[Call to Order]
[00:00:06]
WHAT THE HECK? LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT A QUORUM OF BOARD MEMBERS IS PRESENT, THAT THIS MEETING HAS BEEN DULY CALLED, AND THAT NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, CHAPTER 551.
LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT TRUSTEE SANCHEZ, RAYOS, LOCKHART, BURNETT, GUYTON, WRIGHT ARE PRESENT.
PUBLIC COMMENT. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[Approve Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2023]
2023. MISS WEISER.AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL BOARD AND DR.
EVERY YEAR OUR FINANCIALS ARE AUDITED BY OUR OUTSIDE FIRM, AND IT IS DUE TO THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY ON NOVEMBER 27TH.
AND SO WE HAVE TO GET THAT APPROVED BEFORE THEN.
THE RESULTS OF OUR AUDIT WE'RE GOOD.
I'M GOING TO HAVE A MR. CHRIS PRUITT IS HERE FROM OUR AUDIT FIRM PATILLO, BROWN AND HILL, AND HE'LL GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THE AUDIT WENT THIS YEAR.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
THANK YOU. AGAIN, MY NAME IS CHRIS PRUITT.
I'M AN AUDIT PARTNER FOR PATILLO, BROWN AND HILL.
THIS WAS THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE PERFORMED YOUR AUDIT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS YOUR AUDITORS, AND ALSO LIKE TO THANK NICOLE AND ALL THE STAFF AND ALL THE HELP THAT THEY PROVIDED DURING THE AUDIT. THEY MADE OUR JOB EASY.
I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY A FEW THINGS BRIEFLY ABOUT THE REPORT.
ON PAGE ONE IS OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT.
YOU RECEIVED WHAT WE CALL AN UNMODIFIED OPINION.
IT'S ALSO REFERRED TO AS A CLEAN OPINION.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE HIGHEST OPINION THAT WE CAN GIVE.
IN REGARDS TO THE NUMBERS THEMSELVES ON PAGE 12, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT YOUR GENERAL FUND, UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE OF 18.9 MILLION.
IN RELATION TO YOUR YEARLY EXPENDITURES, THAT'S A HEALTHY NUMBER.
YOU'RE SETTING ABOUT FOUR MONTHS WORTH OF FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS DEFINITELY GOOD.
FOR THE YEAR, THE GENERAL FUND ON PAGE 15, A THIRD NUMBER FROM THE BOTTOM.
SO I DID LIKE TO POINT THOSE NUMBERS OUT AT LEAST.
THERE'S TWO REPORTS THAT I HAVE TO ISSUE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT.
IT'S A GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS LETTER.
IT'S ALSO CALLED THE YELLOW BOOK REPORT.
THIS IS AS IT RELATES TO THE ENTIRE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE.
LIKE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN LAYMAN'S TERMS? THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU THINK OF AN AUDIT.
I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT NOTHING CAME UP DURING THE AUDIT.
SO YOU'VE GOT A CLEAN OPINION ON THAT.
SECOND LETTER IS ON PAGE 111, VERY SIMILAR TO THE OTHER LETTER.
AND THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INTERNAL CONTROLS AND COMPLIANCE.
THE AUDITS THAT WE LOOKED AT, I BELIEVE, WERE CHILD NUTRITION AND COVID AND COVID GRANTS.
AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY NOTHING CAME UP.
SO YOU RECEIVED A CLEAN OPINION AS WELL.
THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT I'M REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU.
I'VE JUST CHOSEN TO DO IT INTO A WRITTEN FORMAT RATHER THAN VERBALLY GOING OVER EVERYTHING.
BUT YOU WILL FIND THINGS ON INDEPENDENCE, ETHICS, WHETHER OR NOT WE HAD ANY DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT, WHICH I'M HAPPY TO SAY WE DIDN'T, AND UPCOMING STANDARDS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WHAT WE DO. WELL, I TAKE IT THERE WERE NO REALLY NO CONCERNS.
NO. AS FAR AS ALL THIS GOES, NO.
IF SOMETHING CAME UP DURING THE COURSE OF THE AUDIT, IT WOULD BE IN THE REPORT.
AND I WOULD CERTAINLY POINT IT OUT TO YOU.
[00:05:01]
SO NO GOOD CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH.ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO. SO I GUESS WE HAVE TO APPROVE SUBMITTING THIS TO TA OR WHOEVER? DOES SOMEBODY HAVE THAT LANGUAGE? MOVE THAT. THE COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR.
WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? PASSES 6 TO 0.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR, FOR COMING OUT HERE ON THIS HOLIDAY AFTERNOON.
NOT A HOLIDAY. HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
YOU'RE ALWAYS ON HOLIDAY. YOU'RE RETIRED.
[Consideration and take action regarding Order Canvassing the November 7, 2023 Voter Approval Tax Rate Election Results]
RATE ELECTION RESULTS, MISS WEISER.OKAY. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO GO THROUGH THE CANVASING PROCESS OF THE ELECTION THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE SPECIAL CALLED BOARD MEETING ON AUGUST 14TH, 2023.
THE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS RECEIVED FROM THE CALDWELL COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE ON NOVEMBER 17TH INDICATED THE FOLLOWING FOR EARLY VOTING, 1226 VOTES WERE CAST FOR APPROVAL OF THE VATRE.
742 WERE CAST AGAINST THE VATRE.
ABSENTEE VOTING WAS 24 VOTES FOR APPROVAL OF THE VATRE, WHILE 16 VOTES WERE CAST AGAINST THE VATRE.
THIS IS A GRAND TOTAL OF 2121 VOTES FOR APPROVAL OF THE VATRE, AND 1484 VOTES AGAINST THE VATRE, WITH A PASSING PERCENTAGE OF 59%.
AT THIS TIME, I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT IF THERE ARE NONE, YOU ARE WELCOME TO LOOK AT THE RESULTS, AND BOARD PRESIDENT WRIGHT CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CANVASS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO ADD THESE UP OR ANYTHING, DO WE? NO, SIR. I HAVE ADDED THEM SEVERAL TIMES.
WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? PASSES 6 TO 0.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM THREE C, APPROVED BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
[Approve Budget Amendments ]
SO THIS IS ALSO MY ITEM I WANTED TO.IF THE COPY THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU WILL SHOW YOU THAT THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS TO CHANGE THE REVENUE FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE VATRE AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED SINCE THE YEAR HAS STARTED, IT'S KIND OF A NET OF THAT CHANGE.
IT LOOKS LIKE THIS. IF Y'ALL ARE LOOKING FOR IT, IT'S ON THE BACK OF IT'S ON THE BACK.
YEAH. OKAY. SO THE THE RESULTS OF THE VATRE AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE VATRE WAS PASSED, THERE WAS ANOTHER PORTION THAT AFFECTS US THAT WAS PASSED, AND THAT'S A CHANGE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION EXEMPTION FROM 40,000 TO 100,000.
SO BY DOING THAT OUR TAX COLLECTION, EVEN THOUGH WE DID A VATRE, OUR TAX COLLECTION, IS BEING DECREASED BY $3.6 MILLION DUE TO THAT IS SOLELY DUE TO THE $100,000 EXEMPTION, THEN OUR STATE REVENUE IS GOING TO GO UP BY THAT AMOUNT BECAUSE THEY JUST THEY JUST FLIP EACH OTHER BASICALLY.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE 3 MILLION THAT A ONE FOR ONE.
YES, YES YES SIR, AND THEN SO WE'RE THE WHERE YOU SEE THAT OUR STATE REVENUE IS GOING UP BY 6.7 MILLION IS BECAUSE OF TWO THINGS ONE, THE VATRE AND TWO, THE WASH OF THE 100 K EXEMPTION.
AND THEN WE HAD THAT IN ON JUNE 27TH WE PASSED THE EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION PLAN PART TWO, WHICH WAS. A CONNECTED TO THE PASSAGE OF A VATRE.
SO YOUR NEXT AMENDMENT IS FOR THAT RAISED PACKAGE THAT WAS TIED TO THE VATRE, 1.8 MILLION.
[00:10:02]
AND THEN WE ARE PUTTING 450,000 OF THE VATRE TO CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS ACROSS ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES.AND THEN WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SMALL THINGS THAT HAVE COME UP, A SOFTWARE THAT WE USE, AND THEN PUTTING A BUDGET IN THERE FOR BOUNDARY LINE CONSULTING.
WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE UPCOMING PLAN OF OPENING ELEMENTARY NUMBER SIX.
SO THOSE WERE THINGS THAT WERE COMING UP.
I ALSO JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT WHILE WE'RE ADDING INCREASING REVENUE BY 3.1 MILLION, WE'RE NOT INCREASING EXPENDITURES BY THAT MUCH BECAUSE WE'RE CURRENTLY IN AN $800,000 DEFICIT.
SO THE VATRE HELPS WITH THE THE RAISE, THE DEFICIT AND SECURITY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL KIND OF UNDERSTOOD THAT.
AND NOW WE'RE IN A BALANCED BUDGET.
OKAY. THAT WAS GOOD. HOW BALANCED DO WE HAVE ANYTHING LEFT OVER FOR FUND BALANCE OR JUST PRETTY MUCH? WELL WE'LL SEE HOW THE YEAR RIGHT NOW WE HAVE EVERYTHING BUDGETED FOR BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE FILL OUR DEFICIT, DO THE RAISE PACKAGE AND DO SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS.
SO WE'RE AT A BALANCED BUDGET RIGHT NOW, AND THEN WE'LL SEE HOW THE YEAR SHAKES OUT.
IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT WE MIGHT BECAUSE WE'LL SEE HOW JANUARY GOES.
THE THE BIG THING THAT HAPPENS IN JANUARY IS WE SEE IF WE GET STATE VALUE ASSIGNMENT OR NOT.
SO WE DIDN'T REALLY, I REMEMBER ANYTHING LIKE WE BUDGETED MUCH FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
OR ARE THERE ANY MAJOR ITEMS LIKE THAT OUT THERE THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT? WE ARE PRIORITIZING ALL OF THOSE SO THAT IF WE'RE ABLE COME JANUARY, IF WE'RE ABLE TO FIND IF WE'RE ABLE TO SEE HOW THE YEAR KEEPS ROLLING OUT, THAT WE'RE GOING TO PRIORITIZE TRYING TO GET SOMETHING IN THERE.
ANY QUESTION? I HAVE A QUESTION.
I'M LOOKING AT THE CURRENT TAX COLLECTION OF 26,650,000.
AND WHERE DID THAT NUMBER COME FROM? SO THAT WAS OUR ORIGINAL TAX COLLECTION BACK IN JUNE.
OUR TAX COLLECTION PROJECTION BACK IN JUNE PRIOR TO THE 100 K EXEMPTION.
AND SINCE THAT HAS SINCE THAT DATE, SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED.
THEY WE ADOPTED OUR TAX RATE BECAUSE WE GOT CERTIFIED VALUES AND WE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ADDED THE 100 K EXEMPTION. SO THAT'S WHY OUR TAX COLLECTION HAS DROPPED BECAUSE THE VAT ACTUALLY INCREASES OUR TAX COLLECTION.
BUT THE 100 K EXEMPTION DECREASES IT BY ALMOST $5 MILLION.
SO THE NET OF THAT IS 3.6 MILLION.
IT'S ALMOST $5 MILLION, THAT WE, WE DON'T LOSE IT.
IT JUST BECOMES STATE FUNDING AT THAT POINT.
THEY WILL PICK UP AT SOME POINT.
I HAVE TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT.
THEY ARE WORKING VERY HARD AT DOING A RETRO PAY.
SO SOME EMPLOYEES WILL GET FIVE MONTHS WORTH OF RETRO BECAUSE THEIR CONTRACTS STARTED IN JULY, AND THEN EMPLOYEES THAT HAD A CONTRACT THAT STARTED IN SEPTEMBER, THEY'LL GET THREE MONTHS WORTH OF RETRO.
THAT PAYMENT IS GOING TO BE ON DECEMBER 8TH, AND THEN ONE WEEK LATER, THEIR DECEMBER PAYCHECK, THEIR NORMAL DECEMBER PAYCHECK WILL BE THEIR NEW RATE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
WHAT DAY IS THAT? I'M SORRY, WHAT DAY IS A REGULAR PAYCHECK? DECEMBER 15TH, ONE FOR DECEMBER 8TH.
WE'RE ALREADY ON THE CLOCK. YES, DECEMBER 8TH IS THE RETRO ONE TIME PAYMENT JUST FOR THAT RETRO PAY.
AND THEN DECEMBER 15TH IS JUST THEIR NORMAL.
IT'S REALLY OUR NORMAL MONTHLY DECEMBER 25TH PAY.
BUT WE ALWAYS PAY THAT CHRISTMAS PAY WHEN WE'RE LEAVING.
OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. OKAY.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS AS PRESENTED.
WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? PASSES 6 TO 0.
[00:15:01]
I GUESS NOT EVEN MY RAISE AND I'M EXCITED FOR THEM.NO OTHER BUSINESS. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.