Before hearing details for a proposed deficit budget on Monday, Fort Bend Independent School District Board President Bob Broxson slammed the Texas Legislature for putting school districts in a fiscal hole.
“This year, in a move that I can see as having very little logic or justification, the legislature has put us and other school districts between a rock and a hard place with regard to funding,” Broxson said, in a statement he read at the beginning of a Monday afternoon FBISD budget workshop.
Later in that workshop, FBISD Chief Financial Officer Tracy Hoke presented a proposed 2009-2010 budget including a deficit nearly twice as big as last year’s – $18.7 million.
“Districts in our area are considering drastic measures just to break even. One district had been considering the repeal of its homestead exemption in order to avoid a massive budget deficit,” Broxson said.
“This year the state of Texas is requiring Fort Bend ISD to give teachers, counselors, nurses, librarians and speech pathologists a raise that will be approximately $1,000,” he added. “There was no consideration given to other employees that make up more than 50% of FBISD’s employees. This raise is not funded by the state, but is mandated to be taken out of the ‘funding formula’ approved by the legislature.”
Broxson said as a result, the district will have just $2.1 million in “new money to meet its ongoing costs and initiative.”
“Last year this board passed the first-ever deficit budget,” Broxson said. We took this measure because we felt it was patently unfair to our employees, who have worked so hard to make significant strides in academic achievement not to receive an increase in compensation.”
The budget to which Broxson referred, under which the district still is operating, included a $9.9 million deficit.
“I am proud to say that, through a series of initiatives and belt-tightening activities, we have been able to drastically reduce or even eliminate this deficit,” he said.
Despite having to reduce spending, Broxson said, FBISD achieved “tremendous academic results and achievements across this entire district,” meeting all required Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills performance measures – save one – to be ranked academically by the state as a “Recognized” district.
According to the Texas Education Agency, FBISD had too many “under-reported students,” which includes former students who didn’t return to the district in fall 2008, and whose status couldn’t be verified by the TEA.
Broxson said the district is appealing that decision.
“The current budget does not forecast growth for the district,” Broxson said. “It does not forecast an increase in revenue due to an increase in our operations and maintenance tax rate, and it does not allow us to pursue many of the initiatives that are crucial to our ongoing success as a school system.”
“We are facing very hard times as a school district. This year’s budget cycle is going to be very tough,” he said. “But let me sound the warning alarm now, next year is going to be worse, and us as a board will have decisions to make that will be more difficult than we would have imagined even two years ago.”
Nonetheless, he added, “we are committed to moving forward with optimism and knowledge that the accomplishments we will see from our teachers, administrators and, ultimately, from our students, will be better with each coming year.”
17. August 2009 at 10:13 pm
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!
17. August 2009 at 4:01 pm
Dunn Leaves FortBendNow….
…Sad news reached the watch-group staff this morning involving a local reporter and resident who 4 years ago founded what would revolutionize, in our community, web-based news reporting. The articles were often cutting edge, for this county and will be missed. Not only did Bob Dunn allow the public to comment on the stories, which at the time was novel, he developed a strong network in the area that would provide the “other side” of the issues.
Almost a year ago Mr. Dunn sold FBN and with it the opinion editorial pages vanished. He took on the editorial supervisory role with the firm. Comments on stories were still allowed, but as often is the case, in this type of media, advertising pressure seemed to drive the ever increasing releases from public relations interests.
Good luck with your future endeavors Bob! We know your pen won’t remain silent for long.
(The above words were plagerized from http://fbisdwatch.blogspot.com/
but the feelings that they represent are authentic and deeply felt!)
15. August 2009 at 7:12 pm
Amazing how some make false assumptions in here and then willingly libel posters, attack hard working teachers, while defending those responsible for the poor leadership and big vendor feeding that has driven our debt and taxes up and then calls themselves a conservative. Shame, shame, shame on you Bob! It’s hard to believe you were elected to any seat for anything, but I’m sure you are feeding those vendors like a good boy.
15. August 2009 at 6:30 pm
LOL.
15. August 2009 at 5:51 pm
FS once again you are correct, it is indeed sad that you are a teacher and need help to defend yourself by the union shill.
Thanks for making my point.
15. August 2009 at 4:00 pm
Thanks SAntony for being truthful, correct, and bringing the topic on course.
I agree, ft bend conservative/JBB tosses out slop and hopes someone will buy it in trying to defend the indefensible by talking trash based upon skewed subjective opinions without any facts to back it up as well as to talk in circles; and once cornered with facts, attempts to back away as if it is his opposing debater who is at fault and lacks comprehension of what his projected views are/were from the inception of the discussion. It is so lame, pathetic, and cowardly. Everyone sees through the bogus nothingness of which he speaks.
15. August 2009 at 3:32 pm
I think some would rather just continue their attacks on those that work directly with our children rather than face the fact that the board is continuing the tax and spend policies of the administration. For example for the second year in a row the district is raising taxes to promote projects that the community did not vote for in the 2007 bond and has to increase those taxes just to feed the debt. I remember reading that the vendor apologist defended those higher central office salaries and the 2 increases the superintendent gave himself while the district is running its second multi-million dollar budget deficit. A historical first for FBISD. Is this good leadership?
15. August 2009 at 2:12 pm
once again FS your reading comp skills have let you down, I have no beef with teachers. I’m merely pointing out the agenda of the unions. How hard is that to grasp?
15. August 2009 at 11:57 am
factually–I’m just glad the teachers group is with us on wasteful spending directed away from classroom instruction and materials as is the case with the duplicate $30m project, 15 million in no bid contracts and record debt, tax increases and general mismangement. I also noticed they are keeping a sharp eye on the hidden “fund balance” taken from prior bond issues (against taxpayers permission). I always find it particularly interesting to see the local vendor apologist knocking the teachers defending the tax increases and spending along with the debt while referencing himself as some sort of conservative. I noticed he was defending the very late pay that some district employees were waiting for months to receive (which in most industries is illegal).
I no longer accept the finger pointing game Jenney or the current BOT is engaged in. When I see them break on just one vote, then I will have tremendous respect for that action. For now they will continue to “rubber stamp” spending increases, tax increases and point the finger as directed by Jenney and the special interests (I call them district vendor feeders). They do not represent my interests or at least 500+ other taxpayers who signed the petition for them to resign. Further, at last years tax hearing, Howard showed up to chastise the board for actions he took which helped raise taxes in the district and our debt into the top ten in the state. I noticed he didn’t show up this year. I would encourage the constant attack by the vendor apologist to discontinue. It’s making him look very foolish and as an elected council official he shouldn’t want that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW2Jq2HWaAk (tax hearing video)
15. August 2009 at 9:41 am
Au contraire, FtBendConservative; Educators’ Unions in Texas wield no such powers as the one that you have given as an exemplar. No comparison whatsoever; Educators’ Unions in Texas do nothing more than stand as staunch reminders to the school district administrators and BOT of what the rules are in education as set forth by TEA under the auspices of the Texas legislatures in trying to keep school districts and BOT’s honest and accountable to adhering to what is already written rules/laws in education in “not” violating teachers rights.
In my humble opinion based upon my observed and known experiences, Houston Federation of Teachers as well as the San Antonio Teachers Council local arm of TSTA have done best at keeping their respective school districts and BOT‘s accountable and on target regarding the rules in education of what is acceptable/unacceptable behavior toward teachers and what can and cannot be done in violation of teachers’ rights.
15. August 2009 at 9:02 am
“eachers get paid on a 10 month contract and they can opt to have their respective pay divided by 12 months so as to have a pay check coming in each month, spread over a 12 month period. Yikes, such ignorance by this poster”
FS do teacher’s WORK 10 mos or 12, it doesn’t matter if you’re paid over 10 or 12 mos. Ignorance is bliss.
Once again for the ones with no reading comprehension skills, I’m not knocking teachers I’m pointing out the union shills and their negative influence on the budget. Sorry if that bothers some but if recent memory serves me the union just put GM under and they needed a taxpayer bailout. Why let them do the same with edu?
15. August 2009 at 8:34 am
However, with the record number figures I heard yesterday about the number of former engineers, MBA’s, etc., who recently signed teaching contracts, the pay for teachers just might finally reach “real professional” pay status. Eat your heart out and turn green with envy, Fortbendconservative/JBB.
15. August 2009 at 8:20 am
Teachers get paid on a 10 month contract and they can opt to have their respective pay divided by 12 months so as to have a pay check coming in each month, spread over a 12 month period. Yikes, such ignorance by this poster who claims to be conservative. Again Teaching is a professional career and compared to other professional career like the field of engineering, medical doctors, law attorneys, the teaching career has a low pay comparatively to other professional career fields.
14. August 2009 at 5:53 am
SoupNazi,
Your post #15 hit the bull’s eye. Bravo!
The unbelievable, ignorance which bounds regarding the attempts by some to not recognize the “Classroom Teacher” in the Teaching Profession as a Professional never ceases to amaze me.
The retail and fast food mangers who are insurgents in education are not the only ones who have applied the Wal-Mart perception to teachers. Why is it that people do not comprehend that a college graduate who becomes a classroom teacher is a Professional? And to that end, being a professional, inherently, are certain benefits.
Teaching does “not” fall within the category of a blue collar job.
Within the designated annual bank of leave days for teachers, some can be taken as sick days for personal or family illness; or days can be used as professional days for professional development, while some others can be used as personal business days, according to varied district rules, some may require at least a 24 hour approval prior to being granted. And of course any unused leave can be used for bereavement.
Even though, great pains are taken by “some” to minimize Teachers, but nonetheless, no matter how you slice it, Teaching is a Professional Career.
It is like a dumbing-down mindset to devalue the teacher as a profession yet, attempt to elevate the administrators as professionals. To remain a classroom teacher for one’s entire career is not as if the classroom teacher remained a blue collar and never became a white collar in administration. To attempt to utilize the same set of rules in retail and fast food chains and/or management are not applicable to the Teaching Profession.
13. August 2009 at 9:19 pm
SoupNazi,
Your post #15 hit the bull’s eye. Bravo!
The unbelievable, ignorance which bounds regarding the attempts by some to not recognize the “Classroom Teacher” in the Teaching Profession as a Professional never ceases to amaze me.
The retail and fast food mangers who are insurgents in education are not the only ones who have applied the Wal-Mart perception to teachers. Why is it that people do not comprehend that a college graduate who becomes a classroom teacher is a Professional? And to that end, being a professional, inherently, are certain benefits.
Teaching does “not” fall within the category of a blue collar job.
Within the designated annual bank of leave days for teachers, some can be taken as sick days for personal or family illness; or days can be used as professional days for professional development, while some others can be used as personal business days, according to varied district rules, some may require at least a 24 hour approval prior to being granted. And of course any unused leave can be used for bereavement.
Even though, great pains are taken by “some” to minimize Teachers, but nonetheless, no matter how you slice it, Teaching is a Professional Career.
It is like a dumbing-down mindset or process to devalue the teacher as a profession yet, attempt to elevate the administrators as professionals. To remain a classroom teacher for one’s entire career is not as if the classroom teacher remained a blue collar and never became a white collar in administration. To attempt to utilize the same set of rules in retail and fast food chains and/or management are not applicable to the Teaching Profession.
13. August 2009 at 8:25 pm
Don’t congratulate me it doesn’t take much effort to match wits with the poorly informed.
As previously stated why waste so much time and energy with a small amount of waste when the budget dwarfed by payroll being 87%. As the union shills chant teachers are underpaid, as a starting teacher is given $45k for a ten month job with various sham incentives and bonuses such as bi-lingual skills.
I remember Ms Baitland proudly proclaiming there were approximately 119 languages spoken in FBISD, why do we only incent spanish and not the rest of the 118? Its called waste and its on a massive scale.
13. August 2009 at 5:34 pm
Good answer JBB FTbendHammerhead. I’m just glad that I could set the record straight for you.
13. August 2009 at 5:13 pm
Another thing FtBendConservative you defends such waste and higher salaries for upper administration while knocking the teachers always?
Please anwers that.
13. August 2009 at 5:12 pm
I find it hard to believe that anyone calling themselves a “ftbendconsdervative” would defend the salary increases Jenney has given himself over the years along with the layers of new administration being near the salary of the last supt. and then calling the $30 million dollar vendor feeding project and duplicate museum, on our dime, a “smaller portion” as if the vendor project is a justifiable use of our tax dollars.
This is the very reason many have left the local vendor feeding party and found they have no where to go if they truly practice physical conservatism. The district wouldn’t be in the trouble it is in now if the special interest types didn’t run to our taxing entities everytime they need corporate welfare. Naturally we can always be certain one poster will defend the real waste. I wonder what he thinks of the 15 million in “no bid” contracts at the district and the near 50 million in “no bid” contracts for some campaign contributors at the county level. Yes, yes that’s just good fat cat business that needs to be defended, not corporate welfare or vendor feeding on the backs of the taxpayers…..give me a break. I like this pseudo “ftbendvendorfeeder” . . . lol
13. August 2009 at 5:09 pm
By the way FtBendConservative you calls youself
a conservative while pushing special interest vendor projects like this almost every time. Why do you?
Is that have to do with Sarah Palin also?
13. August 2009 at 4:54 pm
Way go SoupNazi
FtBendConservative was been wrong on taxes issues and on this matter
He is on stupidity of sarah palin’s on healthcare.
13. August 2009 at 4:11 pm
SoupNazi stop being such a bore
13. August 2009 at 3:48 pm
You are wrong ft bend Hammerhead. I know what you are trying to say and your assumption is incorrect. Educators are given state and local leave. This is off time that they earn and bank yearly. Just because the Walmart you work at doesn’t provide you with leave doesn’t mean that the rest of America has to suffer the same. It also doesn’t equate to the District paying and supporting the union.
If someone who is not a member of the union goes takes a day off and goes to the beach does that mean that the district is subsidizing the beach? Just because your teachers failed on educating you, don’t take it out on the rest of the teachers. Turn off Rush Limpbag and pick up a book without pictures of pitbulls with lipstick.
13. August 2009 at 2:30 pm
“When a FBISD employee who is not a full time union employee goes on union business not only is their salary paid by tax payers so is their benefits.”
I’m sorry, what part of that statement can’t you grasp?
and once again what does that have to do with Sarah Palin?
If you are honest and really want to reduce taxes in FBISD go after the BIG waste. As CFO Hoke stated salaries amount to 87% of the budget. What part of that is paid to what I addressed and to such waste as extra pay for bi-lingual etc.
The big waste is in the 87% portion of the budget not the smaller portion which so many here seem to be obsessed with.
13. August 2009 at 2:04 pm
FtBendConservative YOU are wrong again!!!
13. August 2009 at 2:00 pm
“When a FBISD employee who is not a full time union employee goes on union business not only is their salary paid by tax payers so is their benefits.”
Not only is that factual what does it have to do with Sarah Palin?
13. August 2009 at 11:27 am
FtbendConservative-
Zero tax dollars are given by the district to the “unions.” Geet your fact straight before spouting your ignorance. Union business is conducted by the union leadership who are paid by the union organizations.
Your comments rival the stupidity of sarah palin’s on healthcare.
13. August 2009 at 9:14 am
“A school District does not pay for the union” is correct. Tax dollars do. When a FBISD employee who is not a full time union employee goes on union business not only is their salary paid by tax payers so is is their benefits.
13. August 2009 at 5:59 am
A school district does not pay for the union.
13. August 2009 at 1:52 am
santhony-I appreciate your remarks on Mr. Howard. He is a politician who will eventually be replaced due to his probably retirement. Who is standing in the wings to replace him? Who is being groomed to be a more responsive representative?
While the verbal discussion continues, the efforts to replace the BOT up for reelection in 2010 should be very aggressive. It appears that the voices of the opposition are either a minority viewpoint, not sufficiently visible, or ineffectively organized.
The last of the three conditions can be addressed with expected successful remedies. A marketing strategy and plan can increase visibility and committed leadership will address organization.
The Community Education Council assisted a local initiative that successfully halted an undesireable project of the FBISD. In today’s economic climate, a 20+ million dollar expenditure, funded by a tax increase creates fertile ground for opposition in a traditionally conservative community.
Leadership and marketing, added to the rhetoric, in my humble opinion could change the BOT in the next election cycle AND the state representation soon thereafter.
When and where does the opposition meet? We can further the organization effort at http://www.heat.groupsite.com.
12. August 2009 at 7:28 pm
FBISD should eliminate all tax dollars that’s paid to the union to conduct union business instead of going to educate the children.
I suggest every taxpayer write or call the Supt and Board and ask they eliminate such wasteful spending of tax dollars.
If the employees want a union fine but tax dollars shouldn’t pay for it.
12. August 2009 at 1:13 pm
Heated, we already know Charlie Howard has a great deal to do with the bond debt in our district, because he formed the PAC that pushed ads through in support of it and then spoke out against the tax increase last year that he helped create, but the board also pushed through that record bond debt on false projections. We also know Charlie helped push through the ed. bill that recaptures so much of our local funding.
Perhaps you all need to network with the local grassroots groups or the district watch group that are already on top of these issues and pushed through the 500+ petition drive for the board to resign after caving to the desires of the district vendors involved with the GSTC (who were also involved with the record bond debt that placed the district in the top ten in the state). No our aim is very clear!
12. August 2009 at 9:47 am
FBISD is already known by FBISD BOT, tobe a poor school district inprovery, compare to Staffords.
12. August 2009 at 9:15 am
I am generally hard on school board members, but in defense of their difficult position, attention also needs to be focused on the state level decision makers. Board trustees take the heat when state legislators pass the “raise taxes” buck to the school district level. Most aggravation is then focused on local officials and the state officials remain relatively distant to all but the most informed and concerned. The grassroots Community Education Council is designed to organize local community stakeholders for a more assertive approach to these critical concerns. Elected officials respond to effective grassroots movements. Express yourself at http://www.heat.groupsite.com “Education Today”.
11. August 2009 at 2:06 pm
total tax collections in the district are still rising not falling. everyone is still getting appraisals higher than the previous year, where does the money go? does it go to poorer districts?
11. August 2009 at 11:42 am
“Before hearing details for a proposed deficit budget on Monday, Fort Bend Independent School District Board President Bob Broxson slammed the Texas Legislature for putting school districts in a fiscal hole.”
____________________________________________________
Please. Stop building duplicate science centers that will cost tax payers 20something MILLION dollars just to build and you wouldn’t be in the hole. I am so sick of these people passing the blame when they have nobody but themselves to blame.
11. August 2009 at 11:21 am
“We are facing very hard times as a school district. This year’s budget cycle is going to be very tough, but let me sound the warning alarm now, next year is going to be worse, and we as a board will have decisions to make that will be more difficult than we would have imagined even two years ago.”
Is he saying that we do, or do not, have 30 to 90 million to invest in a Global Science Center that is less than 2 miles from the renowned Houston Museum of Natural Science satellite? Also when are the documents that the state Attorney General declared must be released, going to be released and published?