January 20, 2025 Newsletter
January 20, 2025 – Volume 19 Number 3
Highlights:
* EDC to meet Tuesday; lowering sales tax revenue expectations, approving their portion of $1.5 million/year to UFL (United Football League), and paying the National Medal of Honor Museum $1,000,000.
Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_11.html
Teachers' Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html
Taxpayers' Funds at Risk:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html
City Council grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_39.html
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_14.html
Arlington is a city where citizens are relegated to being spectators, rather than players on the field. The SPECTATOR helps citizens know what is happening on the field. Only a few of the in-house team members are allowed to play ball in Arlington. The SPECTATOR helps citizens understand the game.
GAME SCHEDULE:
Monday, January 20: MLK Holiday.
Tuesday, January 21: Filing to run for school boards continue. Filing runs through Friday, February 14.
Tuesday, January 21: Economic Development Corporation Board meeting, 101 W. Abram Street, 4:00pm.
Wednesday, January 22: P&Z meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm. (Work session starts at 4:00pm.)
Wednesday, January 22: AISD Board workshop on strategic planning, AISD Administration Building, 690 E. Lamar Boulevard, Room 401, 4:30pm.
Tuesday, January 28: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Tuesday, February 4: City Council meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 6:30pm. (You must preregister by 5:00pm to speak during citizen participation.)
Wednesday, February 5: P&Z meetings, 101 W. Abram Street, 5:30pm.
Thursday, February 6: AISD Board meeting, AISD Administration Building, 690 E. Lamar Boulevard, 6:30pm. (You must be signed up online by 3:00pm if you wish to speak.)
From THE LOCKER ROOM
Arlington City Council Update
The city council did not meet last week. Their next meeting is Tuesday, January 28.
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Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
The EDC will meet this Tuesday at 4:00pm. The agenda includes their regular monthly reporting, two presentations, four action items, an executive session, and a director's update. The agenda packet can be found at: https://arlingtontxedc.com/assets/main/agendas/january-21,-2025.pdf .
The presentations are on FDI (foreign direct investment) strategy [.pdf page 20 of above agenda link] and Market Strategy for FY2025 [.pdf page 30 of above agenda link].
The first action item [.pdf page 39 of above agenda link] is to amend the current budget. They are lowering sales tax revenue projections, they are raising interest revenue estimates, they are dropping an employee position, raising the budgeted advertising amount, and making fund balance adjustments.
The second action item [.pdf page 45 of above agenda link] is to spend $117,500 over the two fiscal years with the Dallas Business Journal.
The third action item [.pdf page 63 of above agenda link] is to agree with the UFL (United Football League) to be headquartered in Arlington for the next three seasons at $1.5 million/season ($675,000/year being EDC funds).
The fourth action item [.pdf page 76 of above agenda link] is to engage in an opening day sponsorship agreement with the Nation Medal of Honor Museum for $1,000,000.
The executive session includes offers of incentives to business prospects and deliberations of real property.
[Commentary: Again, I do not understand, and ask, if we are to believe our leaders telling us that Arlington is such a great place to do business, why are we paying the escort service millions to have them come to our party?
For example, straight from the staff report on the UFL agreement, “It is anticipated that the UFL's presence in the City of Arlington will result in taxable sales over the next three seasons of $14,294,290.” The general fund gets 1% of that, so $142,943. So, we are giving away $1.5 million/year, so the general fund gets $142,943. Note: this does not even address the potential double counting (part of that $14.3 million being used to justify other lopsided deals already made).]
Upcoming Public Hearings
On Wednesday, January 22, P&Z will hold a public hearing on updates to the UDC (Unified Development Code) for tree preservation and mitigation. If approved this will go to the city council on February 4.
On Tuesday, January 28, the city council will hold a public hearing on SUP24-8 on 5.406 acres at 2020 S. Watson Road. They wish for a special use permit for gas well drilling.
On Tuesday, January 28, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-17 on 1.832 acres at 2007 N.W. Green Oaks Boulevard for a planned development for community commercial (CC) including a wireless communications tower.
On Tuesday, January 28, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-19 on 1.802 acres at 401 E. Rogers Street for a planned development for residential medium density (RM-12, usually town homes).
On Tuesday, January 28, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-30 on 5.195 acres at 7708 Cooper Street for a planned development for residential single-family 5 (RS-5). Since this is a PD, it suggests that they do not meet all the standards; the lots are probably smaller than allowed by RS-5.
On Tuesday, January 28, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-31 on 0.940 acres at 347 N. Bowen Road for a planned development for light industrial including automotive repair (major).
On Tuesday, January 28, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-33 on 0.322 acres at 525 S. Bowen Road for a planned development for residential medium-density (RM-12). Since this is a PD, it suggests that they do not meet all the standards; the lots are probably smaller than allowed by RM-12.
On Tuesday, January 28, the city council will hold a public hearing on ZA24-8 on 6.26 acres at 7005 Calendar Road. They wish to change the current residential estate (RE) zoning to residential single-family 7.2 (RS-7.2).
On Tuesday, January 28, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD21-9 on 0.743 acres at 108 Hosack Street. They wish for a planned development RM-12. It is currently zoned RM-12 and MF-22.
On Tuesday, February 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on SUP24-9 on 0.521 acres at 3007 E. Abram Street for a special use permit for a communications tower.
On Tuesday, February 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-5 on 0.459 acres at 901 W. Abram Street. They wish for a planned development of higher density RMF-22. The previous PD has expired.
On Tuesday, February 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on PD24-26 at 6601 Silo Road. They wish for a change in zoning from Neighborhood Commercial (NC) and Community Commercial (CC) to Planned Development (PD) for Neighborhood Commercial (NC) plus Recreation/outdoor, uses with a development plan, on approximately 10.64 acres.
On Tuesday, February 4, the city council will hold a public hearing on ZA24-9 on 0.237 acres at 8007 S. Cooper Street. They wish for a change in zoning from Residential Estate (RE) to Community Commercial (CC) uses.
On Wednesday, February 5, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-24 on 6.437 acres at 700 E. Randol Mill Road. They wish for a change in zoning from Commercial and Residential Multi-Family-22 (RMF-22) to Planned Development (PD) for Residential Multi-Family-22 (RMF-22) uses. If approved this will go to the city council on March 4.
On Wednesday, February 5, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-34 on 3.436 acres at 1918 & 1922 S. Cooper Street. They wish for a change in zoning from Residential Single-Family 7.2 (RS7-2) to Planned Development (PD) for Light Industrial uses. If approved this will go to the city council on March 4.
On Wednesday, February 5, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-35 on 0.0459 acres at 5510 Matlock Road. They wish for a change in zoning from Residential Single-Family 7.2 (RS7-2) to Residential Single-Family 7.2 (RS7-2) plus a cell tower. If approved this will go to the city council on March 4.
On Wednesday, February 5, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-39 on 5.338 acres at 1501 Mansfield Webb Road. They wish for a change in zoning from Commercial to Planned Development (PD) for Residential Multi-Density-12 (RM-12) townhomes. If approved this will go to the city council on March 4.
On Wednesday, February 5, P&Z will hold a public hearing on ZA24-10 on 0.172 acres at 2015 Loyd Drive. They wish for Residential Single-family (RS-5). If approved this will go to the city council on March 4.
???, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PD24-23 for community commercial with a package liquor store (2574 sq. ft.) at 2425 N.E. Green Oaks Boulevard.
P&Z Commission
P&Z will meet this Wednesday, January 22. The only public hearing is for updates to the UDC (Unified Development Code) for tree preservation and mitigation (staff report).
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AISD School Board
The AISD School Board met this past Thursday, January 16. The agenda can be found at: https://www.aisd.net/wp-content/files/2025.01.16-Regular-Meeting-Agenda.pdf .
They started the evening with a workshop on District Priority Update: Resources - Campus Needs Metrics. It may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5pKGGjHO-g . They want to expand the definition of student needs to include FRPM (Free and Reduce-Priced Meals). “Poverty is just not a lack of money.” This is leading to something called Campus Needs Index.
The board then went into executive session to discuss 1) Personnel, including: New Hires, Retirements, Resignations, Leaves of Absence, Dismissals, Terminations, Non-Renewals, Non-Extensions, and Evaluation, 2) Consult Attorney Regarding Potential and Pending Litigation, and 3) Discuss the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property.
The board reconvened in open session at 6:59pm (scheduled 6:30pm). The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP7WR2AcAZU .
(2:09) Recognitions.
(45:26) Open Forum for Agenda Items. There were no speakers.
(45:36) Open Forum for Non-agenda Items. There was one speaker promoting Shakespeare Live on April 3-5 at the Levitt Pavilion.
(48:56) They started with Committee and Staff Reports E) Legislative Report presented by lobbyist David Anderson. About 1:03:13 it was opened up to the board for questions and comments.
(1:05:35) The one action item is the 2025-26 school calendar. About 1:23:45 they opened it up to the board for questions and comments. The calendar was approved, 7-0.
Back to Staff and Committee Reports.
(1:44:30) A) Governance Committee.
(1:45:54) B) Finance and Academics
Committee.
(1:47:04) C) Mid-Year Academic Progress. There were quite a targeted goals that were not met. At about 2:02:29 they opened it up to the board for questions and comments. Discipline consumed a lot of the board comments.
(2:13:48) D) 2019 Bond Update. About 2:32:55 they opened it up to the board for questions and comments.
(2:33:20) Consent Agenda. No items pulled or discussed. The consent agenda was approved, 7-0.
(2:33:54) End of meeting reports.
Ms. Haynes conducted the four-minute Board Review of the meeting at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX6e-bDL6-U .
They have scheduled a special workshop meeting for this Wednesday, January 22. The workshop is on strategic planning. The next regular meeting is Thursday, February 6.
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Filings for May 3 Election
Voters will get to vote for AISD Places 4 (Wilbanks) and 5 (Chapa). Early voting will start on Tuesday, April 22. Election Day is Saturday, May 3.
Filings started Wednesday, January 15. The current list of candidates includes:
Place 4 – Wilbanks (i).
Place 5 – Chapa (i).
Drew Shaw of the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report has a story at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/01/15/these-seats-on-arlington-area-school-boards-are-slated-for-the-may-3-ballot/ .
Commentary: The AISD has come up with a deficit budget for at least seven years in a row. Now for each of those years (prior to this year), they have ended with a surplus, mainly because of unexpended salaries [They always have open positions they are not paying salaries, and these positions add up to millions year after year.]
School Funding
One of the items of the AISD legislative agenda is a modification in state funding from “attendance” to “enrollment”. Valorie Munoz of the Texas Scorecard has an article as to how this will cost more at: https://texasscorecard.com/state/experts-warn-enrollment-based-school-funding-would-be-wasted-on-ghost-students/ .
There is an article by Drew Shaw of the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report from last month at: https://fortworthreport.org/2024/12/18/arlington-isd-tries-to-shrink-budget-deficit-stay-on-track-with-spending/ . He has compiled some numbers in that report; some of those numbers are not concerning, but others are very concerning.
When he reports that some percentages of expenditures have been made while some smaller amounts of revenue have been received, that does NOT concern me. That is normal because a great portion of their property tax revenue comes in December and January, which is the middle of their fiscal year. They have a large fund balance to cover that.
However, when it is reported that only half of the projected vacancies are there, I see that as a reason for concern.
Regarding this past budget, it was total foolishness to pass a budget with a 4% salary increase after already being on top of the salary scales the previous year. They just enjoy creating ISD inflation.
Student Discipline
Drew Shaw of the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report has a story about teachers and parents wanting changes to the AISD discipline policy with numerous statistics: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/01/01/arlington-isd-parents-teachers-call-for-student-discipline-policy-reform-heres-why/ .
TEA Accountability Data:
In 2020, the AISD was tied for the highest M&O rate of all the school districts in Tarrant County. Since then, there has been NO tie. The AISD HAS the highest M&O rate in Tarrant County. [school district tax rates]
Top 5 of Tarrant County's 21 ISDs M&O Rates
1. Arlington ISD $0.812800
2. Birdville ISD $0.786900
2. Fort Worth ISD $0.786900
2. Godley ISD $0.786900
2. Mansfield ISD $0.786900
Of Tarrant County's 21 ISDs - Lowest Tax Rates [The rest are above $1.1300]
1. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD $0.923300
2. Carroll ISD $0.961700
3. HEB ISD $0.968900
4. Fort Worth ISD $1.062400
5. Keller ISD $1.085200
6. Azle ISD $1.097900
7. Arlington ISD $1.103500
8. Lewisville $1.117800
9. Northwest ISD $1.117900
Teacher Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html [Arlington ISD easily pays the highest salaries, creating ISD inflation.]
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Press Box
Other News
Arlington Aces LGBTQ Score
Arlington aces the LGBTQ Equality Index score with a 100 [using taxpayers' dollars to help sponsor a Gay Pride event pays off]. Arlington was one of four Texas cities to get that score. [You are very limited to the number of The Texan articles before a paywall kicks in.] The article by Seth Morehead of The Texan: https://thetexan.news/issues/social-issues-life-family/arlington-austin-dallas-san-antonio-score-perfect-100-on-lgbt-municipal-equality-index/article_63fb8b04-cf96-11ef-93c3-8fc8b379a246.html?vgo_ee=bdtRnk6FWu%2FovoYPvjPdJ5OP82KGzvBGJiciOUvIxxrUB%2FP6xCtM%3Aik%2BSS9%2FVmxmx9PUUq8rpeSQG4%2BMfCfaQ .
Property Taxes are Due
Pay your property taxes by January 31 to avoid penalty and interest. A press release in the Fort Worth Report: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/01/13/avoid-penalties-pay-your-taxes-before-february-1-2025/ .
High-Speed Rail Legal Fight
Apparently, officials seem willing to spend $1 million on potential legal fights to get this baby through. Eric Garcia of the Fort Worth Report has a story on the brewing fight at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/01/06/north-texas-leaders-prepare-to-spend-1m-on-legal-fight-related-to-high-speed-rail-line/ .
The RTC (Regional Transportation Council) is a subgroup of the NCTCOG (North Central Texas Council of Governments. They spend federal dollars in the area (I believe in our case it represents 265 city and county governments). So that is $1 million less for other projects.
[Commentary: If someone was ever serious about cutting the federal spending and debt, they need to start reducing funding to ALL of the many councils of governments, both staffing and projects.]
HELPFUL CONTACTS
The Spectator: www.ArlSpectator.mysite.com
to be added/deleted to/from the mailing list e-mail: ArlSpectator@yahoo.com
We can be found on Facebook at ArlSpectator.
Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_11.html
Teachers' Salaries
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_97.html
Taxpayers' Funds at Risk:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_83.html
City Council grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_39.html
AISD Board grades:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_1.html
City of Arlington website: www.arlingtontx.gov
e-mails of mayor and council:
.................... first.last@arlingtontx.gov
mayor = jim.ross
district 1 (north) = mauricio.galante
district 2 (sw) = raul.gonzalez
district 3 (se) = nikkie.hunter
district 4 (west) = andrew.piel
district 5 (central/east) = rebecca.boxall
district 6 (all) = long.pham
district 7 (all) = bowie.hogg
district 8 (all) = barbara.odom-wesley
AISD website ....................... www.aisd.net
McMurrough............ - sarahforaisd@gmail.com
Fowler ................... - fowler.aisd@gmail.com
Mike .................. - larrymike.aisd@gmail.com
Wilbanks .......... - david@wilbanksforaisd.com
Chapa ...................... - chapa.aisd@gmail.com
Richardson ... - brooklyn.richardson.aisd@gmail.com
Haynes ................... - haynes.aisd@gmail.com
TEA Accountability Data:
ARC Political Watch Committee Reports
includes coverage of Mansfield ISD and national, state, county, & city
Texas Legislative Online:
http://www.legis.state.tx.us/Home.aspx
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