[1. Call to Order]
[00:00:08]
I CALLED THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CARROLLTON FARMERS BRANCH I S D BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER AT 6 P.M. ON AUGUST 24TH 2023 BOARD MEMBERS, DISTRICT STAFF MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE. YOU'RE FREE TO JOIN ME IN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY KIM BRADY AND THE PLEDGE TO THE TEXAS FLIGHT FLAG, LED BY ELIANA GARCIA ROJAS.
TRADITION. ON THE TEXAS FLAG. RELATIONS TO ME. TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD. ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. WELL, WE ARE OFFICIALLY TWO WEEKS INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. EXTREMELY EXCITED AND BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN OUT ON CAMPUSES AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED AND YOU CAN FEEL THE EXCITEMENT IN THE CAMPUSES WITH THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS AND ALL THE STAFF. UM IT'S BEEN A GREAT START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR AND TONIGHT WE'RE EXCITED FOR THE START OF FOOTBALL SEASON SO YOU CAN SEE WE'VE GOT OUR NEWMAN SMITH SHIRTS ON GO TROJANS. AND TOMORROW NIGHT, OUR ALTERNATIVE PLACE SO WE HOPE TO SEE AT THE STADIUM EITHER TONIGHT AFTER THE GAME, JOIN US OR TOMORROW. SO AS A DISTRICT WE DEDICATE ALL OF OUR EFFORTS AND RESOURCES TO THE GOAL OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL THE BOARD USES THIS GOAL TO GUIDE ALL DELIBERATIONS, DECISIONS AND ACTIONS. YOU WILL GET TO SEE ALL DELIBERATIONS, DECISIONS AND ACTIONS OF THE BOARD IN OPEN SESSION, WITH EXCEPTION OF SOME ITEMS, WHICH MAY BE DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION AS STIPULATED IN THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION, 5 51, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW, THESE ITEMS TYPICALLY DEAL WITH PERSONNEL MATTERS, CONSULTATION WITH OUR ATTORNEY AND REAL ESTATE. FOR THE RECORD BOARD MEMBERS PRESIDENT ARE TERROR ROBOTIC.
SALLY DEREK, CAROLINE BENAVIDEZ , CAM BRADY, ILEANA GARCIA ROJAS , RANDY SHACHTMAN AND MYSELF.
CASSANDRA HATFIELD. WE CONSTITUTE A QUORUM AND MAY CONDUCT BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF
[2. District Announcements]
THE DISTRICT ITEM. NUMBER TWO IS DISTRICT ANNOUNCEMENTS. DR ELDREDGE. UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK MS KARSA ROJAS FOR GETTING ME MY NEWMAN SMITH SHIRT. I WILL PUT IT ON AFTER THIS AND BE AT THE GAME AS A TEAM. I ALSO JUST LOOKING AT OUR DISTRICT UPDATE. WANNA THANK TRACY EUBANKS FOR PROVIDING TOURS OF METRO CREST AND WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME GREAT PARTNERSHIPS TOGETHER FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO THAT HAS BEEN GREAT THIS WEEK. UM I, TOO HAVE BEEN OUT ON CAMPUSES AND SEEING THE ENERGY AND THE EXCITEMENT AND, UM, MEETING CRYING PARENTS THAT ARE DROPPING THEIR KIDS OFF AND , UM, BUT THE KIDS ARE THEY'RE SHINY. HAPPY FACES ARE ALWAYS A DELIGHT TO SEE. I ALSO WANT TO JUST REASSURE OUR FAMILIES THAT WE ARE MONITORING THE WEATHER FOR THESE FOOTBALL GAMES, WHETHER THEIR HOME GAMES OR AWAY GAMES. I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CONCERNED PARENTS, BUT, UM WE ARE PROVIDING WATER AND MAKING SURE THAT THE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT FOR OUR KIDS, INCLUDING MOVING THE GAME BACK, 30 MINUTES . SO UM, GAME WAS SUPPOSED TO START AT SEVEN AND TONIGHT WILL BE AT 7 30. UM I ALSO WANTED TO UPDATE YOU ALL THAT, UM, THE DISTRICT. WE HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH THE ROTARY CLUB AND PROVIDING BOOKS FOR THEIR INTERNATIONAL LITERACY CAMPAIGN AS WELL AS OUR LOCAL CAMPAIGN. SO IT WAS EXCITING TO HEAR TODAY AT ROTARY CLUB THAT ARE, UM THAT WE'RE PARTNERING TOGETHER TO HELP OUR KIDS. SO THAT HAS ALWAYS GREAT. WE'RE GOING TO BE STARTING IN ATTENDANCE CAMPAIGN THAT EVERY MINUTE COUNTS. SO UM MS PARNELL IS MADE BOOKMARKS AND WE'RE REALLY GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE'S IN SCHOOL LEARNING, SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE.THANK YOU, DR ELDREDGE. WITH EVERY MINUTE COUNTING WILL CONTINUE ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS AUDIENCE FOR GUESTS. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK EITHER AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A GROUP MAY DO SO DURING THIS AGENDA ITEM, MISS CANADA. DO WE HAVE ANYONE
[4. Public Meeting to Discuss 2023-2024 Budget and Proposed Tax Rate]
WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? ALL RIGHT. SO MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR, A PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS THE 23 24 BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE. THE TIME IS NOW 6:04 P.M. AS ESTABLISHED IN THE TEXAS EDUCATION CODE SECTIONS 44.002 THROUGH 44.006 THE PROCESS TO ADOPT THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND TAX RATE FOR THE TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS INCLUDES A LAWFULLY POSTED PUBLIC MEETING DURING WHICH OUR CONSTITUENTS MAY PARTICIPATE. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK EITHER AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GROUP. OF A GROUP. MUST HAVE SUBMITTED THE REQUEST TO DO SO. AND ONE OF THE FORMS PROVIDED ON THE TABLE JUST OUTSIDE THE BOARDROOM DOOR BEFORE THE START OF THE MEETING. FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION, YOU WILL BE INVITED TO COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND SPEAK TO THE BOARD ACCORDING TO THE FORMS AND[00:05:02]
THE NAMES RECEIVED COMMENTS SHOULD PERTAIN TO THE 2023 TO 1924 BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE. AND BE NO LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES. MR. GEAR WILL BEGIN WITH THE PRESENTATION BEFORE WE OPEN THE FLORIDA COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE, MR GARRETT. THANK YOU, MR HATFIELD.GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, DR L RICH AND THE REST OF THE BOARD. OKAY SO JUST TONIGHT, WE'RE GONNA OBVIOUSLY PRESENT THE BUDGET AND TAX RATE FOR ADOPTION . SO I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER KIND OF WHAT THE AGENDA IS. WE'LL TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT SCHOOL FINANCE. WE'LL TALK OBVIOUSLY ABOUT THE GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET, STUDENT ENROLLMENT, OUR PROPERTY TAX VALUES. WILL BREAK DOWN OUR. UM DURING THE OPERATING BUDGET BY THE FUNCTION SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE EVERYTHING GOES WELL. TALK ABOUT THE TAX RATE WILL BE ADOPTING THE STUDENT TRISH IN BUDGET, THE DEBT SERVICE BUDGET, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT OUR FUND BALANCES. AND THEN THE ONE THING WE DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS OUR STRATEGIC ABANDONMENT STRATEGIES. THE STUFF THAT WE REMEMBER FROM THE BOARDWALKS WORKSHOP WE HAD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. THE STUFF THAT WE IMPLEMENTED FROM THE BOARD. WE STARTED TO IMPLEMENT A LOT OF THESE STRATEGIES ALREADY, SO AS YOU WILL TALK ABOUT TONIGHT, WE'LL SELL. WE'LL GO OVER THE THINGS WE'VE DONE, AND WHAT WE'RE CONTINUED, WERE BUT WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO JUST TO TALK BRIEFLY, LIKE AS YOU ALL KNOW, OUR FISCAL YEAR STARTS SEPTEMBER 1ST. I KNOW. SCHOOL STARTED ALREADY. UM AND IT ENDS AUGUST 31ST AND HOW IT COINCIDES WITH A CALENDAR YEAR OF JANUARY TO DECEMBER. SO WE HAVE TO CLOSE OUT OUR BOOKS IN AUGUST. WHICH KIND OF THROWS YOU KNOW THINGS OFF A LITTLE BIT, SO IT LOOKS A LITTLE SQUIRRELY SOMETIMES HOW WE OPERATE OUR FUND BALANCE AND OUR GENERAL OPERATING FUND HAS TO CLOSE OUT AT THE END OF AUGUST. AND ONE THING THAT WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THIS YEAR AS WE HEARD YESTERDAY, AS YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE A POSSIBLY A THIRD SPECIAL CALLED SESSION WITH CONGRESS, WHICH IS THEY SAID THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER. I BELIEVE SO WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT AND HOPEFULLY THAT SOMETHING WILL BE DONE. THEY SAID 100% THE AGENDA ITEM WILL BE PURE SCHOOL FINANCE SO THAT WE'RE HOPING TO SOME SCHOOL FINANCE REFORM AND SOME RECAPTURE REFORM AS WELL. SO TONIGHT LIKE SAID, WE'LL BE ADOPTING ACTUALLY THREE DIFFERENT BUDGETS. THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND BUDGET, WHICH IS THE M N O BUDGET WILL ADOPT RADAR STUDENT NUTRITION FUND, WHICH IS FEDERALLY FUNDED AND THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, WHICH IS OUR MINUS ONE. WE'LL ALSO ADOPT TWO DIFFERENT TAX RATES, THE TAX RATE AND THE MINUS TAX RATE TO SUPPORT THOSE TWO FUNDS. SO BEFORE I GET STARTED, UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK GISELLE RIVERA FRANCO, WHO IS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BUDGET. UM AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS A MONTHS MONTHS LONG PROCESS, YOU'LL SAY IT'S A YEARLONG PROCESS. SHE ACTUALLY WORKS IN THREE DIFFERENT BUDGET YEARS ALL YEAR ROUND. SO HE'S ALWAYS IN THE PRIOR YEAR BUDGET CAUSE WE'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, ADJUSTING ENTRIES THROUGH DECEMBER REALLY WERE WORKING IN THE CURRENT BUDGET, AND WE'RE ALWAYS FORECASTING FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. SO HER JOB IS YEAR ROUND AND SHE DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB. SO THIS IS A MONTH AND MONTHS OF WORK. I WANT TO GET HER TO GET UP HERE AND TALK, BUT SHE DIDN'T WANT TO. SO SHE LET ME DO IT. SO OKAY. SO THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND? UM, AS YOU KNOW, IT'S THERE ALL INCOMING EXPENSES THAT WE NEED THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO OPERATE SUCH AS SALARIES AND BENEFITS, UTILITIES EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES ALL OF ITS PAID FOR FROM THE GENERAL FUND. SO THE OPERATING GENERAL FUND OBVIOUSLY COMES FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES. IT'S THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES, LOCAL REVENUES AND STATE AND FEDERAL ALLOCATIONS. AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW IT'S A $344 MILLION BUDGET, AND THAT'S BASED ON THE CURRENT BASIC ALLOTMENT OF 6160 PER STUDENT. SO WHEN WE START DOING OUR PROJECTIONS WHEN GISELLE'S RIGHT START RUNNING YOUR NUMBERS, WE LOOKED AT HOW WE ENDED THE YEAR. SO LAST YEAR, UM, THAT ENDED IN MAY WE ENDED WITH STUDENT BODY COUNT OF 24,909 KIDS. SO THAT'S HOW WE STARTED AND BASED OUR BUDGET ON THIS YEAR. SNAPSHOT DAY IS A BIG DAY FOR US LAST YEAR. OUR BUDGET AT NUMBER WAS 24,766 KIDS, AND YOU CAN SEE BY SNAPSHOT. WE'RE AT 24,008 17, SO WE FEEL PRETTY . IT'S AN AGGRESSIVE NUMBER 24 999, BUT WE FEEL WE'RE IN INCREASING EVERY DAY WITH FOOD WILL BE PRETTY SOLID ONCE WE HIT SNAPSHOT DAY. SO AS WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU THAT THIS IS THE SURROUNDING SCHOOLGIRLS THAT WE SHOWED THAT ARE ADOPTING DEFICIT BUDGETS AS WELL. WE JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT I KNOW. UM CMBS ADOPTED IT, MR CHAPMAN NOSE YEARS AGO, WE HAD A DEFICIT BUDGETS AS WELL. AND IT'S NOT NOTHING NEW TO THE DISHES, BUT SOME WE HAVEN'T DONE IN A WHILE. SO WE JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU THAT IT WASN'T US. JUST DOING IT. WE ASKED ALL THE SURROUNDING DISTRICTS AND THEY'RE ALL ADOPTING DEFICIT BUDGETS, AND OUR MEETING YESTERDAY WAS PRETTY CLEAR WITH THE SENATE THAT WITH THE CONGRESSMAN THAT WE MET THAT THEY ALL KNEW. THAT IT'S AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS BECAUSE WE GIVE RAISES EVERY YEAR. THERE YOU KNOW INFLATION IS 19.7% OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, SO IT'S BEEN REALLY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE, KEEPING EMPLOYEES PAYING BILLS AND KEEPING THE DISTRICT AFLOAT WITH THE SAME BASIC ALLOTMENT. SO THIS IS THE. THE BROKEN DOWN GENERAL PROPOSED, BUT IT'S
[00:10:05]
THAT'S THE COLUMN ON THE FAR RIGHT. AND YOU CAN SEE, UM AFTER RECAPTURE WE'RE ESTIMATING WOMEN GENERATE ABOUT $276 MILLION OF REVENUE. AND HER EXPENDITURES AS WE TALKED ABOUT LIKE I SAID, WHAT I WANTED TO BRING UP IS WHEN WE HAD THE BUDGET WORKSHOP WE HAVE PROPOSED LIKE A $12.9 MILLION DEFICIT. AND LIKE SAID WAS, SINCE WE'RE CONSTANTLY SCRUBBING THE BUDGET. WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT WHERE WE CAN CUT WHERE WE CAN SAVE WHETHER THROUGH ATTRITION. WE HAVE NEW DIRECTORS NEW ASSISTANT SOUPS THAT ARE HELPING WATCH PROGRAMS AND STAFFING AND WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL THESE THINGS CONSTANTLY. SO JUST FROM THE TIME WE HAD THE THING WE RAN YOU NUMBERS AND YOU CAN SEE IT'S WENT FROM 12.99 0.8. SO THE DEFICITS ALREADY DECREASING AND LIKE THEY WERE, LIKE I SAID, 22 WEEKS IN THE SCHOOL, SO IT'S WE FEEL PRETTY POSITIVE, EXCEPT WE WILL RUN NUMBERS. WE RUN 88 CONSTANTLY. WE RUN. OUR ATTENDANCE CONSTANTLY. WE'RE WATCHING OUR BILLS CONSTANTLY. SO WE WILL KEEP ANALYZING PROGRAMS. WE WILL TALK TO A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH AS THE PRESENTATION GOES ON, BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TO DECREASE THE DEFICIT THAT WE'RE ESTIMATING. SO AGAIN WHEN WE START, UM, LOOKING AT IT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH MR BRADY. HERE IS OUR TAX ASSESSOR. SHE'S IN ATTENDANCE, TOO. BUT SHE'S WANT TO COLLECT ALL OF OUR TAX MONEY. SHE'S THE ONE THAT REALLY GET THE DISTRICT RUNNING. SO SHE GETS ALL OUR VALUES AND YOU CAN SEE WE WENT UP FROM 29.2 TO 31.6 MILLION AND THIS IS EVEN AFTER THE $100,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THEY WENT THROUGH AND EVEN WITH IT WITH TAX COMPRESSION. WE CAN SAY WE'RE STILL RAISED IN OUR TEXT VALUES. SO TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A BAR GRAPH WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. LAST YEAR, WE ROSE ALMOST 13. AND EVEN 6% 5.86 IS STILL A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT CONCERNED. THE SIZE OF OUR PROPERTY TAX BASE WAS STILL ONE OF ALMOST 6% AND AGAIN, THAT'S AFTER THE $100,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND ATTACKS COMPRESSION. AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS IS PRETTY TELLING, EVEN THOUGH THE TAX COMPRESSION WAS SIGNIFICANT THIS YEAR, AND EVEN THOUGH THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION HIT IN, YOU CAN STILL WE STILL 86% OF OUR REVENUE COMES FROM LOCAL GLOBAL LOCAL LOCAL PROPERTY TAX VALUES. SO THIS IS THE BUDGET BROKEN DOWN BY FUNCTION? UM AND IT KIND OF SHOWS YOU HOW WE OPERATE AS A DISTRICT. YOU CAN SEE THE FIRST SECTION IS INSTRUCTIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT, WHICH IS ALL THE CAMPUSES AND EVERYTHING THAT THAT'S DIRECTLY DEALING WITH KIDS. YOU CAN SEE IT'S 65% OF THE BUDGET RIGHT OFF THE TOP.SO THE OPERATION SIDE IS EVERYTHING ELSE THAT UTILITIES SECURITY BUILDING MAINTENANCE, YOU KNOW, LAWN MAINTENANCE TRANSPORTATIONS IN THERE. RECAPTURES THE PART OF THIS NUMBER, AND IT'S ABOUT 32% OF THE BUDGET. AND RECAPTURES SIGNIFICANT. IT'S 16% ALMOST 17% OF OUR ENTIRE BUDGET, GO BACK, GOES BACK AND RECAPTURE AND RECAPTURES WELL OVER 53% OF THAT 32% OF THE SECOND PART OF THE BUDGET. AND THE FINAL PART IS THE ADMINISTRATION COSTS. THAT'S WHERE ALL THE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCES FINANCE PURCHASING TAX OFFICE ALL THAT AS PART OF THAT, AND IT'S JUST IT'S ALMOST 3% IT'S LIKE 2.89% IS CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION. SO AS YOU KNOW, LIKE, SAID, OUR TAX RATE WE'RE PROPOSING TONIGHT IS GOING TO BE COMPRESSED. UM LAST YEAR, IT WENT DOWN ALMOST SIX CENTS, AND THIS YEAR IS GOING DOWN ALMOST 16 CENTS, SO IT'S 22 CENTS. IT'S GOING DOWN OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND YOU SEE THE YEAR PRIOR, THE TOTAL TAX RATE WAS DOLLARS 14, AND THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE JUST OVER 98 CENTS.
AND IT'S ALL FROM THE MM. NO SIDE. YOU CAN SEE THE I N S TAX RATE HAS HELD STEADY AT 20 CENTS FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. SO THE MM NO WENT FROM 94. CENTS TO 78 CENTS. AND JUST KIND OF SHOWS THAT IT'S COMPRESSION TAX COMPRESSION BEGAN. YOU CAN SEE, UM IT'S DROPPED ALMOST 40 CENTS.
OF THE TOTAL TAX RATE FOR TAXPAYERS SINCE 2017. SO KIND OF WHAT DOES ALL THAT MEAN? THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING A REDUCTION IN PROPERTY OF TELL YOU PROPERTY BACKS TALIA'S FOR TAXPAYERS WHO OWN HOMES IN THE DISTRICT. SO YOU CAN SEE THE AVERAGE HOUSE NOW IS ABOUT $276,000 IN THAT MIDDLE COLUMN AND WITH TAX COMPRESSION. WHAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY PAY WAS $3317 FROM THE FIRST COLUMN THIS YEAR. THEY'RE PAYING A LITTLE OVER $2700. WHICH ANNUALLY THEY'RE SAVING ALMOST $600 PER ON THEIR TAXES PER YEAR. AND THAT'S ON THE AVERAGE HOUSE HERE AND CFB. SO THE NEXT BUDGET WE'RE PROPOSING IS THE STUDENT NUTRITION BUDGET AND IT'S UM, LIKE I SAID, IT'S FEDERALLY FUNDED. IT'S A DIFFERENT ANIMAL THAN THE GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET. YOU KNOW, UM. T D, A AND T E A. THEY DON'T LIKE, UM, THE GENERAL CHANCE. STUDENT
[00:15:06]
ATTRITION BUDGET TO TURN PROFITS THEY WANTED TO PRETTY MUCH BREAK. EVEN THEY WANTED TO COVER THE COST AND ACTUALLY GO OVER. THEY WANT THE GENERAL FUND TO COVER THAT COST. SO LAST YEAR.UM THEY HAD THAT WHOLE HARMLESS WHERE WE WERE BEING REIMBURSED. 100% WHETHER THE KIDS WERE EATING OR NOT SO IT'S LOOKING LIKE WE'RE GONNA HAVE A $2 MILLION SURPLUS THIS YEAR, SO THAT'S A POSITIVE AND IT'S GOING TO HELP US DO SOME STRATEGIC THINGS THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO DURING COVID WHEN IT STARTED TO LOSE MONEY, SO, AS YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE STUFF IS AGING OUT SO WHERE PROPOSING A $1.5 MILLION DEFICIT TO MAKE SURE WE STAY UNDER THAT RANGE TO STAY OUT OF GETTING A DINGED ON OUR AUDITS WITH THE T D A. N T A. SO THIS IS ALLOWING US TO REPLACE COOLERS AND OVENS AND STOVES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE WEREN'T ABLE TO REPLACE IT A LOT OF OUR CAMPUSES. SO WE LOOKED AT THE HIGHEST NEED AREA AND WE'RE GONNA START BEING ABLE TO REPLACE ANOTHER WHERE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPLACE IN THE YEARS PREVIOUS. SO THIS IS, UM PART OF OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE. AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S A DIFFERENT ANIMAL THAN THE STUDENT ATTRITION FUND. WE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALKING LEGISLATURE ABOUT, UM HAVING TO SPEND DOWN OUR FUND BALANCE FROM THE GENERAL FUND. SO WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR AND Y'ALL APPROVED IT AND WE WANTED TO APPROVE AGAIN IS THAT WE DESIGNATE SOME OF THAT FUND BALANCE TO MAKE SURE SO THIS DATE, DO SOMETHING RADICAL AND STARTED MAKING US SPEND OUR FUND BALANCE THAT WE DESIGNATE SOME OF IT. SO THE ONLY THING THEY CAN TOUCHES THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, SO WE PUT 41.5 MILLION IN A SIGN THAN ONLY 100 MILLION IS FREE. THAT'S ON HIS SIDE. THAT KEEPS US WITHIN THAT THREE MONTH RANGE THAT THE THAT THE STATE LIKES. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE $141 MILLION TOTAL. FUND BALANCE, INCLUDING THE 41.5 THAT WE WANT TO ASSIGN AGAIN. AND IT KEEPS US AROUND SIX MONTHS OF OPERATING FUND BALANCE LIKE THE TA RECOMMENDS ABOUT THREE MONTHS, SO WE'RE DOUBLE THAT AT THIS POINT. THIS, UM. IS OUR OUTSTANDING FUNDING. THIS IS ALL THE DEBT THAT THE DISTRICT HAS. THERE'S A LITTLE OVER $677 MILLION IN OUTSTANDING DEBT, AND WE WERE ABLE TO STRUCTURE IT, YOU KNOW, BASED ON OUR CREDIT RATING AND HOW WE FINANCED THE LAST BOND SO YOU CAN SEE ON THE BOTTOM LINE SHOWS. THE FIRST BOND SALE FROM THE MAY ELECTION THAT WE SOLD. AND WE ARE ABLE TO STRUCTURE OUR DEBT. SO YOU KNOW, NORMAL. IT'S KIND OF LIKE A HOUSE. YOU YOU SET OUT YOUR DEBT FOR 30 YEARS, SO THE WAY WE SET IT UP WITHIN 15 YEARS WILL HAVE ALMOST 50% OF THAT DEBT PAID OFF. AND THEY JUST KIND OF SHOWS THE DEBT STRUCTURE IN THE BEGINNING. YOU CAN SEE THE LIGHT BLUE IS THE INTEREST AND THE DARK BLUE IS THE PRINCIPAL ON OUR ON OUR BONDS. SO YOU CAN SEE WE STRUCTURED KIND OF STRATEGICALLY TO PAY IT OFF QUICKLY IN THE BEGINNING, AND THEN IT LEVELS OFF. FOR THE THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE BOND. AND THIS IS THE DEBT SERVICE. UM FUND THAT WE'RE PROPOSING. THE FAR RIGHT OBVIOUSLY, IS THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE YEAR. UM WE'LL HAVE A $61 MILLION IN REVENUE AND OR 61.5, AND WE THINK THAT IN OUR BOND PAYMENT THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE 61.5. SO IT'LL BE A BALANCED BUDGET AND YOU CAN SEE THE THIRD COLUMN SHOWS A SURPLUS THIS YEAR OF 4.6 MILLION, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO REFUND THOSE BONDS EARLIER THIS YEAR WHERE WE SAVE A LITTLE OVER $4.5 MILLION OF INTEREST. SO THAT GOES STRAIGHT TO OUR FUND BALANCE, AND YOU CAN SEE WE'RE GOING FROM 16.6 TO OVER $21 MILLION IN OUR DEBT SERVICE FUND. TURN OVER TO MR MARSH.
THANK YOU, MR GUERRERA. SO WE JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE STRATEGIC ABANDONMENT STRATEGY IS WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE AS A DISTRICT. TO ATTACK THAT. BUDGET DEFICIT. THE 9.7.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS STAFFING ANALYSIS. THAT'S WHERE WE EVALUATE STEPPING NEEDS AND CONSIDER WHETHER THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO RESTRUCTURE ROLES. COMBINED POSITIONS ARE UTILIZED PART TIME STAFF WHERE APPROPRIATE. AND THAT'S BEING LED BY DR DAVIS. HIS HR TEAM.
AND FINANCE AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MR HILL. HE WAS WORKING WITH US TODAY TO HELP IDENTIFY SOME POSITIONS IN TRANSPORTATION THAT WERE ABLE TO REMOVE FROM THE BUDGET. WHICH ASSISTED US AND GOING DOWN TO $9.7 MILLION. THANK YOU, MR HILL. THE NEXT ONE IS CONTINUED TO PRIORITIZE SPENDING. IDENTIFY A CORE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO STUDENT SUCCESS AND WELL BEING. ALLOCATE FUNDS TO THESE AREAS WHERE I CONSIDER TRIMMING EXPENDITURES AND NON ESSENTIAL AREAS. DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS. UTILIZE DATA ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE FUNDS CAN BE ALLOCATED MORE EFFICIENTLY. WE ARE VALUABLE EVALUATING STUDENT PERFORMANCE METRICS PROGRAM OUTCOMES AND COST EFFECTIVENESS. AND I JUST WANT TO GO AHEAD AND ACKNOWLEDGE
[00:20:02]
MISS HOLCOMB AND MISS ROLAND FOR THE EFFORT THAT THEY'RE DOING. THEY'RE EVALUATING ALL THE PROGRAMS IN THEIR AREAS. AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND THAT'S JUST PART OF THE PROCESS.SO THE NEXT ONE IS CONSOLIDATION OF RESOURCES, AND THAT'S WHERE WE DETERMINED OR WE CAN CONSOLIDATE RESOURCES TO INCREASE EFFICIENCIES. ENERGY EFFICIENCY. AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON DILIGENTLY AND CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE ENERGY SAVING MEASURES FOR OPTIMIZING HEAT, LIGHT AND COOLING. AND MR MOORE AND HIS TEAM ARE WORKING LIKE SAID DILIGENTLY ON THAT TO HELP CONTROL THOSE EXPENDITURES. TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION THAT'S LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY TO STREAMLINE ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS. COMMUNICATION AND LEARNING PROCESSES. THIS CAN HELP REDUCE ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD AND PROVE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES. I WANT TO SEE A DOCTOR STILES WORKING ON THAT WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK SHE HAS DONE AND IS DOING AND WILL BE DOING. ON THAT ONE. WE WILL ALL CONTINUE TO REVIEW CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS CONTINUALLY ASSESS THESE TO ENSURE THAT WE AS A DISTRICT ARE GETTING THE BEST VALUE FOR OUR SERVICES. INCENTIVIZE ATTENDANCE WILL BE PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO INCREASE ATTENDANCE. DR HAMLIN IS ASSISTING ON THAT AND WORKING TO HELP THAT EXPAND ENROLLMENT. WE'RE ENHANCING STRATEGIES AND EFFORTS TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT. ONCE AGAIN. DR HAMLIN AND HIS TEAM ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO IMPLEMENT THOSE STRATEGIES TO INCREASE ENROLLMENT. AND WE WILL BE PROVIDING MONTHLY UPDATES DURING THE PRE MEETINGS. TO REPORT BACK ON THE STRATEGIES TO SEE HOW EFFECTIVE THEY HAVE BEEN. AND REDUCING THE DEFICIT. WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS AND CELEBRATIONS. SOME OF THE POSITIVES. THE MINNOW MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION TAX RATE HAS BEEN REDUCED BY ALMOST 16 CENTS. GIVE ME A DROP IN PROPERTY TAX PAYMENTS OF APPROXIMATELY 18. AVERAGE HOME WILL BE LOWERED BY NEARLY $600. AND TAX PAYMENTS. STUDENT NUTRITION FUND BALANCE ACCESS ALLOWS STUDENT NUTRITION SERVICES TO MAKE NEEDED STRATEGIC PURCHASES ON APPLIANCES AND EQUIPMENT. AND YOU CAN RECALL BACK DURING THE PANDEMIC. STUDENT NUTRITION REALLY SUFFERED BECAUSE THE REVENUE REALLY DECREASED. THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE THE STRATEGIC EQUIPMENT PURCHASES THAT WERE NEEDED. SO WE'RE JUST IN A GREAT POSITION RIGHT NOW, WITH THE WAY THE FUND BALANCES IN STUDENT NUTRITION TO BE ABLE TO CATCH UP AND GET SOME OF THOSE EQUIPMENT AND SERVICE THAT WE NEED THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE. $141 MILLION, VERY, VERY HEALTHY, MR GERAGOS STATED. AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST STRATEGIC ABANDONMENT STRATEGIES TO INCREASE EFFICIENCIES. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVED THE 2023 24 BUDGET AND TAX RATE AS PRESENTED. THANK YOU, MR MARSHALL. MR AGUIRRE. AT THIS TIME, THE BOARD WILL ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND TAX RATE FROM THE FLOOR. AS EXPLAINED BEFORE THE PRESENTATION, INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO SPEAK FORMS WILL BE CALLED TO THE MICROPHONE. MISS CANADA HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY FORMS ARE NAMED INDICATING INTEREST. NO SO AT THIS TIME HEARING NONE AND SEEING WHAT NONE AT 6 23 PM THIS CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC HEARING. SO
[5. Consent Agenda]
NEXT, WE WILL MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS A MECHANISM THAT THE BOARD USES TO APPROVE A NUMBER OF ROUTINE ITEMS TOGETHER WITH A SINGLE VOTE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT. THE PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THIS MEETING INCLUDES A LIST OF ALL CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. THE BOARD HAS BEEN PROVIDED AMPLE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE ITEMS IN ADVANCE PRIOR TO ANY ACTION TAKEN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. BOARD MEMBERS MAY REQUEST WITHDRAWAL OF INDIVIDUAL ITEMS FOR CLARIFICATIONS OR DISCUSSION. BOARD MEMBERS. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THIS TIME? MR ROGERS. UM I JUST HAVE SOME ANOTHER QUESTION FROM THE PRESENTATION INTO WHAT I ASSUME IS FIVE C AND 2022 2023 FINAL BUDGET. I CAN ASK THEM QUESTIONS CONSENT OR PULL IT. UM, WE SHOULD PROBABLY PULL IT. LOOK, I'D ASK THAT THAT BE PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION, OKAY? SO WE'LL PULL FIVE C ANY OTHER ITEMS TO BE PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. OKAY? IF THERE ARE NO OTHER ITEMS TO BE REMOVED. I HAVE EMOTION REGARDING THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED. MR ERIC. I MOVE THAT WE[00:25:05]
APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF C ALRIGHT. DO I HAVE A SECOND? MISS BRADY? HAVE A SECOND FOR MISS BRADY. ARE THERE? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. WITH A VOTE OF SEVEN IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED THE MOTION CARRIES. THE[6. Items for Discussion and/or Action]
NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS NUMBER SIX ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION IN OUR ACTION. WE HAVE AN ITEM THAT WAS REMOVED FROM CONSENT, SO WE'LL PROCEED TO SIX. A THE TITLE OF THE ITEM IS CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE 2022 2023 FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR C F B. I S D. MR PATRICK. THANK YOU, UM. THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION, AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK FROM THE WHOLE FINANCE TEAM ON, UM YOU KNOW, THE UPDATES AND RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW OUR FINAL AS WE WHAT WE'RE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF OUR FISCAL YEAR. YEAH SO I'M GONNA GET YOU KNOW THAT THESE ARE CLOSE TO FINAL. BUT ONE QUESTION ON THERE WAS A SLIDE THAT HAD THE 2021 22 ACTUAL 2022 23 BUDGET. CURRENT BUDGET FOR CASTED ACTUALS AND THEN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. THAT'S THE UM, IT. I DIDN'T HAVE A NUMBER IT SAYS PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BUDGET. AND THEN OUR DOCUMENT IN THE AGENDA ITEM AND BOARD BOOK AND THEN PRINTED HERE. I AM NOT ABLE TO TIE THE NUMBERS THAT WE SEE. IN FORECASTED ACTUALS BACK TO WHAT'S ON THIS AMENDMENT. COULD YOU HELP ME MAKE THAT TIE? YEAH ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE $344 MILLION TYING TO THE? YEAH, WELL, ITS GENERAL FUND BUDGET. I GUESS THE PROPOSED AMENDED BUDGET. UM ON, UM, IN THE AMENDMENT, SAYS. 385 MILLION BUDGETED EXPENDITURES. AND THEN SHOWS A NET REVENUE AND EXPENSES OF NEGATIVE 1.3. YES SO THIS NUMBER RIGHT HERE LIKE THIS, THE FORECASTED ACTUALS RIGHT HERE. THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE OUR FINAL BUDGET FOR 22 23 AFTER THE AMENDMENT, RIGHT? AND THEN ON THERE AT THE PROPOSED AMENDED BUDGET. I'M NOT SEEING THE TIE BETWEEN THOSE NUMBERS. ON HERE ON THE AMENDED BUDGET OF THE PROS AMENDED BUDGET ON THE FAR RIGHT YEAH, THE BOTTOM HAS 3 85. AND YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW THE 3 85 TIES. YEAH, I DON'T SEE. 3 85 ON THE ACTUALS. UNDER 22 23. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? 22 23 IS THAT'S OUR PROPOSED TO COVER THE EACH FUNCTION. WHAT T A HAS, LIKE KIND OF A QUIRKY THING WHERE THEY DON'T WANT ANY FUNCTION TO GO OVER BUDGET. SO IT HAS ZERO TO DO WITH REVENUES AND EXPENSES. THEY JUST KIND OF WE GET ALL THIS LITTLE NASTY LETTER SOMETIMES LET'S SAY HEY, YOU WENT OVER TO FUNCTION 12 IF IT GOES OVER, SO WHAT THEY IT'S A WEIRD THING THAT THEY WANT TO DO AN AUDIT. THE AUDITORS WERE HERE TODAY. ACTUALLY THEY CLOSED OUT THE AUDIT FOR THE YEAR WITH US. THEY'LL COME BACK IN DECEMBER TO DO ARE CLOSING ENTRIES, BUT WE HAD TO DO OUR EXIT INTERVIEWS TODAY, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT EXACT THING WHERE IT'S WEIRD BECAUSE TA WANTS US TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T BUST ANY FUNCTIONS, FUNCTIONS SORT OF SPEAK, SO WE JUST HAVE TO DO THIS. THAT'S WHY THAT THE BUDGET AMENDMENT $68 MILLION TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T BUST ANY FUNCTIONS BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE WE'RE DOING A LOT OF ADJUSTING ENTRIES, A LOT OF WORK RULES THAT KEEP GOING THROUGH REALLY THROUGH DECEMBER WHEN WE WHEN WE FINALLY GET TO CLOSE OUR BOOKS THROUGH AUDIT, SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF THESE FUNCTIONS BUST FROM THE T E A PART OF THE AUDIT, SO THIS IS HAS NOTHING REALLY TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL REVENUES VERSUS EXPENSES. JUST SOMETHING TA WANTS US TO DO IN OUR FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T WE DON'T GO OVER ANY FUNCTIONS THROUGH OUR EXPENSES. OKAY BUT THEN ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT BUDGET, THE BOTTOM AND THE GREEN, IT SAYS NET EFFECT TO FUND BALANCES NEGATIVE 1.36. AM I READING THAT? NO, I SEE IT TO DC IT YOURSELF.[00:30:24]
LET ME GET I'LL GET A CLEAR ANSWER FOR YOU, AND THEN WE'LL SEND IT IN AN EMAIL TO YOU, BUT IT'S BUT WHAT I AM WHAT WOULD WE BE VOTING TO? WHAT THE VOTING. THE VOTING FOR THE FINAL FOR THE BUDGET AMENDMENT WOULD BE THE 383 185 MILLION. AND YOU'RE VOTING FOR THE 136,000,320. TO COVER THE FUNCTION EXPENSES, OKAY? BUT THIS IS WILL HAVE SOMETHING ELSE COME BEFORE US AND FINAL POSITION. YES FINAL POSITION THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY NET EFFECT TO THE FUND BALANCE BASED ON JUST COVERING THE FUNCTIONS FOR TIAS AUDIT. OKAY THAT SHOULD BE ZEROED OUT IN REALITY. MEMBERS. YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MR SHACHTMAN? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS OBVIOUSLY CONCERN HERE, AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU WERE TALKING WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVES YESTERDAY, BUT RECAPTURE HAS GONE FROM, YOU KNOW IN TWO YEARS IS ALMOST DOUBLED. IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO THAT WILL HELP MAKE THAT A LITTLE BETTER FOR US AND EASIER TO BEAR. I KNOW LIKE WITH THE FUND BALANCE, WE ALLOCATED CERTAIN AMOUNTS TO SPECIFIC ITEMS, SO IT SAVED IT. FROM BEING. DARE I USE THE WORD RECAPTURED BY THE STATE AT THIS POINT, BUT I JUST CONCERNED I IS IT GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO UP AT THIS AMOUNT? YEAH RECAPTURES KIND OF TWOFOLD, AS DECLINED AS ROMAN IS STAYING STEADY OR DECLINING AND PROPERTY VALUES ARE INCREASING. WE WERE ONLY GUARANTEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WEALTH ONCE WERE MAXIMIZED THAT THAT WEALTH THAT'S WHEN WE CAPTURE KICKS IN SO AS PROPERTY VALUES CONTINUE TO RISE TO RECAPTURE WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP UNLESS WE GET MORE KIDS OVER UNLESS WE GET SOME RECAPTURE RELIEF. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THERE'S GONNA BE SOME HOPEFULLY, SOME RECAPTURE REFORM, AND WE'VE TEAMED WITH A FEW OTHER DISTRICTS THAT ARE LOBBYING AND OFTEN THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE CONGRESSIONAL PERIOD, AND THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO IT DURING THE THIRD SPECIAL CALLED SESSION, BUT THAT'S UM ONE THING THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT. I MEAN, THAT WAS TALK FROM A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT WE SAT WITH THE THREAT, MISS HATFIELD THAT SAID, JUST DO AWAY WITH RECAPTURED COMPLETELY. SO THERE'S THE CONGRESS IS AWARE OF THE EFFECT THAT IT'S HAVING WITH DISTRICTS. UM IT USED TO BE LIKE , HEY, YOU'RE RICH DISTRICT LIKE HIGHLAND PARK WAS USED AS AN EXAMPLE. BUT WE TOLD HIM WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE 68% FREE AND REDUCED. WE'RE NOT A AND AFFLUENT DISTRICT BY ANY MEANS, AND WE'RE PAYING $60 MILLION AND RECAPTURE. SO UM, THEY SAID THAT THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE AGENDA THAT SESSION SPECIAL SESSION THREE IS GOING TO BE 100% SCHOOL FINANCE, AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SOME SORT OF SOME SORT OF REFORM. TALK ON RECAPTURE AS WELL. THAT WOULD TAKE SOMETHING BY THE STATE TO CHANGE THAT. OKAY I JUST WANT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION BACK TO WE'RE STILL CONSIDERING AND APPROVING THE 2022 2023 FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT . SO BEFORE WE ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 23 24 BUDGET , I THINK WE NEED TO CLOSE OUT THIS ITEM. UM SO MR BOSTIC IS, UM ASKED A QUESTION. MR GARROW. YOUR RESPONSES WILL GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. ADDITIONAL LIKE SAID IN ALL REALITIES TO BE, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ZEROED OUT BECAUSE IT'S JUST THE BUDGET AMENDMENT TO COVER THE FUNCTIONS HAS NOTHING DO WITH FUND BALANCE ARE A NEGATIVE EFFECT OR POSITIVE EFFECT ON FUND BALANCE. FOR THAT MATTER. IT'S JUST A IT'S JUST SOMETHING TO COVER OUR FUNCTIONS FOR THROUGHOUT ITS 30 YEAR.OKAY? MR ROGERS. WELL BUT I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT ACTUALLY ON THAT SLOT DON'T THINK THE SIDES UP.
BUT ON THAT THE 2020 TO MR STOCKMAN'S POINT, THE RECAPTURE PAYMENT FOR THE FINAL AMENDMENT . THE RECAPTURE PAYMENT WENT UP, SO THAT'S AND WOULD CONTINUE, SO THAT'S PART OF THE AMENDMENTS.
OKAY, THANK YOU. GOOD CLARIFYING 36.3 TO 56. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. SHOCKING YES, YOU CAN SEE THAT'S FUNCTION 91 ON THAT LIST, AND YOU SEE $22 MILLION THAT 68 IS RECAPTURE AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S TWOFOLD BECAUSE OF OUR ENROLLMENT. 88 WAS DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND OUR PROPERTY VALUES ALL THE LAST YEAR WENT UP ALMOST 13% AND THEY SURE WENT UP IN OUR 6% SO AS OUR PROPERTY VALUES GO UP, LIKE SAID WERE MAXIMIZED THAT WELL, THAT'S WHAT MAKES US RECAPTURED
[00:35:02]
DISTRICT CAUSE WE'RE ONLY ALLOWED SO MANY DOLLARS, AND EVERY DOLLAR ASKED PAST THAT GOES BACK TO THE STATE. 22 MILLION IS STRAIGHT TO RECAPTURE. GREAT POINT. OKAY SO , UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE 22 23 BUDGET AMENDMENT ITEM? I WAS JUST A GENERAL COMMENT, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR AN AMENDMENT OF EXPENDITURES OF THIS AMOUNT. YOU KNOW, I AS A BOARD MEMBER HAVE TO TAKE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY. ON THIS AND THAT , YOU KNOW? YES, WE RECEIVED THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS AND WE REVIEW IT, UH, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO REVIEW IT IN OUR BUSINESS DECISIONS. WE'VE OBVIOUSLY AS A BOARD MADE DECISIONS THAT HAVE LED US TO THIS POINT. UM WE REVIEW WE ASK QUESTIONS. UM, BUT MISS HADFIELD, I'D AND MR MARSH MENTIONED SOME OF IT. BUT YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU THAT MOVING FORWARD AND THAT WE AS A BOARD, YOU KNOW, INSIST THAT WE MODIFY HOW WE GET OUR INFORMATION MONTHLY. UM FROM A, UH TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND OUR POSITION TO BUDGET. UH, THE IMPACT OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE AS A BOARD. UM YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING WE ALL WANT MORE THAN TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, STAFF AND IN OUR SCHOOLS. UM BUT WE ALSO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY. UM TO DO RIGHT AND WE JUST WE NEED TO BE AWARE. ANDERSON. I WORK WITH DR ELDRIDGE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE UM, INCLUDED THAT IN THE PRE MEETING UPDATES AND WE CAN CIRCLE BACK AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S MEETING EXPECTATIONS OF THE BOARD AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE MODIFICATIONS. OTHER COMMENTS. OKAY? SO, UM, AT THIS TIME DOES THE BOARD WISH TO TAKE ACTION ON THE CONSIDERING APPROVED THE 2022 2023 FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR C F B. I S D. MR ERIC. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ITEM FIVE C AS PRESENTED. I HAVE A MOTION FOR MR ERIC TO HAVE A SECOND. MR BRADY. HAVE A SECOND FROM MR BRADY. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. OKAY BY A VOTE OF SEVEN IN FAVOR AND ZERO OPPOSED THE MOTION TO APPROVE. ITEM. FIVE C CARRIES. SO NEXT UP IS ITEM SIX P. CONSIDERING APPROVED THE 2022 2023 BUDGET, INCLUDING THE EXECUTION OF A RESOLUTION ADOPTING AND APPROVING, SAID BUDGET, MR GARA. BACK TO YOU.THANK YOU, MISS HATFIELD. YES, SO AGAIN, TOO. TONIGHT. WE ARE PROPOSING THE $344 MILLION GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET. APPROVAL WITH THE BOARD. SO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL TAKE HIM AT THIS TIME. BOARD MEMBERS COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM. MR ERIC. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT I GUESS ALL OF THIS. I'M GONNA KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY SAID THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OUR STAFF AND TAKING CARE OF OUR STUDENTS IS PRIORITY FOR US AS A BOARD AND WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT. UM, WE WANT TO TREAT OUR PEOPLE WELL, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE GETTING THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE, BUT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT WITHIN A BUDGET. THAT IS THE EXPECTATION WE ARE BEING HELD TO THAT STANDARD BY THE COMMUNITY THAT ELECTED US AND IT IS OUR DUTY TO ENSURE THAT DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE GOING FORWARD. ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS, AND I THINK THAT AS A DISTRICT. WE CAN DO THIS. IT'S GOING TO BE HARD, BUT I JUST WANT IT TO BE SAID THAT WE RECOGNIZE WE'RE IN A TOUGH POSITION RIGHT NOW, AND WE HAVE TO ALL BE BETTER. AND YOU SAID IT. WE HAVE TO ALL HAVE HELD HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS, BUT WE HAVE TO BE BETTER. WE CANNOT SIT HERE NEXT YEAR, LOOKING AT THE SAME KIND OF NUMBERS. IT'S NOT OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS.
THIS ROBOTIC. UM AND THIS IS CARRYING ON YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY WAYS TO APPROACH DEVELOPING A BUDGET AND I KNOW THIS BECAUSE AS MR GARRETT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO DO IT AND SIT IN FRONT OF SOMEONE TO GET IT APPROVED. SO I'VE BEEN IN IN YOUR SEAT. UM SO YOU KNOW, BASED ON PAST ACTUALS TRENDS, YOU KNOW ASSUMPTIONS PROJECTIONS, AND THERE'S SO MUCH IN OUR BUDGET THAT IS ALSO NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH COMPLICATES A FINANCIAL SYSTEM. THAT IS ALREADY EXTREMELY, UM, YOU KNOW, COMPLICATED FOR IT, BUT UM, YEAH, I AGREE. MY EXPECTATION IS THAT WE DO THIS WITHIN OUR MEANS , UM, AND YOU KNOW, SIMILAR COMMENT THAT YOU KNOW, GOING
[00:40:07]
FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WE REQUEST AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE AS A BOARD NEED AND REQUEST FROM ADMINISTRATION ON HOW TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THAT. OF THE DEVELOPMENT. UM YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT OUR FOCUS IS ON OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF. THAT'S WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE AND GOING THROUGH. BUT UM, YOU KNOW, ADOPTING, AND I UNDERSTAND THIS IS PROBABLY HAS SOME AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OBVIOUSLY WORK DONE FROM WHAT WERE ORIGINALLY PRESENTED, AND I APPRECIATE THAT IMMENSELY SINCE WE HAD IDENTIFIED THAT AS A PRIORITY, UM AND THERE'S OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW, THERE'S PROBABLY SOME WORST CASE SCENARIO PLANNING IN HERE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THAT'S WHAT YOU DO FOR A BUDGET AND I GET THAT, BUT YOU KNOW? A DEFICIT BUDGET IS US AUTHORIZING US. YOU KNOW THE DISTRICT TO SPEND BEYOND OUR MEANS, AND THAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION, SO WE AS A BOARD JUST HAVE TO BE BETTER ON WHAT WE REQUEST TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS. OKAY? UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMENT AGAIN ON THE CHAPTER 49 PAYMENTS WITH BECAUSE WE CALL IT CHAPTER 49 THE REPORT , BUT THEN WE ALSO CALL IT RECAPTURE AND MR STOCKMAN. YOU ALSO ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT IT'S GONE UP SO STEEPLY AND THEN OTHERS HAVE COMMENTED, AND, UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION COMING UP AND THAT WE ADVOCATE AS A BOARD FOR OUR NEEDS WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND WITH THE CONGRESS, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T HEAR FROM US THEN THEY CAN MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK OUR NEEDS ARE, AND THAT WAS EVIDENT YESTERDAY WHEN WE MET WITH SOME MEMBERS THAT THEY NEED TO HEAR OUR VOICE AND THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE FACING AND WHAT WE NEED. AND SO I THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, THEY INDICATED IT COULD BE THE SECOND WEEK OF OCTOBER. THAT WE ALSO SIT DOWN AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ARE CLEAR ON WHAT WE NEED TO TELL THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW. I THINK, MR GARROW ONE THING THAT WE BROUGHT UP YESTERDAY THAT YOU BROUGHT TO THE TABLE WAS TEXT PARENTS SEE WHICH I HADN'T HEARD IT PHRASED LIKE THAT THAT ARE RECAPTURE MONEY ON A TAX STATEMENT DOES NOT THE PERSON THAT GETS THE TAX STATEMENT DOES NOT SEE THIS STAYS WITH YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THIS GOES BACK TO THE STATE. AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAD YESTERDAY WAS ADVOCATING THAT THEY BE MORE TRANSPARENT ON HIS TAX STATEMENT SO THAT THE CITIZENS KNOW THAT IT'S NOT ALL STAYING WITH US BECAUSE WE ARE SENDING 57.9 MILLION BACK TO THE STATE, WHICH IS HUGE. UM AND OUR TAXPAYERS NEED TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT STAYING WITH US. IT'S GOING AWAY. SO I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND THAT THAT BE ANOTHER THING THAT WE LOOK AT IS HOW WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS A BOARD TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THE IMPACT THAT NOT JUST RECAPTURE, BUT UNFUNDED MANDATES ARE HAVING ON US LIKE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES , WHICH WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO CARE AND TAKE CARE OF OUR CHILDREN. BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE FUNDING FOR THOSE REQUIREMENTS. ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. YES, MISS BENAVIDEZ. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THESE HIGHLIGHTS AND CELEBRATIONS BECAUSE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO DISPLAY ALL THAT WOULD BE TRANSPARENT BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR HOME, WHICH THIS IS, ARE, WE ARE ONE FAMILY. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE DIGGING DEEP AND DOING A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. OKAY SO BORED. THIS ITEM IS MARKED FOR POSSIBLE ACTION. DOES THE BOARD WISH TO TAKE ACTION? MR STOCKMAN. AND THE STATEMENT THAT THEY THEY WERE REQUIRED TO PLACE IN IT. THE BUDGET. OKAY? RATE IS 60, RIGHT? OKAY SO I MOVED THAT WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUDGET AND MOVING FORWARD TO THE TAXING FOR THE COMING YEAR. I HAVE A MOTION FOR MR SHENKMAN.BRIGHT. UM, SIX B. IS THERE A SECOND MS GARZA ROJAS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. BY A VOTE OF SIX AND FAVOR AND ONE OPPOSED. THE MOTION CARRIES. ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT ITEM IS SUCCEED, CONSIDER AND APPROVE THE PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR THE TAX YEAR. 2023 INCLUDING A RESOLUTION SETTING SAID TAX RATE, MR GARA BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HATFIELD. YES, THE TAX RATE, AS YOU KNOW, IS BEING COMPRESSED AGAIN, AND
[00:45:02]
YOU AS A BOARD LIKE THAT. IT'S OBVIOUSLY A BIG CELEBRATION FOR THE BOARD TO COMPRESS THE TAX RATE, ALMOST 16 CENTS AND SENATE APPROVE. WE WERE DEFINITELY SEND IT OUT TO EVERYBODY. WE KNOW WE'LL SEND IT THROUGH ALL SOCIAL MEDIA ARE MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE TAX RATE IS BEING COMPRESSED AGAIN. THE ONLY QUESTIONS I'LL TAKE HIM AT THIS TIME. BOARD MEMBERS. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM 60? MR ERIC. I WANT TO JUST. I GUESS PUBLICLY ASK ABOUT THE LANGUAGE THAT WE'RE SAYING IT'S AN INCREASE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT HMM. IT'S KIND OF CONFUSING.WHAT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS, EVEN THOUGH THE TAX RATE IS BEING COMPRESSED, WE'RE GOING TO GENERATE MORE TAX REVENUE. AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE PROPERTY VALUES HAVE GONE UP. SO EVEN THERE, THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WENT UP FOR RESIDENTIAL OBVIOUSLY NO COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES GET THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION SO AS COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES CONTINUE TO RISE, WE ACTUALLY WILL COLLECT MORE TAX DOLLARS, SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SAYING THIS IS GENERATING MORE TAX REVENUE. SO THAT'S WHY THAT THAT'S WHY THEY'RE GIVEN THAT PERCENTAGE THAT THIS IS THE EXACT BURBAGE THAT THE STATE MAKES US. MANDATE, JUST LIKE A TOTAL IN THE WORKSHOP WE HAD TOGETHER THEY MAKE US WORD AT THAT EXACT WAY. MR BRADY HAD US AND WE'D LIKE I SAID, WE CONSULT WITH OUR COUNCIL AS WELL AND MAKE SURE IT'S EXACTLY HOW WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IT. AND THIS IS WHAT THE STATE REQUIRES. AND THAT'S HOW IT'S WORDED THAT WAY. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM. I'LL JUST REMIND BOARD MEMBERS THAT THERE IS SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT YOU HAVE TO READ FOR THIS THAT YOU HAVE AT YOUR SEAT. UM AND WITH THAT THIS ITEM IS MARKED FOR POSSIBLE ACTION. DOES THE BOARD WISH TO TAKE ACTION? MR BRADY. YES, MA'AM. I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF THE TAX RATE OF 0.98 THROUGH 60. WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 2% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. WOOD SAID TAX RATE CONSISTING OF A TAX RATE OF 0.7 EIGHT THROUGH 60 FOR M, N. O AND 0.2000 FOR DEBT SERVICE. I HAVE A MOTION FOR MR BRADY. DO YOU HAVE A SECOND? THE SECOND FOR MR SHACHTMAN. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. BY A VOTE OF 7 TO 0. THE MOTION CARRIES. ALRIGHT SO OUR NEXT ITEM IS THAT, UM 60 CONSIDERING APPROVED LOCAL POLICIES, MR MARSH. SALES. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT WE DEFER THOSE POLICIES TO THE REGULAR MEETING ON SEPTEMBER THE SEVENTH IT'S GOING TO BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A RESOLUTION. AND THEN APPROVAL FOR YOU REGARDING THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL BE APPROVED TO CARRY A FIREARM FIREARM ON THE CAMPUSES. THANK YOU, MR MARSH. SO WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION FROM ADMINISTRATION TO DEFER. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MR ERIC. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT SINCE WE JUST SAID THE WORD FIREARMS IN OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. UM THAT THIS IS ALL A RESULT OF THE 80. FAITH 88 LEGISLATIVE QUESTION, UM AND RELATED TO HOUSE BILL THREE, STATING THAT AS OF SEPTEMBER 1ST , WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE AN ARMED, UM, STAFF MEMBER OR PERSON ON ALL CAMPUSES. THAT IS A STATE UNFUNDED MANDATE, AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE REFERRING TO, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE DEFERRING TO THE NEXT BOARD MEMBER BOARD MEETING TO TALK ABOUT IT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, MR PROJECT. YOU SAID UNFUNDED. I THINK WE GOT 28 CENTS. I STAND CORRECTED. WE GOT HOW MANY CENTS 28 28 CENTS PER STUDENT FOR THAT, AND THAT THAT MANDATE CAMPUS OKAY, SO ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM? ALRIGHT SO FOR THE RECORD, LET IT SHOW THE ITEM 16, TITLED CONSIDERING APPROVED LOCAL POLICIES HAS BEEN MOVED THE
[7. Comments from the Board Members Regarding Posted Agenda Items]
SEPTEMBER 7TH MEETING. THE BOARD WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS REGARDING POSTED AGENDA ITEMS BOARD MEMBERS. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? YOU WISH TO MAKE IT THIS TIME RELATED TO THE POSTED AGENDA? ALL RIGHT. WELL LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR AGENDA. WE ARE GONNA GO TROJANS AT THE FOOTBALL STADIUM AND WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 6 49. PM* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.