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Federal funds could soon flow to Texas
Bill includes funding for hurricane relief, military projects in state

Nearly two-dozen counties in Texas would benefit from hurricane relief funds that could be headed to the state following some late-night wrangling Thursday among congressional negotiators over the Emergency Supplemental Conference Report bill. The final legislation is expected to be voted on by the U.S. House and Senate as early as next week and will then go to President George W. Bush to sign into law.

Texas would share with other hurricane-damaged states nearly $20 billion earmarked in the bill for hurricane relief.

Twenty-three Texas counties still recovering from the effects of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina last year would receive funds both for recovery from the aftermath of the storms and to help pay for costs associated with educating Katrina students who fled the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast.

Kay Bailey Hutchison

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas successfully added an amendment to the bill that would save affected Texas counties $200 million. Her amendment raises the federal reimbursement rate for Hurricane Rita damage claims in Texas to a 90 percent federal, 10 percent local rate.

"Hurricane Rita didn't discriminate along state lines and neither should the federal government," said Hutchison. "It is only fair that East Texas communities receive the same reimbursement rate as Louisiana parishes directly across the river recovering from the same hurricane."

The bill also includes $235 million for education costs for the Katrina victims who were forced from their homes by the storm, many of whom enrolled in Texas schools. It also provides $5.2 billion to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Community Development Block Grants to help restore housing infrastructure in Texas that was damaged by the storms.

Finally, the negotiators also agreed to fund military spending in Texas that includes:

  • $227.5 million in for continued production of the Boeing C-17 aircraft, largely produced in Ft. Worth;
  • $230 million for the V-22 "Osprey" program manufactured in Amarillo; and
  • $175 million for production of the Bradley Fighting Vehicles used by the U.S. Army. Work on the vehicle will take place at the Red River Army Depot in Texarkana and in York, PA.


TCEQ offers free live webcasts of meetings

Webcasts of the bi-monthly meetings of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will be made available free to the public beginning with the Wednesday, June 14, meeting. Monthly work sessions will also be webcast and the bi-monthly meetings will be archived for six months.

Kathleen Hartnett White

With the announcement, TCEQ becomes the first Texas state agency to offer live webcasts of its meetings. Agency officials note the webcasts will allow individuals to track issues they are interested in and to follow cases in which they might be involved. "I hope that Texans will take this opportunity to see their government in action," said TCEQ Chairman Kathleen Hartnett White. The chairman said being able to see issues that come before the commission should give Texans more insight into the agency and what it does.

The webcast will be available at http://www.texasadmin.com/cgi-bin/tnrcc.cgi or on the TCEQ web site at http://www.tceq.state.tx.us.


Two private companies submit transportation proposals

Two international private sector groups have submitted conceptual proposals to accelerate the development of the I-69/Tran-Texas Corridor, it was announced today by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This public-private partnership includes development of a 600-mile corridor from Northeast Texas to Mexico and could ultimately include roads, rail and utilities. The two groups seeking to become TxDOT's strategic partner on the project are Bluebonnet Infrastructure Investors, led by Cintra, and ZAI/ACS, led by Zachary American Infrastructure, Inc., and ACS Infrastructure Development Inc.

Norman Mineta

The announcement came on the heels Thursday of a statement by U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta (pictured) that Texas is setting the standard for other states in "allowing the private sector a broader role in funding and operating transportation projects."

Mineta was in Central Texas for Gov. Rick Perry's announcement that a 40-mile stretch of the Central Texas Turnpike will open nearly a year ahead of schedule and more than $400 million under budget.

"Texas is showing the rest of the country how to expand major parts of its highway system by leveraging private capital," Mineta said at a press conference with Perry Thursday. Had the state's traditional funding methods been used to finance the turnpike expansion, Perry said it would have taken 25 years to complete the roadways.

The next step on the I-69/Trans-Texas Corridor project will be for the Texas Transportation Commission to issue a request for detailed proposals for the multi-billion dollar project. The two-step selection process could take up to 15 months. Once completed, the roadway will remain a state-owned project.

The state has already entered into four Comprehensive Development Agreements for public-private partnerships and has three other projects still in the selection process. Upcoming project opportunities include: SH 161 in Dallas County; SH 114-SH 121 Corridor in Tarrant County; I-820 and SH 183 in Tarrant and Dallas counties; and Trans-Texas Corridor-35 from Oklahoma to Mexico.


Legislative Conference Update

The impact of proposed statutory changes varies greatly from agency-to-agency, but there is one thing that impacts every agency: funding. That's why the agenda of the 5th Biennial Legislative Conference is shaping up to be a "must attend" event for all senior agency leaders.

The sponsors previously announced that Sen. Steve Ogden and Rep. Jim Pitts will be the morning and afternoon keynote speakers respectively. Ogden chairs the Senate Finance Committee and Pitts chairs the House Committee on Appropriations. In an article which follows, the sponsors are announcing today that the finance directors for the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker will also participate. A future announcement will include the participation of the head of the Legislative Budget Board.

Sponsored jointly by SPI and the LBJ School of Public Affairs, the conference will be held at UT's Pickle Center on October 10 The full agenda will be posted in July and registration will open on August 15. For further information, contact lriley@spartnerships.com.


Brunson, Green and Morrissey to Participate in Legislative Conference

The sponsors of the 5th Biennial Legislative Conference have announced that Blaine Brunson, Budget Director for Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, Don Green, Budget & Policy Director for Speaker of the House Tom Craddick, and Mike Morrissey, Director of Budget, Planning and Policy for Governor Rick Perry will participate in a panel discussing budget priorities, trends and challenges for the 80th session from the state leadership's perspective.

Blaine Brunson

Blaine Brunson is currently the Budget Director for Lt. Governor David Dewhurst. Among other things, his duties include coordinating funding requests from agencies to the Lt. Governor and the members of the Senate Finance committee. He also serves as the Lt. Governor's designee to the Bond Review Board. Prior to his current position, Blaine worked as Director of the Senate Finance Committee, a Criminal Justice Analyst for the House Appropriations Committee and a Research Assistant at the Legislative Budget Board (LBB). Blaine has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Angelo State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Southwest Texas State University. He and his wife Sonja are the proud parents of two boys (pictured), Cade (almost 2) and Cash (almost 6 months).

Don Green

Don Green began his career in state government in 1980 with the LBB, serving as a budget analyst, senior budget analyst, and special assistant to the director. During his 15-year career with the LBB, he worked on a diverse mixture of state agency budget issues, including the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Department of Agriculture, Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, and Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. In 1995, Green became the Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation and was responsible for a budget that included the operations of 13 state schools, nine state hospitals, and contracts with 34 community mental health and mental retardation centers. From 1998 through 2002, Green served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), an agency with a biennial budget of more than $16 billion. Green has served on the board of the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) since 2001. A native of Georgia, he attended Clayton Junior College, Georgia Tech, and Shorter College in Georgia and earned a B.S. degree in economics and accounting. In 1977, the Harry S. Truman Foundation named Green a Harry S. Truman National Scholar. Green holds a MPA and MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

Mike Morrissey

Mike Morrissey is responsible for development and direct implementation of Texas state budget and policy initiatives. He ensures coordination of state budget policy and directs long term fiscal planning for the Governor's Office. Prior to his current position in the Governor's Office, Morrissey worked for Lt. Governor Bill Ratliff as Director of Fiscal Policy, for then-Lt. Governor Rick Perry as Budget Director, and for Lt. Governor Bob Bullock as Budget Director and Special Assistant. In these positions, he was the lieutenant governor's representative for fiscal affairs and worked with the Governor's Office, Speaker of the House, LBB members, legislators and legislative staff and state agency/institution management in development, passage, implementation, and monitoring of Texas' $114.1 billion biennial budget. From 1986-1994 he served as Legal Counsel/Budget Examiner at the LBB. Morrissey holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Oklahoma, and a J.D. from the University of Arkansas. He is licensed to practice law in Texas.


Sanchez stepping down from DSHS

Dr. Eduardo Sanchez

The state's top health official, Texas Health Commissioner Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, is resigning after almost five years on the job. Sanchez sent an e-mail to employees of the Texas Department of State Health Services earlier this week telling them of his plans to step down effective Oct. 6.

"First and foremost, I want to make clear that this has been a difficult decision to make. However, it's made with my responsibilities to my family as my first priority. I have to give more of my time and of myself to my wife and children," Sanchez wrote.

During his tenure, Sanchez was noted for managing the state's health services in the face of legislative budget cuts, helping lead the charge to accommodate Hurricane Katrina evacuees and developing new response plans to terrorist attacks. Sanchez was a family practice doctor with a background in public health when he was appointed to the job in 2001. He was appointed to replace William "Reyn" Archer III, who resigned in 2000.


Bush taps Wolff for advisory committee

Nelson Wolff

President George W. Bush has appointed Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff to the Advisory Committee of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC). The PBGC is a federal corporation created under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. It currently guarantees payment of basic pension benefits earned by 44 million American workers and retirees participating in more than 31,000 private-sector defined benefit pension plans. The agency receives no funds from general tax revenues. Operations are financed largely by insurance premiums paid by companies that sponsor pension plans and by investment returns. In 2005, the PBGC paid annual benefits of $3.7 billion. It has total assets of $56.5 billion. As a member of the PBGC Advisory Committee, Wolff will represent the interests of the general public. He will serve a term that runs until 2008. Wolff's background includes more than 15 years in elected office and 25 years as a private-sector business owner. He has been Bexar County's judge since 2001.


UT VP steps down

The vice president for information technology at the University of Texas in Austin is stepping down. Dan Updegrove is moving into a new position at UT to focus on advanced network services, according to UT officials. Updegrove will remain in the vice president position until the university hires his successor. A search is under way.


Williamson County names interim commissioner

David Hays

Williamson County Judge John Doerfler appointed David Hays (pictured) this week to fill the Precinct 3 commissioner seat left vacant after Tom McDaniel's death in February. Hays is a former Precinct 3 commissioner who served from 1992 until 2004, when he stepped down saying he wanted to spend more time on his business and with his family. A starting date for Hays hasn't been determined. He will serve until the November General Election.


Schmees new E.D. at Houston Sports Authority

Janis Schmees

San Antonio's loss appears to be Houston's gain as the Houston Sports Authority has lured Janis Schmees away from the Alamo City to become the sports group's executive director. Schmees, who was serving as acting head of the San Antonio Convention and Visitor's Bureau, turned down the city's offer to make her permanent head of that agency as well as a salary higher than the Houston offer.

As executive director, Schmees will be responsible for bringing sporting events, both large and small, to Houston. With the 2016 Olympic Games looming, her focus will be on attracting Olympic events such as track and field. But she's not discounting minor events either - all of which have participants and followers who will be renting hotel rooms, eating in restaurants, buying gasoline and otherwise contributing to the Houston economy. Schmees said she will look at bringing "all sporting events" to the Houston area.

Schmees, who was hired following the unanimous approval of the sports authority board, replaces Oliver Luck, the former chief executive officer who resigned to become president of Houston's new pro soccer team.


UT names Stanfield new registrar

The University of Texas at Austin has named Vincent Shelby Stanfield as the university's new registrar. Stanfield, who will take over that position on June 19, replaces Ted Pfeifer, who retired in January.

Stanfield, former Director of Student Information Systems at UT, will work closely with UT's Student Information Systems and Information Technology Services on producing integrated services for the Registrar's Office, the Division of Student Affairs and the university.

Stanfield has a longstanding employment relationship with UT-Austin that began immediately after he earned his bachelor's degree from the university in 1988.


Burns new TCU nursing school dean

Dr. Paulette Burns

Dr. Paulette Burns, former director of the Harris College of Nursing at Texas Christian University, has been named dean of the Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She replaces Dr. Rhonda Keen-Payne, who is returning to teaching. Burns will begin her duties as dean in the fall.

Dr. Nowell Donovan, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at TCU, said Burns has "insight, vision and tenacity," which he called a "critical combination" for being a successful dean. Burns has been at TCU since 2001, after leaving the Tulsa campus of the University of Oklahoma School of Nursing, where she served as director. Just last month, Dr. Burns was named one of the "Great 100 Nurses" for 2006 by the Texas Nurses Association, districts three and four, and the Dallas-Fort Worth Nurses Executives, at the 16th annual awards ceremony in Dallas.

TCU's Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences comprises the Harris College of Nursing, the departments of Social Work, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Kinesiology and the School of Nurse Anesthesia.


Hernandez to chair ACC board

John Hernandez

Austin real estate broker John Hernandez, who has served on the Austin Community College Board of Trustees since 2002, was this week elected chairman by his fellow board members. Other officers elected include Vice Chair Nan McRaven and Secretary Veronica Rivera.

Hernandez was elected vice chair of the board in 2004, and replaces previous chair Dr. Barbara Mink, who was recently re-elected to serve her second term on the board.


Len Riley

Lens on Government: Workforce Planning
By Len Riley, SPI Senior Consultant

The first article in this series gave an overview of the state planning and budgeting processes and the second article focused on Agency Strategic Plans. Section 2056.0021 of the Government Code requires that "As part of the strategic plan… a state agency shall conduct a strategic staffing analysis and develop a workforce plan, according to guidelines developed by the state auditor, to address critical staffing and training needs of the agency, including the need for experienced employees to impart knowledge to their potential successors." These workforce plans are the subject of today's article.

Click here to read the rest of the article.


Ferry riders subject to random searches

Motorists riding the ferry line on Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston might want to add a few minutes to their travel time, as random security checks are scheduled as part of the U.S. Coast Guard's homeland security program.

Uniformed officers will select vehicles to be waved to an alternate lane, where the drivers will be asked to participate in a voluntary security check of their vehicles' trunks and ice coolers. Any driver who does not voluntarily comply will be refused travel on the ferry for 24 hours. Because the vehicle checks will occur as motorists are waiting in line for the ferry, officials anticipate little time will be added to each trip. Ferry staff have also undergone special security training and signs have been posted announcing the random searches.


Harris County studies abolishing treasurer's position

Jerry Eversole

Harris County officials have asked their budget officer and county attorney to look into the possibility of abolishing the office of county treasurer. The action comes on the heels of the death in May of longtime Harris County Treasurer Jack Cato.

Commissioner Jerry Eversole (pictured) has asked budget officer Dick Raycraft to provide information on how the treasurer office's current staff could be used elsewhere in other county offices and what divisions in county government might take over the treasurer's responsibilities. Eversole said it is important to let residents of the county know that now is a good time to study abolishing the office "while the office is not occupied."

Legislation calling for a constitutional amendment would first have to be passed by the Legislature and then passed in a statewide referendum. Sen. Kyle Janek of Houston has said he would sponsor such legislation. Similar legislation was filed for Fort Bend County by Janek during the last legislative session, but pressure from county treasurers across the state saw the measure fail.


Montgomery County adds to traffic management system

Montgomery County officials are taking their bullish traffic problems by the horns. This week, the county upgraded its Northstar traffic management system with the addition of public monitoring of the system, a battery backup system to be used for traffic signals during power outages, remote sensors on fire trucks that allow them to change red lights when they are in route to emergencies and countdown signals for pedestrians, telling them how many more seconds they have to cross an intersection safely.

The county built its system in-house. "We do everything we can to make it (traffic congestion) better," said Fred Koehler, supervisor of the traffic management division in the county's Precinct 3. Last year, the county began monitoring intersections for traffic jams and correcting them remotely. That system includes 151 cameras in The Woodlands, with another 170 to be added within the next six months when the Research Forest roadways are widened. Within the next two years, the county expects to have as many as 500 cameras to help monitor traffic problems.

Officials also note that when completed, the system will play a vital role in emergency evacuations, as it will be able to take feeds off a similar traffic monitoring system used by the City of Houston. The Office of Emergency Management will be able to monitor traffic in real time and determine if motorists should take alternate routes.


City boots College Station convention center to county

Officials of the City of College Station punted the proposed hotel and convention center project to Brazos County this week, asking county commissioners to approve a tax increment finance (TIF) zone to fund the $25 million project.

Chris Scotti

"We finally have an idea that we feel is going to work," said College Station City Councilman Chris Scotti. City officials estimate that creation of the TIF zone would result in $150 million in new development and that additional value would provide the revenue stream to be used to pay for the hotel/convention center project.

The city has asked the county for a 10-year commitment for the fund. This will be the third attempt by the city to complete the project.


El Paso med school opening delayed

Opening of a new four-year medical school in El Paso has been delayed until at least 2009, but officials of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso were pleased with Gov. Rick Perry's announcement this week that the medical school will likely be funded with an emergency appropriation when the 80th Legislature convenes in January 2007.

Dr. Jose Manuel De La Rosa

Dr. Jose Manuel De La Rosa (pictured), regional dean for the El Paso center, said that although the school's original opening date for the fall of 2008 will be delayed a year, the likelihood of emergency funding for the center is "good news."

Proponents of the medical school failed to secure the $60 million sought for the school during the 79th Regular and two special sessions. Perry was unsuccessful in his attempts to have lawmakers appropriate $38.5 million in emergency funds last fall. Backers of the school are hoping the third time's the charm in January.


Bexar County seeking to expand coliseum

Bexar County taxpayers will soon have the opportunity to explore two proposals regarding the addition of a multi-use facility next to the existing AT&T Center coliseum in San Antonio. County commissioners this week selected the two plans - both of which would cost more than $100 million each and add some 200,000 square feet to the coliseum complex.

The options include either tearing down the existing Freeman Coliseum, or upgrading it and adding more facilities. Two other options were rejected - both of which included only 100,000 additional square feet.

Public hearings will be scheduled over the next month, and county officials also plan an interactive web site where citizens can view the proposals and make comments. A funding source for the proposal has yet to be determined.


Community colleges to seek Legislature's help in '07

Four-year universities in Texas received welcome news from the Capitol recently when they learned that lawmakers authorized them to use tuition revenue bonds to carry out $1.8 billion worth of expansions. But the authorization was meaningless to Texas' community colleges, as the average campuses are struggling to accommodate annual growth rates of 8 percent.

However, Dr. Reynaldo Garcia, president and CEO of the Texas Association of Community Colleges, is hopeful that the next legislative session will bring similar relief to his association's member campuses. "The state money we need simply is not there," Garcia said. "Higher education has always been a discretionary part of the state budget. In good times we get plenty, in tight times we struggle."

When legislators return to the Capitol in 2007 with a clear budget surplus, Garcia and his constituents will ask lawmakers to increase state funding for community colleges by approximately 25 percent. "We're currently getting about 50 cents for every dollar we should be getting from the state, and in the next session we want to get that up to about 75 cents."

Garcia said community colleges are being forced to use an inordinate amount of revenue from tuition and taxes for instruction - leaving nothing left for expansions and other obligations. Many community colleges have been turning to taxpayers for help via bond referendums. The Alamo Community College District, for example, recently gained voter approval to fund a $450 million expansion with bond money.

Garcia estimates that at least 75 percent of all recent bond proposals in Texas were passed by voters - proving that there is a consensus that community colleges must grow. Bond money is allowing community colleges to grow, but Garcia insists that the colleges need more state money to fund day-to-day operations.

"The role of community colleges is to be responsive to their communities and their workforce needs, and those needs are growing," Garcia said.


N. Texas transit officials to take public's pulse

North Texas leaders may be calling - literally - on local residents soon to gauge their support for a half-percent sales tax increase for mass transit. The Regional Transit Working Committee, established by the Texas Legislature last year to explore ways to fund a proposed 260-mile, is proposing a transit network that could reach places such as Frisco, Cleburne, Midlothian and Waxahachie with diesel-powered commuter rail. McKinney could be served by commuter rail or electric-powered light-rail trains. The area's three transit agencies - DART, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority and the Denton County Transportation Authority - will pay for the survey, along with the North Central Texas Council of Governments.


Panola College takes nursing classes to the Web

A new online degree program called Online FLEX Delivery Nursing Option is under way with 10 students at Panola College in Carthage. The degree program, one of the first of its kind in the nation, allows nursing students to earn their degree while working full time. The curriculum combines online classes with clinical experience at night and on weekends. Students who complete the program will earn their associate degree and be ready to take the National Council Licensure Examination to become registered nurses.

"The traditional full-time program for nursing has not been very flexible for those who need to continue working full time," said Program Director Barbara Cordell. "We are proud to be offering an option for these students. Hopefully, this will enable more people to enter the nursing profession and help to alleviate the shortage."


Hospital system provides mental health grants

The St. David's Community Health Foundation, the charity arm of the St. David's Health Care System, is distributing more than $792,000 in grants for mental health efforts among 12 Austin-area nonprofit groups. Some winners, such as the Georgetown-based Lone Star Circle of Care, will use that money to provide mental health care in primary health care settings. Historically, the foundation has focused on traditional health care projects such as nonprofit clinics, dental care and services for the elderly, but during the past year the foundation repeatedly heard requests for more community-based mental health services, said Dick Moeller, the foundation's president. In 2003, Texas ranked 47th in the country for its per capita mental health funding, according to the most recent ranking by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors.

A wealth of information being shared!

Mary Scott Nabers

By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

Although the 80th session of the Texas Legislature is still six months away, state agencies, universities and courts have been preparing for months for the January 2007 legislative session. The focus has been on preparing documents outlining upcoming budgetary needs. The documents being prepared are called Legislative Appropriations Requests (LARs) and they provide a wealth of information for those seeking to do business with the state.

The LAR is a valuable document because it is one of the few reports containing information about the priorities of governmental entities and how they plan to spend their allocated funds. Some important things to know about LARs:

  1. They show past expenditures for FY 2005-06 and budgeted expenditures for FY 2007 as well as employee headcount numbers for those same years.
  2. They show capital budget projects and expenditures for FY06, and budgeted expenditures for FY07.
  3. They also outline any new initiatives the agency expects to pursue in the coming biennium.

SPI's researchers and budget analysts will be spending a lot of time with these documents. There is a wealth of information and data to be gained from close examination.

Budgeting information requested of state entities by the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) and the Governor's Office changes a little every two years. For instance, in the current submission, each state agency or university must include an organizational chart detailing the agency's management structure. The agencies are also required to submit a detailed report to the state's IT agency, the DIR, if technology projects are planned. These reports are included in LARs.

During the upcoming budget cycle the LBB and the Governor's Office have also requested information on homeland security financial data - for both expenditures related to terrorism and expenditures related to natural or man-made disasters.

Once an LAR is submitted, public budget hearings are held to discuss the funding requests. This is another unique source of information and SPI researchers watch these hearings very carefully. State agency officials are required to provide details of their proposed expenditures and projects.

Depending on a company's interest in a particular governmental entity and the products and services being requested, the LARs are certainly a good starting point for gaining insight into contracting opportunities.


TSU to begin national search for new president

Texas Southern University's governing board will soon name a committee to begin a nationwide search for the Houston university's new president to replace Priscilla Slade, who this week was dismissed after six years as president.

Provost Bobby Wilson will continue serving as acting president until a new president is selected.


State evacuation plan released

Texas emergency officials have published online a 157-page plan for widespread evacuations in the event of a disaster. The plan includes several new components, such as "comfort stations" that would provide food, water and medical assistance along evacuation routes and a point-to-point system that would pair coastal cities with inland cities for special needs evacuations. State officials said the plan is designed to show how the state would support local officials and does not include detailed local planning.


Ask the experts

Q: I read that state agencies were instructed to prepare budgets based on 10% less than their last biennial budget. What impact does that have on future business with state agencies and universities?

Susan Tennison

A: In a letter from the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) and the Governor's Office, all state agencies, universities, and courts were instructed to limit their baseline requests to 10% of their expended amounts for FY06-07. There are some exceptions mentioned, but this instruction has been the same for several sessions. Continuing that practice, agencies will submit Exceptional Item Requests for items that are needed but are above the base budget as specified by the LBB and the Governor's Office. This will give the Legislature the choice in deciding which initiatives to fund from all exceptional items submitted.

For businesses, this means that agencies are always open to creative means to accomplish new initiatives. Cost savings will need to be quantified and presented in such a way as to encourage funding. Another avenue will be in re-bids of current contracts where the agencies will be looking for possible cost savings to free up additional baseline spending. Creativity could be the key to securing some state contracts.

-Susan Tennison,
Senior Research Analyst at Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

Have a question for one of SPI's government affairs experts?
Drop us a line!


Perry makes appointments

Gov. Rick Perry this week made the following appointments:

  • Margaret Carter McNeese, M.D., of Houston to the Texas Medical Board;
  • Anna Arredondo Chapman of Del Rio to the Texas Physician Assistant Board;
  • Douglas C. Jeffrey III of Vernon as district attorney of the 46th Judicial District serving Wilbarger, Hardeman and Foard counties.
  • Grace G. Kunde of Seguin to the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority board of directors;
  • Tilmon Lee Walker of New Braunfels to the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority board of directors;
  • Cara Wood of Conroe as judge of the 284th Judicial District Court serving Montgomery County;
  • Jerome Scott Hennigan of Arlington as judge of the 324th Judicial District Court serving Tarrant County.


OIG issues HHSC report

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has issued a report for the first six months of Fiscal Year 2006, which ended February 28. The report provides an overview of key accomplishments, presents a look at future OIG activities, and contains a year-to-date synopsis of OIG recoveries and cost avoidance.


ONLINE POLL

Do you believe that the Legislature should increase funding for community colleges next session?

(Non-scientific results next week)

Last week, 37% of respondents said they would you pay an above-average toll to drive in an express lane guaranteed not to slow below 50 mph.


Event Links

Texas Veterans Benefits Seminars

HUB Forums in June

HUB Forums in July

ICMA conference in San Antonio - 9/10/06-9/13/06

Upcoming Executive Women in Texas Government events

Grayson County Amber Alert first to cross state lines

Keith Gar

Grayson County this week became the first county to install an Amber Alert program that crosses state lines. Led by the efforts of Sheriff Keith Gary, the county was able to negotiate a system that cost a little over $14,000 - much lower than the $40,000-$90,000 price range quotes. The costs include equipment and training for dispatchers

The system will include Grayson, Fannin and Cooke counties in Texas as well as Love, Bryan, Carter, and Marshall counties in Oklahoma. Local law enforcement officers who have a case that requires an Amber Alert will contact Sheriff Gary's office, where dispatchers will determine if an Amber Alert is warranted. The Amber Alert system was originally developed as an early warning system to help find abducted children. However, the system can also be used for other situations such as weather alerts or fires.


City of Southlake to build new public safety building

Officials of the City of Southlake, in the heart of the Dallas-Forth Worth Metroplex, have approved a new $18 million facility for the city's Department of Public Safety. The project will be funded over the next two fiscal years through the city's Crime Control Prevention District budget. The original proposed location for the facility was nixed by a consulting report, with that land being reserved possibly for a future new fire station.


Magazine: UTSA tops for Hispanic graduates

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) has been ranked one of the top degree-granting institutions to Hispanic students nationwide. UTSA ranked third in the country for the number of undergraduate degrees awarded to Hispanic students and 11th nationwide in the number of master's degrees awarded to Hispanics, according to the May 2006 edition of the Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education. The magazine surveyed the Top 100 predominately Hispanic-serving colleges and universities in the United States and Puerto Rico to compile the list. It analyzed data from the 2004-05 academic year. Hispanic students comprised 46 percent of UTSA's last graduating class. The university conferred 1,514 bachelor's degrees to Hispanic students out of a total of 3,258 degrees conferred. Another 304 Hispanic students out of a total of 855 students earned their master's degrees.


Labatt retains seat on Water Development Board

Former San Antonio City Council member Thomas Weir Labatt III was reappointed to the Texas Water Development Board on Monday by Gov. Rick Perry. Labatt, who was first appointed to the board in 2002, is president of Labatt Management Co., agent in charge of the Buddy Ross Ranch in Edwards County and former managing partner of the Labatt Company. Labatt served on the City Council from 1986 to 1993.


El Paso commuters breathing sigh of relief

Ted Houghton

An eight-mile, two-year, $63 million road project in El Paso opened this week, easing traffic congestion in the city, but more importantly, providing a trade route from the Northeast to Mexico that is expected to stimulate the local economy.

"This highway provides a trade route and economic opportunities to this area," said Texas Transportation Commission member Ted Houghton of the newly opened Loop 375/Joe Battle Boulevard. Long-term plans are to connect the loop directly to Interstate 10.

While the economic opportunities will eventually be realized, El Paso East Side motorists are enjoying the immediate effects of the opening of the new loop - trimming as much as 15-20 minutes off their morning commute.


Little Elm hires town manager

The city council for the North Texas town of Little Elm has hired Ivan Langford to be town manager. Langford plans to start by June 19. The town has been without a manager since J.C. Hughes resigned Feb. 7. Langford has 25-plus years of public management experience. He has been Dickinson's city administrator since 1999, and was general manager of a utility district in Galveston County from 1986 to 2003, city manager of LaMarque from 1978 to 1986, and director of public works in Baytown from 1975 to 1978.


E. Texas getting new workforce center

The East Texas Workforce Center in Longview could be in a new, larger home by late summer or early fall, said Wendell Holcombe, director for workforce development programs with the East Texas Council of Governments. The center is in a 14,000-square-foot building at 410 S. High St. It will relocate into a 26,500-square-foot building. Holcombe said the renovations were designed to create a larger and more professional environment that companies and job seekers will be comfortable using.


Job Opportunities at SPI:

Strategic Partnerships, Inc., is seeking an Editor/Writer/Marketing Director to be responsible for editorial content, production and distribution of the Texas Government Insider. The individual will also be responsible for newspaper articles and expanding distribution. For a full job description, click here.


Texas Government Insider Archives

Volume 1, 2, 3 and 4 Archives - 11/7/03 - 6/9/06



Resources

Top 100 Federal Funding Sources in Texas State Budget

Texas Statutes Granting, Prohibiting, or Restricting the Power of Eminent Domain

Higher Education Graduation Rates

Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature 1846-2006

LBB Budget and Performance Assessments

Senate Interim Charges

House Interim Charges

Texas Fact Book '06-'07

LBB's Fiscal Size-up '06-'07

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


Veterans Benefits Seminar

The Texas Veterans Land Board invites all Texas Veterans to a seminar on the evening of Tuesday, July 11th, at the LBJ Auditorium in Austin. Benefits discussed will include housing, home improvement, and land loan programs; state veterans homes; and state veterans cemeteries. There is no charge for this seminar; registration begins at 6:30 p.m. A schedule of future seminars is available online.

The Texas Veterans Land Board is a program of the General Land Office and is chaired by GLO Commissioner Jerry Patterson. Texas veterans with questions about their state veterans benefits can call 1-800-252-VETS.


Transportation Council hosts public hearings

The North Central Texas Council of Governments will host two sets of public hearings in June to allow public comment on North Texas transportation projects. The first meetings - to discuss the Texas Metropolitan Mobility Plan - will be June 12 in Duncanville with the second on June 13 in Lewisville and Fort Worth. The second series, focusing on issues such as development of the 2030 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, results from a Truck Lane Pilot Study and an update on the Trans-Texas Corridor and Tower 55, will be June 26 in Fort Worth and June 27 in Dallas and Richardson. For more information, go to http://www.nctcog.org/trans/outreach/meetings/index.asp.