News

Tidehaven ISD trustees approved a $17,460,924 budget for the 2019-2020 school year, Aug. 26.
   “We also adopted our tax rate for this year,” said TISD Superintendent Dr. Andrew Seigrist.  
   “Our maintenance and operations tax rate is 97 cents and the debt tax rate is $0.20 for a combined tax rate of $1.17. We’re also expecting 100% collection this year as well.”
   That means the proposed total tax rate is $1.17 per $100 valuation.
   That rate would generate $13,435 in local revenue per student.
   Last year’s total tax rate was $1.22 per $100 valuation.
   Also, Tidehaven is participating in the Texas Department of Agriculture food program and providing a free breakfast and lunch to every single student in the district.  

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   The deadline for the Rice Festival Queen’s Pageant entries will be Wednesday, Sept. 18. 
   Application packets can be hand-delivered to Shelly Grimes at Bay City High School, Tamara Davant at Tidehaven High School, Mayra Garcia at Palacios High School, Kari Bottke at Van Vleck High School or Ryan Ricks at Lynn C. Grebe & Associates, 2139 Avenue G, Suite 8, in Bay City. 
   All pictures must be taken by Memories by Michelle before Sept. 18.
   “We expect the Pageant will surpass the previous year once again,” said Ricks, event chairman.
   “Scholarships totaling over $5,750 will be awarded.”
   Scholarships will be awarded as follows: 

 City Council members approved a salary survey and pay scale, but not before there were questions about how a pay raise was to be distributed, at a special meeting Thursday, Aug. 29.
   The session included public hearings on the fiscal 2019-20 tax rate, budget and capital improvements program.  
   City employees are to receive a 3.5% pay raise for fiscal 2019-20.
   Human Resources Director Rhonda Clegg explained the salary survey’s final version was the result of 18 months of work gathering information from other cities for pay comparisons.
   Only council was given copies of the survey that was not made public.
   Mayor Pro Tem Jason Childers questioned Clegg about the survey’s parameters on public sectors, asking about the 3.5% salary payments “dispersed to each department.”
   Clegg replied that “every employee, every budgeted position” will get the raise and the salary raise package was given to each department director for allotment.

   Blackcat Head Coach Patrick Matthews plans to clean up some things that went wrong against Cuero – a 28-15 loss last Friday - before his squad takes on the Bellville Brahmas there this coming Friday. 
   “It’s definitely going to be a tough challenge,” Matthews said about Bellville’s Wing T offensive formation. 
   “Anytime you play the Wing T, you have to be very disciplined,” he added and that’s what the Blackcats are working on this week – better discipline in perfecting techniques. 
   “We’re always trying to get better. There’s a lot of things that have to be cleaned up to be the team we want to be by the time we get to district,” Matthews noted. 
   “Beeville is another opportunity to do that and come out with a victory for the Blackcats.” 
   Bay City had exciting offensive flashes against Cuero last Friday, but they were inconsistent against the Gobblers in the Blackcats’ home opener. 

   WHARTON – When it comes to learning, Wharton County Junior College Geology Instructor Peter Anderson believes there’s no better way than to get your hands dirty.
   “What students are learning comes to life when they go outside,” Anderson explains.
   Since arriving at WCJC in the spring of 2018, Anderson has organized eight extracurricular excursions through his geology class and the WCJC Adventure Sports and Outdoors Club. 
   Students opting to participate have studied science through kayaking, rock climbing, camping and hiking – activities that Anderson considers the “real world application of geology.”
   Along the way, Anderson stresses the importance of maintaining a positive, respectful relationship with the environment. 
   “We teach them personal responsibility and that’s an added benefit,” he said. 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

    Van Vleck ISD trustees unanimously approved the fiscal 2019-2020 budget of $16,892,324 and tax rates during a special meeting, Aug. 26.  
   That budget includes over $11.7 million in general operating costs for instruction, extracurricular activities, and employee salaries.  
   Van Vleck has a minimal food service budget on tap this year as part of the Food and Nutrition Services Department Community Eligibility Program.  
   “All of our students are eligible for free breakfasts and lunches this year,” said VVISD Assistant Superintendent for Finance Gayle Blackmon.  
   “With this grant, as long as the students are eating lunch on campus we’ll be reimbursed.”  
   The adopted total tax rate is $1.19 per $100 housing valuation with 99% expected collection.  
   Blackmon reminded the board about how the tax rate was calculated.  
   “Our appraised value is at $2,216,497,825,” she said.  

   County commissioners court formally approved the fiscal 2019-2020 tax rate and signed off on Sheriff Skipper Osborne’s plan to replace pay-level numbers with ranks at its regular meeting Monday, Aug. 26.  
   The tax rate of 43.342 cents per $100 valuation will increase 2019 property taxes by $1,635,050 or 8.69%.  
   The rate is built into the new fiscal year budget of $26,901,206 that the court approved Aug. 19.  

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   The 100 Club of Matagorda County held its 42nd annual law enforcement awards dinner to recognize local law enforcement personnel and to treat them to a free dinner Friday, Aug. 23.  
   Law enforcement and other special awards were presented to officers of various county and state agencies serving Matagorda County.  
   “We are aware of the risks of what you do for us,” said 100 Club President Steven Reis.  
   “We want to show our appreciation for the job that you do for us and for putting yourselves between us and the threats we face.   
   “You all are running into these stressful and sometimes hazardous situations while the rest of us are running out and that’s commendable.”  
   Reis also explained the history of the 100 Club and why it was formed.