NEWS
Bowie City Council meets on Monday night
The Bowie City Council will consider the second reading of the budget adoption ordinance and conduct the final public hearing on the proposed tax rate when it meets at 6 p.m. on Sept. 9.
After months of working on the budget the council approved its first reading at the Aug. 26 meeting.
This budget ordinance shows $8,251,643 in general fund allocations and $9,471,000 in the utility fund. The budget proposal includes several big ticket items.
There is a three percent pay raise for employees, a $700,000 loan that will be used to replace the 40-year-old fuel tanks ($250,000) at the airport and for a new UV system ($441,000) at the water plant replacing its 25-year-old system; and a fleet program to replace about a dozen vehicles across the city service at a cost of $108,000 a year projected to save the city about $133,000 in maintenance and purchase costs during the next three years.
A second public hearing on the proposed tax rate opens the agenda. The rate is offered at .5445 cents per $100 in property value compared to .5250 cents in 2018. The tax rate adoption is listed for its first reading in new business.
City Manager Bert Cunningham pointed out this tax rate increase is offset in the budget by a reduction in the small business commercial electric rate. For a customer with an average 2,000 kilowatt hours this will bring a reduction of about $14.40 per month and impact 656 meters in the system.
In new business an ordinance amending the subdivision rules will be examined. The planning and zoning commission has made a recommendation to make a change that relates to an owner conveying a portion of his land to an adjoining land owner in order to settle a boundary line discrepancy involving permanent structures which are encroached. The commission members believe this small change will expedite this process instead of requiring a full replat.
The final two items of new business is a resolution to nominate a candidate to the Montague County Tax Appraisal District Board and an ordinance amending the municipal budget for fiscal 2018-19 for specified funds, account and line item designations.
Mill St. between Wise St. & Tarrant St. is closed due to sewer repairs. Work should take 2-3 hours.
Please plan accordingly.
Members of the Bowie City Council will meet at 6 p.m. on April 8 in the council for its only meeting for the month.
The city manager’s report opens the meeting as he discusses the bid openings for the sewer line replacement project phase two and the North Smythe Street sidewalk reconstruction.
There is only one old item of business, the second reading of the ordinance amending water rates. The average residential customer using 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of water per month will see an increase of $5 to $7.50 based on usage. This is the first water rate increase since 2018.
There are multiple items of new business. The 2023-24 outside audit will be presented by the staff of Mathis, West and Huffines. Four replat requests will be offered through the planning and zoning recommendations.
Base bid amounts for the sewer line replacement project phase two and the Smythe Street sidewalk project also will be reviewed. For the sewer project the base bid is $1,558,103.30. For the sidewalk it is $327,860.66. The sewer work is funded through a loan to the city from the Texas Development Board and the sidewalk through a Downtown Community Development grant program with the city having a matching portion.
The final item before public comments are two ordinance amending the mobile food vendors rules and permits.
After a successful multi-part workshop series last year, the Bowie Business Boost returns with a two-part workshop to take your business to the next level of effectiveness and profitability.
Attend this “AI Made Simple Workshop: Conquer the Tech Chaos and Win Fast” planned for April 24 and May 8. These will be breakfast programs from 7:30 to 10 a.m. The program will be from 8 to 9:30 a.m. with questions and answers to follow. Breakfast will be served 7:30 to 8 a.m.
The programs will be at the Bowie Community Center-west hall. Registration is $20 which includes both sessions. Registration is transferable. Register at accelerationbydesign.com/event-details/bowiebusinessboost25.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
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