Sulphur Springs ISD 2021 Tax Rate, 2021-2022 Budget Set
The Sulphur Springs ISD 2021 tax rate and fiscal year 2021-2022 budget were set by school trustees during a special noon board meeting Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. The school board also amended the FY 2020-21 budget during the session.
FY 2020-2021 Budget Amendments
Fiscal year 2020-2021 will end on Aug. 31, 2021. SSISD Business Manger Sherry McGraw asked the trustees to approve amendments to the general fund, food service and debt service budgets so those can be closed out at the end of the fiscal year, with a few final minor adjustments made for any prior approved changes while making allowances for any anticipated bill that has yet to come in or show in the fund balance.
“There’s no adjustments to total dollars to any of the budgets, other than food service, which is commodities, but it’s an increase to revenue and to expenditures,” McGraw noted.
The board was asked in July to amend the general budget by $153,538. No increase was added there. However, McGraw said some allocations had been moved in anticipation of some expenses and revenues, to ensure there’s funding to cover any bills that have yet to come in.
The general fund budget revenue increased by $367,774 from local funding, while expenditures rose by $153,538. The district received $331,574 in insurance funding for damages from the winter storm and $36,200 in COVID TDEM revenue. The district also spent $155,077 in plant maintenance required to February’s winter storm, and $38,461 in instruction and plant maintenance COVID expenditures, according to the information presented by McGraw. These COVID and winter storm expenditures were noted in June.
The food service budget revenues and expenditures increased by $193,449, increasing revenues to $2.4 million and expenses to $2.369 million.
There were no amendments needed for the debt service fund. The district received $4.15 million to go toward debts, and spent $3.22 million on them.
“Allocations were adjusted due to increases or decreases to various function codes, as well as planning for any remaining expenses that have not been presented for payment as of August 26, 2021,” McGraw said. “I am asking you to approve the final amended general fund budget totaling $41,737,176, food service totaling $2,368,885, and debt service with a total of $3,219,331. The motion received unanimous approval of the school board.
Tax Rate
Sulphur Springs ISD officials proposed and trustees approved a tax rate, with the maintenance and operations portion (M&O) of the tax rate decreasing 7.9 percent from $0.9409 to $0.8720, and the interest and sinking portion of the tax rate (used to pay debit service, bonded indebted and I&S fund) will remain unchanged at $0.310485.
“I think it’s worth noting that our tax values increased; our tax rate decreased 7.9 percent. I think you are to be commended. It’s also part of the state’s adjustment with the tax rate compressed rate. Our property valued have gone up 16.8 percent. I think it’s something you’ll want note because our revenue locally is going to go up but our state revenue will go down,” McGraw said.
The tax rate approved for the 2021 tax year (which begins with notices sent this fall) will be $1.18248 per $100 property valuation, that is $0.8720 for local maintenance and operation and $0.31048 for the I&S (debut service, bonded indebtedness, interest and sinking fund.
FY 2021-22 Budget
McGaw presented for trustees’ approval at the Aug. 27 meeting a balanced budget, with $41,618,923 in projected revenues and $41,569,604 in budgeted expenditures in the general fund for fiscal year 2021-2022. That would leave a surplus of $49,319 at the end of FY 2021-22 as projected.
The business manager said she was very conservative when factoring in revenues, including adjustments to student counts and the indexes, which are still being worked out.
The food service budget, when FY 2020-21 concludes on Aug. 31, is expected to have $677,000 remaining. The 2021-22 food service budget is estimated to bring in $2.46 million, but expenditures are projected to be $2.57 million, which would be a $107,893 shortfall. However, because the program has so much left at the end of the school year, quite a bit of the remaining amount needs to be spent. The district has budgeted to spend $107,893 of the FY 2020-21 surplus to lower the food service surplus.
McGraw noted that a little over $5.53 million is expected in revenues to apply toward debt service in FY 2021-2022, while spending about $5.22 million.
“Our debt payment is not that high, but we have put in there in anticipation of anything that may come in the future or to pay toward our debt that we currently have, so we put that into the budget,” McGraw explained.
The district also expects to receive $3.51 million in federal funding to be applied to payroll, increasing hte district’s overall revenue steams to $52.4 million and expenses at $52.2 million.
Local revenue was projected at $14.8 million last year. This year it’s projected at $17.1 million. State revenue is expected to declined from $26 million to $23.9 million. Federal revenue this year was $462,000.
McGraw noted that the transportation budget has increased from $39,0000 to $149,000. Vehicles were moved out of individual department budgets and placed them all in a vehicle budget. The 2021-22 vehicle budget includes 1 maintenance truck, one police car and one school bus.
Resurfacing of the high school parking lot that was recently completed cost $72,000
doors at SSES, security issues $76,000 in budget
“I think we are in good shape. We are thankful for ESSER but, also I think, our staff has put together a good budget,” McGaw said.
The budget received unanimous approval from the five SSISD Board of Trustees members present for the meeting. Robbin Vaughn and Leesa Toliver were unable to attend the noon meeting on Aug. 27.
Wildcats Team Tennis Shuts Out Mt. Pleasant 19-0
Last week Wildcats team tennis hosted the Mt. Pleasant Tigers in the team’s first district match of the year. It was also the first district match for any team in Sulphur Springs.
It went very well for team tennis, helmed by Tony Martinez, as they won 19-0 over the visiting Tigers on Tuesday, Aug. 24.
The Wildcats tennis coach said that through the years, Mt. Pleasant has struggled to be able to fill their entire team, but that was not the case Tuesday.
The Tigers showed up with a full team for their match Tuesday, but it was not enough as they were shut-out by the home Wildcats, 19-0.
Team tennis had three good matches that went to split sets, with one of them going to a 10-point tiebreaker, but Coach Martinez said his team never quit.
The Wildcats tennis coach said that’s been sort of their signature right now. He said that in years past, teams may have gotten down and hit a mental roadblock, but not this team.
Coach Martinez said his athletes, even if down a set, still persevere and continue fighting.
He said after winning the three games and tiebraker, the team’s focus shifted to clinching victory in every single match, never relenting.
The tennis coach said that this is why you coach; to have the camaraderie where student-athletes not only push themselves to be the best they can be, but also push their teammates to be the best they can be — as a unit.
Next up, Wildcats team tennis will be hosting the Texas High Tigers tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 31 at the Team Tennis Center.
It will be a tough one, Coach Martinez said, against an always tough, talented, and competitive Texas High team.
He said that he has not coached a team that has beaten Texas High.
Against such a juggernaut like Texas High, Coach Martinez said, his team will have to fight for every point, and to stay out there and fight for every point. That is what the mentality of a tennis player must be, the Wildcats coach said.
He said battling through matches like the ones they will play against Texas High will prepare them for when they are playing other teams like Hallsville and Pine Tree on Sept. 14 — the latter of which Coach Martinez believes will have huge play-off implications for the Wildcats.
The next two or three weeks, the Wildcats tennis coach said, are about getting mentally tough so that his team can be prepared for when they do play Hallsville, Pine Tree and Marshall they will be ready to step it up.
Regardless, his team has their eyes set on tomorrow’s date with the Texas High Tigers at the Team Tennis center.
That match will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, Aug. 31 at 4 P.M.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Cooper Man Accused Of Murder, Shooting Assault At Cooper Mart
A 47-year-old Cooper man was held Monday morning in Hopkins County jail in connection with a shooting incident at a West Dallas Street store in Cooper that left one man dead and sent another to the hospital, according to Delta and Hopkins County Sheriffs’ Office reports.
On Sunday, August 29, 2021, at approximately 9:53 a.m., deputies with the Delta County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a shooting at the Cooper Mart located in the 800 block of West Dallas.
Upon arrival, deputies found a man deceased on the scene. He was later identified as 35-year-old Damien Damon Wiley of Cooper. Deputies also found that another male, identified as 21-year-old Saquan Harrion-Reynolds, had been shot. Reynolds was flown to a Dallas area hospital and just before 8 p.m. Sunday was reported to be in stable condition, DCSO stated in a news release.
The suspect, identified by DCSO as 47-year-old Robert Clevon Jeffery of Cooper, was located on the scene, taken into custody and transported to Delta County jail. He was booked on on charge of murder in connection with the shooting death of Wiley and one charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, in connection with the shooting of Reynolds as well, according to the DCSO report.
Jeffery was arraigned, with bond set at $1 million on the murder charge and $50,000 on the assault charge. He was transferred overnight to Hopkins County jail, where he remained Monday morning, according to the DCSO news release and Hopkins County jail reports.
The Texas Rangers were contacted to assisting with the investigation and crime scene processing. Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office, Commerce Police Department, Texas A&M – Commerce Police, Texas Game Warden, Texas Parks and Wildlife Officer and Delta County Emergency Management also assisted with the scene, according to the DCSO news release.
Delta County authorities ask anyone who many have any information pertinent to this case to contact the Delta County Sheriff’s Office at 903-395-2146
TxDOT Terminates IBM From Toll Operations Contract For System Issues
AUSTIN – Citing continued challenges with an upgraded toll operations system delivered by IBM nearly a year ago, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, that it has terminated its remaining contract with the company.
Since the system’s roll-out, TxTag customers and toll road users have experienced unnecessary challenges in managing their accounts. TxDOT has not seen satisfactory results from IBM and is disappointed in the numerous difficulties the system has created for customers.
“We take the responsibility of providing a quality and trusted customer experience very seriously, and regret the impact and inconvenience these past many months of lackluster IBM service have had on our toll road users,” said TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams. “We will continue to keep customers apprised on our progress to improve our customers’ interactions with TxTag. Our customers deserve better and we are committed to ensuring that they receive that going forward.”
TxDOT has secured new interim technology providers via an emergency contract with SAP and the Department of Information Resources Managed Security Services to help stabilize and improve the back-end system to manage the massive amount of customer data and toll transactions. This will help ensure that the system provides customers accurate, timely and consistent account management, billing and payment capabilities that meet the highest levels of usability and security. In tandem with this step, TxDOT also has begun the process of procuring a new service provider that will assume responsibilities from the interim team to continue rigorous improvements and operations.
“This is not a step we take lightly,” Williams said. “But it is the step we had to take now. We simply could not move forward in the current state.”
With the ongoing transition, customers do not need to take any action at this time. We encourage customers to continue managing their accounts at www.TxTag.org or by contacting the call center at 888-468-9824. As has been the case since the upgraded system transition first began in late 2020, no late fees are being assessed at this time.
Winnsboro Police Media Report, Aug. 23-29, 2021
The Winnsboro Police Department’s weekly media report for Aug. 23-29, 2021, included the following:
Arrest
James Kidd, 39 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on Aug. 23, for public intoxication and possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana.
Calls For Service
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 161 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 61 citations and 64 warnings during this reporting period.
Three Additional COVID Deaths, 62 New Cases Reported For Hopkins County
Three additional COVID deaths, 62 new cases and 74 recoveries were reported for Hopkins County over the weekend, which means 1.32 percent of the overall population in Hopkins County had the virus this month, with 2.24 percent of the cases resulting in death due to the virus so far in August, according to Texas Department of State Health Services reports.
Two new COVID fatalities were announced on Friday and one Saturday, for a total of of five additional Hopkins County coronavirus deaths reported this week by Texas Department of State Health Services. That makes 11 Hopkins County residents who have died this month for COVID: three on Aug. 3; two on Aug. 10; and one each on Aug. 7, Aug. 1, Aug. 12, Aug. 13, Aug. 15 and Aug. 19. That makes 41 COVID fatalities in 2021 and 125 since March of 2020.
Another 52 new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases and 11 probable case were reported among Hopkins County residents over the Aug. 27-29 weekend. That’s 11 new lab-confirmed cases and four new probable cases Friday, along with 13 lab-confirmed cases and four probable cases on Saturday, and 28 new lab-confirmed and three new probable cases over the weekend. The total number of new molecular cases during the week of Aug. 22-28 increased to 96, and brings the total for the month of August to 339 new molecular cases for the month, to 1,012 for all of 2021 and 2,396 since March 2020. That means that as of Sunday, the lab-confirmed case counts reported for Hopkins County in August (with 2 days still remaining) had exceeded the previous record of 323 new lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases set in October 2020.
Overall, that’s 6.46 percent of the Hopkins County population who have received lab-confirmed positive COVID-19 test results, and 0.34 percent of the overall estimated population of almost 37,100 who have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Since Jan. 1, 2021, that’s 2.73 percent of the population of Hopkins County who’ve had confirmed COVID-19 cases and 0.11 percent of the overall population who’ve died from the virus. The death rate among confirmed cases, however, is 4.05 percent for 2021, and 5.22 percent overall since the pandemic began in March 2020.
The 11 new probable cases this weekend increased the total for August to 151. That makes 824 probable cases in 2021, and 1,916 since the state began tracking cases probable cases last fall. DSHS and the CDC define probable cases as those identified through antigen testing or a combination of symptoms and a known exposure without a more likely diagnosis. Since Dec. 11, 2020, when the state began posting probable case counts daily on the DSHS Case Counts dashboard, the most probable cases in a month was 193 in December, followed in January with 153 probable cases and February with 134 new probable cases reported for Hopkins County residents. That’s another 2.22 percent of the Hopkins County population considered to have the virus in 2021, and 5.17 percent of the overall Hopkins County population who’s been counted as a probable case since state began tracking probable COVID cases last fall.
Combining both confirmed and probable cases, that’s 490 Hopkins County residents (1.32 percent) reported to have COVID-19 this month, 1,836 (4.95 percent) who’ve had the virus since Jan. 1, 2021 and 4,312 (11.63 percent since March of 2020). That means that while only 0.34 percent of the total population of Hopkins county had died from the virus, 2.9 percent of county residents who’ve had COVID have died from the virus.
Seventy-four Hopkins County residents have recovered from COVID in the past 3 days, 12 on Friday, 21 Saturday and 41 on Sunday. That makes 127 county residents who recovered from the virus during the fourth week of August, and 308 this month. Cumulatively, 3,893 of the 4,312 Hopkins County residents who’ve had COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March of 2020 have recovered for the virus, with 1,839 of those recoveries occurring in 2021.
While August started with 108 active cases, that number has continued to increase, with as many as 164 active cases reported during the first seven days of the month, then exceeding 200 on Aug. 11. At the conclusion of the second week of August, 249 active cases were reported among Hopkins county residents. During week 3, as many as 270 active cases were reported. Active cases peaked at 310 on Friday, but had dipped to 305 at the conclusion of the fourth full week of August 2021, then down to 295 on Sunday. That’s an overall daily average of 226 active cases on any given day in Hopkins County during the first 29 days of August. For 2021, Hopkins County has averaged about 107.5 active cases daily and for the entire pandemic averaged 76,69 active cases daily.
According to Texas Health and Human Service, 43.09 percent of the eligible population age 12 and older i Hopkins County had received at least one does of the COVID vaccine Sunday and 35.52 percent in that age group are fully vaccinated. That’s 13,455 people in Hopkins County age 12 or older (50 more than the day before) who had received at least 1 dose of COVID vaccine as of 11:59 p.m. Saturday, including 11,091 who are fully vaccinated for the virus (48 more than the day before). Across the state 68.12 percent of the population age 12 and older (16,395,199 people) in Texas had received at least one dose of vaccine and 56.71 percent age 12 and up (13,650,178 people) across the state had been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 at 11:59 p.m. Aug. 28, 2021.
H C Genealogical Library Closed Temporarily Starting Monday August 30,2021
The HCGS library will be temporarily closed effective immediately. This precautionary measure is being taken due to the sudden increase of Covid cases within our community. We will notify you as soon as we know when we plan to resume normal operations.
If you wish to purchase books during this time, call (903)885-8523 to leave a message or email us at [email protected].
Also, while shut down, we can answer email queries requiring 15 minutes or less time to research.
We appreciate your patience and understanding during this difficult time for all of us.
Please stay safe!
Meal A Day Menu For Aug. 30 – Sept. 3, 2021
Volunteers prepare meals at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center and deliver them five days a week to Meal A Day program recipients in Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. The Meal A Day Menu for Aug. 30 – Sep. 3, 2021, includes:
- Monday –Smothered Beef Patty, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and Roll
- Tuesday – Sweet and Sour Chicken,Rice, Oriental Vegetables and Egg Roll
- Wednesday –Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, Normandy Vegetables and Roll.
- Thursday –Enchilada Pie, Re-fried Beans, Chips, Salsa and Tossed Salad.
- Friday – Chicken Dressing Casserole, Cranberry Sauce, Green Bean Casserole, Candied Carrots and Roll.
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is a place where Senior Citizens age 50 and over can have a good time with old friends and make some new ones. Meal-A-Day is just one service the center provides. The coffee pot is always on and a smile is on each face. The SCC has a full library with all different kinds of reading books that can be taken, read and returned. Take as many as you like and bring some of your books in to share with others. Click here to find more information for seniors citizens.
H C Community Chest Resumes Food Distribution Normal Schedule August 31
According to the Director of the Hopkins County Community Chest, the temporary closure through part of August 2021 due to staffing has ended, and starting Tuesday August 31, normal weekly food distributions will resume. Heather White became the local Community Chest Director in April 2021, and her job has continued an important local role filled previously by Judy Moore.
In an e-mail to KSST, White stated that the 217 Linda Drive facility will re-open as planned on 8-31-2021. “We ask that clients come to pick up food on their regularly scheduled week. No modifications in schedules will be made. The food bank will resume normal distribution on Tuesday 8-31-21. Our Reach out program has resumed as well and will continue as regularly scheduled. We appreciate the community’s support during this time”.
In addition to assisting families through the ongoing food distribution programs at the Community Chest headquarters at 217 Linda Drive in Sulphur Springs, there’s also the Reach-Out program where a mobile unit travels to food distribution stations in the county on a monthly basis. Community Chest also offers bill-pay assistance as well as emergency resource services for families in need. Assistance is determined by income and application process. If you have needs or have questions about Hopkins County Community Chest, you can visit the office Tuesdays and Thursdays, or you may phone 903-885-3452.
For persons receiving food assistance during 2021, the ‘shopping” format was restored in May 2021, as opposed to the bulk distribution which was utilized during the pandemic year of 2020. The food products offered in distribution program is funded by donations from sources in the local community as well as distributions from the Northeast Texas Food Bank.
American Red Cross Local Volunteers Deploy to Support Hurricane Ida Relief Efforts
American Red Cross Local Volunteers Deploy to Support Hurricane Ida Relief Efforts
Additional volunteers needed to support hurricane season.
PARIS, TX (August 28, 2021) — As Louisiana residents prepare for the landfall of Hurricane Ida on Sunday, August 29, the American Red Cross is continuing its own preparations. The Red Cross, in partnership with government and community partners, has mobilized hundreds of trained disaster workers and relief supplies to shelter and support thousands of people in evacuation shelters from Texas to Florida.
Hurricane Ida is still strengthening and could be an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm as it makes landfall along the Gulf Coast on Sunday morning, bringing life-threatening storm surge, dangerous winds and more than a foot of rain to a region still recovering from last year’s devastating hurricanes.
Some 500 trained Red Cross volunteers, including some from the North Texas area, have been mobilized to help open shelters and support people who need a safe place to say as Ida approaches. In addition, the Red Cross has truckloads of additional cots, blankets and comfort kits, along with some 68,000 ready-to-eat meals arriving in Louisiana and Mississippi today.
Those looking for an evacuation shelter are encouraged to call 2-1-1 or text ‘LAShelter’ to 898-211. Additional information and safety tips are available at redcross.org, 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or by downloading the free Red Cross Emergency App from any app store.
Hundreds of additional volunteers are being mobilized to support relief efforts after landfall. Volunteers will help to provide meals and snack, comfort kits with hygiene items like toothbrushes and soap, and assist with sheltering and health and mental health services.
Full information on volunteer opportunities is available here.
SHELTER VOLUNTEERS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS NEEDED
The Red Cross needs additional volunteers to support disaster shelters. Volunteers will help with reception, registration, food distribution, dormitory, information collection and other vital tasks inside disaster shelters.
The Red Cross also needs volunteers who can work in disaster shelters to address people’s health needs and provide hands-on care in alignment with their professional licensure (registered nurse and licensed practical nurse/licensed vocational nurse). Daily observation and health screening for COVID-19-like illness among shelter residents may also be required. We have both associate and supervisory level opportunities available. If you are an RN, LPN, LVN, APRN, NP, EMT, paramedic, MD/DO or PA with a current and unencumbered license, this position could be right for you.
After most disasters this year, the Red Cross plans to open group shelters. However, in some communities, hotels may be more appropriate if the risk of COVID-19, including the delta variant, is particularly high. The Red Cross will also continue many of the safety precautions implemented in 2020, including masks, health screenings, enhanced cleaning procedures and encouraging social distancing.
HOW YOU CAN HELP If you are interested in helping our community should a disaster occur, please go to redcross.org/volunteertoday or contact our area offices at [email protected].
Be sure to review the CDC guidance for people who are at higher risk for severe illness, consult your health care provider and follow local guidance. Our number one priority is the health and safety of our employees, volunteers and the people we serve.
You can also help people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Financial donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossNTX.
# # #
