NEWS
City of Bowie looking at .5430 cent tax rate
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The Bowie City Council is considering a budget proposal totaling $21,062,773 for 2022-23 and a tax rate that is slightly less than 2021, at .5430 cents per $100 in property value.
It was a full evening for the council with a budget workshop starting at 4 p.m. followed by the regular meeting at 6 p.m. which had a lengthy agenda.
Pamela Woods, finance director, provided an overview of the primary funds in the budget, debt and the city’s lease program with Enterprise. There also were no comments made during a brief public hearing on the budget.
When City Manager Bert Cunningham presented the budget in July he noted it was a basic budget with no major new expenses. It will be the first year for the increased sewer rate that will go toward the $9.7 million in Texas Water Development Board loan payments for the sewer line project.
There also is a three percent pay increase for employees which will be allocated by the department heads. The city also will continue payments on various large equipment purchased in the last few years.
A $1,250,000 budget transfer from utility to the general fund also is allotted. There also are increases in vehicle insurance, worker’s compensation and across the board in supplies. There is one new employee that will be shared between finance/water/wastewater.
Read the full story in the Saturday edition of The Bowie News.
Hot and humid conditions will build on Wednesday and peak on Thursday, with widespread triple digit heat indices forecast. Those spending extended time outdoors will be susceptible to heat illness. Take appropriate precautions to avoid heat illness!
Several personnel issues including the superintendent’s summative evaluation and filling the vacant intermediate principal position face the Bowie School Trustees when they meet at 5:30 p.m. on June 16.
The superintendent’s review is usually done in two parts during the year with the summative an effort to evaluate overall progress. Donna Hale’s contract also will be considered. as she marks her first year leading the district.
For the intermediate principal’s job, Jason Childress left the post last month taking the new formed director of student services, which will handle many of the tasks the assistant superintendent handled such as curriculum and test scores. That assistant position was eliminated by the board after Lee Ann Farris left the job. Childress’ resignation has been submitted.
Filling the principal’s job and consideration of a rental agreement for a portion of the bus parking lot property also are set for executive session. Any action all these topics will be considered back in open session.
On the regular agenda, the board will receive the 2025 fiscal audit for Jack County. A small portion of the district runs into that county.
The superintendent will provide operational reports and personnel updates. Childress will present the preliminary STAAR scores and the status of board goals, while Paula Peterson, finance director, gives the monthly financial report.
Numerous annual items will be up for action: Contract for cafeteria software; budget amendments; consider the ESSA application, the Montague and Jack County Tax Appraisal District budgets; library books for the elementary; ESC 9 contracts and a Texas Association of School Boards policy updates.
The board also will consider offering open enrollment for pre-kindergarten students for the next school year.
-
NEWS3 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS4 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