VOL 10 No. 43
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City
Sugar Land tightens its belt — literally Early voting in progress for state By SESHADRI KUMAR The City of Sugar Land seems to be taking the revenue shortage so seriously that it is really “tightening the belt.” First thing first. The meal that councilmembers get during city council meetings is the right place to start. On the day city council was to adopt the proposed budget cuts, council members received an email form the city manager saying that the city would not get dinner catered from a restaurant as usual and to save costs, it will get fast food. It is not clear how much the city saved by this belly tightening measure in a $91 million operational budget. Next, the city slashed the usual muffin breakfast served during the quarterly Homeowners Association meeting. Of course, the infamous city pool closure proposal, designed to save $40,000 was promptly rescinded after receiving a mouthful from parents and children who patronized the 47-year-old swimming pool, the home of Sugar Land Sharks. As luck would have it, the previous Friday, a vacancy arose in the city’s public works department and the city manager promptly allocated the $90,000 saving to the pool operation as well as to perform needed repairs. The budget crisis was ostensibly caused by three councilmembers Mary Joyce, Amy Mitchell and Carol McCutcheon, who opposed the proposed tax rate of 32.233 cents for $100 valuation, which represented 3% more than the effective tax rate. In other words, it would have increased the tax rate by 0.638 cents. If the three council members had stood their ground, the tax rate would have remained flat at 31.595 cents. But, McCutcheon proposed much lesser increase and a tax rate of 31.762 cents was adopted. That marked a 0.167 cent increase in tax rate. The city would have received $600,000 less from property taxes in the general fund than planned in the budget due to the adoption of a tax rate of 31.762 cents. So, one would have thought
the city could easily find $600,000 in a $90 million operational budget. Instead of spreading the $600,000 cut across the board, which would have affected the departments very minimally, the administration chose some targeted cuts, namely recurring in nature. In their words, they kept the “needs,” and cut the “wants.” If the administration limited itself to the anticipated cuts worth $600,000 to balance the budget, the unfilled vacancies and the cancellation of the state of the city address, the calendar, Sugar Land Magazine and the like would have sufficed. Few would have felt the impact. A Sugar Land resident, Syed Kareem, said in an email to the city and council members: “Making cuts that are the most easily identifiable by the general public almost seems retaliatory for not getting the tax increases requested.” Martha Adkison wrote on the city’s Facebook page: “Thanks for listening...but here’s an idea...next time, instead of trying to ram a budget cut through, giving the public 33 hours notice and creating unnecessary fear, fury, and tears in the eyes of children of a recreational swim team, how about doing a bit more due diligence to your job. It should not take the tears of children and a swim team to educate our public officials.” The sentiment was widely prevalent and certainly among the three councilmembers who opposed the tax rate hike. Joyce did not mince her words and agreed with Sugar Land residents who felt that the cuts were retaliatory. “We did not vote for a tax increase. We faced a lot of backlash,” Joyce told the audience at the Oct. 17 city council meeting. “All of a sudden the sky is falling...desperate times..is it really that bad? she asked about the city painting a bleak financial picture. Alluding to the suggested pool closure, Joyce recalled the city’s donation to the Texas State Technical College in Rosenberg. “We sent $100,000 to Rosenberg. Let’s get it back,” she said
rhetorically. Instead of the projected $600,000 cut, if the city adopts $1.8 million cut in general budget and $34 million in capital projects, saying it is your fault; you did not vote for the tax increase, Joyce said: “Go ahead and blame me. I am not voting for a budget with so much cuts.” Mitchell too questioned the rationale behind the steep cuts, especially in cutting the animal shelter and emergency operation center, directly linked to the upcoming annexation of New Territory and Greatwood. City Manager Allen Bogard said the city had adequate funds to meet the obligations arising out of the annexation. But, there is no debt capacity with the reduced tax rate to fund the capital projects. He hoped the problem would be tackled next year. Bogard said he would not expect the city council to sit idle over the next 5 years, not approve the necessary tax increase and watch the city streets and infrastructure crumble. Mitchell, at this point, asked Bogard if he was teaching them a lesson. Bogard said, “ No. I don’t appreciate that. That is not me.” His point was that he was merely showing the debt capacity was inadequate due to the lower tax rate. McCutcheon was not far behind. She questioned the need for allocating money for Harvey relief projects,while a study would be appropriate this year and if any project is needed at all, that would be in future years. McCutcheon said: I don’t think we should cut core events that our citizens really enjoy and that make our citizens proud. I disagree with eliminating the Fourth of July Celebration. The City spent $11.3 million on phase 2 of the Brazos River Park so more people could attend the event. This past July 4th, I was told that about 25,000 people attended. After a significant investment like this, it doesn’t make sense to shut it down after the festival site has only been used once for this celebration. Plus, July 4th fireworks is a 32-year tradition here in Sugar Land.” See TIGHT, page 3
Following is the official statement from Sugar Land’s communication department: City Council recently approved more than $1.5 million in reductions to the fiscal year 2018 budget, cuts needed to address lower than budgeted sales tax - particularly in the oil and gas related business sectors - and property tax revenues. The budget amendment focused on prioritizing “needs” versus “wants” in an effort to minimize the impact to the
city’s core services. Identified items were selected based on their recurring nature, supporting the city’s financial resiliency and balanced budget. Reductions include the elimination of three full-time positions; a reduction in merit-based salary increases; elimination of the printing and mailing of the quarterly newsletter, Sugar Land Today, and the city calendar; reductions in street sweeping, mulching and fertilizing of bed plantings in roadway medians, and tractor mowing along
roadways; cancellation of the city-funded New Years’ Eve and Star Spangled Spectacular events; reduction of services in parks and restructuring the senior holiday gala event; and others. Based on widespread community input, however, City Manager Allen Bogard recommended removing the closure of the city pool from recommended budget cuts. “We heard from the community, and we listened,” said Bogard. See BUDGET, page 3
City Council approves budget cuts, keeps city pool open
constitutional amendments and local bond elections
By SESHADRI KUMAR Early voting for the Nov. 7 general election has begun. The ballot has statewide Constitutional amendments and local school bonds and county mobility bonds. All Fort Bend County voters vote on the state constitutional amendments and county mobility bond, while Lamar CISD and Katy ISD have their school bond elections. Fort Bend ISD does not have a bond election this time. However, Missouri City has a special election for charter amendments and general election for one district council seat. The seven constitutional amendments on the ballot are: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of part of the market value of the residence homestead of a partially disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a partially disabled veteran if the residence homestead was donated to the disabled veteran by a charitable organization for less than the market value of the residence homestead and harmonizing certain related provisions of the Texas Constitution. 2)Amendment to establish a lower amount for expenses that can be charged to a borrower and removing certain financing expense
limitations for a home equity loan, establishing certain authorized lenders to make a home equity loan, changing certain options for the refinancing of home equity loans, changing the threshold for an advance of a home equity line of credit, and allowing home equity loans on agricultural homesteads.” 3) Amendment limiting the service of certain officeholders appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate after the expiration of the person’s term of office. 4) Amendment authorizing the legislature to require a court to provide notice to the attorney general of a challenge to the constitutionality of a state statute and authorizing the legislature to prescribe a waiting period before the court may enter a judgment holding the statute unconstitutional. 5) Amendment on professional sports team charitable foundations conducting charitable raffles. 6) Amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a first responder who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty and 7) Amendment relating to legislative authority to permit credit unions and other financial institutions to award prizes by lot to promote savings.
Fort Bend County is asking for voters’ approval of a $218.5 million mobility bond and the county promises that this will be accomplished with no tax rate increase. The bond plan calls for 63 countywide mobility projects. The bond funds will be leveraged with federal, state, local and private partners to provide a total of $388.2 million to address the county’s mobility priorities. How the money would be spent Precinct 1 • Bonds $55,210,000 • 18 Projects • Leverage $82,267,900 • Total Benefits $137,477,800 Major Projects: • FM 521 - 4-lane concrete boulevard; •Ransom Road; •BryanRoad •Old Needville Fairchild Road Precinct 2 • Bonds $55,410,000 •16 projects • Leverage $40,357,100 • Total Benefits $95,967, 100 Major Projects: • Bellaire Boulevard • West Airport Blvd • Watts Plantation Road • Chimney Rock Road Precinct 3 • Bonds $59,510,000 •12 projects • Leverage $29,994,200 •Total Benefits $88,504,200 Major Projects: • Cane Island Parkway See BONDS, Page 3
Vacek degree he began a private law practice in a firm in which he became a senior partner. The firm grew to eighteen lawyers and a clerical staff of fifty employees. He later became the managing partner of a firm of five lawyers. He was then appointed as judge of the 400th District Court of Fort Bend County where he served for over ten years before retiring. Vacek says “I believe that I am the most qualified candidate for this office and I look forward
to the opportunity to serve the people of Fort Bend County as their District Attorney.” Vacek has presided over hundreds of criminal jury trials, including a death penalty case and to his knowledge not a single criminal jury verdict has been overturned on appeal, something that makes him very proud. He has considered and either approved or rejected thousands of criminal pleas, search and arrest warrants, and grand jury subpoenas. He has qualified and impaneled numerous grand juries and answered questions they may have had about their duties and obligations. Vacek says,“The prosecution of criminal cases should be swift and vigorous but fair. The system should be as efficient as possible. I will work with the judges to find ways to reduce the number of times cases are reset which will result in the speedier disposition of cases, save the taxpayers money and timely dispense justice for the victims.” Vacek will be on the Republican ballot in the primary election on March 6, 2018.
Retired district judge Cliff Vacek to run for Fort Bend County DA Cliff Vacek, retired Judge of the 400th District Court, has announced his candidacy for the office of District Attorney of Fort Bend County in the upcoming election of 2018. Vacek previously served over ten years as District Judge before retiring in 2014. Since that time he has engaged in a limited private law practice and worked on his cattle ranch in Simonton. Vacek was born in Sugar Land and has been a lifelong resident of Fort Bend County. He graduated from Needville High School and attended the University of Texas and University of Houston where he earned his bachelor of science degree. He joined the Texas Army National Guard as a paratrooper in 1969 and upon completion of his active military duty he taught at Needville High School for two years. Vacek then entered law school at the University of Houston attending night classes while working full time as a maintenance technician for the National Guard. After completing law school and obtaining his juris doctorate