email: editor@ independent.com
VOL 12 No. 22
Phone: 281-980-6745
www.fbindependent.com ww .fbindependent.com
FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2019
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City
Cocaine worth $1.4 million seized
The Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force, a multi-agency initiative of the Houston HIDTA, interdicted a large amount of cocaine on U.S. 59 North. On Wednesday, May 22, while working highway interdiction, one of the interdiction K-9 teams conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 59 north in the Kendleton area. During the roadside investigation, the Task Force
Officer and his K-9 partner, “Spyke,” located 29 kilograms of cocaine concealed in an aftermarket-fabricated compartment. “Our Drug Task Force does an excellent job of tracking down illicit drug traffic on our highways, particularly U.S. 59,” said Sheriff Troy Nehls. “And we also have to give a lot of credit to the K-9 teams we have out there tracking these perpetrators down.”
Alfredo Martinez, 50, of Rio Grande City, Texas, was arrested and booked into the Fort Bend County Jail on First Degree Felony charges of Manufacturing/Delivery of a Controlled substance and Second Degree Felony charges of Unlawful use of a Criminal instrument. The cocaine had an estimated street level impact of more than $1.4 million.
Fort Bend County GOP chair’s message of ‘freedom and hope’
Fort Bend County Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Justin Joyce administers the oath of office to Linda Howell, left. By SESHADRI KUMAR The Republican Party of Fort Bend County executive committee on Thursday elected Linda Howell as the party chair. Erstwhile chairman Jacey Jetton resigned recently to explore other opportunities in the party. Of the 69 precinct chairs who attended the special meeting, 45 supported Howell. Howell’s association with the party spans a long time. She was secretary and vice-chair of the party until her election to the chairman’s post. She is a former President of Fort Bend Republican Women’s Club, former President and Founder member of Spirit of Freedom Republican Women’s Club, Delegate, Alternate or At
Large Delegate to numerous Republican State and National Conventions. In 2016, at the Texas State Republican Convention, Howell was elected to serve on the Texas At Large Nominations Committee and was elected as an At Large Delegate to the National Republican Convention. She watched when Donald J. Trump accepted the Republican Nomination for President of the United States. She served as elected member of the Texas State Board of Education and was also a Board of Trustee member of the Fort Bend Christian Academy for six years. In a letter to the precinct chairs seeking their support
to serve as party chair, Howell said: “I am a staunch conservative, pro-life, pro-family, pro-Israel, Christian patriot. I stand firmly in support of President Trump and the policies he is tirelessly working to implement. After the election , Howell said: “As Chairman, I will work hard to share our unique and powerful message of freedom and hope. I ask you to join me as we move forward. The Republican Party shares the foundational and important values of the many communities in Fort Bend County. We proudly stand with these communities in promoting the principles and values of economic growth, lower taxes, individual freedoms, national and border security, quality of life, sanctity of life, faith, the right to bear arms, education and freedom. We will continue the quest for freedom and liberty. The 2020 election will be the most powerful challenge we will experience in sustaining the future stability of our country. Visit chairman@fbcgop.org”
FBISD plans for 13-cent tax rate increase and Tax Ratification Election By SESHADRI KUMAR The Fort Bend ISD administration has recommended a 13-cent tax rate increase and if the board adopts the new maintenance and operations tax rate of $1.17 and debt service tax rate of 28 cents per $100 property valuation, the district will have to call for a Tax Ratification election (TRE). The current tax rate is $1.06 for maintenance and operations and 26 cents for debt service. The district will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 3 in the Board Room of the Administration Building (16431 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land, 77479) to discuss the proposed tax rate for the 2019-20 school year. Immediately following the public hearing, the Board of Trustees will convene in a special meeting to vote on the proposed tax rate. Following the adoption of the tax rate, the school district will publish notice and hold another public meeting before the school district adopts a budget, which must be finalized by June 30 each year. FBISD’s Chief Finance Officer Steve Bassett told the board that the state funding uncertainty and the need to fund the District’s continued priorities, which includes compensation increases for all staff members and support for all learners, make the tax rate increase and the Tax Ratification Election, inevitable. Two of the pennies are
dedicated to pay debt service for the 2018 bond that voters authorized in November 2018; The remaining 11 pennies provide funding for important board priorities that include teacher and staff raises, Tier 3 behavior support for our elementary schools (the most severe instances), special education, full-day Pre-K for eligible students, and enhancing the Gifted and Talented program. The vast differences from FBISD to other districts is due to the funding formulas that are included in the bill, and the elimination of the Cost of Education Index, or CEI. Other factors include that not all districts are in recapture, and they have differing amounts of free and reduced participation. “The best case scenario for FBISD is that we would not have to do a Tax Ratification Election, but based on what has been proposed thus far, we don’t think that is likely. We are anxiously awaiting additional information about the final language while also preparing to adopt a budget, which is statutorily required by June 30,” according to FBISD spokesperson Amanda Bubela. “As it stands, PreK would be mandatory for eligible students. There is funding provided, but it is not fully funded, so we do not believe the proposed weights are adequate to meet the actual costs. Again, we are still waiting final details.” The current legislative
See FBISD, Page 3
Run-off election Early voting for the Sugar Land City Council Dist. 2 run-off election has begun. Early voting ends on June 4. Election day is Saturday, June 8. Naushad Kermally and Nabila Mansoor are in the runoff. Early voting locations include Sartartia Middle School 8125 Homeward Way, Sugar Land Sugar Land City Hall , and Sugar Land Fire Station # 7 1301 Chatham Ave.
Saturday, June 8th
Sponsored by Serving Fort Bend County for 28 years!
session has created much uncertainty related to school funding, and the bill under consideration does not look promising for our financial future, Bassett told the board on May 13. Based on the proposed funding formulas, Fort Bend ISD would not receive the windfall that some local districts could receive. Out of about 1,000 school districts in the state, FBISD is one of 16 districts that would receive less funding, it is believed. Calling a TRE provides maximum funding flexibility for the long-term, and also allows the district to finalize its budget that must be adopted in June -- in the midst of legislative uncertainty. Depending on the final outcome of the legislation on school funding, the district may not take all the 11 cents in increased tax rate and may adopt a lesser rate. While the final tax rate could be computed in August, the Tax Rate Election could be held in September. Following the state leaders’ announcement outlining about $9 billion in additional funding to schools last week, the FBISD administration said: “We are appreciative of our lawmakers’ efforts to reform school finance, as Fort Bend ISD agrees that the current system is broken. “We look forward to learning more about the final details of the plan announced