Beaumont City Council members question whether they should continue to help fund Beaumont Independent School District's crossing guard program.
Beaumont City Council members invite you to offer your input on the funding of crossing guards.
During the school year, City Manager Kyle Hayes says there are 40 crossing guards at crosswalks near schools, costing nearly $180,000 a year.
Some council members say BISD can afford to pay the entire cost.
Heavy traffic passes through crosswalks, showing just how dangerous a walk to school can be for a child. That's why Shelby Collins wants crossing guards nearby.
"I got grand babies so I would think that would be important," said Collins.
However, how the 40 BISD cross guards get paid could change.
Since the 1980s, the city has paid half the cost with the school district paying the other half. The city has run the program because back then BISD didn't have a police department to manage it.
Now that the school district does, some council members say BISD should hire, run and pay the entire $180,000 yearly cost for the program itself.
"They have the money plus they have a $44 million fund balance," said Councilman Mike Getz.
The best thing the city can do to ensure the safety of children is to make sure there are adequate sidewalks they can take to school.
Other council members feel differently.
"I believe we have an obligation to the citizens of our city to make sure our streets are safe and we are protecting our children," said Councilman Audwin Samuel. "I think that's a city responsibility."
BISD didn't return calls for comment. If the city council votes to stop paying, BISD would have to pay the entire cost, find another source for funds or possibly get rid of some crossing guards.
I talked to several people out in the neighborhoods near the crosswalks who say they just hope crossing guards will remain at these intersections.
The city council will hear public opinion on the crossing guard matter during their meeting Tuesday at 1:30 PM. They will vote on the funding in the next couple of weeks so that the city manager can create a budget accordingly.
