The Springtown Epigraph

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The

Thursday, August 28, 2014

www .spring town-epigr

aph.ne t Volume 51, Number 19

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Football season starts on Page 12A Friday

$1 Springtown, Texas 76082

SISD board approves budget, tax rate 2014-15 taxes drop 3 cents per $100 in property value by Natalie Gentry Following the first day of school for students, the Springtown Independent School District (SISD) Board of Trustees met to discuss the new school-year’s budget. District Chief Financial Officer, Gary Shaw led a public hearing during which he explained the process of establishing a tax rate sufficient to fund an assortment of education-related expenses. The budget The bulk of expenditures in the General Fund – and the budget overall – goes toward instruction, Shaw said. Approximately $15 million is budgeted for teacher pay and instructional materials. That number represents

more than half of the general fund’s $26 million budget. Shaw explained the manner in which the General Fund balance will be appropriated, indicating 78 percent of the balance will go toward payroll. Nearly half of budgeted salary expenses are earmarked for teachers and librarians, he said. “They are the ones who have the knowledge to pass on to our kids,” he stated. Every teacher received a raise, he noted, stating the payroll budget is about $888,000 higher than last year. Shaw noted that the copier lease costs are declining because many employees are using the scan feature to reduce the need for paper copies.

Shaw was also conservative in budgeting for student attendance, estimating 3,080 this year compared to 3,105 at the end of last year. In addition to the General Fund, Shaw detailed the budgeting process of the food service, debt service, and special programs funds. He proposed a budget totaling $33,400,671 million, a $1.3 million increase from last year.

SISD Chief Financial Officer, Gary Shaw explained the planning of the 2014-2015 school budget and tax rate during the School Board meeting Aug. 25.

Low H2O

The tax rate Shaw said he planned for $8.8 million in local tax revenue despite estimates showing the district could collect over $9 million by the end of the current year, explaining that he prefers to budget conservatively.

Shaw explained his budget estimates nearly $300,000 more in local revenue. In addition, he did budget for a higher level of state revenue based on the fact funding revoked several years ago is being reinstated during the upcoming year. Local taxes account for about 35 percent of the general fund revenue, Shaw noted, recommending lowering the rate of 41.91 cents per $100 in property value to 38.9 cents per $100. “After all the certified values came in, the calculations came in at a threecent reduction,” he said. “That’s good news for our taxpayers.” The board subsequently approved Shaw’s recommended budget and tax rate.

Tractor Parking

Dwindling levels in Lake Bridgeport lead to emergency raw water pump placement By Natalie Gentry In order to address the critically low lake levels on Lake Bridgeport, both the Walnut Creek Special Utility District (SUD) and the Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. have employed the North Richland Hills engineering firm of E.S. & C.M., Inc. to design emergency raw water pumping facilities. The problem with a severe low lake level is that the existing selection of on-shore raw water pumps are reaching a critical point where the can no longer effectively lift and pump water from the lake.

Area of concern Walnut Creek SUD furnishes water services to over 7,000 retail customers and supplies water to five cities, including the northern Springtown area. After reviewing proposals from several engineering firms E.S. & C.M., Inc. was selected for the project because they offered the best plausible solution when considering cost, quick response time, and the ability to address a prolonged drought with even further decline in lake levels. Solution to the problem Keith Hamilton, P.E., president of E.S. & C.M., Inc. and Bill Lohrke,

senior project manager, developed a positive method to place large pumps on a heavy-duty marine barge that would pump up to 15 million gallons of water per day into the existing submerged inlet for both Walnut Creek SUD and for Brazos Electric Power Coop. The engineering firm received emergency approvals from both the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and from the lake owner, Tarrant Regional Water District. The project has been under construc- You know you live in a small Texas town when there’s a tractor in a tion for about two weeks and consists parking space next to your SUV on the Square. Photo by Mark K. Campbell PLEASE SEE PUMP, PAGE 2A.

The heat is on Man found unconscious off Hwy. 199 by Natalie Gentry North Texas summers are notoriAs temperatures again soar to the usu- ously hot and first responders from the al August levels with temperatures top- Parker County ESD 1 are accustomed ping 100 degrees. area residents need to to responding to heat-related calls durtake caution when out in the heat. PLEASE SEE MAN, PAGE 2A.

A large pumping barge and a large work barge fitted with a heavy-duty crane can be seen on Lake Bridgeport as measures are taken to ensure continued water supply to Walnut Creek SUD. Paramedics and fire fighters from ESD 1 assist a man after he colPhoto by Stephanie Cravotta Photos courtesy of E.S. & C.M., Inc. lapsed due to overheating Aug. 20.

One injured in 2-car accident By Natalie Gentry One person was injured Wednesday Aug. 20 in a motor vehicle accident in the 2700 block of Jay Bird Lane, according to Reno police. The crash occurred when a blue Nissan Versa driven by Shelly Plumlee, 29, of Azle, was heading north on Jay Bird when the vehicle entered the southbound lane and struck a white Ford F150. The driver of the Ford, John McCormick, 40, of Fort Worth, attempted to

avoid the collision but was unable to do so. Plumlee’s vehicle struck the front of the truck, spun back across the road, and ultimately came to rest on the shoulder of the northbound lane. McCormick was uninjured, but Plumlee was transported via Lifecare to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth with incapacitating injuries. According to police, driver inattention may have been a contributing Reno Police Chief Hank Pope and a Department of Public Safety trooper discuss the scene of an acPhoto by Natalie Gentry factor. cident on Jay Bird Lane Aug. 20.

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