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BY MARTY PRIMEAU BURNET—In an unusually long meeting Tuesday night, the Bur net School Board hired a new teacher, heard an update on new school programs, signed the Briggs Civic Center lease and approved the financial audit (see related story). The trustees accepted resigna tions from Mrs. Donita Tompkins, kindergarten teacher, and Mrs. Darlene Gamble, high school English teacher in executive ses sion and voted to hire Mrs. Pat Seawell to fill the vacancy in the English department. Caroline Pittman, special ed ucation supervisor, gave an up date on the Special Education Plan A Co-op program, which was started this year in Burnet and (See Page 2) Whether or not Burnet County will be indirectly affected by the ruling remains to be seen but Tippit is optimistic. “The Texas Municipal League will be testifying in the Continental hearing on behalf of several Texas cities. Burnet is one of them,” said Tippit. ‘I have been advised by the League’s attorneys that prepara tory testimony and evidence show no justification for a rate increase. He added that the League is not asking for a rollback in rates. “The PUC ruling is significant. I‘m convinced the Continental rate increase will be found unreasonable,” he said. Burnet City Councilman James Fry agreed the ruling could have a hearing on the Continental hearing. “If Southwestern Bell will accept the ruling as fair, then I would hope we could get a similar rate as Austin,” Fry said. “I certainly don’t favor an increase.”’ “On the face of it the ruling appears to be fair,’ he said. “The Commission is serving the best interests of Texas. I think their requests regarding information calls is justifiable. Many people abuse that service, but some adjustment should be made for blind people, hospitals, phone booths...people who are unable to use a phone book for a valid reason,’’ he said. The three-member commission in its first major rate case decision slashed Bell's request to million net revenue increase and endorsed lower base charges for almost all of Bell’s Texas customers, but higher charges for specialized facilities and services. Bell will be allowed a total revenue increase of $121.3 million with more than half coming from higher charges for specialized facilities and services. The long distance toll would be accompanied by a $63.4 million reduction in charges for local residential and business telephone services. Bell has the option of complying with the PUC order or seeking a rehearing. The second alternative could lead to a court appeal. In Austin the residential rate will decrease from $7.35 to $6.50 per month, down from the $8.95 that Bell requested. Fort Worth decreases from $7.90 per month to $7 per month, down from the $9.45 Bell request. Houston will decrease from $9.20 to $8 per month. The only increase in charges for basic services are in Abilene up 50 cents per month, Amarillo, up 15 cents, Laredo and Lubbock, up ten cents per month, and Midland - Odessa, up $1 per month. Other increases in rates include a “information” or “411” charge of 20 cents for each call after ten free ones, a 20 cent pay-phone charge and increases for services such as PBX, WATS and Centrex. Other items that will cost more are fancy telephones, touchtone, phones, mobile and automatic answering services.
Newspaper Details
Burnet County Bulletin
Burnet, Texas, US
Thu, Dec 16, 1976
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Dana H.
USA 19 Aug 2025
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