$2,000 investment could make firm $6 million!

It would make sense to prohibit individuals and firms from contributing to a tax increase initiative if they might benefit financially from it passing.

Here’s why: an architectural firm would readily make a $2,000 investment in promoting a bond package which could set them up to get a contract which would reap millions…if they get even 6% of a $100 million project, that’s $6 million!

Architectural firms regularly do get 6% of the cost of the building they design. No wonder so many new schools are taj mahal facilities. No wonder architectural firms aren’t supporting “smart” or “frugal” facilities plans.

For instance, when a school district proposes a multi-million dollar bond initiative to build new schools, it would result in taking more money from taxpayers, but putting money in some folks’ pockets. Since the

People watching the Round Rock ISD bond initiative campaign have kept an eye on who is contributing to the pro-bond campaign. Would it surprise anyone to know among the financial supporters are architects, attorneys and others who are working for the school district and could be beneficiaries of the bond passing?

Taxpayers don’t have that same leverage.

It has been called to our attention that:

1) Keith Hickman is getting an architect fee of 7.9% of the construction costs, over $5 million, for the new $67m+ high school under construction. Plus he's received many other smaller construction contracts under the 2006 bond.

2) McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore is the school's attorney.

3) Graber, Simmons & Cowan is getting a 12.06% architect fee of the $8m+ for the new Technology Data Center under construction.
(The following is from the GOUGED website: http://www.gouged.info/)

THE SPECIAL INTERESTS OF THE BOND PROPOSITION URGING YOU TO VOTE YES (and line their pockets in the process)
• Bartlett-Cocke (construction firm) - $2,500;
• Brown & Butler Construction Inc. (construction firm) - $2,000;
• K.A. Hickman Architects & Interior Designs (architectural firm) - $2,000;
• O’Connell Robertson (architectural-engineering firm) - $2,000;
• Graber, Simmons & Cowan (architectural firm) - $1,500;
• Alliance Geotechnical Group of Austin (engineering firm) - $1,000;
• Brath General Construction (construction firm) - $500;
• Bury & Partners Inc. Engineering Solutions (engineers) - $500;
• Jamail Construction (construction firm) - $500;
• McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, LLP (law firm) - $500;
• Chasco/Chaz Glace (construction firm) - $250;
• Heritage Title Company of Austin (title company) - $250;
• Round Rock Industrial Equipment - $250;
• Summit Commercial Industrial Properties (real estate) - $250;
• Robert Allen – of Cunningham-Allen, Inc. ( land-surveying and civil engineering firm,) Anchor Ventana (architectural glass supplier) - $200;
• Roy Beard – member, Zoning Board of Adjustment (real estate) - $100;
• Frost National Bank (banker) - $100;
• Catherine Hanna (lawyer) - $100;
• John Lewis – Real Estate Council of Austin (real estate) - $100;
• Pena Swayze & Co. LP (accounting firm) - $100;
• Plains Capital Bank (banker) - $100; William Romans - with First State Bank Central Texas (banker) - $100;
• Sheets & Crossfield P.C. (lawyer) - $100;
• Union State Bank (banker) - $100.

Let's level the playing field for taxpayers. Encourage your elected school board members to prohibit any contractor from contributing to pro-bond iniatiative campaigns. If a school facility is needed, we don't need contractors to "invest" in promoting them.