NORTHEAST The board of directors of the Aldine Improvement District held a retreat in January to plan projects for the coming year, and to review progress since the formation of the district in 2001. These plans were presented to the public at the board meeting in February, and some were approved, others tabled.
One of the most controversial was the signage program. It faced two obstacles: a new name for the district has not been decided upon, and Chairman Clyde Bailey expressed strong feelings that a traditional blue design did not represent colors of his high school, MacArthur, properly. The board did not agree with this feeling, however, and tabled the matter for further study. The proposed new name is East Aldine Management District, but this too was tabled for lack of a consensus, and for further study as to its appropriateness.
The board heard a report on the finances of the district, and were told that tax collections are running almost 25% above expectations. Revenues for 2006 were over $2 million, and for 2007 look to be over $2.5 million. Fund balances are stronger that budgeted.
Some major expenditures budgeted for this fiscal year include: Public Safety $361,655; Clean up $10,000; Economic Development $225,000; Administration $90,100.
Other major expenses listed were: Debt service, $270,000; Community Development $140,000; Water & Sewer $850,000.
A report from the Grants Committee was approved, with $29,000 to the YMCA as a matching grant with Aldine ISD, to fund after school and summer programs; and $2400 was approved for AISD bus drivers, an incentive program to reward good drivers. Other grant requests were tabled.
