For a decade, budget austerity cuts have caused Georgias school districts to be malnourished financially, and if that drop in funding continues, one legislative chairman said the districts could starve to death.

Those were the words of Sen. Lindsey Tippins, R-Marietta, chair of the state senates Education and Youth committee, speaking to reporters last week at an education media symposium at Georgia Public Broadcasting headquarters in Atlanta.

The bottom line is, if we get used to (cuts), the schools are going to starve to death, Tippins said.

Fortunately, Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to boost K-12 education funding when he unveils his budget on Wednesday.

There will be a significant increase in K-12 funding, Deal said in a weekend interview on WSB Radio. It will be done in such a way that it will relieve much of the pressure that local school districts have been under.

Historically, the state budget includes 51 percent allocated toward education, including about 39 percent on K-12 education.

If funding isnt restored, districts have requested more funding flexibility to raise taxes themselves for daily operations. School districts are restricted to using local education sales taxes for construction or equipment purposes.

That flexibility helps school districts where a sales tax wouldnt if, for example, there isnt a Walmart in the county.

Raising taxes statewide is not likely, said Rep. Brooks Coleman, R-Duluth, chairman of the House Education Committee, referring to the failed transportation sales tax around most regions in the state.

The appetite is just not there, Coleman said.

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State budget expected to include more money for K-12 education

The Baraboo School District Board of Education approved two resolutions Monday that will place a $9.95 million referendum question on the April 1 election ballot.

The safety and security improvements and maintenance projects and repairs outlined in the language approved by the board are set to make up the first phase of a multi-phase master facilities plan.

Planned for the first phase are $4.9 million in safety and security upgrades and $5.05 million in maintenance projects. The needs were identified and prioritized through a lengthy analysis, which included work by consultants and a community survey.

Safety and security improvements would secure the main entrances and provide surveillance cameras and exterior door controls and monitors at all seven school buildings. Other safety projects would involve relocating and renovating the main offices, relocating the libraries to accommodate these shifts and improving parking and traffic flow at some schools.

Maintenance projects would include updating HVAC systems at all schools and roof, window, lighting, ceiling, masonry and parking lot work at some buildings.

According to a fact sheet distributed to the board Monday, the project costs include renovations, construction, energy efficiency upgrades, building system replacements and repairs, site work, furniture, fixtures and equipment, professional service fees and required permits.

The fact sheet is just one part of a communications plan initiated by the district to help inform the community about its plans and the referendum process.

Now that the question is set to be on the ballot, district employees and board members are bound by certain legal restrictions to provide only factual information when communicating about the referendum process while they are serving in their official capacities and on school district property. They cannot engage in advocacy on behalf of the district.

Kit Dailey of Eppstein Uhen Architects made a presentation to the board about the communication plan, including the restrictions on advocacy.

Staff and board members can share their own opinions as long as theyre using their own time and resources and they make it clear that they are speaking as individuals, Dailey said.

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Baraboo School Board votes to put $9.95M referendum question on ballot

CUMBERLAND The NAILS Mission Project is accepting applications for critical home repairs for 2014.

Applicants should be low-to-moderate income and in need of some critical repair, health or safety repair or repair to improve accessibility or mobility.

NAILS utilizes volunteer work groups to make necessary repairs. Applications are ranked based upon necessity of repair, income, owner-occupied status, available volunteers, residency, first-time application and complexity of repairs.

Projects ranging from re-painting of porches to ramps for improved mobility are all considered, as are kitchen cabinet replacements or floor repairs. Roof replacements and repairs as well as window replacements, HVAC projects and extensive electrical or plumbing projects are not eligible due to limited volunteer expertise.

The program primarily operates from March through September and can typically complete approximately 30 projects. Applications are being accepted now and applicants are encouraged to apply early. Residents must be from within Allegany County and preference for applicants is given to city of Cumberland residents.

Those interested in supporting the mission of NAILS are asked to make donations by mail to NAILS Missions, c/o Cumberland Neighborhood Housing, 400 N. Mechanic St., Cumberland, MD 21502, and make checks payable to NAILS Missions.

Volunteers interested in assisting with the program are always welcome.

NAILS is a program administered by Cumberland Neighborhood Housing Services.

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Applications sought for NAILS home repair projects

(PRWEB) January 14, 2014

Heating and cooling bills alone can cause some concern for individuals suffering from financial difficulty. Adding the need for a new unit altogether is typically more than a cause for concern, as it can cause a feeling of fear or panic in those with limited incomes. Following Penn Lives January 3rd article, Emergency Home Heating Grants Are Available for Low-Income People, Arizona HVAC Education urged consumers to seek out any possible grants or financial assistance available for heating and cooling needs. These grants can help homeowners pay professionals with HVAC training for both labor and equipment, allowing homeowners with low incomes to enjoy the wonder of a comfortable, climate-controlled home.

Deb Kiners PennLive.com article revealed the potential grants available to homeowners of low incomes. The grants are awarded based upon financial need, and cover a wide array of issues, including simple equipment fixes, paying utility bills, and replacing a faulty unit. Residents facing service termination or a winter without heating are encouraged to apply.

Heating and cooling bills and equipment can cause concern for many homeownersparticularly those facing the potential replacement of an entire unit. To help combat a feeling of panic for homeowners with low income levels or who are experiencing financial difficulty, many cities and states have developed programs to assist low income families in replacing faulty or malfunctioning heating systems. These programs are need-based and require proof of financial strain, but may prove invaluable for those who qualify. To find qualifications and existing programs, check with local housing authorities.

Deb Kiner has worked as a writer for Penn Live for over 20 years. She has filled numerous roles within the company, including reporter, editor, and paginator. Her work typically focuses on local events, including remembrance columns and consumer reports.

Following Penn Lives revelation regarding home heating grants, HVAC Education urged homeowners to consider seeking out grants and other types of assistance from local entities while under financial duress. Upon discovering that ones heating has gone out, the stress of finding a reliable professional with adequate HVAC training and the money to pay said professional can lead to extreme anxiety and, in extreme cases, extreme fear. To alleviate both, many cities and states are developing programs to help homeowners in need of home repairs, including those needing HVAC repairs or replacements. To find grants or assistance in their area, homeowners should contact the local housing authority.

About HVACED.com: HVACED.com or Arizona HVAC Education is an online resource for consumers and students of the HVAC industry alike, offering news about the industry itself, and tips and advice for those seeking HVAC assistance.

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HVAC Education Urges Consumers to Check Out Local Heating and Cooling Grants

A new year is always a time of reflection a time to contemplate accomplishments of the past year and anticipate upcoming events. The Van Banner asked city leaders and the Van ISD superintendent to take a few moments and answer some questions about the year past and the one just started. Here are the first responses received and we are hoping to run the remaining responses next week.

Van City Council Member Amanda Davis

Residents of Van, First, I would like to thank the citizens of Van for allowing me to serve as their voice on the city council. The past six months have been an exciting time for me as a council member, as a council we have established a new Parks and Recreation board, kept our tax rate from rising yet again and also are pushing for the annexation of Interstate 20. I hope over the next year and a half, we can accomplish more of the goals that I originally set when I ran for office. -One of these accomplishments was the formation of the Parks and Recreation board, which will hopefully take the initiative to begin repairs and update our city parks and ensure the use of them for many years to come. Van residents all know that our city parks have declined and that our pool was closed. I hope to work closely with the new parks and recreation board to get our parks where we all would like to see them- safe, clean, and a focal point for our children. We hope to apply for many grants and work closely with the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions club, Kiwaniss club and our citizens to give our children a safe environment for them to play. While pushing for the repair of our parks, it is also crucial to push for development across Interstate 20, a must if Van is to move forward into the future. We all know that Vans oil and mineral revenue has steadily declined over the past few years and will continue to do so with more oil wells are being capped every year. I hope in the next year, we can expand infrastructure across interstate. Van is a prime location. If we could get south of Interstate 20 developed, it would increase sales tax revenue and allow for exponential growth. It is imperative for us to keep strategic planning as a priority in order for us to move ahead. Ive tried to help raise awareness with the safety concerns of the I-20 exit ramp 540. Moving our ramp back would not only eliminate the safety concerns currently on our minds, but would open so many opportunities along our I20 corridor. If you havent written Dan Flynn or Bob Deuell regarding the safety concerns of our ramp, I would encourage you to do so. We, as a community, need to voice concerns regarding our roads to ensure a productive and safe community. Although taxes were raised in Van Zandt County, the council voted to keep our tax rate the same instead of raising it yet again. If we continue to support our local businesses and our sales tax revenue continues to rise, I would like to see us try to lower our tax rate next budget cycle. As many of you know, our Economic Director, Jerrod Fishback, recently left. We are confident that even with his departure, we are on the right path for success and I hope to have the support that would entail me to further Vans growth. During my time as a council member, we have seen many new businesses come into Van, the tax rate kept the same and the formation of the Parks and Recreation Board, something that Van vitally needed for its residents. As a council member, I will continue to work tirelessly to prosper, grow and move Van into the future. Again, thank you for trusting in me to be your voice. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of service to you.

Van City Council Member Jackie Nations

What do you see on the horizon for Van in the upcoming year? Several things are on the horizon for Van in 2014. We will be replacing Jerrod, our EDC Director and picking up where Jerrod left off to not lose momentum with the projects that Jerrod and the board had begun during the past year. The new Parks and Recreation Board that has been formed can have an impact for our community if we can find funds to restore some of our facilities.

What would be Vans biggest challenge in 2014? Our biggest challenge for 2014 is finding ways to fund all that we need to do in our community without raising our taxes. Growing our business base to increase sales taxes and creating jobs for our local people is a challenge for all of us in our community. Our oil revenue dollars are decreasing, as evidenced by the continual plugging and abandoning of the wells which have given Van much of its support in the past. Another challenge is cleaning up our town so that those who come here will see our community as a nice, neat place to live, raise our family, or start a business. We all need to look at our premises to see if there are ways we can contribute to this effort and have pride in our outward appearances.

Any significant events that the residents of Van should be looking forward to? The events that everyone should look forward to are the development of several new businesses. We will continue to actively solicit new businesses to come to Van while pledging our support to the other existing businesses in town.

What should people put on their calendar right now so they will be sure not to miss it? Our citizens should watch for ongoing events that are normally posted in our Van Banner paper and support our organizations and efforts to bring people closer together to grow our community.

Several accomplishments in 2013 were: The Van EDC has taken great strides in their efforts to inform people of their efforts and to set up a base work for the direction we need to grow our business base. Several streets were re-paved in the city. This may not seem like much, but it is a big expense. I hope it will be a new beginning to continue with several streets each year. A previously water well that has been out of service for many years has been resurrected to supplement our water needs for future growth. Water is going to be one of our big ticket items to prepare for future needs of our community.

Superintendent of Van ISD Don Dunn

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Community leaders reflect on 2013, look forward to 2014

It takes time and expertise to complete a professional load calculation and system design. Contractors lacking in the necessary technical skills or who are just interested in making a fast buck may try to convince you this is not important. But in Houston you need an A/C System that's reliable and efficient. That's why House Pro is here to meet your Air Conditioning Replacement needs.

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Eleven people have applied for two open seats on the Medina Board of Education. Board member Susan Vlcek announced last year she would resign her post at the start of this year, and board President Karla Robinson, who initially said she would resign in June, announced in December she also would leave Jan 1.

Both Robinson and Vlcek announced in September they would not serve out their full terms in response to the public furor over the new contract approved in January for Superintendent Randy Stepp.

Public outcry against a contract for Stepp led to the board rescinding the contract in the spring and requesting a special state audit of Stepps spending, which reported that Stepp illegally spent at least $4,121.

The board placed Stepp on unpaid leave and voted to start the process to fire him in October when the audit was released.

Stepp has gone to court to challenge the firing and the audit results. The board also has sued Stepp.

Robinson initially planned to serve on the board until the spring for continuity, but her announcement that she would resign means the board can appoint both positions from the pool of applicants they received. The application deadline was Friday.

That fact that Karla did what she did with the timing allows us to appoint the two people right now, said board member Tom Cahalan, who was appointed to the board last spring and won re-election in November.

State law requires the board to appoint the two replacements before Jan. 30 but after Jan. 10. Cahalan said they hope to appoint the new members at the boards Jan. 27 regular meeting.

The appointed members will serve out the remainder of Vlcek and Robinsons terms, which end in 2015.

School officials released information about the 11 applicants:

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Field set for Medina school board candidates

Electrical connections have been corroded by seepage at the Missouri Capitol and are high on the repair list. (File photo) Photo by News Tribune.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon released $18 million Tuesday for repairs to the state Capitol building, and the selection of a consultant for the projects will begin immediately, according to the Office of Administration.

An estimated $15 million is for Phase I of stone repair on the south side of the building, an estimated $1 million will be used for window repairs and an estimated $2 million is to replace or repair the Centaur pavers at the north side of the building, said Ryan Burns, spokeswoman for the Office of Administration.

The Centaur pavers are the concrete stones on the edge of and around the Centaur fountain in the plaza near the Missouri River.

Burns said the stone repair on the south side of the building is the most critical to complete first. The repairs will include sealing and waterproofing the exterior of the building. She said there are additional sides of the building that also need repairs, as well as the dome, but they are not included in Phase I of the stone repair project.

A significant amount of progress has already been made in the last several years on projects at the Capitol, including electrical and generator replacements in 2011, and the west stairs and plaza repair and cafeteria renovation in 2012, Burns said.

The stone work is the major project that still needs to be completed. In addition, the Office of Administration is currently completing a major upgrade to the HVAC system, separate from the funding for capital improvements.

The HVAC system is the Capitols heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

Burns said additional Capitol repairs may also be needed in the future.

Excerpt from:
Capitol repairs to begin immediately

mom section Living Well Family & Relationships Education & Activities Parenting eHow Personal Finance Money Managing Saving Money Texas Grants for Air Conditioning Replacement

Serena Cassidy

Serena Cassidy has written reports, policies, and research documents since 2000 on community development and government policy issues, and she has been featured in "CIO Canada." She has a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Saint Mary's University and a Master of Public Administration from Dalhousie University. She currently works as a government policy analyst.

Texas residents can apply for grant funding to replace inefficient air conditioning systems. State agencies, municipal governments and private organizations provide funding for low-income residents, seniors, schools and residents to improve their energy conservation and lower their utility costs. The amount of grant funding and application deadlines vary, depending on the funding provider.

The Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program provides funding to low-income households for the repair, retrofit and replacement of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The purpose of the grant is to help recipients lower energy costs, meet their energy needs and educate the public about energy efficient products. CEAP is funded via the federal governments Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. As of the time of publication, applicants can apply for funding by contacting their local CEAP service provider, visiting the Help for Texans website (tdhca.state.tx.us/texans.htm), call 211 and ask for information on the program, or call (877) 399-8939.

The Air Conditioner Repair and Replacement Program sponsored by the city of Irving, Texas provides funding to residents with disabilities and senior citizens to replace or repair an inefficient air conditioner system. To apply, applicants must complete the program application form, and provide family income information and household demographics.

Schools in Texas located along the border with Mexico can apply for up to $50,000 in funding to replace air conditioning units with energy efficient models, via the Texas/Mexico Small Schools Grant Project. The project provides funding for schools to improve air quality, and enhance the quality of the classroom environment for students. To apply for funding, schools must contact the Texas State Energy Conservation Office and request grant information.

Reliant Energy in partnership with Dallas County Health and Human Services, offers the Home Weatherization Program for low-income residents. The $5,000 grant provides grant recipients with funds to make improvements in energy-efficiency, including servicing of air conditioning systems. As of the time of publication, Reliant Energy will provide 10 grants of $5,000.

Grants for Replacement Air Conditioning. ... Texas Grants for Air Conditioning Replacement; How to Calculate Labor Costs on Brake Pad Replacement;

Read on to learn how to make free air conditioning. Does ... Living in Texas with 110 degree heat and residing in...

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Texas Grants for Air Conditioning Replacement | eHow

The compressor may eventually need to replaced in a home air conditioning system that is often used. Usually, the outside half of a standard air conditioning system uses a refrigerant compressor. These systems are also known for their use of condensing coils. The compressor of an air conditioning system refers to the pump inside the motor. This pump is responsible for pulling heat laden refrigerant gas from the inside components of the building. Once the gas has been drawn, it is compressed. The gas transforms from a low pressure substance to a high pressured one.

The refrigerant gas which was transformed into a high pressure andhigh temperature substance will be transferred to the condensing coil. The condensing oil in turn cools the gas into a liquid state. The gas is cooled using a fan or blower inside the condensing oil. Another way to cool the gas is through theimmersion of the coil into cold water. From time to time, the compressor of the air conditioning system gets wearied down. When this happens, they often need to be replaced.

Usually, compressor replacement is something that should be professionally done. Although it is not your usual home improvement project or a mere bolt-in thing to do, it is still aprofitabletask to learn. This is a task which will be able to get completed by following the following steps.

Try to see whether or not the compressor is still capable of doing its job within the cooling system. Try to check the temperature of the air coming out from the air conditioning system.

Before buying a replacement make sure you got the model right. Usually the model type of th compressor is indicated in the manual.

Before opening the air conditioning system, you should cut off all power supply. This will help prevent any accidents from happening.

Open the cooling system and remove the refrigerant. The system should be ridden of all refrigerants. The latest measures require that instead of releasing refrigerant outside, it should be captured. This is part of newest environmental protocols. For the newer models, its not necessary to replace all parts of the compressor.

The line of the refrigerant should be cut. After this, take out the compressor. The area of the compressor is usually located outside. You wont have a problem finding it.

Before replacing the compressor, you have to unbolt it first. When unbolting the compressor of the air conditioner, the hosing from it is attached should be removed. Usually, compressors come with a single bolt. This standard setup provides holding for both the low and high pressure lines. The compressor should be unbolted from this holding and the accessory bracket. The pressure lines should also be unfastened. These lines should be attached once the compressor has been replaced.

The replacement compressor should be placed within the condenser unit. Connect the lines of the refrigerant once gain. Given that the refrigerant needs replacing; other controls or the coils should be replaced as well.

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Home Air Conditioning Compressor Replacement | DoItYourself.com