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Wylie considers 4 cent tax rate increase
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Board to propose budget, rate hike at Aug. 25 meeting
By Kathy Edwards
Special to the Reporter-News
An update on Wylie High School's new artificial turf field and hints of a possible tax increase dominated the Wylie Independent School District meeting Monday.
WISD board members said they will propose a 2008-09 budget and $1.13 per $100 valuation property tax rate - a 4 cent increase - at a public meeting scheduled for Aug. 25. The rate includes a 9-cent interest and sinking tax rate and 1.04-cent maintenance and operation tax rate. Currently, the total tax rate is $1.09, which is 97 cents for maintenance and operations and 12 cents for debt.
"We haven't had a school tax increase in nine years," said board member Terry Merck. "In fact, we reduced the rate at one point."
The WISD board members met in an annual budget workshop previous to Monday night's regular school board meeting to work out what increases should be proposed.
The board concluded that because of personnel costs, including step increases and cost-of-living raises for all Wylie staff, expenditures are running too high to not consider the tax increase.
Wylie football players have begun practicing on the new artificial turf field at Bulldog Stadium.
Aerial photos of the field highlight the Wylie Bulldog mascot at center field. (Go to the Athletics Booster Club page at www.abilenewyliebulldogs.com/stadium_construction.htm to view the photos.)
Though the field is resurfaced and ready for the approximately 5,000 spectators when high school football season begins, phase two of the construction project will take most of the 2008-09 school year to complete.
When finished, Bulldog Stadium will have new ticket booths, new concession stands and new restrooms flanking a 55-foot-high archway and press box.
The upper-level press box will accommodate seating for home and visitors head coaches, scouts, media, PA and scoreboard personnel.
It will also have an elevator, stadium seating under the new press box, and restrooms with access for the disabled.
"We tried to design the press box and ground-level elements as small as we could get to save money and still get what we wanted," said project architect Jack Harkins.
The $2.8-million project will be directed under a new construction delivery system, as decided by the school board.
As part of the first phase of the reconstruction project, the caliche parking lots north of the stadium have been chip-sealed and will be striped in a matter of weeks.
The parking lot area is the same, but, said WISD Assistant Superintendent Nick Pruitt, once striping is painted on the new surface, event parking will be more orderly and hopefully raise the space utilization to the 700 spaces originally intended.
Posted by tomg130 on August 12, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess we have to pay for artificial turf somehow. The important stuff like that costs money huh. What a waste. Sure seems like we have our wants and needs confused.
Posted by david27271 on August 12, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think that the Wylie students and fans deserve the new turf and stadium upgrades...it's been a long time coming...I don't mind paying for something that my son will one day have the oppurtunity to use...
Posted by tomg130 on August 12, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe they "deserve" a good education and the teachers deserve a decent pay raise and I deserve not to have my child come home weekly with something from the school saying they need something for the CLASSROOM so can we sell something or donate something. Maybe the other sports teams "deserve" to have enough uniforms for the entire team. Maybe we dont deserve to keep up with the Jones's.
Posted by rlc00b on August 12, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to agree with david, doesn't bother me a bit for them to do the increase to upgrade facilities, even though it will be a while until my boys are old enough to use them. As for needing something every week for their classroom the only time I've been asked to bring additional stuff is at the beginning of the school year where I signed up for it. If you have a problem with what their doing go to a board meeting and voice your opinion.
Posted by Tumbleweed on August 12, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Artificial turf! These definitely aren't the Junction Boys, unless goat heads grow in artificial turf.
Posted by rvrm1969 on August 12, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I also don't have a problem paying extra for my own pay raise since I work for the district. My children will use the upgraded facilities and they also deserve the great education they have been receiving and will continue receiving.
As for weekly selling stuff...you are exaggerating. There is one fund-raiser on the elementary and intermediate campus that is for the campus.(My kids haven't made it to the other campuses yet.) I know that at the Intermediate the fund-raiser was for really cool interactive white boards that can't help but enhance my children's education. The state used to tax our phone bills for money for that type of technology, but Perry stopped giving schools money from those funds.
Other fund-raisers are for the American Heart Assoc., cancer groups, etc. All of them are voluntary, even though incentives are given to kids that sell. If you don't want your child to sell, then explain to him/her that you don't want him/her to sell, and be done with it. I have done that several times with my own. They get over it very quickly and I don't think about it again, because with two doing mostly the same fund-raisers at roughly the same time, I can't afford to buy from both of the them and I refuse to ask family to buy from both.
So, if you don't want to pay for the extra taxes, show up at the public hearing and voice your opinion. I'm just glad that I live in a district that can renovate and enlarge its campuses without a bond and who doesn't raise taxes yearly.
Posted by PlainJane26 on August 12, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said, rvrm1069!
Posted by tomg130 on August 12, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why are our kids raising money for classroom enhancments that are needed when we are spending 2.8 Mil on fixing one of the nicest football stadiums ( highschool 3A) around?
Posted by ccmom on August 12, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tomg, how many other 3A stadiums have you been to? My guess would be, not many. The Wylie Stadium was hardly one of the nicest around.
The first school tax increase for the district in 9 years. I can't think of ANYTHING else that has not gone up in 9 years.
Also, as far as the fundraising...I find rvrm's statement to be much more accurate.
Posted by mike on August 12, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks rvrm1969 for setting things straight. It's pretty obvious that tomg130 is the kind of person that spews his irrational and emotional responses without bothering with the facts.
Posted by wagamama on August 12, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's time WISD staff received a raise. My brother went from a 15 year teacher in AISD to an administrator at WISD and took a pay cut! WISD taxes aren't that much more than AISD's.
Now if we could just get a real auditorium at WHS!
Many AISD schools are doing their own fundraisers or teachers are writing grants to earn the Promethean interactive white boards. If the administration doesn't see fit to put it into the school's technology budget, the teachers and kids will get what they want with the never-ending fundraisers!
Posted by tomg130 on August 12, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"tomg, how many other 3A stadiums have you been to? My guess would be, not many" Guess YOU havent checked your FACTS either since you have no idea what you are talking about
"It's pretty obvious that tomg130 is the kind of person that spews his irrational and emotional responses without bothering with the facts"
So you know there was emotion involved when I wrote my post Wow big brother must be watching, gonna have to get my aluminum hat out lol.
I care about the education that our kids are getting first then the sports. I do not suppose to know anyone else motivations. I believe I ask an honest question when I said "Why are our kids raising money for classroom enhancments that are needed when we are spending 2.8 Mil on fixing one of the nicest football stadiums ( highschool 3A) around?" Maybe it is not the nicest stadium, pretty nice though, but are they getting the best education we can give them? Could that 2.8 mil be used for there education in a better manner? These are honest questions we have to ask ourselves
Posted by mattielou on August 12, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
tomg130, I understand your concerns about education, but...Wylie seems to be doing pretty good in that area since all schools got exemplary...while not perfect, they seem to be doing pretty darn good...also, remember, an education needs to be well rounded...it's not just about reading, writing, and arithmetic...some of these athletic programs keep kids out of trouble, keep them motivated to keep their grades up, teach them teamwork....etc.
Posted by nmdad on August 12, 2008 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The artificial turf doesn't have to be constantly watered, mowed, and lined like grass. It will look better, conserve water, save time, and may even save money in the long run.
Posted by Ranchero on August 12, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All this Wyile Pride... who says the state or the taxpayer has to pay for everything. Let the parents of the kids who attend the schools pay for new classroom equipment, sports fields, etc. just like private schools. Imagine the legacy of having your name on a building, stadium bench or set of pencils...ooohhh, ahhhh.
Posted by ccmom on August 12, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
tomg, Yikes! It seems I have struck a nerve. (However, the previous statement about you not checking facts was not made by me) At any rate, if it makes you feel better to take out your frustration on me, I am ok with that.
I simply asked how many other 3A stadiums you have been to? As far as your accusation that I have no idea what I am talking about...I have been to numerous other stadiums. Wylie is hardly the first 3A team to put turf in their stadium. Have you been to the Mustang Bowl? Do you know how many playoff games they hosted last year?
Posted by queenmac3 on August 12, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As far as asking for things for the classroom, fundraisers and other items, I added it up last year and all of the "extras" requested totaled up to $150 with another campus requesting $200. While that may not seem like a lot, I have 3 children in the district so it was an additional $500 in addition to the taxes I paid.
When I worked for AISD, we only requested kleenex and if we got parents to send that we were blessed. We were basically told by the administration of our school not to ask parents but to ask the school or fund it out of our pockets.
I am amazed also at how many "projects" are asked to be completed at home with parents once again funding the project. My son came home multiple times saying he didn't understand the explanations and the teachers were not helpful with giving more information. There is room for improvement in this area also.
The Wylie schools are well kept, better than the older AISD schools and I understand the increase in taxes but now the teachers need to cut back on asking for things. I am being nickeled and dimed to death! Maybe some parents are okay with an extra $500 a year but it is difficult for more and more of us Wylie parents. We are not all rich. I am blessed but not finacially rich.
Posted by squid on August 12, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
where's this $500 figure coming from? You could live in the most expensive home in the district and your taxes arnet going up that much.
And the field is already paid for....it's not included in the $2.8 mil
Posted by wild_bill on August 12, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have lived in the Wylie school discrict all my life. My brother and I graduated from WHS, as did my step-son and step-daughter. All five of my grandkids attended Wylie at one time or another and three graduated from there. Over all I'd have to say my tax money was well spent.
Posted by rvrm1969 on August 12, 2008 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
queenmac-maybe you should just say "no" more often. I tell my kids and their teachers "no" on several occasions yearly.
As a teacher, I limit what I ask my parents to give to the classroom. Other than the school supply list, I don't ask for anything other than disinfectant wipes as my supply runs down. I buy many of my own, to keep the kids' desks wiped down daily--really keeps infection down, but I do run out and sometimes just can't afford to go get any at that time.
I find as a parent that the teachers haven't been asking me to contribute so much, but it is the PTO and room moms that have such neat ideas for teacher gifts, but sometimes I say "no" to that too. If I can't afford it, I don't send it. It is that simple.
Posted by reaganite on August 12, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How many of the complainers actually live in Wylie?
Posted by Ranchero on August 12, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I paid over $1200.00 to WISD last year and I don't have school age children, so let me complain and put my name on a stadium bench!!! :)
Posted by squid on August 12, 2008 at 9:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hereby stake my claim to the seat bearing the name of 'Ranchero'.
Posted by Ranchero on August 13, 2008 at 5:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Squid, can I get covered parking too?
Posted by tomg130 on August 13, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Last years budget was 21.5 Mil. and we are spending an amount equal to 1/5th of the TOTAL budget for 5 campuses on the football stadium 1 mil for turf and 2.8mil for other improvements (to the football stadium). Even without an increase in taxes I would be questioning that.
Posted by bigdaddy5 on August 13, 2008 at 10:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
FYI - if we are talking about turf, Wylie, Snyder, Graham and Sweetwater all have it. You're right about the pay for teachers...ALL teachers are underpaid! As far as booster clubs, sporting events, and fundraisers, why don't the parents that send their kids there pay for it, or are their funds depleted by paying someone else to make sure Wylie stays 3A?
Posted by ew.chambless on August 13, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Where do I begin, yes I live in the district, and my school tax rate is double what I paying in AISD and the value of this property is lower than the one I had in that district...yes economists, I know there are more people in AISD vs. WISD. My kids are 07 and 08 graduates of Snyder and I have nieces/nephews there now, yes they have turf (sod, fescue, grass), but they don't have artificial turf so I don't where that came from, and unless Sweetwater put it in last year, they didn't have artificial turf either. Apparently the writer who claims that Wylie's stadium wasn't all that nice compared to other 3A schools must not have gone to any away games. Back to reality, the district has grown, there are new developments and new revenue, so I am not moved by the emotion that is intended to be stirred by the "no rate increase in 9 yrs." statement. Why raise the rate when you are already bringing in more money? Let the ticket sales pay for the stadium improvements. Obviously those who think it is deserved will label me in the whiner category, but I agree our tax dollars should be going to education, and education facilities in far greater amounts than athletics and athletic facilities that generate revenue already.
Posted by bigdaddy5 on August 13, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
combination turf mix is what i was referring to, not full out turf - somebody is wound up
Posted by mbs0606 on August 13, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"As far as booster clubs, sporting events, and fundraisers, why don't the parents that send their kids there pay for it, or are their funds depleted by paying someone else to make sure Wylie stays 3A?"
Anyone else know that someone was going to bring this up? Anytime someone mentions Wylie, it automatically turns into the 3A discussion. Get over it.
And by the way BIGDADDY5 Wylie's kids aren't the only ones that use the 'stadium'. What about those other teams that are going to be getting stomped on the field? Wait, we can charge the away team a certain percentage of every ticket sale to help pay for the field that they will play on. Give me a break.
Posted by ccmom on August 13, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sweetwater does have artificial turf...installed I believe in 2003, but perhaps 2004. I did NOT cliam that Wylie's stadium was not nice...I was disputing tomg's claim that Wylie's stadium was one of the BEST in 3A. As far as not going to away games, I went to all of the away games last year...including playoffs.
Posted by david27271 on August 13, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wylie ISD holds their students to a higher expectation when it comes to academics. Wylie has the lowest drop-out rate and the best academics as far as I can tell. The teachers definitely deserve a raise but there are teachers there that take the pay cut to be apart of the Wylie community. Wylie has always had excellent facilities and that's because the district knows how to budget money very well. It was donations, not tax money, that payed for the Doghouse indoor workout facility.
Posted by bigdaddy5 on August 13, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My point exactly MBS0606 - typical Wylie attitude!
Can't wait till they get stomped on their new field! I will pay to watch that!
Posted by mbs0606 on August 13, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just have confidence in the boys. Nothing wrong with that.
Posted by whatif on August 13, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like envy again...let us know when we have any team with a losing record. Wait another year or two and WHS will represent Abilene, along with the other two 4A schools there.
Posted by bigdaddy5 on August 13, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When you play schoools like Merkel, Comanche, Breckenridge, Clyde - seriously - COME ON!!!! Anyone would have a winning record playing those teams! They don't have a prayer this year.
Wylie should have been classified 4A along time ago. Somebody is getting paid
Posted by ccmom on August 13, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are sooo right, bigdaddy5...it's all a conspiracy. I guess all the teams Wylie plays in the playoffs are jokes as well. (NOT!) (And by the way, Wylie doesn't play Merkel anymore and FYI---Clyde has an excellent football program)
Jealousy is really ugly!
Posted by bulldog2 on August 14, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All these comments about Wylie...Oh how the jealous comes out to play again. Get over yourself, people. Your comments are and always have been old. Oh, and bigdaddy wants to pay to see Wylie get stomped on their new field???? Don't bother to pay, bigdaddy. I got a ticket for you to sit right beside me. I would love to see your face when the Bulldogs prove you wrong.
Posted by mbs0606 on August 14, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone mentioned something about the auditorium situation.... I was also curious. Does anyone know if the school plans to make an actual seperate auditorium or cafeteria? The inside of the school always reminded me of a prison. YIKES!
Posted by PlainJane26 on August 14, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
bigdaddy5, are you serious?!?!? Do you think Wylie has ANYTHING to do with not going 4A? No, that is a number regulated by the STATE! Get a life.
Posted by cadechar on August 14, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A more likely scenario is AHS and CHS becoming 2A schools.
When WHS grows to 4000 students in the next 10 years, you can bet the 3A cutoff will become 4002. Cooper and Abilene then become 2A! Thanks a lot, Wylie!!
Full disclosure: AISD and lovin' it...
Posted by topo97 on August 15, 2008 at 6:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't thank WISD, thank the penny pinchers in the AISD. I wish someone would please name names or something more concrete about the re-alignments. Are you afraid of the big bad wolf, or just blowing smoke? I would believe the latter.
Posted by rlc00b on August 15, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All those re-alignment "rumors" have been going on for the better part of at least 20 years. It's getting to be an old and tired argument.
Posted by dp082856 on August 15, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My kid's have and do attend Wylie school's and I do not have any problem's with their quality of education they have and are currently receiving. If you talk to most of the kid's attending school in WISD you will find out that they have a tremendous amount of PRIDE in their school, academics and sport's programs. There are probably many school districts that aspire to be compared to WISD. I for one would not care if they built a dome over BULLDOG stadium because I do not beleive it will cause my kid's or your's to receive any less attention in the class room. By the way all campuses were rated exemplary by the state of Texas.
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