Irion County ISD August 10 2026
- Aug 11
- 5 min read
Agenda Analysis | Meeting Review | Meeting Documents | Commentary | Last Meeting
A. Agenda Analysis
Start time: 8:00 pm, not the usual 6:00 pm slot.
Action Item 8, first matter: Dr. Joyce Gray, Tax Assessor Collector for Irion County, will be presenting her numbers on the proposed tax rate. This is hands down the most important part of this meeting. Watch for more board meetings this month to set the rate and budget.
Action Item 8 # 5, Guardian Program: Search in the search box on this page for “guardian” to see why I always highlight this on District agendas. Let me add another reason to pay attention: ammunition is not cheap.
Action Item 8 # 6: Election of Board Officers. I received a a heads up about this matter a few days before this meeting. I’m not going to preempt the re-org out of respect for what the Board wants to accomplish here.
Opening ceremonies, Moment of Silence, Item 2: My preliminary research is that this is the only way this can be done. Note that the law on prayer at meetings is different for school boards than it is for other local government entities.
Administrative reports, item 6: Always relevant.
B. Meeting Review
Open forum, Public Comment, Item 3: This is the ideal use of Public Comment - a new mother (who brought her baby to the meeting and handed off the baby to the new father before she spoke) protested that she was told by an (unnamed) IC ISD coach that she couldn't use the new track around the football field as a place to walk her baby in a stroller. Even the baby had a role, crying a bit at the beginning. The mother's point was spot on: explain your policy. (There's no discussion during open forum, so no resolution could be offered during the meeting.)
Action Items, Item 1, proposed tax rate: The Board approved a proposed M&O (maintenance and operations) tax rate of .635 per $100 valuation and .23 per $100 for I&S (interest and sinking). According to Dr. Gray, loss of loss of value is substantial: 39%. That loss is almost entirely based on minerals. The expected loss was 10-15%. The Board's next meeting will be August 27, when it will likely approve these rates.
Action Items, election of Board Officers, item # 6: President Carlile advised the Board that she might not be running for re-election in 2027 and, if so, wanted to assure a smooth transition. She recommended that she and Chad Koonce switch roles (she is President and he is Vice President), so that she could spend this year mentoring VP Koonce. The Board made it happen in two votes.
Admin. reports, item 6A, Business Manager's report: Ms. Lakey announced that recapture (local tax revenue going back to the State because Irion County is a "wealthy" district) this year will be $8.143 million. Also, watch for around $200,000 in budget amendments at the next board meeting.
Admin reports, Item 6C: Supt. Heath advised on bond matters that the District is attempting to get an earlier move in date on the new library so that bidding can start earlier on the 1909 first floor renovations. The 1909 building is slated to all be dedicated to Administration.
Construction update, item 4: The folks at Gallagher announced that the pavement for the 4th Street flume will be put down this week by Aug 14. Note what was not mentioned: Gallagher did not mention when they would be carving the drainage flume down the alley from the new transportation facility so that the new water from that facility would also be directed into the new flume on 4th St. They received a go ahead from the City Council earlier this year to construct this flume. (It is necessary so that all that new water goes into the new detention area and not invade the property of the next door resident and adjacent neighbor.
C. Commentary
Tax base: As grim as a 29% tax base loss is, pay attention to whether there will be partial recoveries in 2027 and 2028. I would be guessing at the improvement values, but the Eiger pipeline will be partially online in 2027 and fully operational in 2028, if current plans hold. It is larger in size than the currently operational Matterhorn pipeline.
Board transitions: In my own nonprofit board experience, I failed to come to grips soon enough with my burn out and exhaustion. I really admire what now former President Carlile has set out to accomplish in this meeting. Regardless of whether she comes or goes next year, her recognizing the need for mentoring and making the time for it is vitally important for the health of the board. Giving up power and managing the transition of power to someone else is one of the most selfless acts a leader can make. That is tangible evidence of one's dedication to the institution they are serving.
765 kV update: Once a contested case proceeding began in these cases, they have become very difficult procedurally to slow down, much less get the applications entirely dismissed. I do think we are in the process of watching them get dismissed, though the lawyers and elected officials on all sides are being vigilant. What made the difference were the large number of landowners, including some from Irion County, who traveled to Austin to attend the Senate Business and Commerce Committee hearing last month. Another factor has been the changing market forces. The 765 kV lines, as justified by the Permian Basin Reliability Plan in 2023, didn't consider the impact of AI data centers on the load. Today, it is estimated that if the 765 kV are built as planned, 91% of the load will be for data centers. It is also readily transparent that none of these lines would decrease the cost of electricity to consumers.
Tent Rocks National Monument: Go here for more information. It is absolutely worth the visit. If you schedule it just right, you can be back in Santa Fe to eat breakfast at Pasqual's before the lunch crowd hits. Blintzes and Huevos Motulenos, oh my!
Copyright 2026 G. Noelke
