NEWS
Several Bowie City Councilors came ready for battle Tuesday night, loaded with copies of past budgets and stacks of questions as the first budget workshop was conducted.
It was a lengthy evening lasting five hours as the council went through the budget, department by department. City Manager Ricky Tow, going into his second budget season, presented a preliminary budget that totals $19.2 million for utility and general fund operations. The formal budget presentation will be made July 15.
Tow called the proposal “conservative to tight,” but after Tuesday’s initial outing, he anticipates further cuts and adjustments. The only action taken at the workshop was to eliminate the category of employee listed as part-time with benefits, which will save approximately $7,400 a year per employee.
Councilor Arlene Bishop, who returned to the council this past May, was one of the most vocal at the workshop looking through a large stack of past budgets and paperwork for her questions. She clearly was at odds with Councilor Laura Sproles as the two verbally sparred throughout the night.
Bishop asked lots of questions on topics ranging from uniforms and license tests, to overtime costs. At the midway point, Bishop told her fellow council members they need to find $120,000, which is the amount of revenue the budget proposal will lose if the petitions seeking to rescind the Oct. 1 water and sewer rate hikes hold any sway with the city council.
Petitions are being circulating asking for the change in rates and they could be presented to the council next week. However, unless the city opts to rescind the rate increases or conduct an election on the issue, the petitions are merely a show of support to leave the rates at the present level.
When the need to cut that $120,000 was raised, several council members commented together, not necessarily it would be up to the council.
While discussing general fund revenue, Councilor Sproles, who also chairs the city’s Hotel/Motel Tax Board, urged the council to make changes in the dispersal of the HOT funds.
Read the full story in your weekend News.
Montague County Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. on Dec. 23.
The court will consider obligating $276,961.84 of American Rescue Plan funds to completing the new wastewater treatment plant that will serve the courthouse complex. Commissioners have been working on this project much of the year.
Montague County will apply to the Nortex Regional Planning Commission for a solid waste disposal grant to purchase a tire cutter for use by all four precincts.
Developers for Kingdom Estates Phase 2 subdivision will offer a plant for lots 6-10, 16.06 acres located in precinct two.
A cooperative agreement between Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the county will be presented, along with a non-exclusive license and service agreement between Local Government Solutions and Justices of the Peace one and two.
Annual bonds for seven elected officials will be offered, along with the county attorney’s 2024 Chapter 59 Asset Forfeiture report.
Montague County has received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist individuals with the purchase and installation of a residential storm shelter.
The shelter must be FEMA-approved and individuals must install and pay for the shelter. After installation and passing an inspection, the individual could be eligible for 50% reimbursement of the cost of the storm shelter up to a maximum $3,000 reimbursement.
The initial program allows for financial assistance for the installation of up to 100 storm shelters. Visit the Montague County website at co.montague.tx.us and click on “Safe Room Program,” and under quick links to see the qualifications and requirements for participation in the program.
There is no deadline to apply, but only 100 applicants will be accepted
It’s here, the first day of winter marked by the winter solstice at 4:21 a.m. on Dec. 21.
The winter solstice is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight throughout the year, making it the “shortest day” of the year. Thankfully, after the winter solstice the days begin to grow longer and longer again and until the summer solstice, the first day of summer and the longest day of the year
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