KERENS–Kerens ISD trustees voted May 23 to accept applications for value limitation agreements for two proposed solar projects within the district, which if approved would total four solar farm agreements for the school.
Trustees Matt Lynch and Kenny Berry voted against accepting the applications.
The value limitation agreements are pursuant to Chapter 313 of the Texas Property Tax Code, which allows a taxpayer to agree to build or install property and create jobs in exchange for a 10-year limitation on the taxable property value for school district maintenance and operations tax (M&O) purposes. Chapter 313 is set to expire statewide Dec. 31.
Ernst & Young Manager of Tax Services Evan Horn, based in Austin, said he represented Samsung Rural Energy for its proposed 1,100-acre Gaia Solar Project, which is a 200-megawatt project with possible battery storage components and would be a $200 million total investment. Horn said the Gaia project would be located north of State Highway 31 near Oak Grove Cemetery Road, which is in the eastern part of the district.
Horn said the Elm Flats Solar Project would be 125 megawatts with a battery storage component developed by Birch Creek and would be a $165 million investment. Project Development Consultant Thadd Barker, representing Elm Flats, said the project is targeted to be southeast of Powell on 1,500 acres. The exact project bounds haven’t been locked in because negotiations are ongoing with landowners, Barker added.
Related to the solar projects, the board approved giving Superintendent Martin Brumit authorization to review the applications for completeness and submit them to the state comptroller, as well as to authorize the superintendent to approve any request for extension of the deadline for action for the board beyond the 150-day review period.
Also, the board voted to retain the Leon Alcala law firm and Jigsaw School Finance Solutions to assist the district in the review and processing of the solar project applications. Brumit said the solar project developers would pay for the law firm and financial consultant.
The board also heard an annual progress report on the district’s School Health Advisory Council (SHAC), which the Texas Department of State Health Services says assists districts in ensuring that local community values are reflected in health education instruction, which the board learned includes human sexuality.
The SHAC voted to use VOICE, with which the district has had a partnership for more than 20 years, to offer programs for the district, Brumit said. Another provider, Hope Center’s Choosing the Best, offers abstinence-based sexual health and reproduction programs, he added.
In other business, the board:
• Approved changing the 2021-22 school calendar to allow for an earlier release for summer.
• Approved purchasing a new Suburban for $45,465 to replace a 2019 Suburban totaled in a wreck that was no fault of any district employee.
• Approved budget amendments reallocating $140,963 in unused payroll allotments.
• Approved redoing the main gym’s floor by Gym Masters for $37,800.
• Approved accepting the resignation of board member Shane Hill, who moved outside the district and whose term ends May 2024, replaced by Kenny Berry.
• Approved reorganizing the board to keep Teresa Jennings as president, Randy Bancroft as vice president and choosing Matt Lynch as board secretary.