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[00:00:01]

GOOD EVENING. IT IS 5:30 ON MONDAY, AUGUST 21ST, 2023.

[B. CALL TO ORDER]

I HEREBY CALL THIS MEETING OF THE ROUND ROCK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2023-2024 ROUND ROCK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPOSED TAX RATE. TONIGHT IN ATTENDANCE, WE HAVE TRUSTEE ZARATE, MARKUM, WESTON, LANDRUM, HARRISON, WEIR AND BONE.

ALL TRUSTEES ARE PRESENT.

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.

PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

[D. PUBLIC COMMENTS TO AGENDA ITEM E. ONLY]

WE DO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY. I WILL READ OUR SPEECH WHILE THE LIST IS BEING PREPARED.

AT EACH BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD WILL SET ASIDE TIME TO AFFORD THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

WE ASK THAT CONCERNS OR COMPLAINTS REGARDING SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS NOT BE RAISED IN THIS PUBLIC FORUM.

SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT EMPLOYEES OR FORMER EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY ACCORDING TO APPLICABLE BOARD POLICIES.

THE BOARD REQUESTS THAT COMMENTS WHETHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, BE COURTEOUS AND RESPECTFUL.

I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE AUDIENCE AND THE VIEWERS THAT THE COMMENTS OF THE SPEAKERS REFLECT THEIR OWN POSITIONS OR OPINIONS.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WHILE THE PUBLIC DOES HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK, THAT RIGHT IS NOT UNLIMITED.

PER TEXAS PENAL CODE 38.13 42.01 42.02 AND 42.05 AND TEXAS EDUCATION CODE 37.105.

NO AUDIENCE MEMBER OR SPEAKER WILL BE PERMITTED TO ENGAGE IN ANY CONDUCT THAT IS DISRUPTIVE OR THREATENING TOWARD ANY SPEAKER OR OTHER PERSON OR TO VIOLATE THE PRIVACY RIGHTS OF ANOTHER PERSON.

THE BOARD SHALL NOT TOLERATE DISRUPTION OF THE MEETING BY MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.

IF, AFTER AT LEAST ONE MORE INDIVIDUAL WARNING FROM THE PRESIDING OFFICER, ANY INDIVIDUAL CONTINUES TO DISRUPT THE MEETING BY HIS OR HER WORDS OR ACTIONS, THE PRESIDING OFFICER WILL REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL REMOVED FROM THE MEETING.

AS A SECOND REMINDER, THE BOARD ADOPTED AN ANTI HATE RESOLUTION ON JANUARY 20TH, 2022, WHERE THE BOARD REAFFIRMED ITS COMMITMENT TO THE WELL-BEING AND SAFETY OF ALL PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, RELIGION, SEX, GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER EXPRESSION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DISABILITY, AGE OR POLITICAL BELIEFS, AND STANDS AGAINST SPEECH THAT INCITES HATRED AND VIOLENCE TOWARDS ANY PERSON.

THE BOARD MIGHT NOT DISCUSS OR ACT UPON ANY MATTER THAT IS NOT LISTED UNDER THE ACTION ITEM PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

THEREFORE, BOARD MEMBERS MAY NOT DISCUSS THE COMMENTS OF SPEAKERS.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT A LACK OF RESPONSE FROM THE BOARD DOES NOT INDICATE AGREEMENT OR APPROVAL OF THE COMMENTS.

EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.

TRUSTEE HARRISON WILL BE THE DESIGNATED TIMEKEEPER AND GIVE ME JUST A MINUTE TO GET OUR LIST FROM THE SIGN IN AND WE WILL GET STARTED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS JENNIFER WHITE SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM E1.

AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

THIS BOARD SHOULD NOT BE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY FROM TAXPAYERS WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN CONTROL THE SPENDING WITH THE BUDGET YOU CURRENTLY HAVE.

YOU'RE CARELESS WITH OUR CHILDREN'S TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND EDUCATIONAL DOLLARS.

I'VE PULLED THE NUMBERS FROM JUST THE LEGAL FEES THAT THIS DISTRICT HAS BEEN SPENDING OVER JUST TO COVER YOUR BUTTS.

THIS BOARD, THE SUPERINTENDENT, YOU'VE EITHER BROKEN THE LAW, VIOLATED INDIVIDUALS RIGHTS, WRONGFULLY FIRED SOMEONE, WENT AGAINST STATE ORDERS AND OTHER ITEMS. WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS KIND OF SPENDING.

HECK, WE CAN'T EVEN AFFORD THIS BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THEIR WRONGDOINGS.

THERE'S CURRENTLY FIVE LEGAL CASES.

ONE OF WITH ONE IS WITH THE STATE, ONE IS ANOTHER FEDERAL ONE THAT'S GOING TO GO TO TRIAL.

SO IN 20 MONTHS, LESS THAN TWO YEARS, OUR LEGAL FEES HAVE BEEN ALMOST $1.7 MILLION.

I'VE CALCULATED IT.

AND ONE OF THE CASES, THE FEDERAL CASE, IT HASN'T EVEN GONE TO TRIAL.

AND WE KNOW TRIALS ARE NOT GOING TO BE CHEAP.

SO IT'S GOING TO COST A LOT OF MONEY.

WE ALSO HAVE HAD TO HIRE THREE OUTSIDE FIRMS THAT I KNOW OF OUTSIDE FIRMS THAT'S NOT EVEN AS THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW THAT'S NOT EVEN THE INTERNAL LEGAL TEAM.

SO THIS KIND OF LIKE LEGAL SPENDING ON FEES NEEDS TO STOP.

SO WE HAVE A ROGUE SUPERINTENDENT WHO SPENDS MONEY WITHOUT BOARD APPROVALS.

JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE, BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE TWO MINUTES.

SPENDING WELL OVER THE APPROVED AMOUNT ALLOTTED FOR HIRING A LOBBYIST.

THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED BY DOUG PONICH, WHO HAPPENS TO BE THE BOARD'S MANAGING LEGAL PARTNER IN THE LAW FIRM.

SO WITHOUT, AND WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING, IF YOU READ THIS DOCUMENT BECAUSE I GOT IT FROM OPEN RECORDS, DOESN'T HAVE AN END DATE.

SO WE'RE SPENDING WE'RE WRITING CHECKS FOR $4,000 A MONTH.

$4,000, $48,000 SINCE LAST AUGUST.

WHEN'S THE END GOING TO BE? WE NEED TO CONTROL THE SPENDING.

[00:05:02]

DO NOT VOTE TO RAISE OUR TAXES.

SPEND WHAT WE HAVE AND BE SMART ABOUT WHERE YOU SPEND IT.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTY SLATE SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM E1.

AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

SO IT'S NO SECRET THAT INFLATION HAS SKYROCKETED AND THE COST OF GOODS AND SERVICES, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THAT THE DISTRICT WOULD WANT TO GO OUT FOR THE VATRE IN ORDER TO CUSHION THE BUDGET.

BUT MANY TAXPAYERS, LIKE JENNIFER SAID, ARE ASKING WHY DOES ROUND ROCK ISD CONTINUE TO SPEND FRIVOLOUSLY ON ITEMS THAT DON'T DIRECTLY AFFECT ACADEMIC OUTCOMES OF CHILDREN AND THEN ASK THE COMMUNITY FOR MORE MONEY? IT HAS BEEN STATED BY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THE BUDGET HAS BEEN INSPECTED THOROUGHLY IN ORDER TO FIND UNALLOCATED FUNDS AND TO CUT COSTS.

I STILL BELIEVE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A DEEPER DIVE INTO EVERY BUDGET OF EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE DISTRICT TO DETERMINE WHAT ACTUALLY IMPROVES STUDENTS LEARNING AND WHAT DOESN'T. A SIMPLE SEARCH ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE SHOWS THAT THE ROUND ROCK ISD LEGAL EXPENSES ARE EXTRAORDINARY.

THE DISTRICT HAS SPENT $99,108.10 JUST IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISMISS THE FEDERAL CIVIL LAWSUIT BROUGHT BY MR. STORY AND MR. CLARK.

AS THE CASE MOVES FORWARD TO TRIAL, HOW MANY MORE EDUCATIONAL DOLLARS WILL BE DUMPED INTO THE DEFENSE OF THE DEFENDANTS WHO SIT HERE ON THE BOARD? AMY WEIR, AMBER FELLER AND TIFFANIE HARRISON.

WE LEARNED LAST THURSDAY THAT ROUND ROCK ISD IS CONSIDERING HIRING YET ANOTHER OUTSIDE CONSULTANT, THIS TIME TO CREATE A DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL COST $88,000 AND DUPLICATES MANY OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT OCCUR IN-HOUSE.

HOW MANY CONSULTANTS DO WE ACTUALLY NEED? OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT HAS A THREE YEAR CONTRACT WITH PANORAMA SURVEY SOFTWARE FOR A TOTAL OF $298,000 WHEN A SIMPLE SURVEY MONKEY OR GOOGLE FORM COULD DO THE SAME THING AT A MINIMAL COST.

THESE ARE THE LINE ITEM COST CUTTERS THAT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN THE DISTRICT GETS BACK TO THE BASICS AND SPENDS OUR TAX DOLLARS ON PERSONNEL AND MATERIALS THAT GO DIRECTLY TO THE CLASSROOM TO IMPROVE THE ACADEMICS OF STUDENTS, THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL THE VOTERS HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT WITH FIDELITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DON ZIMMERMAN SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM E1.

AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

SO I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY TAXPAYERS UNION.

THE WEBSITE IS WWW.TCQUNION.ORG.

THERE ARE THREE REASONS WE'RE GOING TO BE OPPOSING THE TAX INCREASE THAT THE BOARD IS GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS EVENING.

NUMBER ONE, THE DISTRICT HAS LOST MANY OF ITS BEST TEACHERS AND ENROLLMENT HAS DECLINED FOR YEARS WHILE THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN IN OUR DISTRICT HAS ACTUALLY INCREASED.

THIS IS A FACT.

POOR MANAGEMENT SHOULD NOT BE ENTRUSTED WITH STILL MORE MONEY.

NUMBER TWO, THE DISTRICT HAS CONTINUED WITH VERY DRAMATIC BUDGET INCREASES DURING THE YEARS STUDENTS AND TEACHERS HAVE DEPARTED.

IT IS NOT JUSTIFIED TO INCREASE TAXES WHEN ENROLLMENT AND TEST SCORES ARE NOT INCREASING.

AND THIRD, WE DO NOT WANT ADDITIONAL TAXPAYER DOLLARS WASTED ON EXTRAVAGANT LEGAL FEES TO DEFEND INDEFENSIBLE LAWLESSNESS SUCH AS WE SEE IN THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT AGAINST RISD BASED ON THE UNLAWFUL ARREST AND JAILING OF JEREMY STORY AND DUSTIN CLARK TWO YEARS AGO.

SO WE URGE THE DISTRICT NOT TO VOTE FOR THE TAX INCREASE, BUT YOU WILL.

SO WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDSEY LEDYARD SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM E1.

AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

THE VATRE THAT YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE TONIGHT THAT TAX RATE IS ACTUALLY 13.5% LOWER THAN LAST YEAR, AND IT DOES REQUIRE A VOTE FOR FOR ADOPTION AND IT WILL GENERATE $21 MILLION IN REVENUE THAT WILL STAY IN OUR DISTRICT.

THOSE GOLDEN PENNIES THAT ARE PART OF THAT NEWLY REDUCED TAX RATE, 13 AND A HALF PERCENT LOWER THAN THIS YEAR'S TAX RATE.

IT IS NOT GOING UP WE AREN'T INCREASING A TAX RATE.

THAT WILL BE USED TO DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR TEACHERS AND RETENTION AND INCREASE SALARIES FOR THEM.

IT IS A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT.

WHILE A $500,000 HOME COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE A TAX RATE THREE PENNIES LOWER IF YOU WERE TO VOTE NO ON THIS, THIS TRANSLATES TO ONLY $135 PER YEAR IN ADDITIONAL SAVINGS.

I CHALLENGE ANYONE TO SAY THAT THEY CANNOT COME UP WITH LESS THAN $12 PER MONTH TO HELP SUPPORT OVER 47,000 STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT.

FOR SENIORS WHO ARE AFRAID OF THEIR TAXES GOING UP.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT FOR THE MAJORITY OF YOU VOTING TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH THIS TAX RATE APPROVAL WILL NOT ACTUALLY RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN YOUR TAXES.

YOUR TAX CEILING WILL BE RECALCULATED AND REDUCED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW COMPRESSION AND HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS THAT RECENTLY PASSED IN THE LEGISLATURE.

AND YOU WILL STILL SEE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN YOUR SCHOOL TAXES.

PLEASE VOTE TO SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF STUDENTS IN THE WAY THAT OUR GRANDPARENTS VOTED TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION WHILE YOUR KIDS MY GENERATION WERE IN SCHOOL.

AS A COMMUNITY, WE SHOULD TAKE THE TIME TO INFORM OUR FRIENDS.

[00:10:02]

PLEASE DO NOT WORK AGAINST A PROPOSAL THAT WILL ALLOW OUR DISTRICT TO MAXIMIZE LOCAL FUNDING SOURCES WHEN THE LEGISLATURE REFUSES TO DO THEIR JOB TO INCREASE THE BASIC ALLOTMENT. ALLOW OUR COMMUNITY TO SHOW UP AND MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD IN SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JAMIE WILKINS, SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM E1.

AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

YES, I LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

I'M A PARENT OF THREE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT AND I AM A FORMER ROUND ROCK ISD EMPLOYEE.

I DECIDED TO END MY CONTRACT LAST YEAR BECAUSE ONE MAJOR REASON IS BECAUSE THE PAY WAS NOT ENOUGH AS A SINGLE MOM TO SUPPORT MY CHILDREN. I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO VOTE ON THIS GOLDEN PENNY TO INCREASE THE PAY FOR OUR ROUND ROCK ISD EMPLOYEES.

WE WANT THE BEST EMPLOYEES HERE.

WE WANT THE BEST TEACHERS.

WE WANT TO KEEP THEM HERE.

I KNOW PERSONALLY I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE DOING OUTSIDE JOBS TO HELP SUPPORT THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY CANNOT LIVE ALONE ON WHAT THEY MAKE AS A TEACHER.

THEY'RE COACHING SWIM TEAM, THEY'RE GRADING STAAR TESTS.

THEY'RE DOING SUMMER SCHOOLS TO TRY TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

SO I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO VOTE ON THIS GOLDEN PENNY TO APPROVE THIS SO THAT WE CAN KEEP AND RETAIN THE BEST QUALITY EDUCATORS IN THIS AREA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT HEREBY CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO WE ARE MOVING TO AGENDA ITEM E1 PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 2023-2024 ROUND ROCK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPOSED TAX RATE.

[E. PUBLIC HEARING: 2023-2024 ROUND ROCK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPOSED TAX RATE]

I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR. AZAIEZ FOR AN INTRODUCTION.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT LANDRUM, BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT ACTUALLY TO MR. KEVIN, AND HE PREPARED A PRESENTATION FOR US.

TAKE US THROUGH THE TAX RATE, ADOPTION AND ALSO THE PUBLIC HEARING AS A WHOLE.

GO AHEAD, SIR. THANK YOU, SIR.

GOOD EVENING, BOARD PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

TONIGHT WE ARE HERE TO ADOPT THE YEAR 2023 TAX RATE FOR ROUND ROCK ISD.

THE TAX RATE IS MADE UP OF TWO PARTS THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OR THE M&O BUDGET AND THE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND THE I&S BUDGET.

SO FIRST, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.

AND WE WILL HIGHLIGHT THE CHANGES THAT HAVE COME ABOUT SINCE THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET BACK IN JUNE.

THE TEA MAXIMUM COMPRESSION RATE FOR ROUND ROCK ISD IS 0.6410.

THE FLOOR FOR THE STATE IS 0.6192 AND THE CEILING WAS 0.6880.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE FALL IN THE MIDDLE AND THIS WAS DUE TO OUR PROPERTY VALUES DOES NOT GROW AS MUCH AS OTHER ISDS WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

WE ADD THE EIGHT GOLDEN PENNIES THAT WE ARE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR TONIGHT AND THAT WILL MAKE OUR TOTAL M&O TAX RATE AT 0.7210.

SO LET'S COMPARE HOW THIS LOOKS WHEN WE PASS THE BUDGET BACK IN JUNE, WHICH IS THAT SECOND COLUMN FROM THE LEFT.

AND THAT SECOND COLUMN FROM THE RIGHT IS THE CURRENT 0.7210 PROPOSED WITH THE EIGHT GOLDEN PENNIES.

AND THE ONE ON THE FAR RIGHT IS IF THE THREE PENNIES WERE NOT ADDED.

SO THE ONLY CHANGE YOU'LL SEE ARE THE ONES THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN THE GOLDEN COLOR, WHERE YOU SEE THE CHANGES IN THE CURRENT TAX COLLECTION.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE ADOPTED BUDGET, WE WERE TO COLLECT $461.9 MILLION DOWN TO $379.6.

AND IF THE THREE PENNIES ARE NOT ADDED, IT'LL BE $363.9.

THE ONLY OTHER CHANGE IN ALL THOSE CATEGORIES IS DOWN WHERE YOU SEE THE STATE REVENUE, WHERE YOU SEE IT'LL BE AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $70 MILLION.

IF WE GO TO THE EIGHT PENNIES AT THE 72.10 RATE TO 26430.

AND IF YOU DON'T INCLUDE THE THREE PENNIES, IT WILL DROP AGAIN TO 21.03.

SO OUR TOTAL REVENUE WOULD DROP FROM 534,150 TO 4589 AT THE 72108 PENNIES, WHICH IS A 7$5 MILLION DROP IN REVENUE.

AND IF YOU DON'T INCLUDE THE THREE PENNIES, IT A DROP $21 MILLION MORE.

OUR EXPENSES HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE THE ADOPTED BUDGET.

THIS PAGE SHOWS THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS WITH THE 3% AND 2% PAY RAISES.

AND SO YOU SEE, THE 14381 IS CONSISTENT ACROSS ALL THREE CATEGORIES.

THE CHANGES ON THIS PAGE IS ONLY DUE TO THE RECAPTURE AMOUNT, AS YOU CAN SEE DOWN IN THE HIGHLIGHTED HIGHLIGHTED AREA.

THE RECAPTURE DROPS FROM $77.8 MILLION TO$ 7,000,490 IN BOTH CATEGORIES.

AND THIS IS A MAJOR CHANGE.

IT REDUCES OUR RECAPTURE BY $70 MILLION.

[00:15:06]

SO TO SUM IT UP, OUR TOTAL REVENUES.

I'M ONLY GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE ONE WE'RE PROPOSING, THE 72 CENT AND THE EIGHT PENNIES.

OUR TOTAL REVENUES IS 458.9.

I TOTAL EXPENSES IS 468.027 WOULD GIVE US A DEFICIT OF $9 MILLION.

IF YOU ADDED MEDICAL INSURANCE FROM THE 22-23 YEAR THE $3 MILLION THAT WE WILL HAVE TO FUND OUT OF FUND BALANCE.

THAT TAKES IT TO $12 MILLION AND YOU ADD THE ADDITIONAL 3% FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.

THAT WILL BE THE $24.7 MILLION DEFICIT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST COLUMN, WITHOUT THE THREE PENNIES, OUR DEFICIT WILL GROW TO $33.3 MILLION.

NOW LET'S LOOK AT THE I&S FUNDING AND BOARD I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I HAD TO CHANGE OUT THIS SLIDE I HAD PICKED HAD PICKED A PREVIOUS VERSION, AND SO I HAVE SUBSTITUTED THE CORRECT VERSION AND GAVE YOU ALL A COPY OF THE DICE.

AND SO OUR PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION, THE NUMBER WOULD BE $181,681.

AND OUR DEFICIENT PAYMENT WOULD DROP FROM THE $25 MILLION TO THE $15.4 MILLION, WHICH WILL LEAVE US A SURPLUS OF $102 MILLION FOR THE I&S FUND.

SO THE TOTAL TAX LEVY, AS YOU CAN SEE FOR TAX YEAR 2022 AND 2023 IN THE DIFFERENCE, M&O WILL GO DOWN 0.1336 AND THAT IS INCLUDES THE EIGHT CENT FOR THE VATRE AND THE INTEREST FUND DROPS BY A PENNY.

SO THE TOTAL TAX LEVY WOULD DROP FOR ROUND ROCK ISD BY 0.1436.

SO LET'S LOOK AT LEVY COMPARISON WITHOUT THE HOMESTEAD, THAT CHANGED FROM $40,000 TO $100,000.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT A TAXABLE HOME AT $500,000 IN YEAR 22, THE TAX WOULD HAVE BEEN $5,313 WITH A 10% GROWTH RATE THAT WOULD TAKE THE HOUSE UP TO $550,000.

AND YOUR TAX YEAR BILL FOR 2023 WOULD BE $5,054, WHICH BUILT A SAVINGS TO THE TAXPAYER OF $258.50 WITH THE HOMESTEAD SAME HOUSE, $500,000.

IF IT HAD A $440,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, THAT MEANS YOUR TAXABLE VALUE WOULD BE 460 AND YOUR TAX FOR 2022 WOULD BE $4,887. THE HOME TAX VALUE GROWS TO $550, WITH THE 10% INCREASE AND THE HOMESTEAD GROWS FROM $40,000 TO $100,000.

SO YOUR TAXABLE VALUE IS $450,000 AND YOUR TAX IS AT THE 23 TAX RATE, IT WILL BE $4,135 AND THAT'S A SAVINGS OF $752.46. ALSO INCLUDED IN YOUR PRESENTATION THE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THAT LEADS UP TO THE VOTING FOR THE VATRE.

YOU SEE MONDAY TONIGHT IS TO ADOPT THE ORDER FOR CALLING ON THE TAX RATE.

THEN FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH, WE HAVE DELIVERED A NOTICE OF ELECTION TO THE COUNTY CLERK BY SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH IS WHEN THE AUDIT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED AND WE'RE PLANNING TO BRING THAT TO YOU GUYS IN THE OCTOBER BOARD MEETING, BUT IT WILL BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

IF YOU GO DOWN TO TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17TH, THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE TO POST THE DATE OF THE ELECTION AND THE LOCATION OF EACH POLLING PLACE.

AND ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28TH, THE DEADLINE FOR PUBLICATION IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH ON THE NOTICE OF ELECTION IN THE NEWSPAPER OF THE GENERAL CIRCULATION PUBLISHED IN THE DISTRICT.

MADAM CHAIR, I AWAIT QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE ANY LIGHTS POP ON.

TRUSTEE WESTON.

THANK YOU, MR. COVINGTON.

I KNOW YOU WORK REALLY HARD TO FOLLOW DIRECTIVES AND ORDERS OF THE LEADERSHIP, ELECTED AND UNELECTED, IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SO I WANT TO TAKE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU FOR NOT ONLY YOUR SERVICE WHEN YOU WORE A UNIFORM, BUT YOUR SERVICE HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU, MA'AM. ON SLIDE, I BELIEVE IT WAS TEN.

THERE'S A COMPARISON.

TAX YEAR 2022, TAX YEAR 2023.

AND THEN THE DIFFERENCE, GIVEN THE TAX RATE THAT YOU ALL ARE WANTING US TO VOTE ON, WHAT I DON'T SEE THERE IS WHAT IT WOULD BE IF YOU GUYS WERE NOT ASKING FOR THESE THREE ADDITIONAL GOLDEN PENNIES.

IT WILL BE A REDUCTION, A REDUCTION OF 17.1736.

RIGHT. SO DOES THIS TAX RATE THAT'S BEING PROPOSED, DOES THAT ERODE SOME OF THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THAT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE

[00:20:04]

PASSED? IF WE'RE GOING FROM 17 CENT REDUCTION TO 14 CENT REDUCTION, YES, IT DOES ERODE THAT.

YES, MA'AM. IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF SAVINGS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE HAD WITHOUT THE THREE GOLDEN PENNIES.

MAY I INTERJECT FOR A SECOND? BEFORE THAT WAS PASSED I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER TRUSTEE WESTON THE TAX PROPOSED AT THAT TIME, BUT MR. KEVIN ALREADY REDUCED THAT RATE, I THINK, BY 6 OR 7 PENNIES, RIGHT? IF YOU REMEMBER, THAT'S AND ALSO INCLUDING THE THREE GOLDEN PENNIES.

SO THE OUR TAX RATE WAS WAS GOING TO BE REDUCED REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS RACE.

WHAT DID HAPPEN IS HELPED REDUCE IT A LOT FURTHER.

SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES GOING UP AND US WORKING ON GETTING THIS DOWN.

BUT ALSO THE [INAUDIBLE] ALSO INCREASED, I GUESS, THE THE SAVING FOR OUR TAXPAYERS.

BUT IF YOU REMEMBER, WE ALREADY PROPOSED BACK THEN WHEN HE DID THE INITIAL CALCULATION THAT WOULD I THINK IT WOULD INCREASE BY 6 OR 7 PENNIES.

RIGHT. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, I DIDN'T FOLLOW THAT.

MY QUESTION WAS PRETTY SIMPLE.

DOES THIS TAX RATE PROPOSAL ERODE SOME OF THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THAT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE PASSED? I BELIEVE YOU SAID THE ANSWER WAS YES.

YOUR TAXES WOULD BE LOWER IF WE DID NOT ADD THE THREE PENNIES.

YES, AND THAT WAS MY QUESTION.

THANK YOU. TRUSTEE BONE.

THANK YOU FOR PREPARING THIS AND ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

WHEN I WENT THROUGH THE VATRE REQUIREMENTS ONE OF THEM IS TO RUN AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT AND I BELIEVE WE GOT A BRIEF SUMMARY IN A BOARD UPDATE ABOUT WHY WE'RE NOT DOING AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE LAWYERS HERE, BUT COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHY WE'RE NOT DOING AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT PRIOR TO TAKING THE VATRE VOTE, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY LAW? UNDER THE LAW IF WE HAVE A DISASTER DECLARED BY THE GOVERNOR, WE DO NOT HAVE TO DO THE EFFICIENCY STUDY, BUT WE'VE CHOSEN TO DO ONE ANYWAY. SO WE ARE DOING THE EFFICIENCY STUDY AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL BRING TO YOU IN OCTOBER.

SO IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE EFFICIENCY AUDIT WOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE THIS VOTE.

IS THAT USUALLY THE WAY IT'S DONE? NO, NO.

AND WE HAVE AN OUTSIDE AND INDEED DOING AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT.

YES, MA'AM. SO WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE USE OF THE ABILITY OF THE NATURAL DISASTER.

ARE WE DOING A FULL EFFICIENCY AUDIT IS WHAT I'M ASKING? YES, MA'AM. WE'RE DOING THE ONE THAT'S REQUIRED THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED BY LAW.

WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.

OKAY. I APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER.

YES, MA'AM. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER LIGHTS ON.

TRUSTEES, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? I JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY, JUST WANT TO PUT THIS OUT THERE THAT WHILE WE DID HAVE HUGE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND I THINK EVERYBODY IS VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT, WITH HOME VALUES RAISING AND EVERYTHING.

THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE ALSO DID NOT GIVE US ANY NEW MONEY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THE BASIC ALLOTMENT WAS NOT INCREASED AT ALL, $0.

AND THAT'S THE NEW MONEY WE NEED TO CLOSE THE INFLATION GAP.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT THAT OUT THERE AND THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ALL OF THE FACTS AND WHY THESE GOLDEN PENNIES, WHY WE'RE CALLING THIS ELECTION AND WHY THE GOLDEN PENNIES ARE NECESSARY TO GIVE OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF THE RAISES THAT THEY NEED.

ALL RIGHT. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER LIGHTS ON, SO.

THAT TRUSTEE BONE.

YEAH, I WOULD ACTUALLY JUST LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THAT AND THE FACT THAT WITHOUT AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ANY OF US UP HERE AT THE DAIS.

MAYBE SOMEBODY CAN EXPLAIN TO ME WITHOUT AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT, HOW CAN WE SAY THAT THERE'S NOT EFFICIENCY SOMEWHERE THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY USE THAT MONEY TO GIVE TEACHERS THE 3% PAY RAISE? I THINK TRUSTEE WESTON HAS BEEN ASKING FOR EFFICIENCY AUDIT SINCE SHE WAS ELECTED IN 2020 AND HAS NEVER RECEIVED IT, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN EXCELLENT TO ALREADY HAD IN HAND BEFORE WE WENT THROUGH THIS VOTE TONIGHT.

BECAUSE OUR JOB IS TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES THROUGH DATA AND JUST TO GIVE ANECDOTAL REASONING IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME PERSONALLY UP HERE MAKING THESE TYPE OF DECISIONS.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE DOING AN EFFICIENCY AUDIT.

I THINK IT'S COMING TOO LATE.

I WOULD HAVE REALLY LIKED TO HAVE HAD IT TONIGHT TO UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S A NEED TO PUT THE VATRE BEFORE OUR COMMUNITY AND ASK.

AND I REALLY FEEL IT'S DISINGENUOUS THAT WE'RE WE'RE HIJACKING AND HOLDING HOSTAGE TEACHER PAY RAISES.

[00:25:03]

I MEAN, WHY DON'T WE HOLD HOSTAGE SOMETHING ELSE? YOU KNOW, THAT'S $12 MILLION.

YOU KNOW, WE SEEM TO FIND $12 MILLION IN OUR BUDGET ALL THE TIME.

I MEAN, I THINK MR. COVINGTON FOUND $10 MILLION WHEN ONE TIME JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAD $10 MILLION.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY DISINGENUOUS, JUST IN MY OPINION AND VIEWPOINT, TO SIT UP HERE AND TELL TEACHERS AND HOLD THEIR 3% RAISE HOSTAGE OVER THIS VATRE WHEN WE COULD ACTUALLY GO THROUGH.

AND MAYBE WE COULD DO THAT TONIGHT SOMETIME.

MAYBE WE COULD ACTUALLY GO THROUGH AND HOLD SOMETHING ELSE HOSTAGE FOR $12 MILLION AND GIVE THE TEACHERS PAY RAISES, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD BE EXCELLENT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR TEACHERS DESERVE.

I JUST THIS THIS FEELS SO WRONG TO ME, SO WRONG THAT WE'RE HOLDING HOSTAGE TEACHER RAISES.

AND SO WHETHER I MEAN YOU'RE GIVING WHAT YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU GET WHAT YOU GET AND YOU DON'T THROW A FIT.

I THINK MOST OF US HAVE HEARD THAT THAT'S WHAT WE TEACH OUR KIDS.

WE'RE HANDED THIS MONEY FROM THE STATE.

THIS IS WHAT WE GET.

AND TO PUT THE TEACHERS, I MEAN, THEY'RE GOING TO BE, WHAT, A QUARTER OF THE WAY? A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, A THIRD OF THE WAY THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR AND WE'RE HOLDING HOSTAGE WITH A VATRE.

I JUST THAT MESSAGING JUST STARTS OUT WRONG TO ME.

IT JUST SEEMS WRONG TO DO TO HUMANS AND ESPECIALLY TEACHERS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE FACE TO OUR CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT AND OUR STUDENTS.

SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THE EFFICIENCY STUDY BEFORE WE PUT A VATRE FORWARD AND ACTUALLY ARE THAT OR LET'S CHOOSE SOMETHING ELSE TONIGHT TO HOLD HOSTAGE FOR $12 MILLION AND YOU WOULD GET MY VOTE FOR THE VATRE.

TRUSTEE WEIR.

WELL, AS WE ALL KNOW, OUR STAFF SALARIES ARE THE BIGGEST PART OF OUR BUDGET AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE THE TERM HOLDING HOSTAGE IS APPROPRIATE.

BUT I WOULD SAY THAT WE ALL ON THIS DAIS ARE TASKED AND SWORE TO DO WHAT WAS BEST FOR THIS DISTRICT AND EVEN TAKING SALARIES OUT OF THE CONVERSATION WITHOUT THE VATRE WE HAVE A $33 MILLION DEFICIT.

IT'S MUCH GREATER WITHOUT THESE EXTRA THREE PENNIES.

AND TO SAY THAT THE TAXPAYERS AREN'T COMPETENT ENOUGH TO MAKE THAT DECISION OF WHETHER THEY WANT TO SUPPORT TEACHERS OR NOT IS DISINGENUOUS TO OUR TAXPAYERS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A VERY, VERY INTELLIGENT COMMUNITY WHO CAN DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND LOOK AT THE DATA WITHOUT RHETORIC AND DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM AND THEIR CHILDREN AND OUR TEACHERS IN THIS DISTRICT.

I CAN'T TURN IT OFF. SO I DO HAVE A FEW MORE LIGHTS ON.

IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NEW TO ADD, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU CURTAIL YOUR COMMENTS.

AND IF YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO REFUTE WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE SAID, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S DIFFERENT OPINIONS UP HERE.

I WILL CONTINUE TO CALL ON PEOPLE.

BUT IF IT'S JUST TO TRY AND REFUTE ANOTHER TRUSTEE UP HERE, PERHAPS THINK ABOUT IF THAT'S THE MOST VALUABLE USE OF OUR TIME.

TRUSTEE MARKUM.

I'LL BE VERY BRIEF WITH MINE.

I DIDN'T COMPLETELY FOLLOW WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER ABOUT HOLDING HOLDING SALARIES HOSTAGE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT YOU, GET WHAT YOU GET AGAIN, WE GOT $0, ZERO.

WE DIDN'T EVEN GET ANYTHING.

I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THE MONEY WE WE WERE GIVEN, WE WERE GIVEN $0.

SO I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND SAY THAT I AGREE WITH TRUSTEE WEIR THAT WE HAVE AN INTELLIGENT COMMUNITY WHO IT MAKES SENSE TO GIVE THIS OVER TO THEM AND LET THEM DECIDE IF WE ARE GOING TO BE CAPABLE OF GIVING OUR TEACHERS RAISES THIS YEAR OR ADDITIONAL RAISES THIS YEAR.

TRUSTEE WESTON.

SO IN MY OPINION, DR.

BONES LANGUAGE ABOUT HOLDING THE TEACHER RAISES RAISES HOSTAGE IS ACTUALLY A PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE IT'S PROPAGANDA.

IT'S NOT TRUE.

WE DON'T HAVE A REVENUE PROBLEM HERE.

WE HAVE A SPENDING PRIORITIES PROBLEM HERE.

EARLIER, I HEARD ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT $30 MILLION.

WELL, IF THERE WAS TIME AND ATTENTION GIVEN TO THE 5,000 FEWER STUDENTS WHO ARE IN OUR SCHOOLS TODAY, AS I HAVE ASKED MANY TIMES FOR US TO ADDRESS THAT, IF THOSE CHILDREN WERE IN OUR SCHOOLS TODAY, THAT WOULD BE WELL NORTH OF $32 MILLION THAT WOULD BE IN OUR COFFERS TODAY.

I HAVE ASKED TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

IT ACTUALLY MADE IT TO THE MEETING ONE TIME.

AND THEN I WAS TOLD THAT IT'S NOT A PROBLEM AND I WAS SHUT DOWN AND PREVENTED FROM TALKING ABOUT IT ANY FURTHER.

SO I FULLY BELIEVE THAT THE PROBLEM HERE IS ROOTED IN A LACK OF FISCAL DISCIPLINE.

AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NARRATIVE THAT APPEARS TO BE EMERGING THAT TEACHER RAISES HINGE ON THIS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN A LOT OF THE FRIVOLOUS AND ILL CONCEIVED AND ILL SPENT MONEY LED BY THE BOARD MAJORITY.

TRUSTEE BONE. THANK YOU.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN WE SAY THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN MAKE CHOICES.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT.

I BELIEVE THE TRUSTEES CAN MAKE CHOICES.

BUT THE PROBLEM I HAVE SEEN SINCE I'VE BEEN NOT ONLY A COMMUNITY MEMBER SITTING OUT THERE, BUT HERE ON THIS DAIS IS THE INFORMATION IS HIDDEN FROM THE

[00:30:07]

COMMUNITY. THE INFORMATION IS NOT GIVEN TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S GIVEN TO THEM IN A FORMAT AND WHAT THE DISTRICT WANTS, IT'S NOT GIVEN TO THEM OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.

THESE ARE THEIR SCHOOLS.

THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR DATA HAND OVER ALL THE BILLS.

LET'S OPEN UP ALL THE LEGAL BILLS TO THEM.

LET'S OPEN UP ALL THE LEGAL BILLS SO YOU GUYS CAN SEE THEM.

LET'S OPEN UP ALL OF THE SETTLEMENTS THAT WE'VE DONE AND GIVE IT TO THE COMMUNITY.

LET'S OPEN UP ALL ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WE WANT TO BUY AND LET THEM SEE THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO US LIKE, OH, WE WANT TO BUY THE SHINY NEW THING, HEY, IT'S ONLY $3 MILLION.

AND JUST SO THE COMMUNITY KNOWS, 1% PAY RAISE, 1% PAY RAISE, THAT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL, RIGHT? IF I WERE TO JUST SAY TONIGHT, 1% PAY RAISE, ABOUT $4 MILLION.

RIGHT. OUR WHOLE.

IS THAT RIGHT? MR. COVINGTON 1% IS ABOUT $4 MILLION BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT $12 MILLION FOR THREE.

SO DIVIDING IT OUT.

WEIR BROUGHT $3 MILLION DECISIONS ALL THE TIME.

HEY, LET'S HAVE A NEW HR BUILDING.

$3 MILLION. NO BIG DEAL.

I WOULD BE HEY, LET'S GIVE IT TO OUR TEACHERS AND HR CAN I DON'T KNOW THEY CAN COME IN HERE.

THEY CAN HAVE THE BOARD ROOM.

LET'S PUT IN SOME CUBICLES.

SO I'M WITH YOU ALL.

BUT WE NEED TO GET IT TOGETHER AND WE NEED TO GIVE OUR COMMUNITY.

THE TEACHERS AREN'T YOU KNOW, I THINK THE OTHER THING IS IT'S DISINGENUOUS BECAUSE WHAT I HEAR WHEN I GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, THE TEACHERS SEE THE WASTE.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM. THE TEACHERS AT THE THEY SEE THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, DOWN WITH THEIR TEACHING.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LIKE, I CAN'T I'VE GOT TO GO BUY EVERYTHING FOR MY CLASSROOM.

AND THEN THEY SEE THE DISTRICT OFFICES AND THEY SEE THE NEW THINGS THAT PEOPLE GET AND THE NEW LAND THAT WE'VE BOUGHT AND PEOPLE SEE IT.

SO LET'S BE VERY, VERY TRANSPARENT.

OPEN UP EVERYTHING THAT YOU KNOW, LET'S OPEN UP ALL THE BOOKS.

YOU KNOW, I'D BE HAPPY IF THEY WERE OPENED UP TO THE TRUSTEES, BUT IT'S PULLING TEETH FOR US TO ACTUALLY GET TRUE ANSWERS AS TO WHAT THINGS COST AND WHAT THINGS ARE SPENDING, YOU KNOW, $100,000 THERE OR $100,000 THERE.

LET'S BE TRANSPARENT.

AND THEN. THEN YES, I WOULD VOTE FOR VATRE THAT WOULD, YOU KNOW, ALLOW THE COMMUNITY TO VOTE FOR IT.

BUT WE DON'T GIVE THE COMMUNITY THE INFORMATION TO VOTE FOR IT.

I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER LIGHTS ON.

I HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL SPEAKER FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.

AND IF YOU RECALL, PUBLIC COMMENTS GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SO IF ANYBODY SIGNS UP, WE HAVE ONE MORE SPEAKER THAT'S ALLOWED TO SPEAK.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO ALL BE AT THE FRONT.

SO JILL FERRIS SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM E1.

AND YOU DO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

ONCE AGAIN, ROUND ROCK IS NOT COMPLYING WITH THE WEBSITE POSTING REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH BY TEXAS TAX CODE 2618.

THE TAX CODE STATES THAT A DISTRICT MUST MAINTAIN A WEBSITE OR HAVE ACCESS TO A GENERALLY ACCESSIBLE WEBSITE FOR POSTING TEN DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS ON ONE PAGE.

CURRENTLY, ROUND ROCK ISD IS NOT COMPLYING WITH AT LEAST TWO OF THE TEN REQUIREMENTS.

THE DISTRICT'S PROPOSED OR ADOPTED BUDGET FOR THE CURRENT YEAR IS NOT POSTED, AND NEITHER IS THE CHANGE IN THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET AMOUNT FROM THE PRECEDING YEAR TO THE CURRENT YEAR BY DOLLAR AMOUNT AND PERCENTAGE.

THE INFORMATION MAY BE AVAILABLE SOMEWHERE ON THE WEBSITE, BUT ACCORDING TO TASB LEGAL SERVICES, THE INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE ACCESSIBLE WITH NO MORE THAN ONE CLICK.

AND CURRENTLY NONE OF THE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND WITHOUT MULTIPLE CLICKS.

YOU CAN'T PASS THIS VATRE TONIGHT BECAUSE THE TAXPAYER INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.

YOU CAN'T PASS THIS VATRE TONIGHT BECAUSE THE TAXPAYER INJUNCTIVE RELIEF BECAUSE OF YOUR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE POSTING REQUIREMENT.

THIS FAILURE WILL ENTITLE A PERSON WHO OWNS TAXABLE PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT AN INJUNCTION PROHIBITING THE DISTRICT FROM ADOPTING A TAX RATE.

WITHOUT A TAX RATE, YOU CAN'T HAVE A VATRE.

THE LAW FURTHER STATES THAT FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS ENTITLES A PERSON WHO OWNS PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT TO AN INJUNCTION RESTRAINING THE COLLECTION OF TAXES BY THE DISTRICT.

AND BECAUSE I'VE BROUGHT MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE DISTRICT NOT COMPLYING WITH POSTING REQUIREMENTS UP IN MY PUBLIC COMMENTS IN JUNE, WHICH I FOLLOWED UP WITH AN EMAIL WHICH WAS THEN IGNORED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT BECAUSE HE WAS ON A THREE WEEK VACATION, TWO OF WHICH HE GOT PAID FOR, BUT I DIGRESS.

THOSE POSTING REQUIREMENTS ARE PUBLISHED ON THE TASB WEBSITE.

AND YOU CAN'T YOU YOU CAN'T CLAIM THAT THAT IT WAS ACCIDENTAL BECAUSE I BROUGHT IT UP TO YOU BEFORE AND NOBODY FOLLOWED UP WITH ME ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT YOU WERE HAVING WITH THE POSTING REQUIREMENTS SO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS AND COMMENTS ON THE PUBLIC HEARING AND.

UH, IS IT? IT CAN'T BE ABOUT AGENDA ITEM E1.

WE'VE ALREADY CLOSED THAT OUT.

WHAT? THAT'S WHAT SHE JUST SPOKE ON.

WHAT YOUR COMMENTS. WHAT ARE YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT? E1. WE'VE ALREADY CLOSED OUT THAT AGENDA ITEM.

WE WERE DOING THE REMAINING PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN IN OUR REGULAR MEETING.

SHE CAN'T TALK ON SOMETHING IF WE'VE ALREADY MOVED ON ABOUT IT.

TALKING ABOUT YOU.

DID. SHE JUST SPOKE NOW AND THEN I PRESSED MY BUTTON.

AND WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION? I HAVE I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT E1 FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.

WE'VE ALREADY CLOSED OUT E1, THOUGH.

[00:35:01]

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. WHEN WAS E1 CLOSED? WHEN AND HOW WAS E1 CLOSED? WHEN I WENT BACK TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, I SAID, I SEE NO MORE LIGHTS.

WE'RE GOING BACK TO PUBLIC COMMENT WHICH IS AFFORDED DURING A PUBLIC HEARING.

RIGHT. AND THE REASON THAT WE ARE THAT PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE IS BECAUSE THE PUBLIC MAY BRING THINGS TO OUR ATTENTION.

SOMETHING HAS NOW BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT IT.

LET ME. THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE.

LET ME I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY TRUE.

BUT LET ME CHECK WITH LEGAL.

AFTER THE MATTER HAS BEEN CLOSED IN PUBLIC COMMENT YOU WOULD NORMALLY, UNLESS YOU WANT TO REOPEN E1, YOU WOULD NOT GO BACK TO IT. HOWEVER, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE BROUGHT UP IN THE NEXT MEETING.

SO SHE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THAT QUESTION ON AGENDA ITEM D1, 2 AND 3.

I'D LIKE TO ASK THE QUESTION AND IF I'M GOING TO BE DENIED, I'D LIKE TO BE CLARIFIED.

I'M BEING DENIED THE RIGHT TO ASK A QUESTION THAT A PUBLIC SPEAKER JUST ASKED.

SO WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO INTERACT WITH PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

I'M NOT TRYING TO. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, I'VE ALREADY SAID IT.

I'M JUST TRYING TO CHECK TO SEE WHAT THE CORRECT PROCEDURES ARE.

I DO NOT WANT TO VIOLATE THE PROCEDURES IN A PUBLIC HEARING.

I CAN'T. I CAN'T ASK A QUESTION.

I'M LOOKING TOWARDS LEGAL.

THE PUBLIC PART.

I MEAN, THE DISCUSSION PART HAD BEEN CLOSED.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

OKAY. THEN YOU WOULD NOT GO BACK AND REOPEN IT UNLESS THERE WAS A MOTION TO REOPEN THE THE DISCUSSION.

OKAY. POINT OF ORDER.

WHAT IS YOUR POINT? CAN SOMEBODY DIRECT ME TO HOW YOU CLOSE OUT AN ITEM ON AN AGENDA? YOU YOU ADJOURN A MEETING, BUT ITEMS ARE OPEN UNTIL THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED, IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE CLARIFY THAT? HOW YOU CLOSE OUT IN ROBERT'S RULES AN ITEM.

YOU WANT YOU WANT ME TO GO THROUGH ROBERT'S RULES AND TELL YOU HOW TO CLOSE OUT AN ITEM? VERY SUCCINCTLY. JUST IT SHOULD BE PRETTY QUICK BECAUSE THE WAY SHE DID IT WAS VERY QUICK.

SO JUST. YES, ROBERT'S RULES.

HOW DO YOU CLOSE AN ITEM? POINT OF ORDER ITEM.

WHAT IS YOUR POINT? ONCE AGAIN, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE HAVE DECORUM IN HOW WE SPEAK TO STAFF.

I WILL CONCUR.

I THOUGHT IT WAS FAIRLY CLEAR.

I'M SORRY IF I WAS NOT.

AFTER THE PRESIDING OFFICER SAYS, I SEE NO FURTHER COMMENTS.

WE'RE MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, WHICH IS OPEN THEN THAT WAS THAT WAS CLOSING OUT THE WAS CLOSING OUT THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA NOW, ONCE AGAIN, IF THE BOARD CHOOSES.

THEY CAN REOPEN E1.

POINT OF ORDER. SO JUST REAL QUICK CLARIFICATION.

I DON'T CARE IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REOPEN E1, THEN I'M FINE WITH THAT.

POINT OF ORDER. WHAT IS YOUR POINT? WOULD THE CHAIR PLEASE ADVISE HOW A MEMBER OF THE ELECTED BODY IS SUPPOSED TO ASK A QUESTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION BASED ON WHAT A PUBLIC SPEAKER BRINGS TO OUR ATTENTION PRIOR TO THAT SPEAKER BRINGING THE CONCERN TO OUR ATTENTION.

SO I'VE GIVEN YOU TWO OPTIONS.

YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO REOPEN E1 OR YOU CAN SAVE YOUR QUESTION UNTIL AGENDA ITEMS D1, 2 AND 3 IN THE NEXT MEETING THAT DIRECTLY RELATE TO THE SAME THING.

THAT'S NOT WHAT OKAY. I STILL HAVE MY I'VE ASKED A QUESTION OF THE CHAIR.

HOW CAN I HOW CAN I HOW CAN I AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL ASK A QUESTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION ON A TOPIC AND A CONCERN THAT A CONSTITUENT BRINGS IN PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE I HAVE HEARD THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS, I'M WAITING FOR THE CHAIR TO ADVISE ON THAT.

SO I JUST GAVE YOU TWO OPTIONS.

YOU MAY MAKE A MOTION TO REOPEN THE AGENDA ITEM TO TALK ABOUT WHATEVER WAS DISCUSSED IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT, OR YOU CAN TALK ABOUT IT IN OUR REGULAR HEARING.

I SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO ASKING PERMISSION FROM A MAJORITY ON ASKING A QUESTION.

I'M REALLY CONCERNED THAT WE'RE TEETERING.

WE'RE FLIRTING WITH LEGAL DISASTER YET AGAIN.

WE'VE GOT I MEAN, THE LAW ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO ENTER TO SPEAK THROUGHOUT THIS MEETING FOR A REASON, AND IT'S TO BRING THINGS TO OUR ATTENTION.

MY QUESTION IS SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO A CONCERN THAT THAT SPEAKER BROUGHT.

I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GAIN SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO ASK IT.

AND IF I'M GOING TO BE DENIED, I'M ASKING THE CHAIR TO TELL ME I AM DENYING YOUR REQUEST TO ASK THE QUESTION UNLESS YOU GET SUPPORT FROM THE BOARD MAJORITY, PLEASE SAY IT INTO THE MICROPHONE MADAM CHAIR.

POINT OF ORDER. WHAT IS YOUR POINT? WE NEED TO HAVE DECORUM SPEAKING WITH EACH OTHER.

AND ALSO REMEMBER THAT WE CANNOT FORCE ANY ONE OF US ON THE DAIS TO SAY OR DO ANYTHING.

I JUST WANT TO ANSWER TO MY QUESTION.

TRUSTEE WESTON I'VE GIVEN YOU TWO OPTIONS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE VALID FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR QUESTION ANSWERED.

MAKE A MOTION. I'LL VOTE FOR IT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES IN A PUBLIC HEARING.

I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION, BUT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION.

IF THAT'S WHAT IS REQUIRED BY ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDERS, WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW IN OUR BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES, THEN THAT IS WHAT I WILL FOLLOW.

[00:40:08]

MARY STILL HASN'T BEEN GIVEN AN ANSWER WHERE IN ROBERT'S RULES IT DESCRIBES HOW YOU CLOSE OUT A MOTION.

WE'VE NEVER BROUGHT THAT UP BEFORE.

I MOVE TO ALLOW ONE MORE QUESTION OR THAT I MOVE TO BE ABLE TO ASK A QUESTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION THAT WAS TO REOPEN ITEM E BASED ON THE CONCERNS THAT A PUBLIC SPEAKER BROUGHT TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, IT WILL BE CONFINED TO HER CONCERNS.

SECOND. OKAY WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES 4-3.

WE HAVE REOPENED E1.

PLEASE ASK YOUR QUESTION TRUSTEE WESTON.

SMART MOVE, GUYS. OKAY.

MY QUESTION IS, MR. COVINGTON, CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US SHE BROUGHT THAT PUBLIC COMMENTER BROUGHT SOME CONCERNS ABOUT POSTING.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? DO WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT OR ARE WE COMPLIANT? SHE MENTIONED THE WORDS ONE CLICK.

I MEAN, I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE DISTRICT WEBSITE TO SEE IF THERE'S THIS COMPLIANCE, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO IT.

REAL QUICK BEFORE YOU ANSWER.

CAN CAN YOU REWORD YOUR CONCERN NOT ADDRESSING THE PUBLIC SPEAKER BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DIRECTLY INTERACT WITH PUBLIC SPEAKERS BECAUSE THERE'S NO ACTION PORTION OF THIS AGENDA.

SO IF YOU CAN JUST REPHRASE YOUR QUESTION AS IF IT'S A QUESTION NOT REFERRING TO THE PUBLIC SPEAKER, WE HAVE TO BE VERY CLEAR AND VERY CAREFUL ABOUT NOT INTERACTING WITH PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SO IF YOU CAN JUST WORD YOUR QUESTION.

I'M HAPPY TO DO SO. I'M HAPPY TO DO SO.

THANK YOU. SO, MR. COVINGTON, ARE THERE REQUIREMENTS, ARE THERE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS THAT SURROUND THIS AGENDA ITEM WITH THE TAX RATE? I HONESTLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT SHE READ OR WHAT THE PUBLIC SPEAKER READ, BUT THE BUDGET IS POSTED WHERE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN POSTED SINCE IT'S I KNOW LONG BEFORE I GOT HERE, BUT I WILL RESEARCH THAT AND IF WE NEED TO MOVE IT TO THE, I GUESS TO THE FRONT PAGE.

BUT I'VE LOOKED AT SEVERAL ISDS IN TEXAS AND NONE OF THEM ARE ON THE FRONT PAGE.

SO IF THAT'S A REQUIREMENT, WE WOULD HAVE TO ADJUST TO THE REQUIREMENT.

BUT I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT LAW.

BUT MY QUESTION IS, ARE THERE REQUIREMENTS? ARE THERE POSTING JUST YES OR NO? YES THERE ARE POSTING, THERE ARE POSTING REQUIREMENTS.

SO THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION. SECOND QUESTION, ARE WE IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHATEVER THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE? TO MY KNOWLEDGE, YES.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER LIGHTS ON.

I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

SO IT IS 6:13 AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.

WE WILL TAKE A BRIEF RECESS TO RESET FOR OUR NEXT MEETING AND GET STARTED ABOUT 6:20.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.