State to invest $1.8B in commercial real estate
The Permanent School Fund, which was established as an endowment for public schools 151 years ago, is delving into the commercial real estate market. The School Land Board has approved a new investment policy that intends to put about 8 percent of the fund, or $1.8 billion, into real estate assets such as hotels, office buildings, and other commercial property. The board also intends to invest in private real estate partnerships.
The new policy represents a major shift for the land board and the General Land Office, which manages land holdings for the school fund but has traditionally made money by leasing land for oil and natural gas exploration and production.
Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson (pictured), one of three board members, touted the new policy as a way to reduce the dependence on the revenue from oil and natural gas leases, a diminishing source of income in the long run, he said.
School-district consolidation on the table
Lawmakers will study a series of sensitive issues, including whether to consolidate some small school districts, during the next few months as they prepare to respond to the Texas Supreme Court's order to change the state's school finance system by June 1.
House Public Education Committee Chairman Kent Grusendorf (pictured) of Arlington has asked his committee members to look at consolidation, merit pay for teachers, superintendent compensation and school vouchers, among other topics. The court ruled last week that local school boards have lost control over the tax rates they set, which will prompt lawmakers in a yet-uncalled special session to try to reduce local property taxes and increase other taxes. The court also warned that the system will not be able to improve without some type of major change.
"This State Supreme Court ruling tells us something we have known for a long time - our school finance system has evolved into an unconstitutional statewide property tax. That is what the Legislature is charged to fix by June 1st and we will," said Sen. Florence Shapiro, chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee.
Health system eyes $400M capital improvements campaign
University Health System in San Antonio is considering a $400 million capital improvements campaign that could eventually fund construction of new buildings at its downtown facility and elsewhere.
Officials at the public hospital system said the growing population and age of current facilities must be addressed soon by a sweeping long-range plan that encompasses downtown facilities, clinics and University Hospital. University Hospital had about 25,000 inpatients last year. The clinics had 558,000 patient visits, and the 44-bed emergency room served 70,000 patients.
Spotlight on State Leaders: Deputy Comptroller Billy Hamilton
Public service must be in Billy Hamilton's genes. With his father a postman and his mother serving his hometown as city secretary, Hamilton - Texas' deputy comptroller - knew early on what it meant to be a public servant.
When the time came to choose a career in college Hamilton enrolled in the University of Texas' LBJ School of Public Affairs. The school gave him the academic foundation he sought. A relationship forged with Larry Crumpton, former director of community affairs at the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, took him the rest of the way.
The comptroller's office originally hired Hamilton from the Department of Community Affairs in 1977 to write an accounting manual for county governments. Hamilton filled a variety of posts within state government in the years that were to come, had a stint in the private sector, but was re-hired as the deputy comptroller in 1991.
"My most memorable experience [in state government] was working on the first Texas Performance Review. We were working without a road map, it was hard work and it worked," he said. "From that I got to work on the National Review with Vice President Gore and the California Review with Governor Schwarzenegger. I worked for Bob Bullock for a number of years. I have several vivid memories of that period, but they aren't what I'd call 'memorable' in the sense that looking at the Grand Canyon is memorable. More like a root canal extended over several years."
As the number-two man in the comptroller's office, which collects taxes and acts as the state treasury, Hamilton said his biggest challenge is to continually improve operations. Regarded as an approachable first-class leader in state government, Hamilton said the biggest mistakes he sees in state leadership are micromanaging and distrust of employees.
"I enjoy the public service," he said. "Done right, government can make a real difference in people's lives. Done wrong, it can be a huge drag on society and the economy. We need people who want to make it work right. More to the point, government is one of those places where you can make your way up the ladder pretty fast, in terms of responsibilities, if you are smart and willing to work."
UTD president to head New Orleans levee panel
University of Texas at Dallas President David E. Daniel has been named chairman of a panel reviewing the New Orleans levee breaches during Hurricane Katrina.
The American Society of Civil Engineers external review panel has been commissioned at the direction of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, along with the Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force commissioned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a National Research Council independent review panel.
"This very important and necessary review process will provide technically sound and credible assessments that will prove invaluable to the region and nation as we move forward in rebuilding New Orleans' hurricane protection system," Daniel said.
Rumsfeld also authorized the ASCE to form an external review panel to conduct continuous peer review of the work done by the Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force and report findings to the National Research Council as part of the New Orleans hurricane protection investigation.
Mansfield ISD eyes $241M bond initiative
Staff at the Mansfield school district near Fort Worth has recommended a $241.5 million bond package for new schools and improvements to go before voters in May. Superintendent Vernon Newsom and staff members presented their suggestions to trustees during a called meeting Thursday night. They said the bond program should include:
- Six schools - three elementary schools, one intermediate, one middle and one high school;
- Heating and/or cooling improvements for Boren Elementary, Ponder Elementary and Worley Middle schools and for the district's central system;
- Roof improvements at Boren Elementary and Wester Middle schools;
- Renovations at Willie Pigg Auditorium and Wester field house;
- Electrical and lighting repairs at Tarver-Rendon Elementary school; and
- A bus facility.
Tarrant County close to picking jail site
Tarrant County commissioners said this week that they will likely propose building a new maximum-security jail in downtown Fort Worth rather than expand a jail on the northern fringes of the city.
A majority of commissioners also agreed that it would be cost-prohibitive to move the entire criminal justice system - courts, jails, attorneys and clerks - out of downtown. Commissioners have until February to complete the details for a proposed May bond election. The county is considering 120 transportation projects, submitted by Tarrant County cities, to share $200 million of the bond package.
Effort to fund 'superhighway' slowly driving on
With federal funding off the table now for the Interstate 69 superhighway, which would run from the Texas-Mexico border to Canada, Texas and other states are looking for other ways to fund the corridor.
Some Texas lawmakers, including Rep. Juan Escobar (pictured) of Kingsville, told newspapers this week that the project is too important to let die so they are considering innovative ways to jumpstart the endeavor financially. Building stretches of toll roads, encouraging private-sector involvement and considering piecemeal efforts are some of the options currently being bandied about.
I-69 currently starts along the Canadian border at Port Huron, Mich., and runs south to Indianapolis. Planners proposed extending it from Indianapolis to Evansville, Ind., through Kentucky to Memphis, Tenn., then along the Arkansas-Mississippi line to Shreveport, La. From there it would go on to Houston and South Texas to the Mexican border.
SATAI taking requests for ETF money
The San Antonio Technology Accelerator Initiative (SATAI Network) said Tuesday that it is now accepting applications through Dec. 16 for the second quarterly round of funding from the state's $200 million Emerging Technology Fund.
The SATAI Network is accepting applications through its role as the designated host of the South Texas Regional Commercialization and Innovation Center. The final decision of which companies will receive funding is made by Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick.
Midland eyes funds for downtown projects
Pending the President's approval, the 2006 Transportation Appropriations bill will provide funds for redevelopment of Midland's downtown area and the purchase of bus shelters. The Senate approved $380,000 for the city of Midland earlier this month as part of the legislation.
City Manager Rick Menchaca (pictured) said the $250,000 provided in the legislation for downtown redevelopment has not been earmarked for any specific purpose yet, but there are a wide variety of ways the funds could be spent. The remaining $130,000 will be used to purchase 50 bus shelters to be divided among bus routes in Midland and Odessa.
Speaker appoints Taylor to Ethics Commission
House Speaker Tom Craddick has appointed Nicholas Taylor to the Texas Ethics Commission. The commission enforces, administers and trains state officers and employees on ethics laws related to standards of conduct, personal financial disclosure, lobby activities, and political contributions, expenditures and advertising.
Taylor, an attorney at law, is president and director of Mexco Energy Corp., a publicly owned oil and gas exploration and production company in Midland. In 1990, then-Gov. Bill Clements appointed Taylor to the Texas Judicial Council, the administrative body that supervises the State's judiciary, where he served for five years. In 1995, then-Gov. George Bush appointed him to the State Securities Board for six years and Governor Perry reappointed him for an additional three years.
AG criticizes federal plan to cut funds
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said Monday that a federal proposal to slash funding for child support enforcement would lead to a $3 billion drop in support collections in Texas over four years and would hurt more than a million Texas children.
The proposal is part of the U.S. House's sweeping budget cut plan, which would slice almost $50 billion from the deficit by curbing rapidly growing benefit programs such as Medicaid and food stamps. A parallel budget plan passed by the U.S. Senate does not include the child support enforcement cuts. A conference committee including members of both chambers will try to hash out a compromise.
Six Counties to receive state money for hurricane relief
More than $570,000 in grants from the Texas Disaster Relief Fund is being provided to Chambers, Galveston, Liberty, Orange, San Augustine and Walker counties. Another $1 million in grant funds were donated specifically to assist Jefferson County in its efforts to recover from Hurricane Rita. Grants to other counties impacted by Hurricane Rita are pending.
Gov. Rick Perry established the Texas Disaster Relief Fund in September to provide assistance to citizens and communities affected by Hurricane Rita. The fund is administered by the Governor's Division of Emergency Management, which also administers a number of federal disaster recovery grants for the state.
Top economic development official in McAllen steps down
Mike Allen, who has led the McAllen Economic Development Corporation since its inception 17 years ago, is stepping down as its president and CEO. Allen said he will remain with MEDC as a senior advisor.
Allen is credited with helping recruit more than 200 companies to the Foreign Trade Zone at McAllen, employing over 18,000 people on the U.S. side of the border, and over 250 companies to the Mexican side where an additional 75,000 workers complete the bi-national maquiladora manufacturing process. Allen founded and is chairman of the Texas Border Infrastructure Fund, which encompasses 19 Texas counties from Brownsville to El Paso, and has served as a member of the Governor's Task Force on Management and Relations.
State board OKs South Texas desalination project
The Texas Water Development Board accepted a proposal by the San Antonio River Authority to create a demonstration project that will desalinate brackish water in Kenedy, Texas.
The city of Kenedy, southeast of San Antonio in Karnes County, will install new groundwater desalination technologies at the site of the city's existing reverse osmosis water-treatment plant. The San Antonio River Authority, the Texas Water Development Board and the city will examine how efficient the new technology is compared to the existing technology. Kenedy currently treats water from the Catahoula and Oakville aquifers.
UTMB increases doctor training in Austin
Austin Mayor Will Wynn and local hospital officials are touting a long-term agreement with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston as a critical first step toward bringing a medical school to Austin.
The 30-year deal between UTMB and the Seton Healthcare Network, which manages the city-owned Brackenridge Hospital, transfers physician education programs from Seton to UTMB and significantly expands them. The change enhances UTMB's presence in Austin and will double the number of doctors being trained in Austin, to 200 residents, make medical education programs more prestigious and help alleviate a shortage of doctors in the next 15 years, hospital officials said.
Federal funds go to LBJ Library, Cap Metro
An appropriations bill passed by Congress will provide $4.35 million for the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin and Austin's Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The LBJ Library (pictured) will collect $1 million to make repairs and to tie it to the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. An amphitheater named for Lady Bird Johnson will connect the two structures. Cap Metro will get $3.35 million to operate UT shuttles to suburban areas and to update engines in hopes of improving air quality. The bill still requires the president's approval.
State sends $1.2 Million to Texas Cord Blood Bank
The state will provide $1.2 million in funds for the Texas Cord Blood Bank, the first specialized umbilical cord blood bank in Texas.
Umbilical cord blood can be used in transplants to treat a variety of pediatric disorders, including leukemia, sickle cell disease and metabolic disorders. The funds, provided by the Health and Human Services Commission, will be used to expand the bank's capacity and programs so that more children and adults across the state can benefit from its life-saving resources. The Texas Cord Blood Bank is the result of three years of collaboration by the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, the public health community, private organizations, the state and individual community leaders who identified the need for this emerging medical resource in Texas.
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