Transcript:
Brewster County Commissioners Court has called for a Public Hearing on its proposed budget
for Fiscal Year 2025 at 9:30 Tuesday at the Courthouse.
No dollar amounts are posted on the agenda or notice of hearings in the Alpine Avalanche. But
the published notice says the budget will raise more property taxes than last year’s.
The increase will be more than 400 thousand dollars and change over last year’s budget and
more than 187 thousand of that is from new property added to the tax rolls.
The extra money could result in a decision to lower last year’s rate.
That rate is point-349422, which includes the maintenance and operation rate of point-33192 and
interest and sinking fund rate of point-017502.
After the budget and tax rate hearings adjourn, Commissioners will take on a 22-item agenda and
early items on that agenda also deal with the budget and tax rate.
They include salaries and other expenses.
One action item is to possibly hire certified public accountants Singleton, Clark and Company as
its outside auditor.
The previous auditor had the contract for several years but had gotten behind on some recent
audits.
The court will meet at 9:30 Tuesday in the Commissioners Courtroom at the Courthouse at 201
East Avenue E in Alpine.
Alpine Community Projects has invited members and guests to an update on the non-profit’s
attempts to bring an assisted-living service to the region.
Katherine Parker will offer space at her Spicewood Restaurant for the meeting at 5:30
Wednesday for updates and conversation about the project.
Members and anyone interested in the matter should plan to attend.
To R.S.V.P., contact Kirsten Moody at 512/560-6312 or email kirsten@alpinecommunityprojects.org.
The Big Bend Sentinel reports this week that the Marfa School District plans to beef up declining
state revenue by partnering with early childhood providers on attendance figures.
Superintendent Arturo Alferez told the Marfa Board he had met with an official at
Fort Davis to find how they used that plan to become, what the paper called “flush with cash.”
The story says Fort Davis was facing a total shut-down but used existing programs that let
districts partner with early childhood providers for attendance revenue.
Fort Davis partnered with seven private schools to dual enroll their pre-K through second grade
students from as far away as El Paso and Monahans.
The district’s enrollment jumped from 170 to 486 students, which raised state funding from 70
thousand dollars to 1.5 million because the state funds schools on average daily attendance.
In exchange for being able to use their figures, Fort Davis schools provides some curriculum and
helps the schools monitor attendance and other Texas Education Agency requirements.
In return for each of the students enrolled from the nonprofits, the district then pays the partner
schools, usually about half of the new revenue it gets minus any salaries it took on.
The Alpine Public Library has posted on Facebook that patrons had expressed an interest in more
frequent yoga classes.
Starting in September, the library will offer free community yoga twice a month. It will be from
2 to 3 on the first and third Wednesdays.
Those interested can sign up in person at the library or online at alpinepubliclibrary.org
This has been your local and area news report for KVLF 98.7 FM, 1240 AM and KALP 92.7 FM
Local news can be found on our website at bigbendradio.com.