FBN: FBISD Trustee Tells Press She Will ‘Go After’ Reporters Who Misquote Her

See: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2011/01/25/50078

Just in: FBISD's "Global Taj Mahal" Is No More--click the title link for more--

Update: http://www.fortbendstar.com/012611/n_FBISDDitches.htm

FBISD Board Scraps Plan For Global Science Center
By: Jamie Mock on Fri, Jan 21, 2011News

Citing “economic challenges” and several other concerns, the Fort Bend Independent School District Board of Trustees has scraped the controversial plans to build a Global Science and Technology Center...(click above for more)

FB Star: Superintendent Tim Jenny's Extended Contract Controversy Exposed In This Local Column--click the title link for more--

Related: http://www.fortbendstar.com/011911/n_FBISDSuperintendent.htm

Visit FortBend.net for more on local news--click the title link here--

Former State Representative for TX HD 27 Sends Appreciation Note To Community Supporters--

FBN: Delay Sentenced To Prison

Click the link above for the full release.....

This opinion piece showed up on FBN from a local city council member and long-time conservative reformer Tom Hilton:

"It’s about time that some of these fat cats get their just desserts.

DeLay (mis)appropriated $500,000 of our taxpayer monies to pay for a sham of a “Feasibility Study” back in 2003 to look at the supposed feasibility of Fort Bend County purchasing Houston SW Airport. There was NEVER any other airport to be considered from the gitgo, and the whole study was a massive waste of tax dollars. County Judge Hebert and Commissioner Stavinoha were right in the middle of this scam, and were poised to spend another $56 MILLION of Fort Bend County taxpayer monies for an airport that was not wanted nor needed (remember Sugar Land Regional)?

Today I read in the Chronicle that Judge Hebert sent a letter to Judge Priest saying how much good DeLay did while in office in an effort to reduce DeLay’s sentence.

Judge Hebert, have you no shame?

Remember Judge, that our justice system might take a while to get around to it, but it still works, as evidenced by DeLay’s sentencing today. If a really big fat cat such as DeLay can get caught, so can some of the smaller fat cats.

Tom Hilton
Arcola, Texas"

FBN: Behind The Scenes Of School Board Campaigns--click the link below for the full piece--

New Year Begins With A Bang!

What to watch for in 2011:

-The continued hoarding of S20-30 million dollars of the FBISD budget for the planned non-campus based Global Science Museum at the district central office while the district deals with yet another possible record budget deficit (remember they have raised our taxes several times over the last 3-4 years to supposedly deal with this). All while discussing the possible closure of several schools in the district, more teacher cuts and other frontline service reductions.

-The county government pushing forward with the tolling of Texas 99 (Grand Parkway)--tolling ROW that the public has already paid for thus privatizing an already public road at taxpayers expense (Part of the former controversial TTC project).

-Continuation of several FBC cities dipping into "reserve funds" (monies redirected to alternate accounts for later use from bond debt elections) to maintain the public perception of "balanced budgets". This directly impacts the operations budget via the debt service portion (larger amounts are needed to retire debt thus forcing increases in property taxes). Missouri City currently engages in this practice as do other local taxing entities.

-School board & local city elections (several challenges coming to machine candidates-->of special interest, the Missouri City district races and FBISD BOT races-->they should be fun to watch this year).

-And watch local efforts at the legislative level at reforming practices and curbing abuse in some HOAs.

-More high density apartments coming to areas in Missouri Cities ETJ and within the Sugar Land area (several locations). This type of land use, when excessive, often carries less property taxes and leads to continued over-crowding in some schools, increased traffic, density, crime and a lower quality of life.

Stay informed and keep in touch in 2011!