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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming LONE OAK ISD agenda and found 3 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Hidden in Check Register
The district’s monthly check register, buried in the consent agenda, includes a $2,075 payment for ’26/27 POLICY MEMBERSHIP’ to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). TASB is a lobbying group that frequently works against taxpayer interests, such as property tax relief and parental rights, in Austin. Additional payments to other associations like TASBO and TASSP show a pattern of using local tax dollars for political advocacy.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the Board of Trustees (see the Official Agenda link for contact details) and demand the ‘Monthly Check Register’ be pulled from the Consent Agenda for a separate discussion and roll-call vote. Ask them: ‘Why are we sending Lone Oak tax dollars to a lobby group like TASB that works against parents and taxpayers in Austin?’
💰 Impact: $2,075+ in Lobbying Dues
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Vague ‘Improvement Plan’ Lacks Public Details
The board is scheduled to ‘discuss and possibly approve a Local Improvement Plan for the Elementary Campus’ without providing any public documents explaining what the plan contains. This prevents taxpayers from reviewing potential costs, policy changes, or construction projects before the board votes. This lack of transparency undermines public oversight.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file attached to this item in the Official Agenda (linked above) to confirm whether it contains hidden debt or policy changes. Email the Board (see the Official Agenda link for contact details): ‘Please postpone the vote on the Elementary ‘Local Improvement Plan’ until the full plan and its costs are published for public review.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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District to Move $200,000 for Athletic Turf
The board will vote on transferring $200,000 from the General Fund, which pays for classroom instruction and basic operations, into a separate ‘Turf Fund.’ This earmarks a large sum of taxpayer money for a non-essential athletic facility upgrade. Taxpayers should question whether this is the highest and best use of funds compared to academic needs or property tax relief.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Board of Trustees before the meeting (see the Official Agenda link for contact details). Ask: ‘Before moving $200,000 to the Turf Fund, what is the total expected cost of the project, and how does this spending compare to unfunded academic needs in the district?’
💰 Impact: $200,000 for Turf Project
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