NEWS
BISD trustees set to adopt tax rate, budget
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District will approve the budget and tax rate for the new fiscal year in a pair of called meetings early on Aug. 31.
The public hearing on the proposed budget and tax rate will start at 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
At the Aug. 15 meeting, the board was finalizing expenses projected at $19,944,044 with revenues estimated at $19,845,615.
The district is looking at a 2022 tax rate of $1.03460 per $100 in property value. This is .0893 cents below the 2021 rate of $1.1239.
That rate is broken down in .85460 cents for maintenance and operation and .18 cents for debt services.
BISD is projecting $10,143,022 in M&O taxes compared to $9,681,482 last year. Certified property values went up in 2022 by $152,719,627, which pushed the tax rate down.
When local values go up, state funding usually goes down. The district is projecting state revenue at $5,344,410 for 2022-23 compared to $5,418,385 last year.
The second meeting will be called at 7:15 a.m. This agenda includes approval of amendments to the 2021-22 budget, designation of committed fund balance for district needs; approval of the salary schedule for 2022-23, budget and 2022 tax rate.
NEWS
Amon Carter Lake Board to meet
Members of the Amon Carter Lake Water Supply Corporation will meet at 6 p.m. on May 26 in the office at 607A Lindsey for a monthly meeting.
Items on the agenda include a consent agenda and minutes and financials. Possible discussion/action may be considered on the following topics: Treasurer’s report, review of finance and current loans; president’s report as to the written agreements with contractual employees; consider current water rates and a possible increase; and review of expenses and areas that need amendment.
An executive session may be entered to discuss personnel issues.
NEWS
Saint Jo City Council hires fire marshal
The City of Saint Jo has a new fire marshal as the city council made the appointment during its May 13 meeting.
Gary Hines, a retired professional firefighter and certified fire investigator, will take the position. City Secretary Debbie Dennis said the post is required by ordinance but has not been filled for a long period.
The council set dates for a budget workshop for 2 p.m. on June 14 and 2 p.m. on June 28 for the ordinance workshop, as the council works to update its rules.
Aldermen gave their support to a proposition by Councilman Jack Dunn who is asking the Legislature to allow Texas’ smallest cities, those with 2,500 or few in population, to receive an additional share of sales and use tax. He would like to see the funds used in these communities to repair and replace aging infrastructure without new taxes or reliance on state grants.
In letter to State Rep. David Spiller, whom Dunn will meet with on June 1, the alderman explains much of the state’s 6.25% share generated locally flows into general funds and is spent on other priorities. He would like Spiller to author this legislation. Dunn gave the letter to the council along with a powerpoint on the plan.
“A single water treatment plant upgrade or sewer rehab carries massive, fixed costs that do not shrink with population size. These communities, often with only a few hundred or a couple thousands residents, simply cannot spread those costs across enough ratepayers or a broad tax based,” the letter states.
Dunn suggests a “graduated sales tax retention policy:” 1% additional share for cities with 2,500 or fewer residents; .75% for those 2,500 and 5,000; and .50% for cities between 5,001 and 10,000. It would be dedicated to infrastructure. Dunn says the overall statewide fiscal impact would be negligible, but could help sustain small, rural cities.
NEWS
City of Nocona buys water storage tank, review dam repair
The Nocona City Council approved a bid for a new 203,000 gallon capacity tank for potable water at the water plant and learned a slide repair to the lake dam is going to be pretty costly.
At its May 12 session the council received three bids on the tank and went with one from Tank Depot of Cleburne for $193,923. It is for a a 217,600 gallon tank usable for 203,000 gallons. The price could change slightly since it was based on estimate freight costs.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
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