NEWS
Power or tax rates: Does it add up?
The questions come up almost every year when the City of Bowie starts debating its budget.
Why are electric rates so high?
Why can’t they be lower?
It was April 1991 when the City of Bowie decided to build its own substation. It was completed in 1992. The consensus of the city council was electricity use can be controlled by residents to some extent, while property taxes cannot.
So instead of raising taxes to take care of increased city operational costs, the council opted to adjust electric rates.
Through the ensuing years tax rates have rising slightly each year, but they have never caught up to electric revenue, which is the primary revenue generator for the city.
Utility revenue contributes $9.3 million to the city budget, while general fund revenue has $6.8 million revenue with $8.5 million in expenses.
Of that, $1.83 million is budgeted for transfer into the general fund to fund its operation.
General fund revenue includes ad valorem taxes, sales tax, franchise taxes, rents and royalties, fines and assorted other fees.
Ad valorem taxes are budgeted at $1,244,706 in the 2015-16 budget, while sales tax is budgeted at $1,459,299.
The Bowie News posed this question to City Manager Ricky Tow: What tax rate would be needed to make up for the utility fund transfer that goes to the general fund?
Read the full story and examine some hypothetical rates in your weekend News.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WS 193
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
9:05 PM CDT FRI MAY 8, 2026
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 193 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2:00 AM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
TEXAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
COLLIN
COOKE
DELTA
DENTON
FANNIN
GRAYSON
HOPKINS
HUNT
JACK
LAMAR
MONTAGUE
WISE
YOUNG
The Bowie City Council will meet at 6 p.m. on May 12 in the council chambers.
The agenda opens with a proclamation for Emergency Medical Services Week.
In the city manager’s report, Bert Cunningham will discuss the Rock and Pillar Street project and the Texas Water Development Board grant application.
In new business, Brittany Barnes will be considered as an appointment to the Bowie Community Development Board.
A resolution requesting financial assistance from the TWDB authorizing the filing of an application for assistance will be reviewed.
The master parks plan also will be presented by staff from Public Management.
The consent agenda and public comments round out the meeting.
Members of the Montague County Commissioner’s Court will meet at 9 a.m. on May 11.
After the consent agenda and public comments, the court will discuss an interlocal agreement between precinct two and the Bowie Sports Association for the baseball complex.
Precinct three will ask for a line-time budget adjustment of $15,000 from operating expenses to part-time.
The court will open and consider accepting sealed bids for emulsified asphalt and prime oil, all on a 90-day contract.
The consent agenda of minutes, bills and reports also is slated.
-
NEWS2 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS3 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS3 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News