Taxpayer-funded lobby associations are big business

Taxpayer-funded lobbying is big business…
The following information on TAC, TML and TASB came from their most recently available 990’s

Texas Association of Counties*
Had total revenue of $15.9 million in 2005
$288,000 revenue from dues
$322,000 program service revenues including government fees and contracts
$322,000 – conference income
$363,000 - income from interest and dividends
$9.6 million in investments and securities
TAC paid over $7 million in salaries and wages, 130 employees (plus TAC owns 9 vehicles)
TAC 2005 990: http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2005/742/083/2005-742083149-02abb673-9O.pdf
(Above information came from TAC's 990 - 2005 filings)
$224,999.87 - paid for lobbyists to oppose taxpayer protections in 2005 (since then, this number has grown considerably!)

Texas Municipal League:
Revenue in 2006 of $5 million
Dues - $1.6 million
Program service revenues including government fees and contracts - $1.8 million
$1.9 million – salaries and wages
$3.9 million – investments
$5.7 million – total assets
Over $255,000 – salary and benefits for Exec Dir Frank Sturzl
TML 2006 990: http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/746/000/2006-746000125-02cf994f-9O.pdf (Above information came from TML's 990- 2006 filings)
$1,284,997.82 - paid for lobbyists to oppose taxpayer protections in 2005 (since then, this number has grown considerably!)


Texas Association of School Boards - 2006:
Program service revenues including government fees and contracts - $30.3 million
Membership dues and assessments - $5.5 million
Net assets or fund balance at the end of 2006 - $27 million
Salaries and wages - $22.3 million
Travel - $1.5 million
Assets - $51.2 million
$402,348 spent lobbying
$137 million – gross receipts
$152 million – public support
$2.8 million – First Public LLC, ($2.78 million Lone Star Investment Fund Administrative fees)
184 employees make over $50,000
(One of 4 associate exec directors makes over $255,000 which includes a $10,000 in employee benefits and deferred compensation of over $38,000)
The executive director makes $260,000; plus $50,000 in deferred compensation and over $18,000 expense account
(Above information from TASB 990, 2006: http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/742/275/2006-742275519-0346615e-9.pdf)
$2,769,998.47 – paid by all taxpayer-funded educational organizations in TX for lobbyists to oppose taxpayer protections in 2005 (since then, this number has grown considerably!)

TASB Legal Assistance Fund:
Over $273,000 in funds
Assets $374,000
“Public school districts become members of the legal assistance fund by adopting an agreement and paying annual membership dues. The funds are then used to advocate for public schools in legal proceedings that are likely to have a state-wide impact on public education. This advocacy usually takes the form of friend-of-the-court briefs, but the Fund may also provide financial assistance to a party in litigation or consulting counsel….all school districts benefit from these services though only 800 districts are actual members.”

BuyBoard
Vendors and Membership list available: http://www.vendor.buyboard.com/ There is a 2% service fee charged to vendors for each of their purchase orders transmitted through the BuyBoard. The Purchasing Cooperative will calculate those charges and will invoice vendors on a quarterly basis. The BuyBoard is administered by TASB, TML and TAC.
http://www.tasb.org/services/cooperative_purchasing/index.aspx