Economic Corp. backs $75M school bond
Interim city manager had warned the group against advocating for measure.
The Bastrop Economic Development Corp. has thrown its support behind the school district’s $75 million bond by approving funds to finance educational support materials leading up to the November election.
The corporation, as a public entity, is not allowed to donate money to a political action committee or use public funds to sway an election. Despite this, the group sought a legal opinion on how it might print ads or publish materials that support education as one of the primary drivers for economic development.
Marvin Townsend, the city’s interim city manager, urged them against the move. “You cannot advocate for or against this measure,” Townsend said. “The issue of using public funds to influence any election is contrary to public office. You are limited to discussion of the facts.”
Despite the warning, the group voted unanimously to set aside funds to promote education, with the hope it would in turn help the school district.
On Nov. 8, the Bastrop school district will ask voters to support both a $75 million bond and 13-cent maintenance and operations tax increase that will pay for new infrastructure, enhanced safety measures, better technology and higher teacher salaries. Most notably, it will allow the district to reconfigure grades and eliminate intermediate schools. Both measures, if approved, would increase the district’s property tax rate from $1.44 per $100 valuation to $1.61 per $100 valuation, school officials said.
During public comments at the Sept. 19 economic development corporation meeting, many residents accused the board of engaging in lobbying by supporting the bond initiative and tax ratification election.
“You have no business trying to influence the outcome of elections,” resident Connor McAnally said. “The fact that you don’t know that is an actual disgrace. You shouldn’t be in the positions you’re in if that’s what you think you can do.
“You have been advised also by your interim city manager, who apparently you aren’t now going to listen to, who’s telling you not to do it. But you guys just carry on and do what you want no matter what the citizens want.”
But the corporation’s executive director, Shawn Kirkpatrick, said that having good schools was vital to the corporation’s mission, which is to bring good, high-paying jobs to Bastrop.
“We know that good schools cultivates great economic development. And that’s really the message,” the corporation’s board chairman Steve Mills said.
Local business owner Carlos Liriano echoed that sentiment. “Without schools, you can’t have much,” he said.
Kirkpatrick said by phone Sept. 20 that the materials would most likely consist of ads run in the newspaper, on social media and on the corporation’s website explaining why good, quality schools are important to economic development. The promotional materials will be paid for through local and miscellaneous advertising dollars, Kirkpatrick said, which will be included in the 2016-17 budget.
The Bastrop Economic Development Corp. is funded by sales tax revenue.