Friday, September 26, 1997
Area news roundup
Dublin votes Saturday on new high school
DUBLIN -- For the fourth time in recent years, Dublin residents
will go to the polls Saturday on a bond issue to build a new high
school.
This time, voters are being asked to approve $4 million in
school bonds.
A new $6.5 million high school is being proposed with $2.5
million coming from the reserve fund.
As of Tuesday, the last day of early voting, 418 ballots had
been cast.
Voting will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Dublin turned down similar proposals in 1991 and 1994. On Oct.
5, 1991, voters rejected a $2,865,000 issue by 17 votes. In December
1991, the proposal lost again, this time by more than 200 votes.
Three years ago, Dublin rejected a $4.88 million bond issue
for a 500-student high school by nearly 100 votes, 711-618.
Shackelford budget up slightly
ALBANY -- Shackelford County Commissioners have set the 1998
budget at $1,359,902 while approving a tax rate of 63 cents.
The current budget is slightly lower at $1,346,539.
The new budget includes $66,000 for courthouse restoration
and renovation. That was the primary reason cited for the $30,398
increase from last year's budget.
The 63-cent tax rate is unchanged and is expected to generate
$979,900, compared with the 1997 figure of $868,789. The additional
tax revenue is credited to the new EBBA iron foundry.
Commissioners said they anticipate a surplus of $83,627 with
total revenue projected at $1,443,529.
No local citizens attended the budget hearing. The tax rate
and budget were adopted without discussion.
Hospital district budget set at $335,000
ALBANY -- The board of the Shackelford County Hospital District
has adopted a $335,000 budget -- 45 percent of which was allotted
to ambulance service.
The meeting followed a sparsely attended budget hearing and
was delayed until enough board members could gather to form a
quorum.
Directors designated $150,000 for ambulance service, currently
provided through Stephens Memorial Hospital in Breckenridge. That
averages $12,500 per month for the required service.
Another $24,000 was set aside for attorneys' fees in connection
with a breach of contract suit against Drs. Victor and Arlene
Lorica, and the countersuit filed against several individual board
members and the hospital district.
The board agreed to reimburse all current and former directors
named in the Loricas' lawsuit for any legal expenses required.
The Loricas no longer reside in Albany.
Other budgeted items include $35,000 for unemployment compensation
for former employees, $30,000 for indigent care and other expenses
including salary for Deidre Stewart, office manager, who is the
only remaining district employee. Shackelford County Hospital
closed last year.
In other business, director Melanie McCarthy resigned, creating
another board vacancy. Melissa Black, former assistant administrator,
was recently named to fill one of two board vacancies.
School tax rate up nearly 15 cents
SWEETWATER -- Sweetwater school trustees have set the new tax
rate at $1.48 -- nearly 15 cents higher than the current rate.
However, most homeowners still will be paying less in school
taxes because of the new state homestead exemption law. The new
law gives homeowners a $15,000 exemption -- up from the previous
$5,000 exemption.
The school board voted unanimously to set the ad valorem rate
at $1.4845 per $100 valuation. Of the new rate, $1.31 will go
for maintenance while the remaining 17 cents will be used to pay
interest on bonds.
esides adopting the tax rate, trustees received an enrollment
report.
igures indicate 2,789 students are enrolled in the district.
Sweetwater High School has 785 students while the Hobbs alternative
campus has 25 and the youth facility 42.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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