Irion County ISD August 27 2026
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
Agenda Analysis | Meeting Review | Meeting Documents | Commentary | Last Meeting
A. Agenda Analysis
Budget, Items 5 and 6 #2: This is the meeting where the Board formally approves its 26-27 budget. Here is the public notice about the budget and proposed tax rate. To drill down, go to the Financial Transparency page of the IC ISD website.
Budget amendments, Items 5 and 6 #4: This item addresses amendments to the 25-26 budget to true it up before the end of the fiscal year (Aug 31). I highligted "as presented" as I have in the past. I'm a broken record on this issue: "as presented" is not specific enough, so an average person could not tell what this item is about. IF there is any fiscal mismanagement ( I am confident that isn't the case here), the time and place where it could be swept under the rug is in the agenda for the last meeting of the fiscal year. This especially could occur where, as in this community, the public doesn't attend school board meetings to question the budget. (Not the case, for example, with the County's budget.) Where it really becomes problematic is when the minutes are approved after this meeting. If the minutes read something generic like "Board Member B made a motion to approve budget amendments as presented" without describing even generally what those amendments cover, then there is no public accountability for how the budget was trued up at the end of the year. Transparency begets accountability, and that is a very good thing when dealing with public funds.
Approve the 26-27 tax rate, items 5 and 6 #3: Dr. Joyce Gray, Tax Assessor and Collector, will be present to guide the Board on exactly how this has to be done.
B. Meeting Review
Pending
C. Commentary
765 kV update: I am preparing "Exceptions" to the PFD in the 59475 case. Exceptions are typically where one points out where the ALJ got the PFD wrong, but in this case I will be saying where they got it right. I will file those on September 2 and post them on my 765 kV page.
Irion County Commissioner's Court budget. Several of us spoke out yesterday against a $10,000 line item in the Sheriff's budget to pay for Flock cameras. Go here to see the location of Flock cameras in Irion County. My opposition isn't based on a lack of trust of Sheriff Estes, but more the reality of their abuse by 3rd parties. This is 2026, folks, and we are well beyond the point of accepting as a justification for government surveillance, "Well, if you aren't doing anything wrong you don't have anything to worry about." Recommended reading (that I started just yesterday): The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State by Jill Lepore.
Duke's Mercantile and Coffee, downtown Mertzon. Excellent drip coffee! Owned and managed by former IC ISD board member, Ashley Hill.
Copyright 2026 G. Noelke
