(E-Mail from Peggy Venable, Americans For Prosperity, to Ann Hodge – 10-18-06) 

Ms. Ann Hodge

President/CEO

Katy Area Chamber of Commerce

2501 S. Mason Road, Suite 230

Katy, TX 77450

Dear Ms. Hodge:

A.D. Muller shared with me the email you sent to him.  Let me clarify one point:  Americans for Prosperity is not funding the Katy ISD Citizen Watchdog Group.  We are not directing their activities.  We are proud to be affiliated with them and to count their leadership among our members. 

So any reference to our "pumping money" into the organization is false.  

Let me also make it perfectly clear that citizens' participation in the policy and political process is something that should be encouraged, not discouraged.  This "bring it on" rhetoric is disrespectful of taxpayers and extremely inappropriate for someone in your position. 

I know nothing about the Katy "Partners for Progress" but it is likely a group of local businesses, including contractors and individuals who serve to benefit financially from passage of the bond initiative in Katy. 

We all want what is best for our children.  Parents and taxpayers are paying the bills.  So while parents and taxpayers are working to take care of their families, pay their bills, and pay their taxes, groups are working to raise taxes and put us further in public debt.  Public schools are $38.1 billion in debt as of August of last year.  That debt, plus interest, is growing daily.  Those bills come due, and many of them will fall on the shoulders of the schoolchildren you are claiming to want to help by passing a massive bond package. 

Katy ISD might have learned from other school districts such as Round Rock ISD, which also failed to pass a large bond package about the same time the Katy ISD initiative failed.  But RRISD is coming back to taxpayers with a smaller price tag for a bond initiative divided into four different projects.  Yet Katy ISD appears poised to continue to put a bond package on the ballot until they wear voters down and pass one -- even one that is larger than the last one, bundled into one "take it or leave it" package, and with more projects than were in the last bond package which failed to pass. 

Katy ISD also already has one of the highest M&O rates in Texas, the highest tax rate, spends less than 50% of their money in the classroom according to the TEA, and has one non-teaching staff for each teacher, according to the Comptroller’s website. 

May I respectfully suggest that you get off your high horse and recognize that the Citizen Watchdogs are putting "boots on the ground" and are working at their own expense, taking time from their families and businesses, looking out for what they consider in the best interest of Katy taxpayers.  After all, these taxpayers – along with your members – are paying the bills for public schools, and as the state picks up more of the local school funding, we will be watching more closely how those dollars are being spent.  This debate is about accountability and credibility. 

I would think you at the Chamber of Commerce would be focused on that also as the new business tax is dedicated to offsetting the school property tax.

Sincerely, 

Peggy M. Venable, Director

Americans for Prosperity-Texas