Consistent. Principled. Action.

I thank each of you who responded to my blog on the TEX 21 dues discussion. Many of you gave excellent suggestions and asked pertinent questions.

Prior to Tuesday's court session, it was discovered that the court approved these dues in December before I took office and the invoice was paid.

The invoice that we were considering was a duplicate invoice from the firm that holds the professional services contract. We will, of course, not pay the duplicate invoice.

Again, I appreciate your interest in county government and look forward to future discussions as we continue to learn together.

Monday is Memorial Day! Find a local remembrance to attend as we celebrate the past sacrifices of those who fought for our country through the centuries. I will participate in the program at the Pecan Grove Cemetery in McKinney that starts at 9:30 AM if you care to join us there.

Sincerely,
Keith

1. Collin County spends more than $150,000 every year just on membership dues to various organizations. Our second largest dues, $20,000, are paid to TEX 21, a transportation lobbying organization. The Commissioners Court received a briefing from TEX 21 this week in order to determine the value added by membership. It turns out that TEX 21 is not really a formal organization; it is actually a professional services contract with a consulting firm. Not only does the county pay $20,000 per year, but Plano pays the same amount from city taxes - a total of at least $40,000 from Collin County, and it could be more from other cities. There is a vote scheduled in Commissioners Court next Tuesday on whether or not to pay this year's dues, and I would love to hear from you before then. Please email me at Keith@KeithSelf.com

As the county budget process continues through the summer, there will be other membership dues that will also be scrutinized for value added.

2. Welcome Home a Hero Today program at DFW airport, welcoming home soldiers from Afghanistan and Iraq, will celebrate its 3rd anniversary on June 12th. DFW airport is one of two airports through which all soldiers transit as they return home to the US. Tracy traveled to MacDill Air Force Base to welcome me home as I got off our flight from the Middle East in 2003, and I can tell you from personal experience that is absolutely thrilling to be warmly welcomed home as you set foot back on free American soil. Welcome Home a Hero Today will greet its 500,000th soldier on June 12. Please plan to join the throngs who will participate on June 12th at 9:30 AM at Terminal D, Gate 22.

The program is also recruiting volunteers for the remainder of the year. If you or your organization would like to participate, contact Christene Wheeler at 972-621-0400.

Sincerely,
Keith

1. The new Collin County web site is now active at http://www.collincountytx.gov/
I believe that you will find it more interactive, informative, and useable. Be sure to check out the rotating articles on the home page - the article decribing where your tax dollars go is at http://www.collincountytx.gov/public_information/features/tax_dollars.jsp

The On Line Services at the upper left on the home page are very popular and very useful.

You can also sign up for the new eLink newsletter at the top of the page - just click on Newsletter Signup. eLink is a very well done newsletter in a great format. A preview is available at http://www.collincountynews.info/go/site/1284/

2. Voting Day on the state constitutional amendment is this Saturday, May 12. If you have not yet voted, please take time to stop by your voting location and exercise one of your most precious rights - your vote.

3. Transportation funding is in extreme daily flux as the legislative session draws toward a close. Anything that I might report to you would be changed by the time you read it, so I will refrain from comment for the time being until some stability is reached. As I have said before, I am optimistic that we will get SH 121 built, it is just the funding mechanism decision that remains.

Sincerely,
Keith

1. The first evening meeting outside of the county seat, held in the Frisco City Hall on Monday, April 30, at 6:00 PM was a great opportunity for citizens to attend a workshop at a convenient time and location. This is the first of quarterly meetings that will we will hold in the commissioners precincts through the year, so please watch for the meeting in your area.

2. Did you know that Collin County runs a school? The county runs an 85-student school that continues education for students who have been expelled from public school, known as the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program. There is pending legislation that will dramatically increase the student population, perhaps to 300 within the first year, due to mandatory expulsion for a longer list of offenses. At the current funding level, this potentially translates into an additional one million dollar State unfunded mandate. I recently toured the facilities used by the school and can testify that the school is currently run on a shoestring. If this legislation becomes law as expected, the Commissioners Court will be looking at options to maximize State funding from your school taxes that you already pay to educate our youth.

3. Lake Lavon is 90% full as of May 4, and the latest rainfall is still flowing! That is exciting news that bodes well for our summer. God has blessed us with abundant rain this spring.

I trust that everyone is looking forward to a great summer of family and fun. Enjoy!

Sincerely,
Keith