By Catalina Presas-Garcia
Trustee, Brownsville Independent School District
Trustee, Brownsville Independent School District
To My Fellow Brownsville Residents:
Two years ago you placed your trust in me and gave me the privilege of representing you on the board of the Brownsville Independent School District.
It is a responsibility I take seriously. Each day I renew my pledge to serve you an
d the students of the district to the best of my ability.
No one likes bad news, but you must know the truth. Our district is in bad shape financially. The majority on this board has allowed its hand-picked administrators to seriously mismanage BISD finances. Don’t be misled by the lies that Rick Zayas and Ruben Cortez print in their campaign ads. For the past three years, the majority has spent more money than the district has taken in.
These are the facts as documented in our budget:
Two years ago you placed your trust in me and gave me the privilege of representing you on the board of the Brownsville Independent School District.
It is a responsibility I take seriously. Each day I renew my pledge to serve you an
d the students of the district to the best of my ability.No one likes bad news, but you must know the truth. Our district is in bad shape financially. The majority on this board has allowed its hand-picked administrators to seriously mismanage BISD finances. Don’t be misled by the lies that Rick Zayas and Ruben Cortez print in their campaign ads. For the past three years, the majority has spent more money than the district has taken in.
These are the facts as documented in our budget:
In 2008-2009, BISD dipped into the reserves for $26.542 million to cover the deficit.
In 2009-2010, BISD projected dipping into the reserves for $11.436 million to cover the deficit.
For 2010-2011, BISD said it will dip into the reserves for $6.511 million to cover the projected deficit.
Last June 30, 2010, BISD Superintendent Brett Springston and Chief Financial Officer Tony Fuller signed – and the majority of the board approved (not me) – a budget that said the actual expenditures were $373,518,977 and revenues were 305,333,822.
Do the math.
That’s a $68,185,155 deficit, more than six times the $11.436 million they projected.
Figures don’t lie. It’s that simple.
In 2008, BISD had a fund balance of $176 million. We now have a fund balance of $74 million.
Figures don’t lie. It’s that simple.
In 2008, BISD had a fund balance of $176 million. We now have a fund balance of $74 million.
Is it responsible fiscal management to continue dipping into the reserve to balance a budget that is obviously fiscally mismanaged?
Yet, Mr. Cortez, Mr. Zayas and district administrators blatantly lied to the people that the district is in great shape and in good hands.
You elected me to represent you and your children and promote our district. I must tell you that we must replace the leadership on the board or we will continue to head for financial disaster. Our teachers can forget about promotions, raises, etc., and our students will not get the quality education they need and deserve.
This Tuesday, I need you to help our district by voting for Commitment, Education and Learning at the very top when you cast your ballot.
I have done everything that I can to fulfill my pledge to serve you and the students and staff of our school district. I now ask for your help to better serve you these next two years. If you have voted, thank you.
Yet, Mr. Cortez, Mr. Zayas and district administrators blatantly lied to the people that the district is in great shape and in good hands.
You elected me to represent you and your children and promote our district. I must tell you that we must replace the leadership on the board or we will continue to head for financial disaster. Our teachers can forget about promotions, raises, etc., and our students will not get the quality education they need and deserve.
This Tuesday, I need you to help our district by voting for Commitment, Education and Learning at the very top when you cast your ballot.
I have done everything that I can to fulfill my pledge to serve you and the students and staff of our school district. I now ask for your help to better serve you these next two years. If you have voted, thank you.
If you haven't, please vote wiselyTuesday, Nov. 2.
5 comments:
Mrs. Garcia should be a shame of her action.
Where is the victory part for PAC on Tuesday? Could we use the tables and chairs from BISD like they did for Salomon "Mesh ish" Ortiz?
Celebrate we must - Escobedo, Saavedra and Longoria!!!!!!
This is just plain ridiculous! I am at a point where it is impossible to know whom to trust and whom to believe. Is there truly a real politician around here besides Carlos Cascos? Carlos is not a politician, so that may be the key factor. A person who runs for public office should be one that would like to help out to make our community shine and not one that wants to do all the shining for himself or herself. Like an elderly man was heard on an interview on TV, up the valley, he stated, Te prometen todo cuando quieren tu vote y luego se les olvidan las promesas! Promises, promises, promises; lies, lies, lies. Once you vote, all you can hope for is that your vote went to the right person but what do you do once they are in office? Wait for four more years to elect another similiar one!
If people vote in the right people the masses will be happy and only a few will not. So my dear friends choose WISELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Remember to Vote Nov 2, 2010.
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