Emerging Tech Funds awarded
Three technology companies will benefit from $2.25 million in funding announced today by Gov. Rick Perry from the state's Emerging Technology Fund. The funds will assist these companies in bringing their emerging technology to the marketplace.
The recipients of the funds:
- Endothelix, Inc. of Houston will receive $1 million to assist in the development of diagnostic technology to assist physicians in better assessing cardiovascular health needs.
- itRobotics, Inc., of Stafford will receive $750,000 to support development and production of pipe inspection robots to allow inspection of tubular infrastructure for gas, nuclear plants, power plants and non-energy pipelines.
- Bauhaus, Inc. of San Antonio will receive $500,000 to support development and distribution of animation software to replace hybrid paper and digital methods with a complete digital system for animation and special effects.
This round of ETF funding represents part of the $200 million available through the fund created last year by the Texas Legislature. Perry said the grants will help keep Texas competitive with other states regarding emerging technology and speed up the availability of new and needed technologies. "Over the next decade, emerging technologies will generate $3 trillion in revenue worldwide," said the governor, "and we want to bring those investments - and the benefits of the new technologies - to our state."
Gibson to speak at Legislative Conference
Bruce Gibson, chief of staff to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and a former six-term legislator, will be the keynote lunch speaker at the 5th Biennial Pre-session Legislative Conference, sharing his insight regarding the key issues facing the members of the upcoming 80th Texas Legislature.
Prior to his current position, Gibson was a senior vice president at Reliant Energy, president and CEO of the Texas Chamber of Commerce, and executive assistant to Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock. He also has experience as a dairy farmer, businessman and attorney.
As a member of the Texas House of Representatives, Gibson chaired the Government Organization Committee and Financial Institutions Committee and co-chaired the Joint Committee on Judicial Reform and Joint Committee on Deceptive Trade Practice Act Reform. He served as vice chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and Business and Commerce Committee.
Gibson is the recipient of numerous awards, including Texas Monthly's "Ten Best Legislators" and the Dallas Morning News' "Seven Best Legislators." The Fort Worth Star-Telegram referred to him as "one of the most diligent, capable members of the Legislature."
The conference is sponsored jointly by SPI and UT's LBJ School of Public Affairs and will be held on October 10th at UT's J.J. Pickle Research Campus in Austin. Previous announcements are available online. Registration information will be available in a future issue of the Texas Government Insider. For further information, contact lriley@spartnerships.com
Schools dealing with increasing gas prices
Rising gas prices at the pump aren't just the talk around the office water cooler. Public school officials throughout the state are looking for savings elsewhere in their budgets to make up for increasing school transportation costs related to near-record gas prices. "Additional money appropriated for schools by the legislature goes directly to teachers, staff and college prep programs," said Gwen Santiago, executive director of the Texas Association for School Business Officials (TASBO). "It's all targeted." Thus school districts are being forced to find creative solutions to the transportation budget shortfalls that many of them are experiencing.
Among the solutions are anything from school consolidations (there were four this summer) to doubling bus routes - using the same bus to cover two routes. "It's a real struggle," said Santiago.
Some districts are turning to others with expertise to help them realize more efficiencies. For instance, the Round Rock ISD is frequently called on by other school districts to evaluate and make recommendations on how to economize on school bus routes. Dan Roberts, transportation director and long range planning director for RRISD, last year worked with nearly two-dozen other school districts in Texas and three other states to maximize their efficiencies in their transportation of students. His largest client to date is the Fort Worth ISD.
"We charge them a reasonable amount and try to save them money," said Roberts. His efforts can often result in either a district needing fewer buses for transporting students or that district's buses running fewer miles.
With 80-85 percent of school budgets spent on salaries, there's not much room for cuts in the remaining 15 percent of the budget that includes transportation, said Santiago. "You can't cut buses or energy costs," she said.
Bacarisse named to DIR board
Third-term Harris County District Clerk Charles Bacarisse has been named by Gov. Rick Perry to serve as a member of the board of the Department of Information Resources.
Bacarisse was first elected in Harris County in 1994 and has been honored for bringing a business-like approach to the office, including numerous upgraded programs and improved constituent services. Bacarisse is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and has served in the administrations of former Presidents George Bush and Ronald Reagan.
DPS not ready to estimate cost of new driver's licenses
State officials currently are reviewing how a new federal anti-terrorism law requiring driver's licenses to be more sophisticated might affect fees for Texas drivers. Officials at the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) say recent reports of fees increasing to $100 are premature.
"People are trying to put figures on something that's not finalized yet," said Tom Vinger, a DPS spokesman. While DPS officials are doing cost modeling at this time, Vinger says no one at the DPS office has mentioned specific figures. He is also quick to point out that any increase would need to be approved by the legislature. "Unless the legislature approves it, it won't be increasing," Vinger said.
Rachael Novier, a spokesperson for Governor Rick Perry, echoed these sentiments. "It's speculative at this point to say that costs will increase or how that cost would be funded."
Dewhurst appoints Stuart to TBPC board
Barkley Stuart of Dallas, executive vice president, COO and director of Glazer’s Wholesale Distributing Co., has been appointed by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst as a member of the Texas Building and Procurement Commission.
Stuart has spent more than eight years in the alcohol beverage industry and is a director of the Wine and Spirits Wholesale Assn. He also directed Communication for Change, Inc., a small not-for-profit organization doing international training and development in such areas as India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, China, Indonesia and Mali.
The new board member has experience in finance, human resources, information systems, sales, corporate governance and strategic planning. Stuart is a graduate of Brown University and the Harvard Business School.
Budget cuts could force park closures
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials warn that nearly 20 state parks could be forced to close if the 10 percent budget cuts sought by Gov. Rick Perry for the next biennium are implemented. TPWD Executive Director Robert Cook said a 10 percent budget cut would translate to $4 million in cutbacks, including the loss of dozens of full-time jobs.
A draft report released last week by TPWD's advisory committee notes that the park system in Texas needs another $100 million per year to maintain current operations. The system currently operates at a $6-$8 million deficit each year. TPWD officials are pushing for increasing one avenue for revenue, but to increase that revenue stream they will have to convince the legislature to remove the $32 million cap the department receives in funding from the sales tax generated from sporting good items.
GEAR UP Waco program funding announced
The GEAR UP Waco partnership has been awarded a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The partnership, whose goal is to increase the number of high school students entering higher education, includes Baylor University, Texas State Technical Institute, the City of Waco's Academy for Educational Development, the Waco ISD and Youth Count, Inc.
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards of Texas, who announced the grant funding, praised the GEAR UP program for its efforts to "ultimately make the dream of a college education a reality" for McLennan County students. GEAR UP Waco is a federally funded education program that has provided mentoring, tutoring, college visits and financial aid for thousands of McLennan County high school students over the past seven years.
PUC offers consumer tool for electric use
A color-coded system called PowerfulAdvice is being launched by the Public Utility Commission to help electric customers make more efficient use of electricity with a goal of lowering their electric bills and ensuring the state's electric supply. Consumers can go to the PUC's Web page and click on the colored box at the bottom of the page that says "Today's Conservation Alert."
The three-color system is designed to alert electric customers on days when energy conservation is critical to ensure sufficient electricity supplies on the state's grid. PUC Chairman Paul Hudson says consumers can both "get money-saving advice and help ensure a sufficient electricity supply" for the state.
On GREEN days, no electricity emergency is likely. YELLOW days indicate there is a chance of shortages and encourages conservation measures, many of which are listed on the PUC site. RED days are those on which conservation is critical, with voluntary conservation measures helpful in preventing the need for rolling blackouts.
Comfort ISD plans November bond election
With only three of its last six bond elections passing, the Comfort ISD is preparing to take its needs to the people again, voting to put a $12.3 million bond election before voters in November. The bond election will be in the form of two propositions - one for $10.5 million and one for $1.8 million.
The $10.5 million proposition includes adding classrooms at each campus so that student-teacher ratios can be maintained, adhering to Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and Occupational Safety and Health Administration deficiencies, expanding the ag science building, enlarging the high school student dressing facilities, repairing draining problems at the high school and paving parking areas near the athletic and ag science facilities. Proposition two would expand the career and technology offering at the school.
The last successful bond issue was in 1998 for $5.5 million.
PAISD has three-dozen applicants for superintendent
Some three-dozen applicants from Texas and eight other states have thrown their hats in the ring vying to become the next superintendent of the Port Arthur ISD. Former Superintendent Willis Mackey resigned in February. But now the district is also looking to fill the interim superintendent spot, after Interim Superintendent Jim Weeks (pictured) resigned this week.
School officials said they will be contacting the candidates who interviewed for the interim position in February when Weeks was hired, to see if there is interest among the applicants for the interim position. The first round of interviews for a full-time superintendent will be held the last weekend in July, and the second round will be during the first week of August. School officials hope to announce a lone finalist by Aug 5, and fill the position by Aug. 26.
Wright proposal headed to House, Senate
A proposal to repeal the 1979 Wright amendment is headed to the full U.S. House and Senate after legislative committees of both chambers of Congress this week passed similar bills out of committee. The proposal comes on the heels of a June agreement among the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth and Southwest and American Airlines.
The legislation, which could go to the full House and Senate by next week, would repeal the law that prohibits long-haul flights from Love Field in eight years. It also would allow immediate connecting flights and cap the number of gates at the airport at 20.
The bill could face an uphill battle as two members of the U.S. Senate have raised some concerns regarding antitrust provisions of the bill, but U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas said she will "keep working it."
UT-Pan Am purchasing property for future use
The University of Texas-Pan American is thinking ahead - way ahead. University officials are purchasing property to ensure the university can handle expansion of existing facilities to meet an ever-growing student population. Officials note that once property begins being developed, it is more costly to buy.
In January, UT-Pan Am purchased more than 16 acres of land for $2.5 million. Negotiations are ongoing over a 19-acre site, and university officials have their eye on a 20-acre site currently occupied by the Region One Education Service Center.
The new land purchases will be used for parking areas until there is a need for campus expansion of facilities.
Paris Junior College plans two new campuses
The Paris Junior College Board of Regents this week approved the issuance of $7.5 million in bonds to begin construction of new campus facilities in Greenville and Sulphur Springs. The Greenville campus expansion was announced in 2005, and the more than 170-acre site will allow for continued expansion as warranted, according to PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin. Ground will be broken by the end of this year and officials hope the first classes in the new facility can be held in the fall of 2007. The Sulphur Springs facility will sit on a 46-acre site near the airport.
Anglin said the additions to the existing campus will "help attract people, industry and business" to the area in addition to serving the educational needs of surrounding communities.
Valley exporting conference set for late July
Valley businesses interested in selling their products to other countries will benefit from an export trade symposium planned for July 27 in Brownsville. Jointly sponsored by the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, the symposium will feature speakers from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Small Business Administration. They will discuss financing and networking that will help businesses tap into international trade.
These business owners are seeking to tap into the international trade business, where $128 billion in commodities was exported from Texas last year. The conference will be at the International Technology, Education and Commerce (ITEC) campus from 9 a.m. to noon.
Socorro to begin search for new superintendent
Socorro ISD officials are anticipating that hiring an interim superintendent to replace Robert Duron, who left this week for the top spot in the San Antonio ISD, could take up to a month. Board members expect to hire a firm to assist them in their search. Officials hope to have a new superintendent in place by January 2007, following the school's Christmas holidays.
Amarillo ISD looking for ways to cut budget
Without a tax increase, Amarillo ISD could face a more than $5 million budget deficit for the 2007-08 budget year, officials of the district said this week. School administrators will begin looking for possible budget reductions. While Amarillo ISD already spends approximately 63 percent of its budget for instructional costs, Gov. Rick Perry's "65 Percent Rule" executive order that requires schools to spend 65 percent of their funding on instructional costs would cause the district to have to move approximately $4 million from its non-instructional funds to instructional funds.
'Eighth Wonder of the World' may get facelift
Billed as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' when it was originally built, the Reliant Astrodome in Houston could soon get a facelift. Businessmen are seeking financing to remake the Houston landmark into a convention hotel. The project has received preliminary approval by the Harris County Sports and Convention Corp. board.
A group of financial partners plans to invest $450 million to remake the Astrodome, which has been the venue for everything from major league baseball to professional rodeos during its long career in Houston, into a 1,200-room hotel. The final construction plans will first have to be approved by the Sports and Convention Corp. board and the Harris County Commissioners Court. If approved, construction could begin next summer, with a completion date by 2010.
Money magazine singles out Austin, Sugar Land
Sugar Land ranked third in Money magazine's recently released list of the best places to live among the nation's smaller cities and Austin ranked second among big cities. Officials with the magazine visited more than 700 cities in making their rankings, based on such factors as average income, employment market, cost of living, property taxes, housing costs, crime rates, traffic congestion, climate and educational facilities. The top city in the small city category was Fort Collins, Colo.
Of the 90 best small and large cities lists, 10 were from Texas. In addition to Sugar Land, other top small cities in Texas included: Plano (No. 11), Richardson (No. 15), Carrollton (No. 19), Round Rock (No. 48), Denton (No. 58), North Richland Hills (No. 62), League City (No. 65) and The Woodlands (No. 73).
Austin trailed only Colorado Springs among the best big cities.
Hidalgo County awarded ORCA grant
A $500,000 grant to Hidalgo County from the Office of Rural Community Affairs will be used for infrastructure improvements in the La Palma Colonia near Weslaco. Included in the project are more than 130 sanitary sewer connections as well as septic tank remediation.
ORCA funding comes from its Colonia Economically Distressed Area Program (EDAP), a partnership between ORCA and the Texas Water Development Board, which supports eligible projects located in unincorporated colonias and in eligible cities that annexed the eligible colonia where improvements are to be made.
City of College Station forging partnership with schools
 
The first-ever joint meeting of the College Station City Council and the College Station ISD this week could lead to cost savings for both entities, which translates to good news for taxpayers. Previous joint endeavors between the two entities have resulted in programs to provide police officers in schools and several parks.
CSISD Acting Superintendent Dr. Eddie Coulson (left) noted that with the explosive growth of the school district, future land acquisitions coordinated between the city and the school district could be beneficial. Another idea on which the two entities might collaborate are a shared public meeting space that could be housed in the city hall.
Talks between the two entities will continue, according to College Station City Manager Glenn Brown (right), as they seek to find "commonalities" and "ways to save money."
City of Alice discussing possible water park
The Texas summer heat may be a plus for Alice Mayor Pro-Tem Juan Rodriguez, who is asking fellow city council members to consider creating a city-owned water park that could replace aging pools in the city and pay for itself through user fees. Rodriguez sees a water park as a viable alternative to maintenance of current city pools that he says are in "terrible" shape and need constant maintenance.
Rodriguez also notes that a water park facility could become a major tourist attraction, attracting not only residents of Alice, but others from the surrounding area who would then spend their dollars with businesses in the city. A formal presentation on the proposed facility will be offered at an upcoming meeting of the council.
Willacy County to build detention center
Willacy County this week voted to borrow $60.6 million to build a 2,000-bed detention center to hold illegal immigrants for the federal government. The tent-like facility has the potential, when full, to create $12 million in revenues for the county. The county also hired a Utah firm that already operates a 500-bed, county-owned prison to run the new facility.
In its first year of operation, the federal government will pay $79 per day to the county for each prisoner it houses, with a $78 per day rate in the second year. The county will keep $2.25 per day for each of its first 1,800 detainees. Thus a headcount of 1,800 would generate $1.4 million. Should the detainee count go above 1,800, the Utah firm would pay the county $50.25 per day for each prisoner over that number. Other annual rates were also part of the agreement.
Hereford announces new ethanol plant
Bioenergy could be the wave of the future, and Hereford folks are beaming over the upcoming construction of a new ethanol plant there. In addition to projections of 40 new jobs for the area, the plant also is expected to provide a market for local grain sorghum, with 30 percent of the grain to be used coming from local farms.
The nearly $120 million plant is expected to produce 100 million gallons of ethanol per year and is expected to be the first such plant completed in Texas. It will be one of the top 10 producers in the nation. The ethanol produced at the new Hereford facility will be blended with gasoline in Amarillo, Lubbock, Dallas and Houston. Once completed, the new facility will be one of more than 100 operating ethanol plants in the United States. There are nearly three-dozen more under construction and seven are being enlarged.
The area already boasts a 100 million gallon ethanol plant that is under construction, and a biodiesel plant is planned for an existing facility in the area.
Austin names new assistant city manager
Waco Assistant City Manager Bert Lumbreras is heading south. After a nine-year career in Waco, Lumbreras will begin his new job Aug. 7 as assistant city manager in Austin.
While in Waco, Lumbreras has assisted in overseeing such areas as finance, public safety, planning, health and housing. He previously also served as city manager in Dilley, Floresville, Alamo and Uvalde. He began his career in Waco in 1997.
Austin City Manager Toby Futrell said Lumbreras would bring a "steady and practiced hand" to the city's administration and that she expects him to oversee city parks, libraries and housing. Lumbreras is a graduate of Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State University.
Abbott rules computers are not textbooks
Computers are not textbooks, according to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. In a ruling this week, Abbott concluded that funds set aside by the legislature for textbooks must be used exclusively to convey information, including curriculum content, to students. He said those funds cannot be used to purchase hardware or other equipment defined as "technological equipment" in the State Education Code.
Abbott's ruling came following a request for an opinion by Geraldine "Tincy" Miller, chair of the State Board of Education. Miller expressed her concerns that funds provided exclusively for textbooks might be "diverted from their constitutional purpose" to the purchase of equipment and other hardware.
Quarles to head up Brazos County Expo Center
It may not be as big as Reliant Stadium, but the Brazos County Expo Center will have the same watchful eye overseeing its construction as the Houston sports facility had. Expo Center officials this week announced that Tom Quarles, a former official with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo who also helped oversee construction of Reliant Stadium, will be the center's director. Quarles, who starts work Monday, will oversee construction of the facility as it prepares for its opening. He will also head up the center's marketing. Quarles was one of 15 applicants for the job.
Shoemaker accepts appointment to UT Medical Branch
Former University of Hawaii medical school interim dean Dr. Samuel Shomaker has been named Dean of Austin Programs at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Austin. His appointment is effective Sept. 1. Shomaker has served as CEO and acting dean of the UH John A. Burns School of Medicine since February 2005, after previously serving as associate dean for five years.
UTMB Dean of the School of Medicine, Dr. Valerie M. Parisi, said she is confident Shomaker will be "an innovative leader who will ensure the vitality and growth of the Austin Programs and forge even stronger alliances among Seton Healthcare Network, the University of Texas at Austin, UTMB, and the greater Austin community."
Shomaker earned his medical degree from the University of Hawaii, where he also completed his internship in surgery, after earning a law degree from Georgetown University. He has also served on the faculty of the University of Utah.
Hamilton named Marlin's new police chief
Six-year veteran Marlin police officer Tom Hamilton has been named Chief of Police for the city. Hamilton replaces former chief Kerry Blakemore, who resigned to take the chief's post in Gladewater. Hamilton has been serving the city as assistant police chief and has twice served as the department's interim chief.
Two UT-Pan Am candidates withdraw from job search
The short list for the University of Texas-Pan American's provost and vice president for academic affairs just got a little shorter. Two finalists for the position - Suzanne LaBrecque and Waded Cruzado-Salas, have withdrawn their names from consideration. LaBrecque currently is vice provost and associate vice president of the University of North Texas and Cruzado-Salas is dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at New Mexico State. LaBrecque has accepted a position with the University of Houston at Victoria.
UTPA President Blandina "Bambi" Cardenas is expected to make her decision on the remaining three candidates in the next few days.
Edinburg City Manager Sturgis resigns
Edinburg City Manager Wendy Smith Sturgis is leaving the city to take over as deputy city manager in McAllen. The City Council will meet next week to approve Sturgis’ resignation and appoint an interim city manager, expected to be Assistant City Manager J.J. Rodriquez. Sturgis will begin her work with the city of McAllen on Aug. 14.
Plans for UH satellite campus on hold
Concerns expressed by neighboring universities have put the University of Houston’s plans for a satellite campus in the northwest suburbs on hold. Officials of Prairie View A&M and Sam Houston State University have questioned how a university in that area that offers similar academic programs to theirs will affect their enrollment.
UH officials were looking at purchasing a 47-acre site that includes three office buildings, a manufacturing facility and four parking garages. Two of the buildings would have been renovated for classroom use in time for the spring 2007 semester. The property purchase has since been put on hold after the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board postponed a vote scheduled this week on the issue.
Rangel College to begin granting degrees
The Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, which has already accepted more than 70 students, was this week granted approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to grant degrees. The school, located in Kleberg County, is named for the late Rep. Irma Rangel of Kingsville who died in 2003. It is part of the Texas A&M Health Science Center.
Lens on Government: Legislative Appropriations Requests
The last article in this series gave an introduction to the budget planning processes that precede preparation of recommended statewide budgets by both the Governor and the Legislative Budget Board (LBB).
This article focuses on the key agency-level request document, the Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR).
Click here to read the rest of the article.
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Many watch 'Sunset' review process carefully
By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
During the 1970s, there was a great amount of support for the concept of reviewing all state agencies to analyze whether agency mandates were still valid and relevant and whether or not the mandates were being carried out efficiently and effectively. Legislation was passed and the Texas Sunset Act became effective in 1977.
The Sunset Advisory Commission was then created to execute these reviews. The review process, still in place almost 30 years later, provides a systemic analysis of an agency's operations, and produces recommendations on how the operations might be improved. The Sunset process is not enjoyable for any agency and often there are major changes that occur as a result of such scrutiny of the internal operations.
Approximately 130 agencies are subject to the Texas Sunset Act, but some governmental entities, such as universities and courts, are not subjected to the process. Agencies typically undergo Sunset review once every 12 years, which means that some 20-30 agencies go through the Sunset process each legislative session.
For the 80th Legislature that convenes on January 9, 2007, 23 agencies are scheduled for Sunset review. Some of the major agencies under review include the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Teacher Retirement System of Texas, Office of State-Federal Relations and Office of Rural Community Affairs.
The Sunset Advisory Commission is led by 10 legislators and two public members appointed equally by the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House. The Commission relies heavily on Commission staff to provide insight on the agencies under review. The actual review process for staff can last from three to eight months. This process involves working with agencies up for Sunset review, seeking input from interested parties (such as professional organizations), evaluating the agency's Self-Evaluation Report and more.
The end result of all the analysis is that a report is produced that includes recommendations. Recommendations can range from abolishing the agency, changing the organizational structure, consolidating functions, or implementing specific procedures, programs, functions, etc., to increase effectiveness or efficiencies.
The 12-member Sunset Commission holds hearings to allow staff to discuss the contents of its report, listen to agency leaders respond to the recommendations, and allow for public testimony. After all hearings have been held, the Commission makes final decisions on recommendations that will be sent to the Legislature.
During the legislative session, bills are introduced that capture the recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission. These bills follow the same process as all other introduced legislation. But because all agencies are scheduled to be abolished on a certain date, if legislation does not pass that specifically continues an agency past that date, the agency is automatically abolished.
Over the years, 52 of the 302 agencies reviewed have been abolished or their functions transferred. Some notable examples are the State Board of Barber Examiners, Cosmetology Commission, Texas Workers' Compensation Commission and the Texas Department of Economic Development - all of which were abolished over the past two legislative sessions.
Stafford to serve Higher Education Coordinating Board
Dr. Joe Stafford, a 40-year veteran of higher education and recent retiree from the University of Texas at San Antonio, has been named Assistant Commissioner for Academic Affairs and Research at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. He will begin his duties in August.
Stafford was a vice provost at UTSA, where he also served as vice president for research and graduate studies. Prior to that, he was associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Texas System. He earned his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and Ph.D. from Purdue University.
Stafford joins the THECB after serving as a higher education consultant for Strategic Partnerships, Inc. We at SPI wish him the best of luck in his new endeavor.
Governor makes several appointments
Governor Rick Perry recently made the following appointments:
- Stephen Kurt Fryar of Brownwood; board of the Texas Youth Commission;
- David Martin Muegge of Edna; Lavaca-Navidad River Authority;
- Kay W. Simons of Edna; Lavaca-Navidad River Authority;
- Paul Koop Littlefield of Edna; Lavaca-Navidad River Authority;
- Delia M. Reyes of Dallas; Texas Mutual Insurance Company Board of Directors;
- Christie Pogue of Buda; State Board for Educator Certification;
- Phillip B. Palmer of Abilene; Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners;
- Robert Gary Gray of Midland; Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners;
- Daniel Reyna of Waco; Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.
TxDOT seeks another private sector partner
State transportation officials are seeking competitive proposals from the private sector for another pass-through finance agreement. This proposal will address improvements to a segment of U.S. 290 in Bastrop and Lee counties. Pass-through agreements allow TxDOT to reimburse costs to a public or private entity that finances a state transportation project, with payment based on the number of vehicles that use the roadway. The agreements generally lead to road projects being constructed quicker. The project includes nearly 24 miles of U.S. 290.
Texans gearing up for tax-free holiday
With the start of the new public school year just around the corner, the annual Sales Tax Holiday in Texas is planned for Aug. 4-6. On those days, Texas families will save nearly $50 million in state and local sales tax on most clothing and footwear priced under $100 for children or adults. For more information on the Sales Tax Holiday and items that are tax exempt, click here.
LaBrecque leaves UNT for UH-Victoria
Dr. Suzanne LaBrecque will next month assume the position of provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Houston-Victoria. She currently is vice provost and associate vice president for academic affairs at the University of North Texas.
LaBrecque was one of more than 30 applicants for the UHV job and was selected by UHV President Tim Hudson to become the university's next chief academic officer. LaBrecque holds a bachelor's degree from South Dakota State University, a master's from Kansas State University and a Ph.D. from Florida State. She taught for 10 years at UNT before being named a dean. She will replace Dr. Don Smith at UHV, who retired at the end of May.
Aquifer could extend San Angelo’s water supply
The City of San Angelo may have found the answer to its water woes – an underground aquifer less than 20 miles from the city. City officials are in negotiations with the property owners on whose land the Whitehouse Aquifer is situated that would allow for drilling and testing to see if the amount and quality of the water is sufficient to create a water wellfield.
Officials think the water might require only minimal purification and could possibly extend San Angelo’s water supply for years. If the tests prove the aquifer a worthwhile source of water, the city likely will incur costs of between $25-$50 million to lay pipe from the source to San Angelo and build a water treatment plant. Consultants estimate the Whitehouse Aquifer could contain 30 million acre-feet of water. An acre-foot equals more than 325,000 gallons. The city has until the end of 2007 to complete testing and inform the property owners if it wants to lease the land for a wellfield.
Midland ISD anticipates $30 million bond vote
Continued growth on many of its campuses has led the Midland ISD school board to propose a $30 million bond election in 2007. MISD Superintendent Dr. Robert Nicks said the proposal would include building nearly a dozen classrooms on eight of the district's growing campuses, while converting an existing elementary school into a performing and fine arts magnet campus. The school conversion could not only reduce some busing from across the district, but also maximize campus efficiency.
Busing would not be eliminated, said Nicks. "Primarily what we're focusing on are students who live within the city limits and trying to reduce cross-town busing for those students," The new classrooms also could eliminate the use of some of the portable classrooms the district now uses.
Adopt-a-Beach program earns award
The Texas General Land Office's Adopt-a-Beach program is the winner of the Take Pride in America award from the U.S. Department of the Interior. The honor is awarded to individuals or organizations that work to enhance public lands. The Texas program was chosen over hundreds of other programs.
More than 11,000 volunteers spent six hours cleaning the state's coastline last year. Since the first cleanup in 1986, more than 340,000 volunteers have picked up more than 6,400 tons of trash along 200 miles of Texas beaches. "Texans should take pride in knowing that the all-volunteer beach cleanup efforts they started here have spread around the world and are making a real impact," said Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.
| Ask the experts |
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Q: Why should a vendor submit a HUB Subcontracting Plan?
A: When a state agency or institution of higher education consider entering into a contract with an expected value of at least $100,000, they determine whether or not subcontracting opportunities are probable under the contract.
If the agency determines that subcontracting opportunities are probable, it will state the probability in its solicitation documentation and require a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Subcontracting Plan (HSP). As a result, all prime vendors (including certified HUBs) must complete and submit an HSP with their response. Texas law requires that a solicitation response that does not include a properly completed HSP "shall be rejected."
Vendors have several sources of information and assistance with HUB subcontracting. The Texas Administrative Code (Title 1, Part 5, Chapter 111, Subchapter B) sets out the general provisions for HUB subcontracting. The Texas Building and Procurement Commission's website provides detailed instructions for complying with HUB subcontracting rules. Each individual agency or institution of higher education has a dedicated HUB Coordinator who will be glad to assist vendors.
It is important to remember that the goal of HUB subcontracting is to encourage and effectively promote the utilization of HUBs by all state agencies, including institutions of higher education. Ultimately, each state agency is to make a good faith effort to meet or exceed these goals and assist HUBs in receiving a portion of the contracts awarded.
-Pat Hogan,
Senior Consultant, Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
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Penalty for late tax payment going up in Hurst
Paying your property taxes late will cost you a penalty in most cities. And in Hurst, it could cost even more than it did last year. City officials are studying raising the delinquent tax payment penalty from 15 to 20 percent. The second vote on the proposal is slated for next week. City officials cite increasing fees for collecting delinquent taxes as the reason for the need to increase the penalty.
| ONLINE POLL |
| Would you support significant increases in the cost of driver's licenses for state and national security and anti-terrorism purposes?
(Non-scientific results next week)
Last week, 63% of respondents said the state's D.C.-based Office of State-Federal Relations should be closed and its functions reorganized into the Governor's Office.
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Austin hotel development planned
Developers are proposing a $185 million hotel project for downtown Austin, including three Marriott hotels. The complex would sit on nearly a full city block between Congress and Second, Third and Brazos streets.
If the project materializes, it could add as many as 600 full-time jobs to the Capital City and generate more than $2 million per year in property taxes and $4 million in lodging taxes.
Job Opportunities at SPI:
Texas is a big state, with hundreds of public school districts and dozens of institutions of higher education. To complement our current consulting staff, Strategic Partnerships, Inc., is seeking additional consultants with statewide or regional experience and subject matter expertise in public school grades K-12 and in higher education.
For a full job description for the K-12 positions, click here.
To access the job description for higher ed consultants, click here.
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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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