Wednesday's Internet Edition, September 08, 2010.
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An "Educator of Distinction" The National Society of High School Scholars selected Mr. Domingo Vento for a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction Award for the encouragement of academic success of students at Van Horn High School. The award was one of 13 given to Texas educators at The University of Texas at Austin on March 8, 2009. Mr. Vento was nominated for the award by VHHS Senior Jackie Stanford who is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. The founder and chairman of the NSHSS is Claes Nobel who is a senior family member of the Nobel Family and presented the award to the educators in Austin. The Nobel Family gives out the Annual Nobel Peace Prize. Mr. Vento commented that “It is truly an honor to receive this award on behalf of Van Horn High School’s students and staff”.
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- Van Horn City Council members met Tuesday evening and the first order of their business was to consider the current financial report.
While normally not something that gets much print, this report caught the attention of those in the audience and council as well. The City Financial Officer, Jodi Corrales, reported on the status of city finances and the fund balances at the end of February.
In her report, Corrales told council members that the city had over $1 million dollars in the bank. When asked by Mayor Flanagan how that figure compared to previous years, she replied, “We’re doing extremely well, especially at this time in the city’s fiscal year.”
The mayor and council have been working diligently to improve many areas of city government as well as the city’s finances and it looks like their efforts are paying off.
And, while they were discussing things which were improving, Fran Malafronte reported on a couple of things. One was that she has discovered that a lot of accounting problems which the city has encountered have been the result of simply not upgrading the accounting software.
She told council that we’re using Version 3 of our software and the company is supporting Version 8. A lot of what we’ve been seeing has been corrected in the more recent software versions.
She asked council members to consider upgrading the software to Version 8. The cost is estimated to be about $2,000 which also includes some equipment upgrades as well. Council approved the upgrade purchase
The other thing Malafronte brought to council was a billing analysis for the month of February. The analysis is a new report which will give council some idea of money billed by the city as well as the associated expense with it.
Of particular note to council was how much water was billed to Hudspeth County Water Control and Improvement District #1. Council will consider this when negotiating a new contract with them later this month.
The other agenda item which nearly got “heated” was the appointment of a Golf Course Board. Alderman Dennis McBride suggested that council appoint the current members of the Golf Association as members of the board.
Alderman Mingo Corralez voiced strong opposition to the idea. After some heated discussion, council did appoint the Golf Association members to the Golf Course Board but they also added Jose Aguilar and David Scott with one additional member yet to be appointed.
While discussing the golf course and a board to oversee it, Alderman Dennis McBride reported that council has been advised that the golf course has cost local taxpayers over $856,000 in the last 10 years. That figure equates to $85,600 a year or $7,133.33 per month.
McBride and others on city council believe that the golf course can be turned around so that it does not cost taxpayers but is at least a break even proposition.
And, while on the golf course, council members did revise the fee schedule for Thursday and Saturday scramble events only.
With regard to other agenda matters considered at Tuesday’s meeting, council took the following actions:
* Approved payment of bills amounting to some $144,218.
* Learned that the golf course will close from April 13th through the 19th to perform aeration of all the greens.
* Learned that the housing developer, West Desert Builders, is about to begin work on the first 3 housing units here. They have asked to use the city water truck periodically to help hold down the dust in the area. Council gave their approval.
* Mayor Ben Flanagan issued two proclamations naming April as Fair Housing Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month in Van Horn.
* Council heard Adrian Norman’s complaints about the Pilot Truck Stop and in particular all their blowing trash which impacts the housing area just to the east.
Norman received assurances from council that something will be done about the Pilot situation. In fact, Mayor Flanagan told him that an e-mail will be sent to them stating they are in violation and they will be cited until the problems are corrected.
* Council learned that Mayor Flanagan, alderman Molinar and representatives from the County are going to Austin on March 31st to meet with state folks regarding the availability of stimulus funds for Van Horn and Culberson County.
* Council learned that they should be prepared to name a count committee, in conjunction with the upcoming 2010 census. The goal is to make sure everyone in the city and county gets counted this time around.
* Council approved a resolution to apply for a $275,000 Home Program grant from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. If approved, the grant will require some $19,500 of cash an din kind match from the city.
* Mayor Flanagan reported that the Hudspeth County Water Control and Improvement District #1 is planning to meet on March 27th and he plans to meet with them to hammer out a new water purchase agreement.
* Council members approved amending the landfill hours because of daylight savings time. The new hours will be Tuesday and Thursday from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.
* Before adjourning the session, council determined to hold one more budget worksession on Thursday, March 19th at 7 p.m. and then to hold the official budget hearing on the next fiscal budget on Tuesday, March 24th, at 7 p.m.
Van Horn's sales tax is up, bucking statewide trend
(AUSTIN) — Texas Comptroller Susan Combs today announced state sales tax revenue in February totaled $1.74 billion, down 2.6 percent compared to February 2008.
“State sales tax collections declined in February as important sectors such as retail trade and construction continue to struggle,” Combs said. “While state sales tax revenue has grown 2.8 percent through the first half of fiscal 2009, further declines are expected as the economy continues to weaken.”
Combs delivered $433.4 million in March sales tax payments to Texas cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts. Local sales tax allocations are down 0.6 percent compared to March 2008. So far this calendar year, local sales tax allocations remain up 2.2 percent compared to the first three months of 2008.
State sales tax revenue for February and March payments made to local governments represent sales that occurred in January.
Combs sent March sales tax payments of $291.1 million to Texas cities, down 0.7 percent compared to March 2008. Since Jan. 1, city sales tax allocations are 1.5 percent higher than the same period last year. Texas counties received sales tax payments of $27.5 million, up 2.5 percent compared to one year ago. Calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are 7.2 percent higher than last year.
Van Horn bucked the statewide trend as it received sales tax monines totaling some $30.395.53 compared to $29,265.06 received at the same time last year. This represents an increase of some 3.86%.
For the year-to-date, Van Horn has received some $99,716.07 compared to $93,078.48 at the sam etim elast year. That represents a year-to-date increase of some 7.13%.
The 150 special purpose taxing districts around the state received $17.3 million in sales tax revenue, up 21.6 percent compared to last March. Ten local transit systems received $97.4 million, down 4.3 percent.
For details of March sales tax payments to individual cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose districts, locate the Monthly Sales and Use Tax Allocation Comparison Summary Reports on the Comptroller’s Web site at http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/allocsum/compsum.html. The Comptroller’s next sales tax allocation will be made on Friday, April 10.