NEWS
Bowie Council debates its budget; plans workshop
By BARBARA GREEN
Ambulance billing, and how it is recorded in the budget was the lead topic during Tuesday night’s Bowie City Council budget hearing along with a pair of councilors telling citizens it is not “Us against them.”
This was the first budget hearing following the official presentation of the budget on July 11. A workshop took place on July 25; however, while still waiting for certified property values and costs for health insurance there was no discussion on the budget proposal. The budget also had been reworked after the previous water-sewer rate increase was tabled.
There was a tie vote requiring the mayor’s vote on a proposal to consider a tax rate increase.
This motion is the first step in the process to discuss tax rate proposals.
Tow said this budget proposal uses a tax rate of .53 cents per $100 in property value, which is an increase of .0173 cents from the 2016 rate of .5127 cents.
For a property valued at $100,000, the tax increase would be $17.30 per year.
Councilor Wayne Bell made the motion to approve consideration a tax increase, seconded by Chuck Malone.
Terry Gunter, Douglas Boyd and Gaylynn Burris voted no. Davis voted yes breaking the tie.
Public hearings for the tax rate will on Aug. 15 and Sept. 5. After those hearings, the council will vote to approve a 2017 tax rate – which could be changed at any time during the budget process.
Read the full story in the weekend News, also see the full proposed budget on the Bowie News webpage at this link: .https://bowienewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/citys-proposed-budget.pdf
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)
The following indictments were filed with the 97th District Clerk following the November session of the Montague County Grand Jury.
There were a total of 13 indictments with one sealed awaiting the arrest of a suspect.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Read the full list of indictments in your mid-week Bowie News.
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