Arkansas Blog

The bottom line for colleges and universities is that they can't count on the surplus... The candidates are spending it in the media on all kinds of other things. Supporting and voting for the Higher Ed Bond issue is important for Arkansas because our instituitions are underfunded. They have no public financing for facility and technology improvements, and they can't count on GIF from the greedy leg.

Our current Governor hasn't supported any additional construction funds for colleges and universities from GIF except for 2005 session. The "greedy leg" has been the only ones who supported and funded the GIF construction for higher education this decade.

Only payoff bond debt early IF the future bonds we take out would be at a lower rate. But since rates are climbing and have been historically low recently, it would be idiotic to pay off 5% early and then open up others shortly for 7% or higher.

But that being said, I would more likely support long term bonds on items that would benefit the upcoming generations. It would be a crime to do what was proposed in NLR and borry money to reduce electric price increases.

Colleges or highways would benefit future citizens and having them help pay installments would be fair.

Always pay off debt on the highest rate instrument. In other words don't pay your 6% mortgage early and keep 20% credit card debt.

It is wishful thinking to assume that surplus dollars will be directed to higher education before federally mandated K-12 issues are addressed. And then there are roads, prisons, and the inevitable cry for refunding the surplus to the taxpayers- these are all holes in the bucket as far as higher education is concerned. The way enrollments are increasing at both 4 and 2-year colleges, we simply can't afford to depend on the surplus to address the needs of present day and future college students. The bottom line is that continuing to invest in higher education is crucial to improving the economy in this state, and these bonds will help us get there.

ARK. BLOG You may be right. But the legislature SHOULD do more. The Stephens Media coverage of UA Board yesterday included some interesting figures on how much more neighboring states have appropriated to college construction in recent years. Why should we do so much less and -- as a result -- pay so much more for less on account of carrying charges.

"ARK. BLOG You may be right. But the legislature SHOULD do more. "

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In 2005 the Times, the Demazette, and Stephens Media crucified members of the Legislature who wanted to increase the legislative allocation of the General Improvement Fund and spread it evenly around the state. The Legislative allocation of GIF is the primary source of state funding for new buildings on college campuses.

If you look at how those members who fought for this spent the money they directed you will find that it was overwhelmingly for higher ed. Yet you called these people greedy and evil and gave them other ugly nicknames.

If you look at the legislators that opposed it like Percy Malone, David Bisbee, and others, you will find the very members who have traditionally been most hostile toward higher ed.

You never had a problem when your Golden Boy and deep throat at the ledge Percy Malone sent millions in GIF to Arkadelphia for things that had nothing to do with higher ed, but you went nuts when other members fought of $750,000 to be directed to their districts primarily for higher ed. You are such hypocrits.

While we are at it, when are you going to do a story on the $Millions of dollars that certain members of the legislature have made from contracts with the state in the past twelve years. Oh yeah, ethics don't count when your sources are involved.

Ark. Blog: If the legislature decides to step up, then Higher Ed won't have to sell these bonds, but in the meantime, we the voters should give them that permission in the inevitable instance that our legislature and statewide candidates use the surplus for their own political gain.