Portland News (Portland, Tex.), Vol. 20, No. 33, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 14, 1986 Page: 1 of 16
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The drainage district spokesman
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Commodity
Distribution
Volume XX — Thursday, August 14, 1986
Portland, Texas 78374 — 16 Pages — No. 33
Dedicated To The Best Interests Of Portland
"Gem City Of The Gulf"
Gregory, he said he expected most
of the city would be designated as
flood-prone.
“I suspect a good bit of Gregory
shows up in the A-zone, which is not
too favorable,” he noted. “We hope
we can get that down.”
Elliott and a second drainage
district spokesman pointed out that
the city is “incredibly flat.”
Using a contour map designed to
show the natural fall of the land,
Elliott noted, “Gregory goes long
spans before there’s a contour of five
feet in the land.”
However, “Gregory’s problem is
the lack of a major outfall,” Elliott
continued. “Once we get the major
problem solved, that’ll take care of a
lot of smaller problems.”
in the audience) with no accoun-
tability whatsoever to them.”
Stubbs told about losing the elec-
tion in San Antonio Saturday in an
attempt to put a cap on city spen-
ding.
Saying it was not a “cap” but an
indexing method, he claimed it was
the “big bucks and misinformation”
that defeated the attempt by the tax-
payers association in San Antonio to
limit the growth of taxation to the
population and inflation growths.
The vote was 75,000 to 38,000, he
said. The $15,000 raised by the tax-
payers failed to provide the informa-
tion needed to win the election. The
opposition targeted $600,000 and had
already sperlt $300,000, according to
the speaker. He added that the win-
ners could not be proud of winning
the election on “fear tactics.”
“We have won one major battle
and lost one,” he noted. The major
win was on a flouridation issue some
months ago. The issue was backed
by San Antonio Mayor Henry
Cisneros.
have only $500,000.
“I’d just as soon add a 3 percent
increase to that effective tax rate,”
he continued. “Then you get to pick
it up again next year.”
However, other councilmembers
disagreed.
“Normally, I’d agree with you, if
there was any good news on the
horizon,” said Councilman Norm
Truesdell. “But with the economics
of today, I think it’s bad business.”
“Then we’ll be the only entity to
not raise taxes,” Burke replied, sug-
gesting that council look at cutting
for a letter of endorsement from the
local organization in order to be ef-
fective.
“There is no question that 85 per-
cent of the people who do the paying
have none of the saying,” he
observed.
In his talk, he expressed a low opi-
nion of politicians on the state and
national level.
, “Only five out of 100 can get
through public office without being
contaminated, even if they go into
office as pure as the white driven
snow,” he charged.
He pointed out that other home
rule cities have the same oppor-
tunities for initative and referendum
elections similar to the one held in
San Antonio.
“Anyone can force an election by
petition with the required number of
signatures,” he advised. “In San An-
tonio, we had to have 20,000, so we
got 30,000.” About 25,000 were cer-
tified, he added.
He explained that individuals
spend according to their means, but
vices suffer,” the mayor continued.
“But I don’t think we do need it. ”
Councilman Charlie Tothill sug-
gested the solution would be to
scrutinize all capital expenditures.
“What we’ve got to do is to review
each of the capital items as they
come in,” he said. “Just because we
say we’re going to spend the money
doesn’t mean we have to spend it.”
During the budget workshop,
council also looked at other areas of
revenue and expenditures, discuss-
ing the following:
See COUNCIL, Page 16
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The closing of 80 percent of Du-
Pont’s local plant will have little
economic impact on Portland out-
side of increased unemployment, a
company spokesman told the local
Chamber of Commerce Tuesday.
Speaking at the chamber’s mon-
thly luncheon meeting, Dori Cash,
employee relations supervisor of
DuPont, said the company’s cut-
;'ft>®|cks will affect 70 of 110 Portland
WKidents employed at the plant
since the first of the year.
Some of those employees have
been or will be transferred to a new
DuPont facility in Niagara Falls and
others will be affected by upcoming
layoffs, Cash said.
“Otherwise, the impact for the
Portland community won’t be that
great,” Cash said, however. “We
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+ Tax
city to make needed drainage im-
provements as funds allow.
“Right now, there aren’t much
funds available,” he said, however.
In other action Monday, council:
• Approved the purchase of an
automatic chlorine flow propor-
tioner and a chlorine gas detector
for the waste treatment plant. 'The
funds ($3,300) for the equipment are
available, City Secretary Olivia
Saldivar said.
• Tabled approval of the city’s
new personnel policy until changes
recommended by the city attorney
can be made in the document.
• Discussed a complaint from
Ernesto Solis of G-P Materials con-
See GREGORY, Page 16
roll from the appraisal district,
however, was nearly 10 percent less
than the preliminary figures and
that caused an increase in the effec-
tive rate, Burdine said.
Although the city manager said he
was basing the proposed budget on a
“zero increase” in taxes, one city
councilman said he favored a small
tax increase this year.
“We’re lowering the amount of
carryover funds,” noted Coun-
cilman Joe Burke. “Whereas this
year, we’ll end up with $800,000 or
$900,000 in reserves, next year we’ll
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services if it did not raise taxes.
Noting that an increase of 3 per-
cent in the tax rate would bring in
only $45,000 more, Truesdell said,
“I’m willing to take out $45,000
(from the budget). But with all good
conscience, I can’t envision voting 1
for a tax increase.” 1
Mayor Bobby Whittington also
spoke out against a tax increase. '
“If people like us don’t show a lit-
tle restraint in spending, who will?” 1
he asked.
“If we needed a tax increase, I’d
vote for it before I’d see our city ser-
The San Antonio organization has
4,000 paid memberships in its 33
months of existence, Stubbs
reported. He complimented the San
Patricio County organization on its
membership of 125 in 90 days. He
said that was a “tribute to your
leader.” Charlie McEntire is presi-
dent of the local organization.
Stubbs said they had discussed
earlier what a burden it is to run one
of these organizations. “One or two
people will work their hearts out,
and others have higher priorities,”
he noted, adding that his own
organization cost him $30,000 the
first two years “right out of my own
pocket.”
Of the state group, he said, “We
don’t accept political favors, and we
don’t grant any.”
He urged support for the local
group, saying that everyone has a
problem of some sort.
Also, he urged that people look at
the bigger picture with grass roots
efforts addressing the issues in
Austin.
Next Week
The San Patricio County Com-
munity Action Agency will
distribute commodities in Gregory
and Portland next week.
In Gregory, commodity distribu-
tion will be Wednesday at Im-
maculate Conception Catholic Chur-
ch, 107 Church St. Distribution
begins at 9 a.m. and continues as
long as commodities are available.
Senior citizens who receive their
commodities at the Orchid Circle
See DISTRIBUTION, Page 16'
said the district will work with the
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understanding was that she was not
to move until Sept. 1. I feel that it
should be a Court decision.”
Edmondson said Monday in their
regular Commissioners Court
meeting that there was an apparent
misunderstanding amongst the com-
missioners and what they had decid-
ed in a July 28 Commissioners Court
meeting.
The court decided several weeks
ago that Edmondson would act as in-
digent health care officer and in the
Julv 28 Court meeting the Indigent
See TREVINO, Page 16
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FOR A GOOD CAUSE - Portland volunteer firefighter Matt Vanecek
solicits donations for muscular dystrophy during the fire department's
annual "fiIl-the-boot" fund-raiser Saturday. Firefighters raised $1,525
in the annual event. (NEWS photo)
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C.A. Stubbs will be an unpaid lob-
byist for the approximately 60 tax-
payer associations across Texas for
the 1986 legislative session, he an-
nounced Monday at a meeting in Sin-
ton of the Taxpayers’ Association of
San Patricio County.
Stubbs is president of the San An-
tonio Homeowners-Taxpayers
Association and vice chairman of
the state organization.
He said he needed the support of
the local organizations in order to be
effective in his efforts to eliminate
“waste, mismanagement, and
duplication and control the growth of
taxes.”
The unrest among taxpayers pro-
vides “the golden opportunity to
become the most powerful organiza-
tion in Texas,” he advised. “All we
have to do is to capitalize on the mo-
ment and capitalize on the unrest in
existence at this time,” he con-
tinued.
“Those of us over 50 don’t have a
problem. We are using their credit
card (referring to the young people
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governments work in the opposite
fashion. “They put together a wish
list, and settle on what they want.
Then they look at the available
funds, and the difference is made up
on someone’s taxes or user fees, and
that balances the budget.”
In regard to working on the state
scene, he concluded, “We certainly
have to do something to leave this
state in better shape than we find it
at this moment.”
This was the last of a series of
meetings held by the TASP in the
various cities in the county.
Joint tax collection, the collection
of delinquent taxes and the
establishment of a Unit Road
System, are among the goals of the
county organization.
About 35 people were present to
hear the guest speaker, including
Joe O’Brien, former president of the
Corpus Christi Taxpayers Associa-
tion; Vern Shirley, treasurer of the
state organization; and Betty
Turner, former mayor pro tern of
Corpus Christi.
Oil
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don’t buy too many products here
and we don’t pay too much in taxes.”
Other areas, such as Ingleside —
where DuPont’s share of the tax
base is estimated at 60 percent —
will be more greatly affected, he
said.
Overall, the impact of DuPont’s
cutbacks will mean a total reduction
of 600 jobs from January 1986 to 1987,
Cash said. Those employment
figures include cutting out 220 con-
tractors’ jobs and 380 DuPont jobs,
he noted.
Cash told chamber members that
part of DuPont’s problem in South
Texas was caused by the lack of a
“pro-business attitude.”
“The way I see things, this area is
not pro-business,” Cash said. “Elec-
tric rates are higher. Taxes are not
$1.39 million, approximately the
same amount of revenue generated
by last year’s 57-cent tax rate, the ci-
ty manager said.
Burdine said the difference
between revenue and expenditures
would be made up by dipping into
the city’s reserves. However, he
said, the proposed budget leaves the
city with $500,000 in reserves, which
is sufficient for two months’
operating expenses.
He noted the city’s effective tax
rate for the coming year originally
was set at 46.89 cents. The final tax
City Manager
Gets Raise
In a special called meeting Tues-
day, City Council approved a 4 per-
cent salary increase for City
Manager Richard Burdine.
The announcement came follow-
ing an executive session discussion
on personnel. That executive session
was preceded by a three-hour
budget workshop discussion — the
only other agenda item in the special
meeting.
Burdine was appointed to the city
manager’s post in December. At the
time, council set his salary at
$40,500, plus a $4,200 car allowance.
The raise approved Tuesday will
up his annual salary to approximate-
ly $42,000.
Gregory Council Hears Report
On City's Drainage Woes
Gregory City Council Monday have a FEMA map of the city of
received a report from the San
Patricio County Drainage District
addressing flooding problems in the
city.
Presenting council with several Ci-
ty maps, Drainage District
spokesman Steve Elliott said one of
Gregory’s problems is the outfall of
Green Lake.
Another drainage problem occurs
along Highway 35, he told council.
^kMonday’s update is part of the
^^ainage district’s continuing study
on countywide flood control. Follow-
ing the study, the district intends to
prioritize ar£as in the county for
drainage improvements, Elliott has
told council in the past.
Although the drainage district
director told council he does not
Mrs. Trevino had not previously
been informed she would have to
move before Sept. 1. Mrs. Trevino
could not be reached for comment at
presstime.
County Clerk Dottie Maley said
Friday that Mrs. Trevino had been
instructed in the letter to “turn in
her keys and leave the records in her
office” and Edmondson would have
her records moved into his office un-
til other arrangements could be
made.
County Commissioner Joe Zapata
commented Friday "My
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DuPont Spokesman Says
Cutbacks To Up Unemployment
in parity; homeowners pay less than
industry and taxes on industry are
higher.”
Cash’s comments stirred concern
among chamber members.
"This concerns me,” said Skip
Barnes, president of Security State
Bank. “Here we have 15 to 20 people
working their tails off (on the
Economic Development Commis-
sion) to bring business in and maybe
we’re not taking care of the business
we have.”
In his talk to chamber members,
Cash also discussed DuPont’s
history in the area as part of his ex-
planation of the plant’s current pro-
blems.
“This plant was intended to be the
freon capitol of the world,” he said,
See DuPONT, Page 16
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Council Looks At Budget, Tax Rate
In a three-hour workshop session
Tuesday, Portland City Council
debated the pros and cons of raising
the city tax rate in order to generate
more funds for its proposed 1986-87
budget.
City Manager Richard Burdine,
who presented council with proposed
expenditures of $3.1 million,
prepared the budget with proposed
revenues of $2.79 million, most of
that coming from property tax col-
lection based on an effective tax rate
of 51.55 cents per $100 valuation.
That tax would bring in revenue of
Stubbs Calls For Overhaul Of Appraisal District System
He plans to send a letter out which
will outline the 1987 legislative lob-
bying effort.
“We want no state income tax
under any circumstances, nor a cor-
porate income tax under any cir-
cumstances, and no tax increase of
any kind until they clean the mess up
there and eliminate some of that fat
that exists.
“We want a complete overhaul of
the appraisal system or we want it
thrown out,” he said, explaining that
the present system is “one of the
most atrocious systems ever con-
ceived. It holds the greatest asset
that most ever have a captive of a
taxation and spending process that
most don’t understand nor trust. ”
Continuing to refer to home owner-
ship, he stated, “We want absolute
limits in place on what a person can
be taxed on.” He added that proper-
ty ownership is becoming a liability.
His lobbying efforts will provide a
means of putting pressure on elected
officials for the benefit of
homeowners, he claimed. He asked
Trevino To Leave Courthouse
San Patricio County Judge J.M.
Edmondson Jr. discussed the deci-
sion to have Welfare Director Nina
Trevino move from the County Cour-
thouse prior to Sept. 1 in Commis-
sioners Court Monday. The Indigent
Health Care Act officially goes into
effect on that day.
Last Tuesday afternoon, Edmond-
son wrote a letter to Mrs. Trevino in-
forming her that she was to move
from the courthouse immediately
and into the Health Department of-
fice under Director Dr. Ardys
Boostrym.
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UMM UMM GOOD The Park and Recreanon Department's annual splash party can make a kid work
up a strong appetite as these kids can testify. Here, pizza donated by Domino's helps quench that ao-
petite. (NEWS photo)
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Castleberry, Linda. Portland News (Portland, Tex.), Vol. 20, No. 33, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 14, 1986, newspaper, August 14, 1986; Portland, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1304385/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Bell/Whittington Public Library.