition to attend charter meetings that had taken place from February through June, but not one opponent showed up. Please read the home-rule charter, ask questions, make an educated decision and vote with a clear and knowledgeable conscience. No matter how you vote, at least you can say, “I read the charter, I am informed and I am comfortable with how I voted.” Karen Hampton
Bulverde |
