NEWS
Water/sewer rate hike tabled
By BARBARA GREEN
A water and sewer rate proposal that could add $100 annually to the average city bill was tabled Monday night as Bowie City Councilors asked the staff to explore a possible cap on sewer usage.
In order to address ongoing budget revenue shortfalls, including a wastewater department that has generated a revenue loss for several years, as City Manager Ricky Tow prepared a new rate schedule.
This comes on the heels of a 2016 base rate increase that was implemented in both department during three years. That change made only a slight difference in the revenue amounts.
In 2016, the sewer department had a net revenue loss of $294,432. In 2015 it was $338,600, in 2014 it was $449,631 and in 2013 it was $532,961. Currently through February the net revenue loss is at $151,521.
For 2016, in the water department $120,574 in revenue was generated. In 2013 it was much higher at $229,473, dropping to $85,279 in 2014 and $81,360 in 2015. Currently through February is seeing $61,742 in the red for revenue.
The rate proposal is based on an average of 7,000 gallons of usage over a year and uses 2,100 accounts. Customers should also note the water and sewer gallons are gauged at the same level, they do not separate as they are calculated through the meter.
Read the full story in the mid-week News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
The Bowie City Council welcomed three newly-elected members Tuesday night and the panel had its annual council orientation of duties presented by the city attorney.
Brandon Walker and Laramie Truax took the oath of office for their respective seats during the meeting. Laura Sproles was sworn in prior to the meeting as she was enroute to the hospital after a fall at home where she injured her hand and wrist. All the candidates had to take the oath by Tuesday night after the votes were canvassed.
City Attorney Courtney Goodman-Morris made the presentation on council duties and obligations, as well legal requirements. Brent Shaw was elected as mayor pro tem.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District welcomed one new member this week following the Nov. 5 election and accepted the 2023-24 outside audit with no exceptions.
Incumbent Trustee Jacky Betts returned to place one and Angie Christmas took the place two seat. After the board officers were dissolved with the new ones taking the oath, officers were elected. Betts will continue as president, Guy Green as vice president and Kent Dosch as secretary.
Paul Fleming of Edgin, Parkman, Fleming & Fleming, PC, presented the audit telling there were no issues and the process went smoothly. He noted the biggest change was the Legislature compressing the district tax rate and additional changes in the tax law. State aid formula grants increased due to the state’s funding formula compensating for lost property tax revenue due to the law change previously mentioned.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Information was the watchword for the second hospital/emergency room community meeting Tuesday night, as the steering committee was announced along with additional financial considerations.
About 50 people attended the meeting. Melody Gillespie, who was named chairperson for the committee, said the goal is to gather information to get it out into the community. This group was formed after the Bowie emergency room was closed by Faith Rural Health System in early October just shy of one year of operating in Bowie.
Kylie Ward, one of the public relations volunteers, said, “This committee is not here to force things on you and there are assumptions already we are proposing a tax. We are not, we don’t have that ability, we are just a research team here to explore all the options.”
Other members of the committee include Tiffany Chandler and Damon Benton handling finance and grant research; Jennifer Tellef, secretary; Valerie Tomerson, grant research; Ann Smith, PR and Margin Latham and Gillespie, legislative research. It was pointed out there are other members of the sub-committees who are helping with research, but they also invite anyone interested to help with the process.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
Top photo – Jack County Judge Keith Umphress spoke at this week’s steering committee meeting. (Photo by Barbara Green)
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