2009 FBISD Tax Hearing (On YouTube)

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2009 FBISD CONTROVERSIAL TAX HEARING (YES THEY ARE RAISING THEM AGAIN--see petition of over 500 district taxpayers asking for board accountability) --In case anyone missed it they raised the property tax rate again (4th time) in 2010 and more than likely will do so again in 2011 facing another projected 15-20 million dollar budget deficit, according to some media reports. ***NEW*** ..Petition TO STOP THE GSTC (Global Science Museum being planned at the district central office--near $30 million dollar project that superintendent Jenney is pushing): http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopthegcst/ (see update below on this apparently ending this project after 2 years)

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Watch Exclusive: Conflicted Trustees Vote To Move Forward With Approving More Spending & Record Budget Deficit!


Last week, former FBISD school board member Stan Magee issued a public comment asking where the $122 million dollar surplus "fund balance" had gone (now listed as nearly 93 million) on the FortBendNow.com website, while opposing further tax increases and supporting a balanced budget. He further issued a statement to the effect condemning the boards vote in June to move forward in building the $30 million dollar "Global Taj Mahal" duplicate spending project (see Global Science & Technology Center and HMNS project opening in October in Telfair).

Of special note, the same two board members whom had adamantly supported the GSTC project, David Reitz and former BOT president Sonal Buchar, seemed to lead the charge in the budget hearing for making drastic cuts in the operating budget over the next few years and then voted lock-step on an amended budget that actually increases spending over the administrations proposed budget. During the agenda session on the amendments to the budget, the trustees seemed to have quite a deal of difficulty implementing "Robert's Rules of Order", which govern most governmental meetings.

During the public comments portion, the district's teacher association made a very strong and successful case, to protect raises and healthcare benefits by using funds from the "fund balance" to attempt to reign in this years budget deficit projected at nearly 19 million dollars (the largest in the districts history).

Special note: The "fund balance", so often mentioned in the above piece, comes from prior district bond funds voted on by the public for school projects that were NOT used and then "slipped" (moved) to this account. The district regularly uses this account to fund other projects in the system.

Final comment: FBISDWatch will continue to post updates to this story as local media weigh in...


Background: http://blogs.chron.com/fortbend/archives/2009/08/fbisd_ags_rulin.html#c1452860

10 comments:

Anonymous said...
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open_mind said...

I fail to see how in these times the school board can continue to seek additional funds from the public during a recession which has seen a near 11% increase already in their property valuations and taxes?

BTW said...

BTW, here is that public comment mentioned in the story:

"When I left the Board in May, 2008, there was approximately $122 million in the reserve fund, minus $15 million they were to use for an elementary school…then that money would be put back into the fund when the bond issue passed. My question is: did the District put the money back into the fund and why has the fund dropped down to $90 million? Has anyone in the district bothered to tell its taxpayers what they have spent the reserve money on? It is ok under certain state guidelines, but tell the people. That is why the district was in trouble in 2004-05, NO TRANSPARENCY!

The district can still use some funds from the reserve but those funds will have to be tagged for a one-time expenditure. Back out about $15 million with the blessing of TEA, and you can, with some belt tightening (not spending $20 million on a Global Science Center)at the top level, balance this year’s budget. IN A RECESSION, DO NOT RAISE TAXES! THE CAD HAS ALRERADY DONE THAT FOR YOU!

Bob Broxson (President) has a good point: the legislature is pretty good or bad about passing unfunded mandates so each of them can beg for the teachers’ vote. This puts a fast growing district like FBISD behind the 8-ball. But, that is why he is President; he needs to buck-up and show some mental and fiscal toughness and get the district on the right track without raising taxes. I didn’t even vote for the four-cent matching state funds tax in 2007-08 school year(all others did), because after the first year the state no longer sends you any money and you have already budgeted for those “now missing” funds. It gets kinda complicated but, the bottom line is, suck it up and deal with it and balance the budget without raising taxes…unfortunately, some high level aristocrats just might have to go without a pay increase or just go!” Stan Magee, former FBISD trustee (2008)

BTW said...

While in attendance last night at this public meeting I witnessed two sets of documents handed out regarding the budget. The first a 1 page general summary with little or no detailed information and a second packet almost 30 pages or so in length that only senior administrators and the board were given. Wouldn't it benefit all taxpayers and voters in the community if that detailed budget document so widely discussed at the "open" meeting last night were available to the public via the FBISD website as other districts do? Not very transparent.

I also noticed some of the board members criticizing comments made by public speakers from past BOT sessions while referencing the more detailed budget.

Quite a game if you ask me, when you don't yield that information before hand to the public for scrutiny.

Anonymous said...
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Patriot Missive said...

Transparency is absolutely urgent NOW more than ever, and it is also clear that it will not be forth coming. The documents that have been repeatedly requested concerning the Global Science Center have not been released, despite the legal requirement that they be released by our Texas Attorney General. WHAT IS THIS BOT HIDING? IT MUST BE BIG!

Anonymous said...

patriot, it looks to me like they are going to try and ride the PR machine as long as they can while attending the wine and cheese events. what's the old saying, 'nero fiddled while rome burned'.....

Anonymous said...

When did all this happen? I haven't read anything about it.

Patriot Missive said...

http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=21169

SEE YOU THERE TOMORROW!!

Anonymous said...

Found this post from Stan on myfortbend.net:

"Let's look a bit farther on the comment made about what goes into the reserve fund at fbisd. When the books are balanced at the end of each fiscal year, and before the board members can really see what is happening, the CFO deposits a large sum of money into the reserve. That means the only way to get that money out and use it for M&O is to declare something a "one time expenditure." It frustrated me for three years trying to get the board to make the decision as to what goes into the reserve fund at the end of each fiscal year, but no one seemed to be concerned, except Ken Bryant. Bottom line: the district can make the budget deficit go away by drawing down the reserve fund and keeping it only at state required levels. FBISD has more than a rainy day fund, they have two or three, so to speak. If they don't give the employees a decent pay raise, they will continue to lose the best and the brightest. $800, with an increase in the health plan deductible and premium increase "ain't" gonna cut it. Check with the district to see what the average number of years per teacher is and do not let them factor in administration. Remember I predicted it:2-3 years from now, the public will have had enough from FBISD and they will demand a change, even on the board itself. When three board members are ready to make things better, I will be here to answer the call. Until then, administration can do whatever it wants with this current board."