Near double-digit increase in state sales tax revenue

Sales tax revenue in Texas for February was $1.75 billion, a 9.7 increase over figures for February of last year. It was the 11th consecutive month for sales tax revenue increases, according to the State Comptroller's Office. 

Some $433.1 million in March sales tax payments to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts will be delivered today, Friday. Local sales tax allocations are up 7.1 percent over March of 2010, with the first three months' collection this year up 7.1 percent over the first three months of last year.
 

Texas cities will collectively receive $289.4 million in sales tax allocations and Texas counties will get $27.1 million. County allocations are up 11.1 percent over a year ago and city payments are up 6.7 percent for the same period. The state's 174 special purpose taxing districts will share $18.2 million in sales tax revenue and the 10 local transit systems will share $98 million. To view the tax allocations by city, click here. To view the tax allocations by county, click here.

Texas Rangers Chief Tony Leal to retire at end of March

Antonio "Tony" Leal (pictured), who has served as chief of the Texas Rangers since 2008, has announced his retirement, effective March 31, to accept a job in the private sector. His retirement will end a 27-year law enforcement career with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
 

Leal became a DPS trooper in 1984, stationed in Fort Bend County. He was promoted to Highway Patrol sergeant in 1991, serving in San Antonio. His promotion to Texas Ranger came in 1994, serving with Company A in Houston and then Company D in San Antonio. Leal was promoted to lieutenant and then commander of the Rangers' Cold Case Squad in 2002. In 2005, he was promoted to Company Commander in Houston. His appointment as chief of the Rangers in 2008 made him the youngest member of the Rangers and the first Hispanic to be named chief. Assistant Chief Hank Whitman has been appointed interim chief. 

The governor appointed Rubinstein to the position on Aug. 31, 2009. He had served as the deputy executive director of TCEQ since June 2008. Rubinstein previously was director of the border and South-Central Texas area and regional director for the Harlingen and Laredo offices of TCEQ.

Enterprise Fund invests $2.1 million in company moving to Plano

An investment of $2.1 million from the Texas Enterprise Fund has been made in GGNSC Holdings, doing business as Golden Living. The funding will assist the company in moving its corporate headquarters to Plano. The investment is expected to create 100 jobs and generate an estimated $8.4 million in capital investment.

Golden Living, a family of health care companies, provides post-acute health and recovery care services. The new headquarters in Plano will include management executives for its operations, clinical services, marketing, legal, finance and human resources departments.

O'Brien brings experience to budget director post at DSHS

Becky O'Brien (pictured) was recently selected budget director for the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). She brings more than 25 years of accounting and budgeting experience in Texas state government to her new post.
 

O'Brien has held budget and accounting-related positions with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Texas Department of Information Resources. She comes to DSHS after spending the last 13 years as budget director and financial administration director at TCEQ, with oversight of disbursement.
 

The new budget director holds a bachelor's degree from Texas State University-San Marcos and an associate's degree from Austin Community College. She received certification as a Certified Public Manager (CPM) from Texas State in 2008.

Collins, who earned a bachelor's and a master's degree from Rice, was praised for ensuring that 3,000 students living on campus were able to shower and flush toilets in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.
 

Collins has held a number of executive-level positions in oil companies since beginning his career in 1969.
 

"I am deeply honored to join the Rice Board of Trustees," Collins said. "I have always been proud to be a Rice engineer and student-athlete and look forward to doing all that I can to help the university plan for the future."

Three finalists named to succeed Kinslow as new ACC president

The Austin Community College trustees recently narrowed the field of candidates for president and CEO to three finalists, and are expected to announce their final choice in May.
 

The three finalists are (click on their names to view their bios): 

• Donald Doucette (left), senior vice president and provost of Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana;
• Katherine Persson (middle), president of the Lone Star College System's Kingwood campus; and
• Richard Rhodes (right), president of El Paso Community College.

The new president will succeed retiring President Stephen B. Kinslow, who has served 34 years at ACC, six of those as president.

Watson, who joined the faculty in 1983, is the first woman to serve as provost at the flagship campus of the Texas A&M System. She served as interim provost and executive vice president of academic affairs for several months. She previously served as dean of faculties, as associate provost and as vice provost for strategic initiatives from 2008 until 2009. Watson holds a bachelor's and a master's degree as well as a Ph.D. from Texas Tech University.

Galveston port officials seeking to outsource port operations

The Port of Galveston is poised to become the first United States port to outsource its entire operation to the private sector.
 

The proposed 75-year lease is a 50/50 joint venture between a United States-based investment firm and a Hong Kong-based private holding company. Port Director Steven Cernak (pictured) predicted that Galveston is at the forefront of a trend, which he expects to be particularly popular with mid-sized ports like Galveston.
 

The two companies have agreed to pay the port's $60 million debt, provide capital expenditures for a decade and pay an undisclosed amount of cash upfront.

Reynolds bill touts contracts for minority, women businesses

State Rep. Ron Reynolds of Missouri City recently introduced a bill that would ensure minority- and women-owned businesses have adequate contracting opportunities when state government entities purchase goods and services.

House Bill 1851 seeks to fulfill the goals of a 1991 state program meant to increase state contracts with historically underutilized businesses. The state Comptroller conducts periodic disparity studies to assess the effectiveness of the 20-year-old program.
 

Despite some improvement, "the percentage of contracts that they receive is unsatisfactory," Reynolds said. 

If voters approve the bonds, city officials plan to begin construction in 2012 on a new building to house the police department and fire department administration, said Mayor Paul Brandenburg (pictured).
 

The new public safety facility should be completed in 2014, the mayor said.

Council members also agreed to sell up to $9.9 million in certificates of obligation bonds to help pay for construction of a fifth fire station, renovations to the Madella Hilliard Center, renovations to another fire station and a fire truck and public safety vehicles.

As Southside ISD confronts a possible loss of more than $5 million in state funding, district officials are considering closing the district one day per week to save almost $500,000 in operational and transportation costs. A recent survey of teachers and staff in the district indicated almost two-thirds of the employees support a four-day work week and district officials are sending surveys home with students to determine if parents would support that option. Currently, trustees are required to approve the proposal and then must seek a waiver from the state to institute the four-day week.

Meanwhile, a legislator from Rio Grande City filed legislation to allow school districts to have the option of a Monday through Thursday school week or a Tuesday through Friday schedule of classes. The proposed legislation also would require the number of hours of instruction to be eight instead of the average of seven now required, depending on grade and the school district. School districts would save on the cost of transportation, fuel and energy for facilities if allowed to operate four days per week rather than five, the representative said. At least some administrators and educators, including the chief administrative officer of Lubbock ISD and the superintendent of Sundown ISD, disagree that the four-day school week would produce significant cost-savings. Because most districts spend about 85 percent of their budget for salaries, that cost would remain the same with a four-day week, said Berhl Robertson of Lubbock ISD.

Former TEA official headed to online news outlet as COO

Leaders at the Texas Tribune, an online news organization created in 2009, recently named a state education leader to the newly-created position of chief operating officer.

Barbara Knaggs, the Texas Education Agency associate commissioner for state initiatives, will begin April 4. In her new position, Knaggs will oversee membership, events, corporate sales, finance, legal matters and human resources.
 

Knaggs earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from The University of Texas at Austin.

Grants available for offering broadband access in rural areas of state

Grants of $50,000 to $1 million are available to communities in rural, economically challenged parts of the state to provide broadband access in areas that currently do not have that service. Funding is through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development's Community Connect program and can be used to construct, acquire or lease facilities to offer broadband service to residents, businesses and essential community facilities such as fire stations, libraries, schools and health care clinics. "This technology will provide residents with global access to quality economic, social and educational opportunities," said Paco Valentin, Texas State Director of USDA Rural Development.
 

Those eligible to apply for the grants include incorporated organizations, Tribes and tribal organizations, state and local government bodies, for-profit and nonprofit cooperatives, private corporations and limited liability corporations. Each project requires a matching contribution. Those seeking grants must provide service where there is no broadband service, must provide services to critical communities free for two years and must offer basic services to all premises in the proposed service area.
 

More information on Community Connect Grants, including the application guide, can be viewed and downloaded from the USDA Rural Development Web site.

Missouri City wins $950,000 grant for tennis, recreation center

Missouri City officials recently authorized acceptance of a $950,000 grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to redevelop a privately owned, 8-acre tennis and fitness center acquired by the city last year into a tennis and recreation center for public use.

The grant is part of the Texas Recreation and Parks Account Program authorized in 1993 to help subdivisions by providing basic public recreation facilities. The grant requires a 50 percent match from the city and will be used to pay for the property, some demolition costs and for upgrades to develop the recreational center. Construction on the Tennis and Recreation Center is scheduled to begin this summer, city officials said.

North East School District tables activity on bond election

The North East school board recently voted to postpone a May bond election until members have a better picture of next year's budget, which is dependent on how state legislators decide to fund public education.
 

School leaders may not have funding figures until May, which would table the nearly $400 million bond issue until November at the earliest.
 

Board Vice President Susan Galindo (pictured) said that community feedback has been largely in favor of the bond.

Galveston Housing Authority looking for proposals from developers

The Galveston Housing Authority is seeking proposals from master developers for the management and maintenance of many public housing reconstruction projects.
 

The city recently OK'd a plan to replace 569 homes damaged by Hurricane Ike. City leaders want the neighborhoods to be mixed income, mixed housing types.
 

Proposals are due May 3. To be considered, applicants must meet bonding requirements and comply with Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act.

Oak Point exploring several options for city hall

Oak Point city officials recently held a town hall meeting to explore options to replace the current city hall building. The options include building a new city hall at the former site on Naylor Road, remodeling a portion of the public works building and then building a new garage for the public works department.

City officials are also weighing the option of purchasing portable buildings for a city hall or building a new city hall on city-owned land on FM720. City leaders almost have ruled out the options of acquiring an existing building or partnering with a developer to build a facility, the city manager said.
 

After mold was found inside the walls of the former city hall, city officials demolished the old city hall and moved administrative staff into portable buildings. The city has funds available to pay for almost any option council members make on the city hall, the mayor said.

Rabago has worked for the parks board for almost 30 years. His first job was cleaning picnic tables at Stewart Beach, but he also served as parks superintendent for Stewart Beach and head of the Beach Maintenance Department for the Park Board of Trustees.

Organized to manage and promote beaches and tourism in Galveston, the Parks Board has 52 full-time employees and nearly 200 part-time and seasonal employees. Galveston City Council members, who have previously considered merging the park board and city operations, plan to further discuss the merger, city officials said.

The bonds will be used to build a new career and technology center and activity centers at the district's two high schools and to upgrade buildings and technology throughout district facilities, said Superintendent Gene Buinger (pictured). The largest portion of the bond funding, about $33.7 million, will be spent to replace aging and inefficient roofs and heating and air conditioning units in schools throughout the district, Buinger said.
 

District officials plan to spend about $32.9 million to build a new Career and Technology Center and about $16.7 million to build a new Auxiliary Services Facility for custodial, food services and maintenance activities. The district also plans to fund two new activity centers at two high schools to provide new field houses, practice fields, locker rooms, weight rooms and facilities for band and orchestra students. Other purchases will include new computers, interactive whiteboards and network infrastructure to upgrade technology, Buinger said.

Tatum ISD chief recommends bond election for next May

Tatum school district trustees may delay plans for a November bond issue, instead pushing the election to May 2012.
 

Superintendent Dee Hartt suggested waiting so that district leaders can evaluate state funding changes after they are made by the Texas Legislature.
 

Voters in the property-rich district have passed five bond packages in the last 12 years. Under state law, wealthy districts must share maintenance and operation revenue with poorer districts, while debt repayment is not subject to recapture.

District students need upgrades in technology and career courses to meet today's job market, but current high school buildings are too old and outdated to meet the current needs for technology in all classrooms and career training, said Nancy Ayotte (pictured), board member. The new facility will allow students to be grouped by academies that focus on studies such as business, medical, performing arts or manufacturing. District officials also plan to upgrade security, install security cameras and lighting as well as design classrooms that support technology infrastructure and equipment.
 

Preliminary plans call for the new facility to be built around the existing freshman center, band hall and gym, creating one main school building rather than 18 buildings spread across the campus. The new facility also would have fewer entrances and exists, which will increase safety and security as well as reduce energy costs, Ayotte said. District officials also plan to eventually demolish existing buildings that will be replaced with athletic fields. The football stadium also will be moved.

The courthouse, built in 1916, has a leaking roof, bad plumbing, a questionable electrical system, overcrowded offices and poor climate control, noted the county judge. But with a huge decrease in tax revenues, county officials are struggling to find a way to pay for the almost $16 million needed to restore the courthouse or build a new courthouse, he said. The county clerk noted that mold covers some courthouse records and threatens the health of her employees, while others point to crumbling bricks near basement entrances that pose a risk to visitors and employees.

The assistant director of the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program said conditions at the Duval County Courthouse are worse than any of the dozens of other courthouses she has visited. Because of the poor condition of its electrical system, vital records, including property records, court documents and evidence in criminal cases are at risk of being destroyed in a fire, she said. The program director urged county officials to create a master plan for the courthouse restoration, the first step for obtaining a loan from the preservation program of Texas Historical Commission.

Higgins-Lipscomb Airport up for funding for improvements

The Higgins-Lipscomb County Airport will receive nearly $300,000 in funding for improvements that include pavement upgrades.

The Texas Department of Transportation's Aviation Facilities Grant Program is footing the bill. TxDOT will likely spend about $60 million to plan, construct and maintain county airports this year.
 

There are about 275 community airports in Texas that are eligible for the money.

Pitstick has held the position for 10 years, during which time the population grew by 80,000 people, several nationwide corporations established headquarters in the region and the Collin County Regional Airport expanded to enable business growth.
 

After he steps down next month, Pitstick plans to stay on as a consultant for the city and MEDC.

Neches Wildlife Refuge could get $11 million for land purchase

President Barack Obama's 2012 budget includes $11 million toward acquiring land for the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge in Anderson and Cherokee counties. The budget is pending approval from the U.S. House and Senate.

The allocation would purchase 6,600 acres of the 25,000 acres designated as potential refuge land. The land is owned by the Conservation Fund, a nonprofit group that has donated more than 30 acres for the refuge.

 
When the refuge is large enough, roads will be constructed so that people can access the land. Refuge proponents point out that the local economy will benefit from eco-tourist dollars spent on hotels, groceries and local activities.

Arlington studying options for future of Central Library

Arlington City Council members recently began considering options to resolve structural problems and space needs at the Central Library, which was built in 1972.

The 63,575-square-foot library needs a new roof, new elevators and new piping, all of which carry a price tag of about $8 million, city officials said. The library also needs to grow by about 21,000 square feet to accommodate library patrons. Options under consideration include gutting the current building, remodeling it and adding a third floor; demolishing the existing building and constructing a new library on the same site; and, building a new central library at a new downtown site or moving to another area of the city.
 

In the discussion, at least one council member requested that a cost estimate be provided for each option for the library while another councilman who also serves on the library committee said he leans toward renovating the existing library or demolishing and rebuilding on the same site. Council members plan further discussions on the future of the library.

"Although it is time for a new building, it's not time to ask the voters for money," said County Judge Burt Mills (pictured).
 

The county is looking into purchasing two properties across the street from the current 55-year-old courthouse, which is literally falling apart. The properties, which contain an 800-square-foot house and a parking lot, are valued at $137,220.

Texas electric cooperatives to benefit from $442 million in funding

Three rural electric cooperatives in Texas are among a number in eight states that will collectively benefit from $442 million in funding set aside to assist with upgrades in services to more than 24,000 rural consumers nationwide. The funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service. The funds can be used for upgrades, expansion, maintenance and replacement of their electric infrastructure. Some $9 million of the funding will be to support smart grid technology through the use of automated metering.
 

The money is in the form of guaranteed loans. Two such loans totaling $230 million will go to the Northeast Texas Electric Cooperative and the East Texas Electric Cooperative to fund acquisition of a gas-fired plant to provide electric power for a growing capacity. Swisher Electric Cooperative, Inc. will get $5.2 million to build and improve 181 miles of distribution line.
 

This and other programs of Rural Development are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

Blinn College president resigns; search for replacement begins

Daniel J. Holt Thursday resigned "for personal reasons" his position as president of Blinn College.  Holt came to Blinn in 2007 as vice president of business services after serving as director of business and auxiliary operations at Tomball College. He also is a former business analyst and consultant with the Small Business Development Center at Kingwood College. Blinn officials will begin immediately looking for Holt's replacement. 

Bonham ISD to ask voters to approve $24.7 million in bonds

Bonham Independent School District trustees recently called a bond election for May 14 to ask voters to approve $24.7 million to upgrade the high school and an intermediate school.

Plans call for the bond funds to be used to correct structural issues at the high school that resulted from ground movement and to renovate and expand the intermediate school to meet growing enrollment, district officials said.

Newton chosen to lead Breckenridge as city manager

Brad Newton (pictured) has been chosen as the next city manager for the city of Breckenridge, replacing former City Manager Gary Earnest, who retired last year after two decades of service to the city. Newton has been the city manager of Presidio for the last two years. Newton will start his new job March 14.
 

Before his stint in Presidio, Newton served as director of city services and purchasing in Fort Stockton for nine years. He is also a former employee of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and is a former staffer for a Texas state senator.
 

Newton was chosen from among nearly 50 candidates from 17 states for the city manager post. It is a coming home of sorts for Newton, who is a fifth generation descendent of Fort Griffin.

McAllen school buses will be used as moving billboards for ads

The McAllen school district plans to raise money to buy 15 new school buses by using the sides of the transportation fleet for advertising space. Money from advertisers could help pay for the buses, which cost $84,000 each, and help buoy a budget that faces a possible $16 million drop in state funding.

Some Houston-area districts already sell space on the sides of buses to advertisers and the Mission district is looking at a similar plan.

Fire Chief Mark Wallace also has announced he will retire on June 1.

Union Grove ISD schedules

$4.36 million bond election

Trustees for the Union Grove Independent School District recently set a $4.36 million bond election in May. District officials plan to use the bonds, if approved by voters, to build three new high school classrooms for career and technical education, including a print shop, medical arts classes, robotics, rocketry, final cut and computer-aided design.

District officials also plan to upgrade the current home economics area for special education students and build eight new classrooms and a new science lab at the elementary school. Plans also call for building a second road to exit from the elementary school and to connect to the secondary school campus to ease traffic congestion, district officials said.

The city has a prioritized list of street projects in the downtown area alone with an estimate of about $3.5 million to complete, he said. The earliest construction on the upgrade to Circle Drive can begin would be January 2012, Shipp said.

Joe Newman leaving post as BEDC president after 11 years

 The long-time president of the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation, Joe Newman (pictured), recently stepped down from his post.
 

Newman, who has served as president and CEO for 11 years, said that his time with the EDC were some of the best years of his life. "I feel that I have succeeded in promoting exciting development in the Bastrop area," he said.

BexarMet manager named board chair for certification agency

Leaders with the South Central Texas Regional Certification Agency (SCTRCA) recently named purchasing agent Karen Krueger-Guerrero the nonprofit's newest board chair.

Krueger-Guerrero represents her employer, Bexar Metropolitan Water District, as a member of the SCTRCA, a nonprofit organization that works to increase participation of disadvantaged, minority and women-owned businesses in public and government contracting and purchasing activities. SCTRCA is represented by multiple public entities in the South Texas area.

...that SPI's expert consultants collectively have 400+ years of experience in federal, state and local government? 

Council members considered one 4,000-square-foot option calling for a simplified floor plan featuring small offices for city staff and three additional offices for more employees as positions are added in the future. Council members, however, made no decision on a new city hall plan. City officials plan to seek bids for the project once council members select a final design.

Wall has a bachelor's degree from West Texas State A&M and a master's from Texas State University.

Midland selects Nicholas

as new assistant city manager

Midland City Council members recently selected Jim Nicholas (pictured) as the new assistant city manager to replace Marcus Johnson, who retired in January. Nicholas, who now is the deputy city manager in Las Vegas, Nevada, is scheduled to begin his new job on April 4.

TxDOT awards grant to Comanche County/City Airport

The Comanche City/County Airport will receive a $90,000 grant, which will be used to set up technology that will enable pilots to access up-to-the-minute weather information.

The state will pay 75 percent of the project's cost while the city of Comanche and Comanche County will pay the remaining 25 percent. 

Aldine ISD seeking contractors for gym wear, print shop

Trustees for the Aldine Independent School District recently began seeking bids to provide clothing for physical education and to provide district-wide print shop management services.

District officials plan to award a one-year contract with a two-year renewal to supply 8,000 shirts and 8,000 shorts for middle school and high school students. Trustees plan to award the clothing contract in April.
 

The district also is seeking bids to manage the district print shop with the capability of processing up to 35 million copies annually, to install new equipment and increase efficiently. Officials will base the choice for managing the print shop on annual costs, long-term costs, quality, reputation, safety record and past relationship. The deadline for receipt of both bids is March 21.

Leander ISD ask for bids for transportation management

Trustees for the Leander Independent School District recently agreed to request bids to provide management of student transportation services for the district. The deadline for submitting the bids to provide these services is March 24.

Capell, who is the city manger of St. Joseph, Mo., will begin on April 4. He replaces Carlos Yerena, who left Kingsville for a job in Harlingen.

• Lawrence "Larry" Gist of Beaumont, Texas Board of Criminal Justice
• Tom Mechler of Amarillo, Texas Board of Criminal Justice
• Leopoldo R. Vasquez III of Houston, Texas Board of Criminal Justice
• Deborah "Debbie" Gibson of Houston, Texas Woman's University Board of Regents
• Melissa Tonn of Dallas, Texas Woman's University Board of Regents
• Mary Pincoffs Wilson of Austin, Texas Woman's University Board of Regents
• Michael Bray of El Paso, Manufactured Housing Board
• Gary Bledsoe of Austin, Texas Southern University Board of Regents
• Samuel "Sam" Bryant of Austin, Texas Southern University Board of Regents
• Richard Knight Jr. of Dallas, Texas Southern University Board of Regents
• Marilyn Rose of Houston, Texas Southern University Board of Regents
• Billy R. Bradford Jr. of Brownsville, Texas Water Development Board
• Monte Cluck of Gruver, Texas Water Development Board
• Gloria Hicks of Corpus Christi, Texas Racing Commissio
• Robert Schmidt of Aledo, Texas Racing Commission

Pinehurst kicks off search

for new city administrator

Pinehurst City Council members recently kicked off efforts to find a new city administrator to replace Robert Ewart (pictured), who is retiring in May. Council members appointed a committee to review applications and resumes to identify the most qualified candidates for city administrator. Ewart assumed his current position as city administrator in March 2009.

Lampasas ISD facilities group

to lead architectural study

Trustees for the Lampasas Independent School District recently authorized the facilities steering committee to negotiate qualifications for an architectural facility study of a middle school and the high school stadium.

The architectural facilities study will allow district officials to make a better decision about proceeding with plans to upgrade those facilities, the board president said.

The largest grant, a $63,000 award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will pay for 12 new air packs and 24 bottles of oxygen and other self-contained breathing apparatus, the fire chief said.