Local leaders talk legislative wish list

Chelsea L. McGowan

cmcgowan@weatherforddemocrat.com

With less than a week until the start of the next legislative session, much attention is being paid in the media to how the balance of power has shifted in the Texas House of Representatives. And, as state representatives make known their priorities for the new year, local leaders are finding it important to pass up their own wish lists.

As Parker County officials prepare to delve into the $80 million worth of transportation projects voters approved in November, County Judge Mark Riley said Texas lawmakers can clear the path by appropriating more money to the Department of Transportation.

“I would like to see them stop the diversion of highway money away from TxDOT,” Riley said. “They need to fully and appropriately fund TxDOT, so they can do their jobs. They also need to not pass any unfunded mandates. Both of those would have a positive impact on the local taxpayer, and would make me happy.”

Similarly, newly-appointed City Manager Jerry Blaisdell said transportation issues and energy legislation should be at the front of every representative’s mind.

“There are a number of issues that are looming in addition to energy legislation, which is always a concern to us,” he said. “Transportation, and funding for transportation projects, is a priority. There’s a lot of speculation that there’ll be a fresh amount of money released to do those projects, and we’ll certainly be tracking that very closely.”

Precinct 3 Commissioner John Roth has spoken to many area groups about an issue he believes should be a priority for the legislature.

“I’ve got two priorities, and the first is an adjustment to how the effective tax rate is calculated,” Roth said. “We need that to help repair the oil and gas damages to our roads. And then also, the state collects a severance tax on natural gas production. I would like to see some of that come back to the counties affected, in the form of grant money or something like it.”

Dr. Deborah Cron, superintendent of the Weatherford ISD, made public her goals for legislative changes a few months ago. In a series of articles published by the Democrat, Cron said one of her priorities was increasing funding to make Weatherford competitive with other area districts.

"Legislators took away the board’s right to raise taxes locally," Cron said, adding that for the last three years, state spending per child within the district has remained at $5,080 per child.

Cron said she wants to see that number raised.

"We have to compete with area districts," she said, adding the finance issues will be set apart form the joint superintendents presentation.

Cron said they are looking for varying ways of addressing financial issues the district is currently encountering, but will not make a formal financial requests to legislators in the January session, adding it was purposely kept separate from the educational proposal.

For some, an increased investment in post-secondary education is being touted as top priority for lawmakers. Texas Comptroller Susan Combs recently released a report detailing the widening gap between the demand for skilled workers in Texas and the state’s ability to supply them.

"If we sacrifice the future productivity of a large number of our young people, we risk jeopardizing Texas’ economic future," Combs said. "Without an adequate supply of skilled workers, Texas’ ability to attract and retain new businesses will suffer — meaning fewer companies to employ a growing population, lower economic output, lower personal income and poorer performance on other measures of economic health."

To address this concern, Combs’ report made two recommendations: the establishment of a $25 million Jobs and Education for Texas (JET) fund, and linking any incentive funding to measurable results to ensure the state receives a positive return on its investments.

Weatherford College President Joe Birmingham agrees with Combs’ proposal.

"She is right on target," he said. "It is difficult for a community college to start new programs. There is equipment to buy, oftentimes specialized facilities. Sometimes faculty members have to have specialized training or licensure."

Birmingham said community colleges do not get start-up funding from state appropriations, only from contact hours once a program has been in existence for two years.