NEWS
Bowie ISD Trustees to consider calling bond election at Monday meeting
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District will meet with their financial advisors on Aug. 21 to consider calling a possible $65.8 million bond election for Nov. 7.
The board meets at 5:30 p.m. in the board room. The community facilities committee presented its recommendation at the last meeting which centers on building a new intermediate school on the lot next to the junior high and moving the junior high students to the present intermediate school with some renovations. The present junior high would then be used for administration or other activities.
A weight room would be added at the high
school, a restroom at the baseball field and parking area updates and expansion at the elementary.
Lewis Wilks, financial advisor and Tom Sage, bond counsel, will meet with the board Monday to offer possible funding scenarios and their costs. The agenda lists an action item to call an election.
The board faces a lengthy item of other topics including notification of the local revenue level in excess of entitlement for the 2023-24 school year.
This is known as recapture and when a certain level of revenue is reached by the district the state takes part of the funding back in the form of the district possibly buying attendance credits or other actions. Superintendent Blake Enlow told the board at its last meeting the district has been on the verge of recapture the last couple of years.
He also will report of enrollment for the new school year, and the other administrators will report on their activities.
Finance Director Paula Peterson will guide a budget workshop as the district hammers out the final figures for the 2023-24 school year.
Other action items include the student transfer list, annual memorandums of understanding with the Helen Farabee Substance Abuse Services and North Central Texas College for P-tech, dual credit and Red River Promise, 4-H extracurricular status, approval of District of Innovation plan and any updates to the professional development plan and meeting requirements in district policy.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Montague County Commissioner’s Court reluctantly returned money to the state connected to Senate Bill 22 in fiscal 2024.
During Monday’s regular session, County Auditor Charley Lanier explained the three transactions. SB 22 provided funding for prosecutor offices to assist with paying staff, and in the sheriff’s office for staff and equipment.
If all the money was not spent it had to be returned. Lanier explained the fund was approved in 2024, but it arrived after the fiscal year began and commissioners did not want to spend any of until the funds actually arrived in county coffers.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
The Saint Jo City Council had a brief meeting on June 17.
The 2026-27 budgets for appraisal and tax collections from the Montague County Tax Appraisal District were approved. The tax collection budget faces a 3.71% increase and 2.2% in the appraisal budget.
The city’s payment for tax collections will go from $1,305 for the year down slightly from $1,445 last year. The appraisal portion for Saint Jo will be $9,526, up from $9,361 in 2026.
A municipal election for Nov. 3 was called. Places open on the ballot will be mayor, and the places filled by Melissa McPherson and Jack Dunn, who was appointed to fill out a term.
The council approved a resolution to apply for grants for water infra structure improvements through the Texas Water Development Board. The city is working with engineers from Corlett, Probst and Boyd of Wichita Falls on a proposed project.
The 60th anniversary Jim Bowie Days Celebration opened on June 20th with a full day of activities focusing on sports and a barbecue cookoff.
Festivities continue throughout the week highlight by rodeo, youth rodeo, kid’s activities and Pioneer Court. The second annual Smokedown BBQ Cookout began on Friday night with the steak and beans contests. Three other categories for chicken ribs and brisket followed on Saturday. There were 27 teams, four more than last year.
Conducted by Outlaw BBQ, the grand champion was Vinny McNamara, with 36 points. Steve Cumbie was reserve grand champion with 26 points.
Read about all the weekend’s winners complete with many photos in your Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo – The first annual pickleball tourney drew 17 teams. Teams greet each other before they start play (Photo by Barbara Green0
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