Week of SEPTEMBER 4, 2013 through SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
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Volume 09 Number 36
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Trustees Approve $104 Million Budget, Tax Rate Remains the Same
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Trustees adopted the Los Fresnos CISD budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year, and also approved setting the same tax rate as last year. Chief Financial Officer David Young presented the board with the proposed $104.2 million budget. Young said the total, which is $2 million less than the amended 2012-13 budget, could increase slightly with amendments. “We wanted to stay competitive in salaries for our teachers, and this ensures that we will have the best quali-
fied teachers for our students for years to come,” Superintendent Gonzalo Salazar said. Salary increases were also included in the budget across the board for employees who worked at least 90 days in the 2012-13 school year – including manual trades employees, paraprofessionals, teachers and administrators. The raises were five percent of midpoint for each level. “Los Fresnos CISD continues to be recognized as a leader in student
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achievement and is often held up as a model in the area of finance,” Salazar told the board. “The leadership you have provided over the years has resulted in the adoption of balanced budgets, a tax ratification election that has yielded the funds we need for the expansion of the ninth grade campus.” Los Fresnos United is scheduled to expand to include a sophomore class by Fall 2015. “We’re also working within our means to make improvements in facilities throughout the district,” Salazar said. At the start of the meeting, trustees held a public hearing to discuss the budget and tax rate that was to be adopted. Board members previously approved a proposal for a tax rate of $1.17 per $100 valuation for Maintenance and Operations, plus .02 for the Interest and Sinking Fund. The total tax rate of $1.19 per $100 valuation total is the same tax rate set since 2011. For five years prior to that, the tax rate was $1.20 per $100 valuation. “This hearing fulfills a legal requirement of providing our community with an opportunity to share comments and feedback on this topic.” Later in the meeting, trustees approved setting the tax rate. Salazar also thanked the board publicly for its support. “The stability we have had on the board and that you have provided
should be credited with the healthy position of our district,” Salazar said. “You continuously stress the fiduciary responsibility that we have to our community and have kept our focus on student achievement.” 2013-14 Budget Expenditures by Object Code •Personnel: $68,836,293 •Contracted services: $6,910,269 •Supplies and materials: $8,956,826 •Miscellaneous: $2,889,307 •Debt service: $4,917,207 •Capital outlay: $9,728,059 •Other uses: $1,994,576 •Total: $104,232,537 Construction Projects Proposed in 2013-14 Budget Projects under way: •Los Fresnos United: Band Hall, Locker Room, Chiller Upgrade, Parking Projects budgeted for 2013-14: •Los Cuates Middle School: Roof Replacement Projects in planning stages for 201314, but not in budget: •Texas Safe Shelter Initiative/Gym and Classroom Expansion •Los Fresnos High School: Welding Shop Expansion •Leo Aguilar Memorial Stadium: Field House/Weight Room/Practice Pool •Liberty Memorial Middle School: Tennis courts
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Los Fresnos Mayor Polo Narvaez presents a proclamation to the founder of International Education Services, Ruben Gallegos Ph.D ,(right) to honor the organization’s 25 years of service to the community. LFN Photo: MBWright The Los Fresnos City Commission presented a proclamation of recognition to International Education Services IES, Inc. for their many years of service to the community. IES, Inc. is a nonprofit and founded in 1984 by Ruben Gallegos, Ph.D. IES, Inc. operates a residential shelter and foster care programs in South Texas. The operation officially opened its doors in 1988 and is located in Cameron County. “On July 1, twenty-five years ago the first shelter for children opened its’ doors in Los Fresnos. We have helped children from Russia, Africa, China, Bosnia and many more. We have hired 283 employees from this community and we run a shelter, human resource office and training office here,” said Gallegos. The IES is currently working with approxi-
mately 600 children and has 600 employees in Brownsville, Los Fresnos, Harlingen and Driscoll. The non-profit organization operates on a $10.5 million budget. “We just want to thank the community of Los Fresnos for our good relationship through the years,” concluded Gallegos. The council concurred, noting that the organization brings many visitors into the community to eat and shop. The main focus of the IES,Inc. care and services is the normal, safe, and family-structured environment provided through several components. The purpose and overall concept of the IES Programs is to provide a life as normal as possible for the children in care. The children participate in normal living activities such as education, student coun-
cil, chores, recreation, religious, while learning to accept other responsibilities. Achievement of services provided is afforded through the following programs: The Emergency Shelter The Los Fresnos City Commission room was full of representatives from is a large residential facili- International Education Services as they were honored for their work in Los Fresnos and the Valley providing short-term emergency shelter and foster care ► CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 for unaccompanied alien children.
Commission Approves Service Contracts and Holds Budget Workshop The Los Fresnos City Commission held a special meeting Tuesday, August 27 to approve service contracts for the coming year and to hold a 2013-14 Budget Workshop. Contracts were awarded to the Los Fresnos Ambulance Service for $100,000, the Los Fresnos Volunteer Fire Department for $37,000, the Boys & Girls Club for $2000 and to the Chamber of Commerce for $12,000. In other business, the City Manager Mark Milum reviewed the proposed $4.9 million budget for 201314. The city operates under a $2.57 million budget, in addition to the utility budget of $2.36 million. The city approved the same tax rate of $0.711 and will see a small increase in revenues due to new construction
and some annexation. Milum noted some salary adjustments, but did not recommend across the board increases at this time. He explained the vehicle replacement plan for the city and recommended the purchase of one new patrol car for the coming year. Staff recommended expenditures for a virus protection software to help with computer down-time and the installation of automatic gates at the water and wastewater plants to increase security. Milum also said that the city street sweeper needed repair and they would look into the cost of fixing it or replacing the equipment. Another budget workshop is planned September 10 with approval scheduled before the end of the month.
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