B. Action Item(s) 121. Discussion, consideration and possible action on Board Attorney contract. (Board Member Request - CL)
By Juan Montoya
Poor Baltazar Salazar.
At a $264,000 annual salary, he's barely making ends meet as the general counsel for the Brownsville Independent School District.
![Image result for baltazar salazar]()
So at Tuesday's meeting, board chairman Cesar Lopez, Carlos Elizondo, and Phil Cowen are going to try to get another vote ("Coach" and BISD vendor Joe Rodriguez?) to pitch in another $36,000 to help poor old Balty out. If they don't get the full $36,000, why they might have to settle for a paltry $24,000.
At $264,000, he is already making more than the new president of Texas Southmost College at $230,000. If he gets the additional $36,000, he'll be commanding $300,000. If the generous threesome can't convince their fourth ally to go the full $36,000, it'll be $288,000.
Not bad for a hairlip! He just got a riase of $25,000 last June, and now a year later, he wants to go for the $300,000. Of course, some of it goes to the tustees' campaign fund. Most, if not all, have been recipients of his largesse. Last time Lopez ran, Balty pitched in $4,000.
And Elizondo, of course, is counting on him to give him free legal advice on his conflict-of-interst cases now that Noe Garza won't do it pro bono, or for the amount that Superintendent Esperanza Zendejas could raise to defend her beleaguered trustee and fire chief.
When Salazar first applied to be the BISD board attorney he promised the trustees he would "tone down your legal expenses" and bring "stability, because you have chaos, and when there's chaos, lawyers make money."
The school district, he told them, had "become a cash cow" because the district did not follow procedure and said he was there "to serve the board as a whole."
Appropriately, he was officially hired on April 1, 2013, April Fools Day. It's been that kind of chaotic ride ever since.
Take a look at the agenda for Tuesday. As in every agenda in memory since Salazar has been there, there are payments made to law firms every month. This month's total payment are low since the courts are in vacation.
30. Recommend approval for payment in the amount of $1,212.50 to Colvin, Chaney, Saenz & Rodriguez, L.L.P. for ongoing Board approved legal services.
31. Recommend approval for payment in the amount of $70.50 to Walsh, Gallegos, Trevino, Russo & Kyle, P.C., for ongoing Board approved legal services. 32. Recommend approval for payment in the amount of $380.00 to Esparza & Garza, L.L.P., for ongoing Board approved legal services.
The first two legal firms have done busines with the district almost exclusively since Salazar has been at the BISD. Trustee Joe Rodriguez's son works for the first one. And Walsh, Gallegos, et al was the firm that was let go to hire Salazar.
![]()
This new board can sniff out a dollar. Take a gander at the budget amendment number 47. It reads:
47. Recommend approval of Budget Amendment #011 in the amount of $38,530,792.00 for Local Funds. ($14,530,792.00 Carryover Budget – Designated Fund Balance and $24,000,000.00 additional funding due to increase in Tax Rate)
In other words, the $24 million isn't even going to be available until January 1, 2018, but they are already making plans to spend it before they get it.
Obviously, this board majority and the administration isn't about kids and education. It's about money, honey!
By Juan Montoya
Poor Baltazar Salazar.
At a $264,000 annual salary, he's barely making ends meet as the general counsel for the Brownsville Independent School District.
So at Tuesday's meeting, board chairman Cesar Lopez, Carlos Elizondo, and Phil Cowen are going to try to get another vote ("Coach" and BISD vendor Joe Rodriguez?) to pitch in another $36,000 to help poor old Balty out. If they don't get the full $36,000, why they might have to settle for a paltry $24,000.
At $264,000, he is already making more than the new president of Texas Southmost College at $230,000. If he gets the additional $36,000, he'll be commanding $300,000. If the generous threesome can't convince their fourth ally to go the full $36,000, it'll be $288,000.
Not bad for a hairlip! He just got a riase of $25,000 last June, and now a year later, he wants to go for the $300,000. Of course, some of it goes to the tustees' campaign fund. Most, if not all, have been recipients of his largesse. Last time Lopez ran, Balty pitched in $4,000.
And Elizondo, of course, is counting on him to give him free legal advice on his conflict-of-interst cases now that Noe Garza won't do it pro bono, or for the amount that Superintendent Esperanza Zendejas could raise to defend her beleaguered trustee and fire chief.
When Salazar first applied to be the BISD board attorney he promised the trustees he would "tone down your legal expenses" and bring "stability, because you have chaos, and when there's chaos, lawyers make money."
The school district, he told them, had "become a cash cow" because the district did not follow procedure and said he was there "to serve the board as a whole."
Appropriately, he was officially hired on April 1, 2013, April Fools Day. It's been that kind of chaotic ride ever since.
Take a look at the agenda for Tuesday. As in every agenda in memory since Salazar has been there, there are payments made to law firms every month. This month's total payment are low since the courts are in vacation.
30. Recommend approval for payment in the amount of $1,212.50 to Colvin, Chaney, Saenz & Rodriguez, L.L.P. for ongoing Board approved legal services.
31. Recommend approval for payment in the amount of $70.50 to Walsh, Gallegos, Trevino, Russo & Kyle, P.C., for ongoing Board approved legal services. 32. Recommend approval for payment in the amount of $380.00 to Esparza & Garza, L.L.P., for ongoing Board approved legal services.
The first two legal firms have done busines with the district almost exclusively since Salazar has been at the BISD. Trustee Joe Rodriguez's son works for the first one. And Walsh, Gallegos, et al was the firm that was let go to hire Salazar.
This new board can sniff out a dollar. Take a gander at the budget amendment number 47. It reads:
47. Recommend approval of Budget Amendment #011 in the amount of $38,530,792.00 for Local Funds. ($14,530,792.00 Carryover Budget – Designated Fund Balance and $24,000,000.00 additional funding due to increase in Tax Rate)
In other words, the $24 million isn't even going to be available until January 1, 2018, but they are already making plans to spend it before they get it.
Obviously, this board majority and the administration isn't about kids and education. It's about money, honey!