Southern Hospitality Scenes from the Aledo Theatre Production, 10B
October 8-14, 2010 · www.community-news.com
THE COMMUNITY NEWS
ALEDO ISD
Aledo ISD
bonds
upgraded
◗ Conservative fiscal
management cited
By Tony Eierdam
The Community News
In a report released last week,
Fitch has upgraded Aledo ISD
from an “AA-“ rating to an “AA”
rating, which is the underlying
rating on the unlimited tax (ULT)
bonds of Aledo ISD.
The rating demonstrates the
district’s financial flexibility, which
was further enhanced by the recent
passing of the tax ratification elec-
tion (TRE).
According to a report on fitch-
ratings.com, “the rating upgrade
reflects continued solid financial per-
formance, benefiting from conserva-
tive fiscal management. In addition,
financial flexibility is enhanced by
recent strong voter support for addi-
tional operating tax margin.
Aledo ISD Chief Financial
Officer Chris Whiddon credited the
passing of the TRE with the rat-
ing upgrade. “Community support
through the recent tax rate election
provided the district the ability to
continue sound financial planning,”
she said.
The report further states that
the prospect of future growth in the
district appears favorable despite
the weakened housing market in
the area. It also points out the sta-
bility of the district due to bonds
being secured by an unlimited ad
valorem tax pledge of the district
as well as a guarantee of the Texas
Permanent School Fund.
“Investors look to bond ratings
to determine the soundness of pos-
sible investments,” Whiddon said.
“Rating agencies perform periodic
surveillance to assess the district’s
financial strength. An upgrade can
be rare and significant and is a
result of many factors including the
strength of financial management.”
The report concludes by point-
ing out “the (Aledo) district debt
levels are relatively high, particu-
larly on a per capita basis. Aledo
ISD maintains approximately $6
million in un-issued 2008 autho-
rization bonds to be sold at a later
date. Debt is amortized very slowly,
reflecting an extended amortization
schedule as well as the use of capi-
tal appreciation bonds to minimize
tax rate impacts and shift some
of the burden to future taxpayers.
The slowdown in enrollment has
enabled the district to push back
future bond elections and there are
no plans currently to return to the
voters in the near-term. However,
capital needs will likely remain
given the projected return of strong
enrollment growth.”
Whiddon explained how the
bond rating would help the dis-
trict in the future.
“As district bonds come up for
refinancing the higher the bond
rating the better the interest rates
are for the district,” she said. “This
results in significant savings to the
taxpayer.
“Very importantly, the district
has been able to manage its fund
balance during tough economic
times and facing serious challenges
with the state’s funding to schools.”
Additional information can be
found at www.fitchratings.com.
Volume 21, Number 41
Published Weekly
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Copyright 2010, The Community News
Serving Eastern Parker County, Texas: Aledo · the Annettas · Hudson Oaks · Willow Park
BURST OF FLIGHT
Nolan Daugherty takes a leap down an inflatable slide during the Aledo United Methodist Church Lord’s Acre
celebration Saturday, Oct. 2. The event included children’s activities, silent and live auctions, a country store and
a BBQ dinner.
SOUND SENSATIONS
◗ Thirteen area bands
to perform at Bearcat
Stadium in fifth annual
marching competition
By Tony Eierdam
The Community News
Eleven area bands will get an oppor-
tunity to hone their collective skills to
prepare for future state competition
Saturday, Oct. 9 at the Fifth Annual
Unleash the Sound Marching Festival
that begins at noon at Bearcat Stadium.
Bands ranging from Classes 3A-
5A will perform in front of experi-
enced and distinguished judges, and
also get the opportunity to compete
in front of a large crowd.
Schools competing are Burkburnett,
Castleberry, Stephenville, Western
Hills, Boswell, Springtown, Burleson,
Cleburne, Southwest, Azle and
Weatherford.
The experience will allow bands to
receive critiques, which will help them
in future UIL competition. Regional
and area competition are scheduled
for mid October, with state competi-
tion being held Nov. 1-2.
Division ratings will be awarded
based on music (54 percent of criteria),
marching (36 percent), percussion (5
percent) and color guard (5 percent). The
top 10 bands will advance to the finals
and will perform again that evening.
There will also be two live perfor-
mances – by the Bearcat Regiment and
the TCU Horned Frog Marching Band
– during the period when judges tally the
final scores at approximately 9:45 p.m.
Turn to SOUND, page 2A
Commentary Life&Community
Apocalyptic Reunion Smile!
Publisher Randy Keck draws a Photo day at Vandagriff Elementary
comparison between his 35th high school School.
reunion and the end of the world.
SLINGS&ARROWS | PAGE 1A PAGE 9B
· 75 cents
ALEDO
The
conservative
approach
◗ City budget will be
carefully managed in
tough economy
By Dominic Genetti
The Community News
When you talk to Aledo Mayor
Kit Marshall about the city’s bud-
get for the 2010 fiscal year she’ll
pretty much describe it in one
word: “tight.”
The city’s general fund rev-
enue is budgeted at $943,165,
with revenues and expenses cut by
$74,847 from last year’s budget.
But just because Marshall, the
city council and other Aledo city
officials don’t have a lot of wiggle
room for the next 12 months,
the mayor says there’s nothing to
fear. That’s because Marshall and
the city’s approach is something
she calls the best way to operate
a budget.
“We are very conservative,”
Marshall said. “People some-
times think, ‘If you’re not putting
(things) in the budget then you
don’t really need it,’ but that’s
actually not true.”
The city has plans to go
RANDY KECK/THE COMMUNITY NEWS through an entire renovative pro-
cess that will bring large amounts
of economic improvement to
Aledo as well as a more attractive
appearance, but despite the plans
and the future outlook, the fund-
ing for all that the city wants to
do can’t be accomplished in one
year’s budget.
“In a small
community
with limited tax
amounts, limited
resources, it’s just
extremely impor-
tant to always be
budget conscious.”
- Ken Pfeifer
City Administrator
Marshall said the city is aware
of and paving the way for the
future. The approach is simple,
the mayor said – only spend on
money on what the city can afford
for now and keep the process of
growing steady.
“The City of Aledo desperately
needs a larger city hall, but – and
we’ve had the plans for several
years – we’re not putting it in the
budget to start expanding city
DEB MANLEY/SPECIAL TO THE COMMUNITY NEWS
hall because of the economy, and
Head drum major Anna Breaux signals to the judges that the Bearcat
that doesn’t mean we don’t need
Regiment is ready to perform at the Bands of America Regional com-
petition held in Arlington at UTA’s Maverick Stadium on Saturday, Oct. it,” the mayor said.
2. The Regiment was awarded Class 2A Champions and won Best in “I want to see it happen yes-
Class, Best in Music, Best in Marching and Best in General Effect. This terday, because it’s good for the
was the band’s sixth time at this competition to sweep all captions city, but the bottom line is, it
in their class. Overall, out of 31 bands who participated, the regiment can’t happen yesterday. It doesn’t
ranked sixth in Music Ensemble and fifth in Marching Ensemble. This matter how good it is for the city,
year’s rankings were the band’s best performance at the Band of
it’s not in the budget and it’s all
America Arlington Regional Competition. L.D. Bell High School from
about timing.”
Hurst placed first, Marcus High School from Flower Mound placed
second and Berkner High School from Richardson placed third in the Marshall, though, isn’t the
only Aledo official promoting
finals. Aledo’s Bearcat Regiment was chosen to perform as an exhibi-
tion band during the finals. On Oct. 30 the Regiment is scheduled to conservative spending of the
compete with 51 high school bands in the Bands of America Super city’s money.
Regional Competition in San Antonio. Turn to ALEDO, page 2A
Sports
Offensive Outburst
Bearcats rack up almost 500
yards of offense in 62-21 win over
Springtown.
PAGE 7A