Dewhurst sets stage for the interim
After months of anticipation, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has appointed several new Senate committee chairmen and handed out the interim charges for all Senate panels to study before the next regular session in 2007.
Among the new chairmen is Sen. John Carona (pictured) of Dallas, who will lead the Transportation and Homeland Security Committee. Sen. Kip Averitt from McGregor will chair the Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Kim Brimer of Fort Worth will head the Administration Committee, and Sen. Mike Jackson of La Porte will chair the Nominations Committee. Dewhurst said a new Senate Subcommittee on Capital Funding for Higher Education, to be chaired by Sen. Judith Zaffirini of Laredo, will be charged with reviewing the process for funding construction, renovation and technology infrastructure on higher education campuses throughout the state.
Click here for a list of the interim charges. Click here for a list of Senate committees and their members.
Feds sending $700M for new DART lines
Dallas Area Rapid Transit's light-rail expansion plans got a huge boost this week when officials at the Federal Transit Agency announced that they will support DART's $700 million funding request to help build the northwest and southeast rail lines. The amount committed to DART will be paid out over a number of years as the lines are built. DART will get the initial installment of $80 million next fiscal year. Federal officials said they were impressed with DART's commitment to also spend $700 million of its own money to build the 21 miles of rail from Pleasant Grove to Farmers Branch.
Perry names four to HHS Council
Gov. Rick Perry has appointed four individuals to the Health and Human Services Council, which assists in developing policies and rules for the Health and Human Services Commission as well as making recommendations regarding management and operation of the commission.
Appointees are: Fernando Treviņo (pictured) of Southlake, dean of the School of Public Health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center; Kathleen Angel of Austin, director of global benefits, global mobility and international compensation with Dell Inc.; San Antonio attorney Robert Valadez; and Maryann Choi of Georgetown. Choi, who was reappointed to the HHS Council, is the CEO of SunStar Geriatric Healthcare. All appointments are subject to senate confirmation.
UT regents approve $150M stadium expansion
The University of Texas' Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin is in line for a $149.9 million remodeling and expansion plan. Regents approved the plan Thursday, which will add seats and reinstate the stadium's homage to veterans.
Built in 1924 as a memorial to UT students and alumni who fought and died in World War I, the stadium was rededicated in 1977 to all Americans who fought in any war. The expansion, which is scheduled for completion in August 2008, calls for the replacement of the north end zone structure with a multi-level complex that includes additional seats, club space, suites, athletic offices, academic-advising areas and a basement with gym space. Seating capacity overall will rise to more than 90,000 from the current 80,082. The new outdoor plaza at the northwest corner will be a memorial to veterans, with a bronze tablet honoring Texas World War I deaths, a monument, landscaping and new stadium entry gates between two towers rising 115 feet, same as the towers in the east grandstand. The stadium is the home field for the National Champion Texas Longhorn football team, which will head to the White House on Tuesday to meet with President Bush.
Taylor reappointed as Chief Administrative Law Judge
Gov. Rick Perry has reappointed Shelia Bailey Taylor of Austin as chief administrative law judge at the Office of Administrative Hearings for a term to expire May 15, 2007. The chief administrative law judge oversees hearings in contested cases to ensure they are conducted objectively, promptly and efficiently. Taylor has served as chief administrative law judge since 1996.Click here to read TGI's recent profile on Taylor.
Comptroller: State has more than $4B to spend
Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn has revised previous estimates and now says that the state has $4.3 billion on hand to spend on education or property tax cuts this spring. The surplus is a result of Gov. Rick Perry's vetoes last year and revenue produced by higher-than-expected tax receipts last year, some of which was a result of taxes on rising gas prices.
State's criminal justice advisors propose major changes
Texas should consider using satellite-tracking devices on select sex offenders, creating a statewide system of public defenders and make it easier for courts to order DNA tests for convicts who claim they are innocent, according to Gov. Rick Perry's Criminal Justice Advisory Council. The council submitted many other recommendations this week.
Nueces County may help fund A&M pharmacy school
Nueces County officials are considering sharing some unexpected wealth with Texas A&M University-Kingsville's pharmacy school. County Judge Terry Shamsie (pictured) told commissioners on Wednesday that he expects the county to have a budget surplus of between $5.1 million and $5.9 million this year, and close to $28 million during the next six years. That's about $15 million more than previously predicted.
When the surplus was expected to be $14 million, commissioners planned to put it toward Heritage Center, an approximately $25 million arena to be built at the county's new fairgrounds. But now, Shamsie said there were more decisions to make. Shamsie said commissioners could use the money to pay cash for Heritage Center, or - to the delight of A&M administrators - they could leverage the money to pay for the facility and have some left to help A&M-Kingsville fund its Irma Lerma Rangel School of Pharmacy. A&M was hopeful that the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) would appropriate money for the pharmacy school, but the LBB has not.
Pitts drafting education finance bill
Appropriations Chair Rep. Jim Pitts of Waxahachie said he is drafting a school finance bill that would cut property taxes and raise teacher pay. He intends to introduce the bill to the Legislature when the special session begins this spring.
Brimberry named president of state pharmacy board
Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Michael Brimberry of Austin president of the board of the Texas State Board of Pharmacy for a term at the pleasure of the governor. The board oversees the licensing and regulation of Texas pharmacists and pharmacies. Brimberry is a pharmacist with Seton Healthcare Network in Austin. He previously served on pharmacy and therapeutics committees for more than 12 years, and founded a pioneer software development and marketing company, where he served as president and chief executive officer. His appointment to the pharmacy board is subject to senate confirmation.
Voters say no to school bonds
Voters turned down at least three bond proposals earlier this month. Wimberley ISD voters south of Austin rejected a $42 million bond proposal for a new elementary and high school as well as repairs to existing facilities. At the Carroll ISD, voters rejected Proposition 2, a $19.5 million proposal for technology upgrades. At the Rockwall ISD, voters turned down Propositions 2 and 3 for a football stadium expansion/renovation and an auditorium.
Austin sets big bond election for November
The Austin City Council on Thursday deferred a massive bond referendum until November, sidestepping the May date that many supporters had pushed. Council members said they need a few months to shave elements off of a $615 million bond package recommended by a citizen advisory committee. Council Member Betty Dunkerley (pictured), who spent years as one of the city's financial gurus, wants the proposal trimmed to about $500 million to maintain the city's financial health.
The committee's recommendation includes $90 million for a new central library, $67.5 million for lower-income housing and $92.3 million for aquifer protection land and other open space, plus millions more for drainage, transportation, and facilities.
San Antonio reorganizes leadership
San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley, who was hired late last year, has shuffled some of her staff. Sculley (pictured) appointed a pair of new deputy city managers - Jelynne LeBlanc Burley and Pat DiGiovanni. Burley has worked for the city for more than 20 years, most recently as assistant city manager. DiGiovanni comes to San Antonio from Michigan, where he has served most recently as the director of economic and community development for Michigan Technical Education Center at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
In related moves, Sculley has appointed Erik Walsh as assistant city manager. She has also named Di Galvan to the post of director of the Department of Communications and Public Affairs. Sculley has also appointed Edward Benavides as executive assistant to the city manager. Benavides will coordinate special projects for the city manager's office. The new appointees will join a city manager team that already includes assistant city managers Frances Gonzalez and Michael Armstrong, as well as Roland Lozano, who is an assistant to the city manager.
10 students appointed to be university regents
Gov. Rick Perry recently appointmented 10 individuals as the student regent for their respective university systems for terms to expire Feb. 1, 2007. In 2005, Gov. Perry signed legislation providing that each public university board of regents shall include one student member. Student regents will have the same powers and duties as the members of the board of regents, with the exception of voting and being counted to determine a quorum, which is the number of members necessary to start a meeting. Click here for list of appointees and their respective universities.
Senators call for Wright compromise
U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn are urging airline and government leaders in North Texas to come up with a compromise on allowing long-haul flights at Dallas Love Field. If not, they warn, Congress might overturn the Wright amendment in a fashion that could be distasteful to almost everyone. The senators pointed to last year's surprise - the addition of Missouri as the eighth state that can be served with interstate commercial flights from Love - as evidence that Congress is ready and willing to act.
Texas to get $15 million from FEMA
Texas will get $15 million in federal funds as reimbursement for shelter costs, debris removal and protection related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced this week. The funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and includes:
- $2 million to reimburse the Ark-Tex Council of Governments for costs from interim housing;
- $1.6 million to Dallas for sheltering costs;
- $2.4 million to the Jasper Newton Electric Co-op., for equipment and labor costs connected to debris removal following Rita; and
- $7.8 million to Lamar University in Beaumont, for protective measures and restoration after damages from Rita.
Austin confronted with costly IT project
A proposed charter amendment to put Austin's public records on line would cost more than $36 million to set up, and would take about $11.6 million annually to maintain, according to a city analysis. The proposed charter amendment being submitted by the environmental group Save Our Springs (SOS) Alliance calls for all future public information to be made available online and in "real time."
SOS has not yet turned in the necessary petition signatures to put the amendment on the May ballot but indicates that it could do so shortly. There is no clear deadline for submitting the petitions, which must have 20,000 valid signatures from registered Austin voters.
Texas Air National Guard changes commanders
The Texas Air National Guard changed commanders in a ceremony in Austin this week, with Maj. Gen. Charles G. Rodriguez, Adjutant General of Texas, presiding over the transfer of authority from Maj. Gen. Jerry Ragsdale to Maj. Gen. Allen Dehnert. A member of the Texas Air National Guard for almost 36 years, General Dehnert has served as Assistant Adjutant General-Air since 2002. The commander of the Texas Air National Guard is the senior officer within Texas Air National Guard state headquarters and acts on behalf of the Adjutant General of Texas, commanding, controlling and supervising all Air National Guard units within the state. The Texas Air National Guard numbers approximately 3,000 airmen.
Rep. Isett answers call to serve in war zone
Rep. Carl Isett of Lubbock announced this week that he will deploy to the Middle East in the coming weeks to help create a logistics battalion as a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve. Isett, a lieutenant commander, will be the third state legislator deployed to a Middle East war zone in the past two years when he goes to Kuwait and Iraq. Rep. Frank Corte of San Antonio, a Marine Corps Reserve colonel, will start a 7-month tour in Iraq later this month. Rep. Rick Noriega of Houston returned in August from a year in Afghanistan with the Texas National Guard.
Texas teachers in line for bonuses
Earlier this week, teachers at 100 Texas schools learned that they will compete with one another for a share of $10 million in incentive pay based on students' test performance. The cash is the first awarded under the Governor's Educator Excellence Award Program. All 100 rewarded campuses have a large number of low-income students, and each had a performance rating of "exemplary" or "recognized" last year, or had marked improvement in math and reading scores on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. Schools in the latter group had to rank in the top quarter of campuses with improved scores.
Abilene airport may use incentives to land new airline
The Abilene Regional Airport may soon offer incentives to airlines in exchange for bringing new air service to Abilene or upgrading existing service. The Airport Development Board approved a policy Wednesday that will allow officials to offer incentives to commercial airlines. Airport officials have been grappling with how to attract additional carriers, particularly those that offer service to the western part of the country.
Leander ISD eyes bonds to keep up with growth
The rapidly growing Leander ISD just north of Austin learned recently that construction and other improvements in the district could cost as much as $450 million over the next three to five years. With an eye toward a possible bond election on May 13, the school board has appointed a Citizens' Facility Advisory Committee to study the district's needs. While the district's wish list totals $450 million, an upcoming bond issue will likely cover just a fraction of that amount.
The Colony rejects civic center plan
The Colony will not get its long-planned civic center. The City Council narrowly voted against spending $1.6 million to build the civic center near the Dallas suburb's Five Star sports complex. Some council members said the city could not afford the project and should instead spend money on existing city buildings, roads and services.
Baytown proposes tax districts, redevelopment plan
Baytown City Council is discussing amendments to the city charter and the budget for two public safety sales tax districts, and also is toying with the idea of creating a committee to redevelop older areas of the city. Council is proposing two public safety sales tax districts, one for police and one for fire and EMS, and is preparing budgets for voter approval on the May election ballot. If approved by voters, city officials estimate the taxing districts could provide $750,000 in funding every year for each district to address needs of police officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel. The proposal to create a committee charged with redeveloping older parts of town is becoming controversial. Many believe investments should be made in new areas instead.
NASA to step up shuttle missions
President Bush's proposed NASA budget heavily supports the space shuttle, space station and future exploration programs, which is good news for Texas. The shuttle and station programs are based at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Officials said the plan will support 16 shuttle flights to complete the International Space Station and another to repair the Hubble Space telescope before the shuttle is retired in late 2010.
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Projects in the pipeline
By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
SPI's Research Division is constantly scouring the state for business opportunities in the public sector and uncovers dozens every day. Here are this week's hot opportunities:
- Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is taking bids from consultants that can provide non-IT consulting to its board of directors, including training;
- The County of El Paso is accepting proposals from health care consultants that can offer medical cost containment services;
- Bexar County is taking bids from vendors that can supply an automated fingerprint identification system. A pre-proposal conference is scheduled for Feb. 27;
- The Texas Building and Procurement Commission has allocated $15.5 million so the Texas State Library and Archive Commission can renovate the Loreno de Zavala building; and
- The Coppell ISD is considering a $50 million bond issue to buy land, acquire IT services and products, and repair and upgrade existing buildings.
Joseph Stafford joins SPI
Joseph Stafford, a 36-year veteran of higher education, is Strategic Partnerships, Inc.'s newest consultant. Stafford will primarily assist SPI clients interested in pursing business opportunities within the state's colleges and universities. Most recently, Stafford was a vice provost at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he also served as president for research and graduate studies. Prior to that, he was associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Texas System.
| ONLINE POLL |
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Do you favor restricting the use of cell phones by drivers in moving vehicles to only those which can be operated hands-free?
(Results will be published next week)
Last week, 67% of voters said they favor a 1% tax on business activity to help fund public schools, replace the corporate franchise tax and reduce property tax. 33% were opposed to the idea.
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Texas gains $88M for hurricane recovery
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt this week announced $550 million in funding to the 50 states and the District of Columbia for additional hurricane relief. Texas will receive almost $88 million of that amount, which can be used to provide health care, mental health and social services, as well as for the repair, renovation and construction of facilities providing those services to victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. A list of each block grant can be viewed online.
Denton looks at Wi-Fi
Denton City Council members this week asked staffers to test wireless Internet access, or Wi-Fi, at one of the city's three public libraries by this summer. Depending on the popularity, Denton could make all three libraries - and the popular Courthouse Square - Wi-Fi "hot spots" later this year or next year, said Alex Pettit, the city's chief technology official.
Southlake chooses public works director
The Southlake City Council approved the appointment of Robert H. Price as the director of public works during this week's council meeting. Price replaces former public works director Pedram Farahnak, who resigned in October 2005. Price starts the job on February 27 after serving as assistant director of public works for the City of Grapevine for the past 7 years.
Texas Economy Shifts into Higher Gear
After outpacing the national economy in 2005, spurred by a thriving energy industry, a surge in residential construction and an increase in manufacturing, the Texas economy will grow at a slightly faster pace in 2006, according to a new report from the Dallas Fed.
FEMA preps for 2006 hurricane season
With less than five months until the 2006 hurricane season starts, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is already preparing for this year's season. FEMA has commissioned studies by Gartner Research and other organizations and is looking at industry best practices. It is also helping bolster DHS' new Preparedness Directorate, which is assuming FEMA's preparedness activities.
| Ask the experts |
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Q: How can IT vendors get involved with Department of Information Resources' Go DIRect Program?
A: The Go DIRect Program allows agencies and local governments to purchase technology products and services directly from contracted vendors while at the same time satisfying the State's competitive bid requirements.
The Go DIRect Program is a demand driven program with the goal of providing the benefits of the State of Texas's considerable buying power to all government entities, regardless of size. DIR issues bids for products and services when customer demand is sufficient to merit a contract. DIR posts all bids on the Electronic State Business Daily. DIR reviews the responses and enters into contracts with vendors based on the best value for the State. Most contracts are for two year periods.
DIR supports the State's HUB Program and strongly encourages Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) to respond to bids. Historically about 30 percent of all DIR contracts sales are through HUB vendors. Further information can be found on DIR's website.
-Pat Hogan,
senior consultant at Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
Have a question for one of SPI's government affairs experts?
Drop us a line!
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Procurement articles online
Click here to view recent articles on government procurement authored by Mary Scott Nabers, president and CEO of Strategic Partnerships Inc., and published in the Austin Business Journal and Houston Business Journal.
[Editor's note: Mary Scott Nabers' procurement columns run regularly in the Austin Business Journal, Houston Business Journal, San Antonio Business Journal and the Dallas Business Journal]
Event Links
HUB Forums in February
Law Enforcement Regional Workshops - 2/10/06-3/8/06
DIR briefing on Shared Success: Building a Better Texas through Shared Responsibilities - 2/14/06
Executive Women in Texas Government (EWTG) Showcase Luncheon - 2/22/06
DIR's Internet Security Forumn - 3/28/06
TASSCC Technology Education Conference - 3/29/06
TCEQ's Environmental Trade Fair and Conference - 5/9/06-5/11/06
Texas Government Insider Archives
Volume 1, 2, 3 and 4 Archives - 11/7/03 - 2/3/06
Resources
2006 Election Calendar - NEW!
Summary of 79th Legislature enactments by Texas Legislative Council
Texas Fact Book '06-'07
LBB's Fiscal Size-up '06-'07
2005 State Strategic Plan for Information Resources Management
SAO report on full-time state employees for fiscal 2005
Texas Human Resources Management Statutes Inventory
TBPC Vendor Guide
State Budget Resources
HUB Forms Library
State Contract Management Guide
State Procurement Manual
Who Represents Me? Texas Districts By Address
Diagram of Texas' Biennial Budget Cycle
Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) is a research and consulting firm offering business development and public affairs services.
Founded in Texas in 1994 by former government executives and public sector experts, SPI has developed a national reputation as the premier marketing partner dedicated to helping companies secure contracts in the $1.5 trillion state and local government marketplace.
To learn more about SPI services click here or contact our sales department at 512-531-3900.
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