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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming BLANCO ISD agenda and found 4 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Appointing Officials to Appraisal District Board
The school board is voting on nominees for the Kendall Appraisal District (KAD) Board of Directors. The KAD board oversees the property appraisal process, which directly impacts every homeowner’s tax bill. This is a critical vote that determines who will represent taxpayer interests at the appraisal district.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Blanco ISD board. ‘Regarding Item 11.B, who are the nominees for the KAD Board, what is their position on appraisal reform and taxpayer rights, and will you commit to a public, roll-call vote on this important resolution?’
💰 Impact: Higher Property Taxes
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| WARNING (LEVEL 7) |
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Adopting Inflated ‘Prevailing Wage’ Rates
The board is set to adopt ‘prevailing wage rates’ for its 2025 bond construction projects. These government-mandated wage scales often inflate construction costs by preventing contractors from bidding based on competitive, market-rate labor. This action will likely cause taxpayer-funded bond projects to cost more than necessary.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Blanco ISD board. ‘Vote NO on Item 11.E. Adopting prevailing wage rates artificially inflates construction costs, wasting taxpayer money from the 2025 bond. The district should seek the best value for taxpayers.’
💰 Impact: Inflated Construction Costs
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Mid-Year Bonus Payments for All Staff
The board plans to approve a ‘retention payment,’ which is a bonus, for all district staff mid-way through the year. The total cost of this payment and the source of the funds are not disclosed in the agenda. Taxpayers deserve to know how much this will cost and how it impacts the district’s budget.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Blanco ISD board. ‘Before you vote on Item 11.D, please state the total cost of the proposed retention payments and identify the specific budget line item these funds will be drawn from.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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School Board ‘Governance Camp’ Trip
The board is discussing attending a ‘Governance Camp.’ These events are often run by organizations like the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), which lobby against taxpayer interests in Austin using local tax dollars. This trip represents a taxpayer expense and an alignment with groups that advocate for higher taxes and less local control.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Blanco ISD board. ‘Regarding Item 10.B, who is hosting the Governance Camp in Galveston, what is the total cost to the taxpayer for travel and attendance, and what specific value does this provide that couldn’t be achieved locally?’
💰 Impact: Taxpayer-Funded Training
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