Craddick, Dewhurst release HHSC funding
Hospital emergency rooms, nursing homes and mental hospitals will get $240 million in stopgap funding transfers this year under a plan announced Thursday by House Speaker Tom Craddick and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
As a result of the action, Health and Human Services Commissioner Albert Hawkins (pictured) will be able to tap state and federal funds to avert crises this year in critical care areas that can mean the difference between life or death for some Texans. According to Craddick's office, the expenditures include: $4.3 million in general revenue and $4.3 million in federal funds to increase the personal needs allowance for long-term care facility residents from $45 to $60; $75 million in general revenue and $115.7 million in federal funds for nursing facility rate increases; $27.6 million in general revenue for EMS/trauma care; and, $13.4 million to expand the capacity of mental health state hospitals.
Last Summer, Gov. Rick Perry called on the Legislative Budget Board, of which Dewhurst and Craddick co-chair, to allocate $655 million more for critical needs. The Legislative Budget Board still must decide whether to allocate money to other pressing issues, such as a medical school in El Paso and a pharmacy school in Kingsville.
White House outlines proposed program cuts
The White House has released its Major Savings and Reforms report, which outlines the nearly 150 programs that President Bush has targeted for elimination or for major reductions in his proposed 2007 budget, which will take effect in October. Among the proposed cuts:
- The Department of Education's Education Technology State Grants program ($496 million), which has previously provided money to the states for things such as technology deployment, is targeted for elimination;
- About $94 million worth of state and local law enforcement assistance grants are proposed to be eliminated; and
- More than $33 million worth of savings from HRSA rural health programs.
Harper-Brown appointed to higher-ed committee
House Speaker Tom Craddick has appointed Rep. Linda Harper-Brown of Irving to the Legislative Oversight Committee on Higher Education, a joint committee created by the Texas Legislature in 2003. The committee is charged with regularly reporting to the legislature on each institute of higher education. Harper-Brown serves on the House Higher Education Committee, the Local and Consent Calendars Committee and is Vice-Chairman of the House Committee on Land and Resource Management.
Sunset staff announces key recommendations
Staff members of the Sunset Advisory Commission have released reports for the Texas Commission on the Arts, Texas Historical Commission, Texas Structural Pest Control Board and the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. The reports, which are posted online, recommend to the commission that all the entities studied continue operations for at least the next 12 years. The reports contain several other recommendations, such as closing the Texas Commission on the Arts’ Fort Worth office and dissolving the commission’s Cultural Endowment Fund.
The Sunset Advisory Commission is scheduled to review 24 agencies before the next regular session of the legislature in 2007, including the Texas Education Agency, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Office of Rural Community Affairs.
Houston chief: Cameras in lieu of cops
Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt proposed this week placing surveillance cameras in apartment complexes, downtown streets, shopping malls, and even private homes as a way of combating crime with a shortage of police officers. Houston is facing a severe police shortage because of too many retirements and too few recruits, and the city has absorbed 150,000 hurricane refugees who are filling apartment complexes in crime-ridden neighborhoods.
Tax Reform Commission continues statewide tour
The Texas Tax Reform Commission will meet Tuesday, Feb. 21, in Nacogdoches to gather recommendations on how to reform the state tax structure. The hearing is part of a series of public hearings the commission is holding across the state to gather input from Texans on how to modernize the tax structure and reduce property taxes. The public is invited to participate.
The 24-member, bi-partisan commission was created by Gov. Rick Perry in September 2005. It is chaired by former Texas comptroller John Sharp (pictured). Since the commission’s creation, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled the state’s current school property tax structure unconstitutional and has given lawmakers until June 1 to devise a different tax system and lower school property taxes.
Comal ISD gears up for $105 million bond sale
The Comal Independent School District plans to sell $105 million worth of unlimited tax school-building bonds on Feb. 23. The school district northeast of San Antonio is issuing the bonds to keep up with the tremendous level of growth of student enrollment. Proceeds will be used to acquire land, construct, renovate, and equip school facilities in the district, and to pay costs of issuing the debt.
West Texas airport seeks $7M from TxDOT
Ector County Commissioners are hoping the Texas Department of Transportation will allocate almost $7 million to help fund improvements at Schlemeyer Field. County officials said the improvements - which will include runway enhancements, hangars and aprons - have a price tag of about $7.3 million, and TxDOT's Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program (STEP) could conceivably cover 90 percent of the costs.
Lens on Government:
More on States' Finances
The January columns noted that states' revenues are booming and spending is rising, too. Reader feedback suggests that this is an area of interest, so we'll expand a little this week.
Click here to read the rest of the article.
UTSA opens new $84 million research facility
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) dedicated a new 227,000-square-foot Biotechnology Sciences and Engineering building at the school's Loop 1604 campus last week. The five-story building, which cost $84 million, is the largest facility at UTSA and one of the largest research centers in Texas. It includes 70 research and instructional laboratories that will facilitate interdisciplinary research and collaboration between scientists and engineers.
Rural areas to gain high-speed Internet service
Gov. Rick Perry this week spent time touring the state to announce an expansion of high-speed internet service to 71 of the smallest rural communities in Texas. The expansion, Perry said, is a direct result of telecommunications reform legislation signed into law by the governor in 2005. AT&T expects to complete its rollout by the end of the year.
RNC invites 3 Texas cities to bid on 2008 convention
The Republican National Committee has asked 31 U.S. cities, including Dallas San Antonio and Houston, for bids to host the 2008 Republican National Convention. The RNC Site Selection Committee will soon hold individual meetings in Washington, D.C. with representatives from all interested cities to discuss convention criteria, logistics and the site selection process. The committee will decide on a list of finalist cities by mid-summer, and make a final selection on the host city no later than Feb. 1, 2007.
Members of Commission for Women picked
Gov. Rick Perry this week appointed 13 women to the Governor's Commission for Women. They are: Keely Santerre Appleton (Arlington), Wendy Taylor Bengal (El Paso), Suehing Yee Chiang (Houston), Peggy Thigpen Hairgrove (Haskell), Cynthia Tyson Jenkins (Irving), Christie McAdams Leedy (Abilene), Elisa 'Lisa' Gonzales Lucero (Austin), Becky Deyhle McKinley (Amarillo), Maria Carmen Pagan (McAllen), Carol Foxhall Peterson (Marathon), Tresa Rockwell (Addison), Connie Weeks (Austin), and Daisy Sloan White (Houston).
Yudof appointed to federal volunteer council
University of Texas System Chancellor Mark Yudof, after a nomination by President Bush, has a seat on the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, which is charged with encouraging national volunteer service. Yudof's appointment lasts two years.
N. Texas tollway authority debates growth
Johnson County's request to join the North Texas Tollway Authority has been put on ice at the request of Dallas County officials, who want more information on regional toll roads before deciding whether to expand as far southwest as Cleburne. Johnson County officials late last year asked to join NTTA with the hope of speeding up construction of Texas 121 from Fort Worth to Cleburne. But since then, the county has entered talks with the Texas Department of Transportation about instead hiring a private company to build the 15-mile road.
Austin clerk certifying controversial petition
The city clerk in Austin is verifying more than 20,000 signatures on a petition submitted by local environmental group Save Our Springs Alliance. If certified, the measure would place an initiative on Austin's May ballot that would make it official city policy to steer development to the east and downstream of the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer. Among other things, the amendment would ban subsidies to companies that have operations over the aquifer, which is a significant source of water.
Downtown Dallas land deal scuttled
A downtown Dallas land-swap and development deal, which entailed building a massive entertainment complex and demolishing Reunion Arena (pictured), has been tabled. Representatives from the proposed entertainment complex's developer told City Manager Mary Suhm that they could not provide the City Council by its deadline with financial guarantees that policymakers had sought.
RMA wants second bridge to South Padre
The Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority has listed the West Loop project and a second causeway to South Padre Island as two of its priorities. The authority, which began its work a year ago, is charged with developing major transportation projects including toll roads, airports and freight rail through revenue bonds. The West Loop is a component of the county's and Brownsville's West Rail Relocation Plan to replace the rail portion of the B&M Bridge with a new one west of the city.
HHSC's public assistance plan gets conditional OK
A federal agency has approved Texas' five-year, nearly $1 billion contract for a new public benefits eligibility system. However, concerns have been raised about the system and the computer application that runs it. In a recent letter, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services told the Texas Health and Human Services Commission that it is approving the state program only through June. The agency will evaluate the state's performance before releasing more money - up to $266 million over seven years.
State may market specialty plates
In Texas, only 2 percent of registered vehicles have specialty license plates. State officials say they doubt the problem is people not being interested in having their alma mater's logo or favorite charity on their plate. Instead, officials said they think the issue is a lack of marketing. To raise awareness, they are examining hiring a company to help get the word out, said David Pyndus, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation.
Krum ISD bond could exceed $20 million
Krum school board members balked Monday night when their architect said it would cost $25.4 million to complete a new early education center, a fine arts addition to the high school, sports facilities including a football stadium, and other miscellaneous projects. The stadium would pave the way for the start of football at Krum, which is just north of Denton. A $25 million bond would far exceed any in the school district's history, and officials worry voters might not approve so much money at once. District leaders say a bond authorization of that size would take care of Krum's facilities needs for eight to 10 years.
FEMA: Texas' hurricane funding tops $651M
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said individuals and families in Texas that have suffered losses in the wake of Hurricane Rita have received $651.3 million in federal-disaster assistance to date. Of that amount, FEMA approved $571.7 million through the federal agency's Individuals and Household Program. FEMA has 479,039 people registered for individual assistance in Texas. The Small Business Administration also approved $80 million in loans.
The U.S. Army Corps Engineers removed about 97 percent of the debris caused by Hurricane Rita in Texas. The corps hauled away 8.5 million cubic yards of debris and has 200,000 cubic yards pending removal. FEMA also obligated another $488.8 million in public assistance to Texas to reimburse local governments and eligible agencies for providing debris removal, temporary shelter, interim housing and other emergency protective measures associated with the hurricanes.
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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:
- The San Antonio International Airport has allocated $4.3 million in its 2006 budget to increase terminal and airfield security;
- Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is seeking funds to construct its Border Center for Homeland Security in South Texas;
- Comal County near San Antonio has $1 million in federal funds to upgrade its emergency communications systems;
- The City of McAllen is taking bids until March 2 from contractors that can provide medical exams for firefighters; and
- The City of El Paso is taking bids this month from health care consultants that can provide stress management services.
| ONLINE POLL |
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Should local governments and RMAs encourage private companies to build, operate and maintain toll roads?
(Results will be published next week)
Last week, 70% of voters said they favor restricting the use of cell phones by drivers in moving vehicles to only those which can be operated hands-free. 30% were opposed to the idea.
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Austin chamber promotes economic dev. Director
Tony Schum, assistant director of economic development at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, has been promoted to director of economic development. Schum, who has been at the chamber for two years, will focus primarily on the biotech and digital media industries when he assumes his new duties on February 27.
Dallas city secretary retires
Dallas City Secretary Shirley Acy announced her retirement this week, ending an eight-year stint as the first woman to hold the position. Her last day is March 14.
Austin school board president resigning
Austin School Board President Doyle Valdez announced this week that he will resign after eight years on the job. With two years remaining on his term, Valdez said his announcement was timed to allow a special election for his at-large seat to coincide with the school board elections for five other open trustee positions that have already been scheduled for May 13.
Friendswood to choose interim manager
Friendswood City Council on Monday will consider officially naming an interim city manager who will take over at the end of April for outgoing City Manager Ron Cox until his replacement is hired. The city is not expected to hire a replacement until after the May 13 council and mayoral election.
| Ask the experts |
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Q:I believe my business would qualify as a HUB (Historically Underutilized Business). Will getting certified as such really give me an edge?
A: Absolutely. Many state contracts, especially the large ones, set a goal for HUBs to fulfill a certain percentage of the contract so there is a good-faith effort to set aside work for women- and minority-owned businesses. Vendors certified as HUBs increase their exposure to state agencies and universities -- and also to prime vendors and other parties seeking HUB partners. Check out this Web site to learn about the state's HUB program, and don't forget to seek comparable certifications on the local level if you plan on doing business with cities, counties or school districts.
-Gay Erwin,
Vice President of Public Affairs 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]
SPI Seeks Consulting Coordinator
Strategic Partnerships, Inc., a full-service research and consulting firm based in Austin that specializes in government procurement consulting, governmental affairs services and customized research, is seeking a consulting coordinator. This position is key to SPI's Consulting Division, which has account teams that work with a wide variety of private sector clients to develop win strategies and establish competitive advantages for clients to approach the public sector with products and services. Click here for a full job description..
Event Links
HUB Forums in February
Law Enforcement Regional Workshops - 2/17/06-3/8/06
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
CAPCOG's Austin-San Antonio Conference on Entrepreneurship and Regional Competitiveness - 4/7/06
TCEQ's Environmental Trade Fair and Conference - 5/9/06-5/11/06
Texas Hurricane Conference - 5/23/06-5/25/06
Texas Government Insider Archives
Volume 1, 2, 3 and 4 Archives - 11/7/03 - 2/10/06
Resources
Senate Interim Charges - NEW!
House Interim Charges - NEW!
2006 Election Calendar
Texas Fact Book '06-'07
LBB's Fiscal Size-up '06-'07
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
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