Central Texas waterways eyed by state

By Raymond V. Whelan • Daily Tribune Staff

BURNET - Much of Texas has its eyes on Central Texas, including Burnet County, as the place to go for the flow of new water resources, state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock said Monday.

Aycock, R-Killeen, represents Burnet, Bell and Lampasas counties in the state House.

During a lively round-table discussion before the Burnet County Commissioners Court and other officials, the lawmaker warned any water legislation passed during the upcoming 81st Legislature could affect water distribution to and from the middle of the state during the next 50 years.

“Help me keep an eye on this,” Aycock asked the group.

Several other hot topics surfaced during the “listening session,” as the representative passed out index cards and asked the group to submit a wish list of laws they would like to see passed or stopped during the next Legislature, set to begin Jan. 13, 2009.

Aycock made no promises, and officials took no action during the special meeting. However, the representative said he called the gathering to help him prepare for the next session, which will have most of its budget “already in place” as early as August next year.

Burnet County Judge Donna Klaeger asked Aycock to continue upholding jail standards, as well as looking for more ways to reduce jail overcrowding.

“We spend more money on jail issues than we do ordinary citizens,” Klaeger told Aycock.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Bill Neve pointed out a 500-bed jail in Louisiana would cost $11 million, and the same jail would cost $21 million in Burnet County, “because of the difference in (jail) regulation.”

Klaeger reminded the group state Sen. Troy Fraser and Aycock teamed up during the 80th Legislature to transfer 75 acres to the county for a new jail that a private firm will design, build, finance and manage during upcoming months.

More latitude needed

The state needs to give the county more latitude regarding the hiring of magistrates, the judge added.

Neve said state law ordering tax caps on county property appraisals, as well as limits on the amount of revenue counties can collect through property taxes, will “punish” Burnet County.

“You’re going to hurt people out there, including libraries, fire departments and EMS (emergency medical services),” Neve said.

Appraisal caps shift the property tax burden from wealthy residences to lower-income homeowners, he added.

Revenue caps could hurt the county’s ability to fund fire protection services and EMS providers, the commissioner said.

“They won’t pick them up with an ambulance, they’ll pick them up with a hearse,” Neve said.

If forced to choose between state caps on appraisals or revenue, he would choose appraisal caps, Neve added.

“They are after our money, and they will find a way to do it,” Neve said.

Precinct 2 Commissioner Russell Graeter suggested the Legislature could develop a “split system,” so larger counties could contribute more tax revenue than smaller counties do for state-mandated services, such as indigent health care,

“We would like to keep more money in our county instead of sending it to Austin, where they (the Legislature) can play Robin Hood,” Graeter added.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Hibler said he would like to see the county get a larger share of proceeds from gas and sales taxes for roads and bridges.

“We have a small piece of the pie, and it keeps getting smaller and smaller,” Hibler said. “Our roads are from the 19th century. We can raise taxes to the limit, and we will still be treading water.”

Aycock warned Hibler it could be difficult to divert state transportation funds away from work on projects in high-population areas, such as toll roads around Dallas.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Dockery said some developers in the county are skirting existing regulations to build sub-standard housing.

“We don’t want to add regulations to the people who are doing right. We want to add regulations to the people who are doing it wrong,” Dockery said.

Burnet City Councilman Bill Flynn asked Aycock to continue his support for voter identification for voter registration, even though the measure failed during the 80th Legislature.

“I lost that battle, as did the entire House,” Aycock recalled. “I think it will come back again with the same result.”

Several opponents of voter identification for registration claim it would infringe on voter privacy concerns, Aycock added.

“That is a ridiculous argument,” Neve said.

Judge Gil Jones from the 33rd state district court asked Aycock to consider supporting a budget for public defenders equal to the District Attorney’s Office.

“They’re working cheap, and the resources they have are not adequate,” Jones said, referring to lawyers who represent indigent defendants.

County Attorney Eddie Arredondo asked for more legislative attention on mental health, since about 80 percent of criminal offenses in the county can be traced to mental health issues.

Burnet County Indigent Health Care Coordinator Carole Ellis asked Aycock to support increasing low-cost insurance programs for the working poor.

“We rank 48th in the nation,” Ellis said. “We need to come off the bottom.”

Burnet Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Jeff Hanks told Aycock the state has taken “a lot of local control” away from school districts, especially small districts, and that may threaten their financial status.

“Smaller districts will have a tougher time than larger districts and will be forced into consolidation with larger districts,” Hanks said.

During the future, the only way BCISD will raise more revenue is through rising school populations, he added.

If the Legislature fails to find more money for schools, the public school finance issue “will return to court,” the superintendent predicted.

If the state Supreme Court ever declares the “margins tax” as unconstitutional, Aycock noted, “I think the public schools will be in a quandary.”

Aycock referred to the state tax on businesses and partnerships to support public schools after the state comptroller computes the cost of products and labor.

Complex financing

Public school financing is so complex, only two people in the state can figure it out, said Ryder Warren, the Marble Falls Independent School District superintendent.

“TEA (Texas Education Agency) has been shredded of its expertise,” Warren added.

Both Hanks and Warren agreed they have difficulty obtaining accurate revenue data from TEA.

However, even with the potential for rollback elections or a state income tax, Warren said his district is opposed to school vouchers.

“We are totally opposed to taking money out of an underfunded (public) system and putting it into vouchers for private schools,” he added.

Will Cohen from Texas Tech at Marble Falls asked Aycock to support loans or scholarships for higher education and workforce training.

All the commissioners and officials praised Aycock for listening to their concerns.

“It is awesome that you have done this,” Neve said. “This has not happened before.”

raymond@thepicayune.com

Back to main page

Central Texas waterways
eyed by state