|
Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming RIVIERA ISD agenda and found 6 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
|
Undisclosed Spending in Budget Amendment
The board plans to vote on ‘budget amendment #2’ with no public details about what is being changed, how much money is involved, or where it’s coming from. This lack of transparency allows for new spending to be approved without public scrutiny.
Response
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Contact the Riviera ISD Board. ‘Regarding Item 4.F, taxpayers deserve to see the details of budget amendment #2 before you vote. Please publish the full amendment online immediately.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
|
| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
|
Undisclosed ‘Site 55 Lease Agreement’
The board is voting to authorize the Superintendent to execute a ‘Site 55 Lease Agreement.’ The agenda provides no details on the location, the other party, the financial terms, or the purpose of this agreement, preventing any public review of the deal.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Riviera ISD Board. ‘Before voting on Item 4.K, the public deserves to see the full text and financial terms of the Site 55 Lease Agreement. Postpone the vote until the document is made public.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
|
| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
|
Action on Tax Roll Sets Stage for Property Tax Bills
The board will take action on the certified tax roll, which is the official list of all taxable property values in the district. This is a critical step that determines the total amount of property value the district can tax, directly impacting future property tax bills.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the Riviera ISD Board. ‘Regarding Item 4.E, please state publicly how the new certified tax roll values will impact the district’s no-new-revenue tax rate and the average homeowner’s tax bill.’
💰 Impact: Higher Property Taxes
|
| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
|
Over $214k in Purchases Bypassing Local Bids
The board is set to approve two purchases totaling $214,130 from a single vendor for welding equipment. The district is using the ‘TIPS Purchasing Cooperative,’ a method that allows them to bypass the traditional local competitive bidding process for large expenditures.
Response
ASK FOR JUSTIFICATION: Contact the Riviera ISD Board. ‘Regarding Items 4.G and 4.H, why is using a purchasing cooperative a better value for taxpayers than a direct, local competitive bidding process for this $214,130 expenditure?’
💰 Impact: $214,130 (Reduced Bid Competition)
|
| WATCH (LEVEL 3) |
|
Vague ‘Emergency Closing’ Resolution
The board will vote on an ‘Emergency School Closing Resolution’ without providing the text of the resolution to the public in the agenda. This grants unknown powers to the administration and should be reviewed to ensure it is not overly broad.
Response
INVESTIGATE: The text for the ‘Emergency School Closing Resolution’ in Item 4.J was not included in the agenda packet. Contact the district and ask for the full text to be posted before the vote.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Authority
|
| WATCH (LEVEL 2) |
|
Potential Change to Public Meeting Schedule
The board will discuss and possibly change the date or time of the December board meeting. Such changes can sometimes be used to schedule votes during holidays or other low-turnout periods, reducing public oversight.
Response
MONITOR THE VOTE: Pay attention to the discussion on Item 4.I. Ensure the December meeting is not moved to a date or time that makes it harder for parents and taxpayers to attend.
💰 Impact: Reduced Public Access
|
|
|
“Freedom, Prosperity &
Opportunity”
TPPF is a conservative think tank whose mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise in Texas and the nation.
Contribute to the mission |