NEWS
Bowie City Council declines action on water rate proposals
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Proposed water rate hikes in the City of Bowie died from a lack of council action as there were questions on the need for such large hikes.
There was lengthy debate at last week’s city council session as City Manager Bert Cunningham once more presented two sets of rate hike proposals which he said are needed to help make the water department self-sustaining and to plan for the mandated purchase of a new raw water pump.
The rate proposals were first offered to the council back in early December, but they returned for consideration at the Jan. 27 meeting. Cunningham explained just like citizen’s costs have increased in the past year, the city’s costs have risen substantially causing the water department to consistently lose money. Back in 2018 the water rates were inadequate to rising costs so the city increased them by 4% to pay for inflated costs of treating water, maintenance of the plant and replacing old lines throughout the city.
In addition to those costs, no new funds have been added to the infrastructure fund, which is used to help fund larger projects in the city. In his presentation back in December the manager said in fiscal 2021-22 the average revenue was $179,769.04 and expenses were $115,107.29 resulting in an average profit of $64,661.75.
In 2022-23 revenue dropped to $173,977.46 with expenses at $150,370.78. Average profit came in at $23,606.68. And in 2023-24 revenue is at $165,176.61 with expenses at $174,391.75 giving up an average loss of $1,307.94 a month, losing money in each of the last five months. In a new update Cunningham told the council in the first two months of this year the water department has lost $102,000.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
Party primary runoff elections will be May 26, with early voting running May 18 to May 22.
Elections Administrator Ginger Wall said early voting will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but only located in the courthouse annex community room.
Election day voting is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at four locations across the county: Courthouse annex community room, Bowie Senior Citizens Center, H.J. Justin Community Room in Nocona and Saint Jo Civic Center.
In the Republican Party primary there are runoffs for United States Senator between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton; Attorney General Chip Roy and Mayes Middleton; Railroad Commissioner Bo French and Jim Wright; and Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, place three, Allison Fox and Thomas Smith.
In the Democratic Party runoff there are two races: Lieutenant Governor between Marcos Isaias Velez and Vikki Goodwin, and for Attorney General Joe Jaworski and Nathan Johnson.
Primary winners will face off against the other party in November’s general election.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The Bowie City Council accepted the parks master plan that will be used in a grant application with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, as well as the city’s new comprehensive management plan that is in the works.
During its Tuesday meeting, Kaitlyn Higgins Dake offered the council a copy of the parks plan noting that is has to be submitted by May 31 to be considered with the TPWD grant process. She explained this 49-page document is a 10-year plan that is designed to be a “guiding document,” to assist the city in developing projects.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
Top graduates and UIL state qualifiers will be introduced during the May 18 meeting of the Bowie Independent School District at 5:30 p.m.
The agenda lists introductions of the Class of 2026 top 10% of graduates, plus University Interscholastic League academic, fine arts and athletic qualifiers for state.
In action items the board will review a budget amendment, minutes, educator resignations and consider changing the June meeting date. An executive session will discuss a director of student services position and matters regarding students. Any action would be back in open session.
Superintendent Donna Hale will report on enrollment, pre-kindergarten open enrollment, preliminary property values, personnel updates and operation reports.
Monthly reports also will be given by for the campuses and finance.
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