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)

Friday, March 5, 2010

FB Sun: Problems With Current Budget Deficit Leads To Delays

Release of Fort Bend ISD budget strategy delayed

By DIANE TEZENO
Updated: 03.04.10

Employees in the Fort Bend Independent School District will have to wait a bit longer for details of a plan aimed at reducing the district’s $18 million budget deficit.

In a recent e-mail to employees FBISD Supt. Timothy Jenney modified a statement made in a previous e-mail to employees which projected to release the district’s budget strategy by the end of February.

“A few weeks ago, I indicated our target for rolling out a budget reduction plan was the end of February. It has occurred to me that embedded in this statement would be a perceived expectation of one giant plan, released on the first of March...

Full story: http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/03/05/fort_bend_sun/news/sws_-_fbisd_budget_plan_delay34.txt

AND this article from the FB Star on the crisis:

"...Many of the taxpayers and patrons of the district have questioned the spending habits of the district. Some feel the district has not been frugal enough and have generally wasted tax dollars with buildings instead of focusing on education for the students. The plan, which was at least temporarily tabled two weeks ago, to build the Global Science Center is an example of over inflated spending, some feel.

The science center was planned as a state of the art science center that would allow interactive teaching. It was to be a private/public funded venture. Opponents said it was a duplication of services since the Houston Museum just opened the doors to a new science museum near the location where the Global Center would have been constructed. The museum is free, the Global Science Center would fall on the backs of the district and private businesses.

After hearing that a large number of teachers agreed with the public’s suggestion this project should be put on hold or done away with completely, Dr. Jenney said he agreed that it should be halted for several months and then revisit the plan."

Full piece: http://www.fortbendstar.com/030310/n_outgoing.htm

FBW comment: This will be the districts 3rd consecutive record budget deficit. These are historical firsts for this school district having had no such deficit issues prior to the current superintendent.
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