Published: November 04, 2009 04:19 pm      

Superintendent fears depleting funds

Sara Ortega

sortega@weatherforddemocrat.com

After the community of Aledo voted against a 12.5 cent tax increase, Superintendent Don Daniel said taking from the fund balance for day-to-day operations will have negative impacts on AISD.

Daniel said the district needed the $2.7 million which would have been provided by the new rate, but will now have to use $3.3 million out of fund reserves to cover general operations.

“Depleting fund reserves has ramifications,” he said. “It affects financial ratings from the state, bond ratings and interest rates on any loans, just all types of negative impact.”

The proposed rate, which would have been balanced by a 13-cent decrease in another area, was advertised by the district through presentations, e-mails, articles and various businesses and organizations, Daniel said.

“I just think people saw ‘tax increase’ and for whatever reason didn’t make themselves knowledgeable,” he said.

While there is still $8 million in the fund, Daniel feels it will run out quickly if things stay the same.

“If we have to do this another year we’ll have the same situation with increases in water and utility rates and have to keep pulling from the fund,” he said. “It’s just a like a home savings, if you keep using it, eventually it will all be gone.”