Home sales, outlook getting better

February 25, 2009, Austin Business Journal

A February survey of public and private builders across the country from John Burns Real Estate Consulting shows that Texas saw new home sales, traffic and expectations pick up in January. The survey gathered information from 236 home building industry executives.

“I spent several days in Texas this month and can confirm that the pick-up is real and is driven by lower mortgage rates in an area where home price appreciation was insignificant and the economy is still OK,” said John Burns, CEO of Irvine, Calif.-based John Burns Real Estate Consulting.

However, Burns said, new home prices are still trending downward everywhere, including Texas.

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FISD art show to paint picture of students’ creativity

By JAN BELLAMY, February 23, 2009

More than 2,000 works of art by Frisco students are being displayed Tuesday and Thursday nights at the new Career and Technical Education Center, 9889 Wade Blvd., Frisco. The works reflect the talents of youngsters from kindergarten through 12th grade.

“We are celebrating National Youth Art Month, which is in March,” said Laverne Forwark, art teacher at Curtsinger Elementary and coordinator of the annual exhibit for three years.

“We started the annual student art show in 1998,” Forwark explained, “and I think we had only five campuses then compared to the 40 campuses now part of the district and represented in this show.”

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Outlook healthy for FISD budget

By DEVIN MONK, February 20

If projections and proposals go according to plan later this year, Frisco ISD will pass its financial checkup for the coming fiscal year and further explore ways to help its employees maintain their wellness through an on-site health-care clinic.

Frisco ISD officials learned at Monday night’s regular board meeting that the district will likely have a robust budget in store.

Conservative estimates of a $15.65 billion tax base for the 2009-10 fiscal year would bring in a projected revenue of $266.76 million. If Collin and Denton county appraisal districts value property at a higher mark this June, then projections would approach $277.16 million in revenue.

FISD Director of Finance Rick Bankston said that appraisal districts were holding off on releasing their preliminary projections because of the impact home foreclosures could have on property values, but continued commercial development within the district’s boundaries would counterbalance any reductions.

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Makeover on track for Frisco Superdrome cycling facility

February 16, 2009

By DAN X. McGRAW

Six years of abuse and Texas weather are showing on the wooden planks of the Frisco Superdrome.

Bicyclists race at a blazing-fast 30 mph on the 250-meter velodrome, an oval track with 45-degree turns designed to help riders maintain high speeds. The constant pounding has left potholes large and small dotting the straightaways and turns.

Now, volunteers are removing, replacing and repainting every board on the track – its first major renovation in more than six years.

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Walking the talk: Expedition for clean water makes Frisco stop

Feb 23, 2009
Frisco reached out a helping hand to Africa on Saturday. About 50 area residents came together at The Canyons climbing gym to welcome a Texas native son and a fellow traveler walking to raise awareness of the need for clean and healthy water sources to save lives.

Bryan Schlackman, 22, of Richardson joined Daren Wendell, 27, of Ohio at the California border and is travelling with Wendell on the second leg of a multi-year, 18,000-mile journey around the world. They passed through Texas on their way to Dahlonega, Ga., as part of the Earth Expedition and Blood:Water Mission.

“I’ve always wanted to do something about the diseased water that kills so many Africans each day,” Schlackman said. “I just can’t stand seeing people die because they don’t have water.”

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Frisco faces $3M budget shortfall; budget cuts, hiring freeze initiated

By ELIZABETH LANGTON / The Dallas Morning News

Frisco is projecting a $3 million gap in this year's budget, prompting immediate spending cuts and a hiring freeze, officials said this week.

While the city's property and sales tax revenues remain at or near projected ranges, earnings from building permits and interest are well below budgeted levels, Assistant City Manager Nell Lange said.

In response, city staff has been directed to cut 4 percent from each department's budget and freeze 28 open jobs. The cuts will not require layoffs, Lange said.

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