Infomaniacs: November 06, 2014 (6:00am)

Brazos County’s County Judge Explains The Reason For A More Than 50 Member Committee

A committee appointed at the last Brazos County commission meeting (June 9) has more than 50 people. After county judge Duane Peters spent more than five minutes reading the names, the initial reaction from commissioner Fred Brown was that this committee, to consider salary appeals by elected officials, was “going to be a train wreck” because there are so many members. County judge Duane Peters explained this committee is composed of members of the Brazos County grand jury. Only nine members gather for an individual appeal. Peters says state law controls the committee’s action, saying if all nine members support the appeal it is automatically approved. If eight members support the appeal, commissioners make the final decision. If seven or fewer members support the appeal, the appeal is denied. After the explanation, the list of committee members was unanimously approved. Click below to hear comments from Duane Peters and Fred Brown at the June 9, 2026 Brazos County commission meeting. Listen to “Brazos County's county judge explains the reason for a more than 50 member committee” on Spreaker.

College Station ISD School Board Adopts A Budget For The 2026-27 School Year

College Station ISD school board members adopt a budget for the 2026-27 school year which requires taking more than $6 six million dollars out of savings and decreases the property tax rate by almost one cent. CSISD chief financial officer Healther Wilson told board members the budget reflects adding $4.5 million for pay raises and adding employees at the expanded career and technical education center. Wilson is estimating fewer students in CSISD next year will result in a loss of $2 million in state funding. Wilson also said 60 percent of CSISD’s net taxable value was in the appeal process. As of the June 17th board meeting, Wilson said successful appeals lowered CSISD’s total valuation by $588 million dollars. That lowered Wilson’s estimation of valuation growth from seven to 3.9 percent. Not impacted by property taxes is a separate fund controls CSISD’s food service operations. The board approved Wilson’s recommendation to increase student school lunch prices for the first time since 2019. Wilson said the 25 cent increase was due to the end of temporary federal grant money. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials shown at the June 16, 2026 College Station ISD school board meeting. Click below to hear some of Heather Wilson’s comments at the June 16, 2026 College Station ISD school board meeting. Listen to “College Station ISD school board approves the budget for the 2026-27 school year” on Spreaker.

Public Comment Period Underway For The City Of College Station’s Annual Community Development Plan

The city of College Station is in the middle of the public comment period about how more than $3.5 million dollars in federal community development grant money will be spent next year. Raney Whitwell of the city’s community development office told the city council at their last meeting (June 11) that the most common recipients are those meeting income guidelines. Recipients can also qualify by what Whitwell describes as being part of a limited clientele. A third option is to live in a neighborhood that qualifies having enough low and moderate income residents. The public comment period continues through July 13. The College Station city council is scheduled to take final action on the 206 page draft plan on July 23rd. Click HERE to read and download the more than 200 page draft community development plan. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the June 11, 2026 College Station city council meeting. Click below to hear comments from the June 11, 2026 College Station city council meeting. Listen to “The city of College Station is in the public comment period for the annual community development plan” on Spreaker.