$11 million addition

Ector County Independent School District trustees have unanimously approved a budget amendment that transferred $11 million from the district’s fund balance to go toward completion of ECISD’s $89.5 million 2001 bond issue and construction.

David Finley, ECISD executive director for facilities and maintenance, presented the information Tuesday during the trustees’ regular board meeting.

Finley said Wednesday the bond issue, as a whole, ran over budget about 18 percent.

When the bond election went through in 2001, the district didn’t anticipate factors like the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, two major hurricanes in 2005 or rising gas prices, he said.

But the extra money was transferred through the district’s $55.7 million total fund balance as an earmark of $11 million, Finley said.

“Through very good financial planning this year, we had the money available,” he said.

Tonya Tillman, ECISD assistant superintendent for business operations said she earmarked the $11 million in August as part of the budget amendment to go toward completing the construction.

The money accumulated over the years, she said, and was unspent and later designated for this purpose.

The earmarked money, she said, allows the district to use reserved funds instead of dipping into district operations money.

The 2001 bond election has nine remaining campuses scheduled for construction.

The bond election called for construction at more than 30 schools.

Tillman’s confident in the information Finley has presented, she said, adding that additional requests for funds for more cost overruns aren’t anticipated.

Trustees unanimously approved a construction proposal for completion of six elementaries: Pease, San Jacinto, Ireland, Blanton, LBJ and Barbara Jordan.

The other three remaining projects are Zavala, Murry Fly and the Alternative Education Center, Finley said — those schools await bids for their construction.

“I feel very confident that the $11 million will complete the original 2001 bond issue,” Finley said, noting the remaining nine campuses should be completed by winter 2009.

Trustees also unanimously approved a bid of $501,535 to have Bostick Roofing complete a roofing replacement project at Gonzales Elementary, which wasn’t part of the 2001 bond election.

RISING COSTS

Why is ECISD about 18 percent over budget?

>> Rising oil prices.

>> Attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

>> Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.

>> Labor market driven to the oilfields.

>> Materials such as steel hard to come by.

SOURCE: DAVID FINLEY, ECISD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR FACILITIES AND MAINTENANCE