Connect with us

NEWS

Bowie 2020 tax rate proposed at .5445 cents per $100 in value

Published

on

By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The Bowie City Council approved the third draft of its 2019-20 budget during a brief workshop Monday night, and then presented it to the public during a public hearing at the regular meeting that evening.
Council members met last week for a budget workshop attempting to finalize the figures, and while the budget was approved so it could go forward in the public hearing, it still has several outstanding issues. The budget will not be “officially” adopted until it goes forward in the form of an ordinance with two readings before the council.
Budget draft
The Monday afternoon budget workshop was brief with only a few questions prior to the vote. Councilors Tami Buckmaster and Arlene Bishop did not attend the workshop or Monday night’s regular meeting.
This third budget draft proposed utility fund expenses at $9,471,000 with revenues at $11,336,430.
The general fund is proposed at $8,251,643 in expenses and $7,021,168 in revenue. The transfer from the utility fund into the general fund to help float it has been increased from this year’s budget of $1,150,000 to $1,250,000.
Some of the major items in this budget include a small increase in the tax rate, which City Manager Bert Cunningham says is being offset by a small reduction in the small business commercial electric rate.

Read the full story of the meeting in the mid-week Bowie News.

Continue Reading

NEWS

Amon Carter Lake Board to meet

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

NEWS

Saint Jo City Council hires fire marshal

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

NEWS

City of Nocona buys water storage tank, review dam repair

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad

Trending