City approves tax rate, pay-raising budget
By SHANNON CRABTREE newsdesk@leader-news.com
      In four minutes and without any dispute from the public, El Campo City Council approved the fiscal year 2007-2008 budget and tax rate Sept. 11 - one which will mean a slightly higher bill for most municipal residents. Council unanimously set the tax rate at .5598 per $100 in property value rate,...
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IMUD drops its tax levy, earning more
By BRENDA SOMMER news1@leader-news.com
      The new budget and tax rate are now official for the Isaacson Municipal Utility District after no objections from residents. The IMUD board adopted both proposals Thursday. For the coming fiscal year, the IMUD's tax rate is .83254 cents per $100 - a .002 cent drop from the prior year - to cove...
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Paying Close Attention
      Louise ISD board of trustees President Zack Williamson listens intently to a speaker discussing fitness during a recent board meeting. The LISD board is considering renovations to its old elementary gym to use the space to house a major fitness center for students, paid for by a $200,000 federal g...
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Louise ISD reviews child exercise regulations, changes in truancy laws
By APRIL HAMMAN Louise Correspondent
      Louise students will become more physically fit, school trustees said Monday night as they discussed new state expectations including a required daily exercise period and the possibility of enrolling considerably older students.
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Report criticizes Paul on earmark record
By JONATHAN BARBEE leader@leader-news.com
      Wharton County's congressman and Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul, M.D. of Lake Jackson, has run for office on the slogan that he is "the taxpayer's best friend" - a label attributed to him by the National Taxpayers' Union.
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New power plant against annexation
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com
      The Wharton City Council wants to annex the Colorado Bend Energy Center site. Power company officials are urging them not to. Navasota Energy's Andy Morris told City Council Monday that being brought into the city limits would pose little benefit to the power plant. In fact, it might present a hi...
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One CDC project wilts, second one blooms
By BRENDA SOMMER news1@leader-news.com
      Two City Development Corporation of El Campo projects are headed in opposite directions: one about to open a brand-new warehouse/office, the other putting its building up for sale after failing to thrive. Engineered Particle Systems' building on Stubbs Drive in the Meisel Industrial Park is now o...
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