NEWS
Water/sewer rate hike tabled
By BARBARA GREEN
A water and sewer rate proposal that could add $100 annually to the average city bill was tabled Monday night as Bowie City Councilors asked the staff to explore a possible cap on sewer usage.
In order to address ongoing budget revenue shortfalls, including a wastewater department that has generated a revenue loss for several years, as City Manager Ricky Tow prepared a new rate schedule.
This comes on the heels of a 2016 base rate increase that was implemented in both department during three years. That change made only a slight difference in the revenue amounts.
In 2016, the sewer department had a net revenue loss of $294,432. In 2015 it was $338,600, in 2014 it was $449,631 and in 2013 it was $532,961. Currently through February the net revenue loss is at $151,521.
For 2016, in the water department $120,574 in revenue was generated. In 2013 it was much higher at $229,473, dropping to $85,279 in 2014 and $81,360 in 2015. Currently through February is seeing $61,742 in the red for revenue.
The rate proposal is based on an average of 7,000 gallons of usage over a year and uses 2,100 accounts. Customers should also note the water and sewer gallons are gauged at the same level, they do not separate as they are calculated through the meter.
Read the full story in the mid-week News.
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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