The WEDC has their proposed FY 2013-14 budget posted with the two public hearings on the Proposed Budget. During that time the WEDC proposed $86,000 for the WEDC Director via a Contract Employee line item. The budget evidently balanced at that time.
AFTER the second public hearing on Sept 9, some three days later on Sept 12 the WEDC Board of Directors passed a $96,000 salary package for the WEDC Director. The professional services agreement also includes a 4 months salary Severance package. Now the budget could not possibly balance. They have not posted the approved budget yet so there is no telling how they managed get the extra 10K for that pay increase during the final few days of this FY.
This really speaks to being Transparent. AFTER the public hearings the budget is changed without citizen input. Is this being Transparent? Being the WEDC presented the agreement only three days after the final public hearing tells me they knew all along the $86,000 proposed budget line item was bogus, nothing but "Window Dressing." This is the same WEDC that Councilman John Gretz performed Executive Directors' duties for nearly a year, no pay, no problem. Now they are paying some $96,000 for a contract employee with a 4 months severance package. Racker Road is now complete so what is the Executive Director to do with his time? OH, and he now has a 20-30 assistant to do exactly what I have no idea.
Update!! Oct 1, 2013 The Sept 12 agenda contract was for $96,000, however, today I received a copy of the contract and it says $90,000 per calendar year effective Oct 1, 2013. The point still remains, why show us one figure during the public hearings when there is already a new contract brewing in the back room.
Remember, this is the same crew that tried to Dissolve our Water District and failed. That failure may only be temporary as this administration is still working to change the boundaries so the next attempt can succeed.
Check out the WEDC agenda, the last several months the Directors report mentions working "Boundary issues with San Antonio that are hindering Economic Development."
Some 600 residents signed a petition asking our City Council to not Dissolve the Water District. The council ignored that petition as it was a non binding petition, but it did express the desires of some 600+ Windcrest residents. This council passed the first reading of the ordinance to Dissolve the Water District.
Mark Perry is running for Mayor and Dennis Allen for City Council Place 5. Both have declared they support keeping our Bexar County WCID #10 free from city control.
The WEDC is working with the Mayor to enable the take over of the Water District in the future, I'm positive. Don't listen to the rhetoric, check out their actions.
