The Ingleside Index (Ingleside, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 30, 1992 Page: 2 of 16
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Thursday, April 30, 1992
pinioni
® THE INGLE SIDE W-T
IndeX
County faces the facts
By Josephine Miller
San Patricio County Judge
The implication has been made that your San Patricio
County Commissioner’s Court acted thoughtlessly
when the court posted notice that it intended to issue #7
million in certificates of obligation to fund four con-
struction projects — that the court has obligated the
taxpayers beyond their means to fund expensive and
possibly unnecessary projects. The commissioners in-
vite you to come to our open meetings where the major
concerns of this county have been openly addressed for
the past 14 months in an atmosphere of give and take
which has produced sound and well thought out solu-
tions. These decisions have the long range needs of our
county and its taxpayers in mind.
• What will the #7 million cover?
#3.75 million for jail expansion
#1.3 million for a juvenile detention center (a figure
that has been reduced #300,000 from original revised
estimates.)
#1.425 million for landfill closure
#525,000 for courthouse expansion and compliance
costs.
All of these figures were discussed in open court and
available for the press.
• What is the “sudden hurry and alarm” in issuing
these certificates of obligation?
For the past 14 months this court has wrestled with
long range solutions to long-standing problems. The
issuance of these certificates culminates years of open
discussion about the problems this county is facing. This
court has chosen to act as opposed to reacting to prob-
lems which have proved so costly in the past. The
business that takes advantage of favorable interest rates
acts responsibly. Your court has the same approach.
• Is this #7 million a blank check for the commis-
sioners court, or are dedicated funds going to specific
projects.
Every project will have specific, projected budgets
and costs. Every effort will be made to bring the projects
in at the projected costs including using terms in the
contracts. We are realistic enough to know that this does
not always happen. Sound financial practice requires
that flexibility be built into capital projects such as this.
Any excess money, by law, must be used for debt retire-
ment through the interest and sinking fund and cannot
be spent on some other project. As curently structured,
funds could be moved between the listed projects to
avoid going back to the lending table.
• How will borrowing this money affect my tax bill?
YEAR
DEBT SERVICE
TAX RATE
TAX PAID
TAX DOLLAR
INCREASE
1992
0.0366
#14.64
#0.00
1993
0.0425
#17.00
2.36
1994
0.0475
#19.00
4.36
1995
0.0550
#22.00
7.36
1996
0.0550
#22.00
7.36
ALL
COMPARED
TO
1992
These figures are based on a #40,000 home.
• Why did the court choose the certificates of obliga-
tion route instead of going out for a bond election.
Three of the four projects are tied to regulatory or
legislative requirements. If a bond election failed, San
Patricio County would still be required to close the
landfill, expand the jail and bring the courthouse up to
code and meet the Americans with Disability Act re-
quirements. The Juvenile Detention Center has been
repeatedly requested by the public since 1988. The
county cannot house juveniles in the jail.
• What is the “horrendous interest fee”?
Favorable interest rates influenced the court to pro-
ceed now. This project will come in under 6.5 percent.
• What are the “related professional fees”?
These are required fees covering the printing costs,
rating fees, financial advisor and underwriter costs and
the legal fees. These legally mandated costs exist for
either the bond or a certificate of obligation options.
• If we can afford to build these facilities, can we
afford to operate them?
We are already paying over #100,000 a year for these
services from other counties. These are direct costs and
do not include the hidden costs of transporting prisoners
and juveniles. The jail has received a variance from the
Texas Jail Standards Commission allowing us to add
extra bunks. According to Jack Krump, director of the
Commission, “any obvious delay in document prepara-
tion and funding for this project is always a concern and
requires review. ” If our county is required to move even
more prisoners the costs will increase from #350 a day to
#840 a day. Using a cautious approach to the general
fund budget and moving the courhouse repairs and
updating to long term payout will keep the strain of the
general fund in line.
Many solutions to these problems have been studied.
Your commissioner’s court knows these are hard deci-
sions to make and believes after careful and lengthy
review that this solution works. Paul Leveen spent more
money inserting petitions in this paper than the in-
creased tax bill for 85 average homeowners in San
Patricio County.
Letters to the editor
Yes, taxpayers
should know
The taxpayers of San Patricio
County should indeed be in-
formed about County financial
affairs. And I thought, since there
have been numerous newspaper
articles printed in the local and
area papers during the past three
or four years, that anyone con-
cerned about County business
would surely have read at least
some of the articles and would ask
questions of the officials. The Pre-
cinct Office is open five days a
week, and I am not adverse to
answering questions from my
home on nights and weekend.
• Hl attempt to explain briefly
what has transpired about the
county jail, county landfill, juve-
nile detention facility, and coun-
ty courthouse.
The jail has been overcrowded
occasionally for several years,
but for the past two years the
situation has been very serious.
The Jail Standards Commission
inspections have given us a “hick-
ey", but we’ve been promising to
rectify the situation and only
made the non compliance list a
couple of months ago. We spent
#10,500.00 to house over capac-
ity prisoners in Beeville last
mo'nth (10 prisoners at #35.00
per day for 30 days). The Jail
Commission has granted us per-
mission to house an additional 14
prisoners out of county
(24x#35.00x30#25,200). These
costs do not include transport to
and from court appointments and
trials.
The County worked very Jiard
to lower administrative penalties
at the landfill from #613,000.00
to a negotiated #18,000.00. The
landfill closure will cost about
#1.4 million. The landfill’s prob-
lems were started when the State
Health Department received
funds for inspectors in 1987, and
escalated to the penalty level. If
the landfill is not capped with two
feet of clay cover on 77 acres by
the end of 1992, we will be in a’
30-year monitoring mode. If
ground water becomes con-
taminated during the 30-year
period, it will cost at least #5 mil-
lion to rebury 77 acres of garbage
in plastic lined pits.
The Jail and landfill correc-
tions have been mandated
(ordered) by the State, and
whether a bond issue passes or
not, will still have to be done.
The Juvenile Detention Center
has been almost demanded since
1988. All County school superin-
tendents, the courts systems, law
enforcement, and various com-
munity groups have all made pre-
THE INGLESIDE INDEX
U.S.PK 264-260
Subscription Rates: San Patricio County, Cities of Port Arsnsas and Rockport
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Enterprises. Inc. .346 South Houston Street. Arenses Pass. Texas 78336.
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changes to The Ingleside Index. P. O. Box 580, Ingleside, Texas 78362.
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Ingleside, Texas 78562
sentations to the Commissioner’s
Court asking for assistance and
for a place to handle the youth
who are in trouble. An architect
was employed to draw plans, and
the estimated cost of the facility
was to be in excess of #1 million.
In the face of a lowered tax base,
the size requested could not be
justified, and plans were shelved.
Since 1988, youth problems have
increased, the seriousness of the
crimes have increased, and San
Patricio County is spending
#8,000.00 per month in direct
costs to house children in Aran-
sas and Nueces Counties - if their
facilities have space. The indirect
costs deal with transporation,
court appearances, probation in-
terviews, and lost time for Sher-
iffs Dept, deputies when they
should be on the streets and roads
investigating and doing warrant
work.
The Courthouse needs are dic-
tated by a worn out, 40 year old air
conditioner/heating system, the
Americans with Disabilities Act
modifications, fire codes, and
cramped space. The District
Clerk, for instance, does not have
a desk for each employee, part of
the filing system is “down the
hall”, and the copy machine is in a
third office. Old files are stored in
every nook and cranny and tons
of paper is stored at the fair-
grounds in cubicles. State law
provides that records be managed
properly and accessable for
stated number of years for each
class of records.
The situations have developed
over the past several years, and
while there is a high degree of
alarm and agony, there is not a
sudden hurry. All above items
have been discussed many times
in open session of the Commis-
sionerg Court. The Open Meet-
ing# Act precludes any other kind
of discussion.
The interest rate at this time,
with Moody’s very favorable rat-
ing, will be less than 6.5%. This
Interest rate equates to an in-
crease in taxes to be paid from
#2.36 to #7.36 per #40,000.00
home escalated over the next four
years and then the tax increase
levels. By the end of four years,
tax abatements will also increase
the tax base by s substantial
amount. By combining the
issues, the County will “save"
#40,000.00, thereby allowing
approval of the un-mandated
courthouse improvements at no
additional cost to debt service.
The operating costs for the jail
and juvenile detention facility
will be partially covered by what
are now direct and indirect costs
and, in addition, San Patricio
County will stay out of trouble
with the State, give better service
to the people of the County, and
provide space and facilities to
keep criminals and troublesome
people off the streets.
If you have any questions,
please don’t hesitate to give me a
call. I’ll be glad to answer your
concerns.
Gordon Porter
Don't change
horses now
Dear Editor;
As you know, an important city
election is coming up this Satur-
day. Ingleside is on the verge of
great growth. Some very exciting
things are beginning to happen. If
ever there was a time for experi-
enced and responsible leadership
this is it. I believe our current
council and staff have done a fine
job and so does the accounting
firm of Harris, Beyer, Telford &
Co., Certified Public Accoun-
tants. For the audit year ending
September 30, 1990, they stated
in part:
“The city of Ingleside, Texas is
in solid financial condition ...
operates in very professional
manner... its organization struc-
ture from top to bottom is orga-
nized in a very efficient way.”
Again this year for the audit
year ending September 30,1991,
they stated in part:
“The city of Ingleside, Texas is
in good financial condition... the
city is extremely well managed ”
This is certainly in contrast to
the lies, half-truths and innuen-
does being spread by certain
candidates.
Wild and . unfounded charges
have been made against our city
manager The Texas Rangers say
such charges are unsubstantiated
and not worthy of investigation It
seems to me that those who pass
such false stories are not worthy
of serving in our city. I hope you
feel the same way.
We have a thoroughbred coun-
cil and staff. I believe It would be
very foolish to change hones in
» the middle ofthe stream. We have
the opportunity to continue the
good work that is being done by
voting for experienced, responsi-
ble, ethical and sober individuals
I speak of those currently running
for the city council and those who
support it.
Frank Scheurich
Come meet
the neighbors
Editor
The By the Bay Citizens Asso-
ciation held its monthly covered
dish dinner at the Lady Belle Res-
tuarant Monday evening. The
food was terrific and the atmos-
phere something the inlanders
dream about and congeniality
prevailed.
Leona Robbins gave the finan-
cial report and Richard Squyres
reported on the fishing trip being
auctioned off with the proceeds to
benefit the community.
Mr. Otis Cartwright, Lady Belle
owner, made everyone welcome
and we are looking forward to
next month so we can do it again
The get togethers are the last
Monday of each month and you
are all invited. The more the mer-
rier. Come meet your neighbors
and see our friendly little town.
John Hennigan
Ingleside on the Bay
Careful about
bonsai buys
Editor,
Warning to the public... There
are some very poor Bonsai speci-
mens that are for sale from SOME
roadside vendors. These little
trees are cut to a form and placed
into a Bonsai pot and live only a
very short time. The buyer gets
the idea that he or she killed it...
Prior to purchasing a Bonsai
specimen and you are not sure of
its origins or ability to survive,
contact a knowledgeable person
such as a local Bonsai Club, group
or dealer. Also, the local Horti-
cultural County Agent would be
able to recommend a Bonsai deal-
er or store who would give you a
choice of plant material that has a
chance of living.
The Corpus Christi Bonsai
Club is having a sale and demon-
stration May 2nd at the Padre Sta-
ples Mall from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Come see nursery stock transfer-
red into a viable Bonsai specimen
before your eyes, by knowledge-
able and experienced artists.
There will be pre-Bonsai and
completed Bonsai for sale with all
proceeds going to the club.
Bud Hatfield
HAVE A HEART...
If your child weighs...
0-20 lbs. - use rear-facing infant seat
20-40 lbs. - use toddler seat
40-60 lbs. - use booster seat
4 to 14 yrs. - use a safety belt
Click From The Start!
A Pubic Service Message from THPA
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Cole, Mary. The Ingleside Index (Ingleside, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 30, 1992, newspaper, April 30, 1992; Aransas Pass, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1172069/m1/2/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Ed & Hazel Richmond Public Library.