Dunnam hosts Town Hall discussion

State Representative Jim Dunnam State Representative Jim Dunnam was in Buffalo on Wednesday to host a Town Hall style meeting. Dunnam, along with several members of his staff, expressed interest in the issues that affect Leon County residents. They spent several hours in discussion here as residents took advantage of the opportunity to make their voices heard at the State level.

BISD Superintendent Jackie Thomason and several school board members described concerns which most directly affect the school district, including changes in TAKS testing and how they will affect the accountability ratings of the district, the market value, the appraisal process, the possibility of redistricting and realignment of the district, educating immigrants, and unfunded state mandates.

The representative was told that hot checks are a major issue for small business owners. Police Chief Lance Pavelka recommended that to protect business owners, legislation is needed that puts "more teeth" into the penalties on hot checks. "If you write a check on a closed account that is theft by check -- not just a hot check. It should be prosecuted as fraud," Pavelka suggested.

Stimulus Act monies were also discussed, which led to frank questions on the State's finances. Rep. Dunnam admitted that while the State's budget for this year was adequately funded, there are "significant problems" longer term and he fears that "we're looking at Californiatype deficit" that he sees as "optimistically, it's four years off." "Texas has a structural deficit, and you can't fix it unless you drastically reduce spending or increase taxes," he concluded. "The hopeful thing? I think it's going to be So bad we can't help BUT fix it."

The propositions on the upcoming Constitutional Amendment election were reviewed and discussed.

Dr. Russell Jonas asked Rep. Dunnam to direct the county toward any grants or funding available to help develop the Leon County Expo Center, and Rep. Dunnam agreed to look into that.