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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming ECTOR COUNTY ISD agenda and found 7 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 10) |
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District Hikes Property Tax Bills by 25%
The district’s recently adopted tax plan will increase the property tax bill for the median homeowner by nearly $100, a 25% jump from $395 to $495. While the district may claim a ‘rate cut,’ soaring property appraisals mean taxpayers are paying significantly more, providing a windfall for the district’s budget.
Response
DEMAND FISCAL RESTRAINT: This massive tax increase is the backdrop for today’s spending votes. Email the Board of Trustees: ‘Given the 25% property tax bill increase you just passed, I demand you reject any new spending in Budget Amendment #2 (Item 10.B) that is not an absolute emergency. Taxpayers cannot afford more.’
💰 Impact: 25% Tax Bill Increase
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| ALERT (LEVEL 9) |
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District Pays $86,000 for SEL Program
Buried in the check register under the consent agenda is a payment of $86,000 to ‘7 Mindsets Academy LLC,’ a provider of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum. Taxpayer funds are being used for programs that often serve as a vehicle for controversial social theories, diverting focus from core academic subjects.
Response
PULL THE ITEM: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Pull Item 11.B from the consent agenda. I demand an explanation for the $86,000 payment to SEL vendor 7 Mindsets Academy. The district should focus on academics, not social engineering.’
💰 Impact: $86,000 for SEL
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| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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Board to Delegate Authority for $11.6M in Bond Spending
The Board is set to give the Superintendent sole authority to negotiate and execute over $11.6 million in construction contracts for the Bond 2023 program. This also gives the Superintendent power to approve change orders up to 10% of the cost without a prior board vote, reducing direct public oversight of taxpayer bond funds.
Response
DEMAND OVERSIGHT: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Regarding Item 8.C, the Board must not delegate its authority to approve multi-million dollar contracts and change orders. Taxpayers expect the Board to provide direct oversight on how bond money is spent. Vote NO on delegating this authority.’
💰 Impact: $11.6M+ (Reduced Oversight)
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| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Dues Hidden in Bill Payments
The district’s check register, part of the consent agenda, includes thousands of dollars in payments to groups like the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO). These organizations lobby the state legislature for higher spending and against policies like property tax relief and parental rights.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Pull Item 11.B, Bills for Payment, from the consent agenda. Taxpayers should not be forced to fund lobbying groups like TASA that work against our interests in Austin. I demand a separate, recorded vote on these payments.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Lobbying Fees
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Board to Vote on Undisclosed Budget Changes
The Board is scheduled to vote on ‘Budget Amendment #2,’ but the agenda packet fails to provide any details, stating a summary will be ‘provided under separate cover.’ This prevents the public from seeing what spending changes are being made before the vote.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Board of Trustees. ‘Postpone the vote on Item 10.B, Budget Amendment #2, until the full details are published for public review. Taxpayers deserve to know what you are voting on.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Spending Changes
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Vague Title — Manual Review Required
The board is set to approve multiple lists of purchases over $100,000 under items 8.B and 10.A. However, the agenda packet attachments for these items do not contain the actual list of vendors or items being purchased, preventing public scrutiny of major spending.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file attached in the Official Agenda (linked above) for Items 8.B and 10.A to confirm what large purchases are being approved. The board should not vote on undisclosed spending.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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Large Batch of New Library Books for Approval
The board is set to approve a lengthy list of new library books under the consent agenda (Item 11.D). While the district has made the list public for 30 days, parents should be aware of the specific titles being added to school libraries to ensure they align with community values.
Response
REVIEW THE LIST: The district is approving a large volume of new library books in Item 11.D. Parents should review the full list (Attachment 21 in the official agenda) to ensure the content is age-appropriate and aligns with community values.
💰 Impact: Potential Ideological Content
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