[Call to Order, Invocation, and Pledge of Allegiance]
[00:00:12]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. IT IS 4 P.M., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20. WE HAVE A FULL COUNCIL IN SESSION. I CALLED THIS SPECIALLY CALLED MEETING OF THE MIDLOTHIAN CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.
MAYOR PRO TEM KAUFMAN IF YOU WILL LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION
AND PLEDGES? >> YEAH, PRAY WITH ME IF YOU WOULD. FATHER WE COME TO THIS AFTERNOON, WE GIVE YOU GLORY HONOR AND PRAISE.
WE PRAY OUR WORDS TONIGHT WOULD ECHO THAT SENTIMENT.
TO PRAY OUR DECISIONS WILL REFLECT YOUR WILL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. GOD HELP US TO BE LED BY YOU.
HELP US TO BE BEACONS OF LIGHT FOR YOU.
GOD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BLESS HIS MEETING.
THERE ARE SO MANY FIRST RESPONDERS IN OUR AUDIENCE, I PRAY YOU POUR YOUR BLESSINGS OUT ON OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. GOD, KEEP THEM SAFE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THEIR SELFLESS ATTITUDE TOWARDS HIS PEOPLE.
SO GOD, WATCH OVER THEM, PROTECT THEM AND KEEP THEM SAFE. LEAD US AND GUIDE US TONIGHT, IN JESUS'S NAME, AMEN.
[SILENCE] >> AGENDA ITEM 2022-406, (INDISCERNIBLE) TO BE HEARD. COUNCIL INVITES CITIZENS TO SPEAK ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.T THIS TIME, WE HAVE
[2022-407]
NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.WE DO HAVE TWO SPEAKERS FOR THE NEXT ITEM.
I OPEN ITEM 2022-407, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 TAX RATE IS SCHEDULED TO ANNOUNCE THE DATE, PLACE OF THE MEETING TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE.
AS I SAID, WE HAVE TWO SPEAKERS.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS LISA HEALY.
PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> HI, I'M LISA HEALY, 418 MILLIKEN DRIVE.
YOU PROBABLY HAVE IT MEMORIZED BY NOW! I'M JUST CURIOUS, BECAUSE BEFORE I CAME, I NOTICED THERE IS ANOTHER MEETING ON THURSDAY, NOW? TO VOTE ON THE TAX RATE? AND I MAY BE INCORRECTLY ASSUMED THAT IS WHAT WAS HAPPENING AFTER THIS PUBLIC HEARING, BECAUSE IT'S ON THE AGENDA.
WE KNEW ABOUT IT LAST TUESDAY, SO I'M STILL CURIOUS AS TO WHY WE ARE PUSHING TO ANOTHER MEETING? I KNOW YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO ANSWER ME --.
>> I CAN DEFINITELY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
>> WILL IT TAKE AWAY FROM MY THREE MINUTES?
OR SHOULD I CONTINUE ON?>> I WILL PAUSE RIGHT HERE.
>> OKAY (LAUGHING). >> TONIGHT, WE ARE VOTING ON THE TAX RATE. HOWEVER, WE HAVE A HARD STOP AT 5:50. IF WE CANNOT SET A TAX RATE TONIGHT, THEN WE HAVE (INDISCERNIBLE) POSTED FOR THURSDAY, THE 22ND, WHICH WILL BE (INDISCERNIBLE) LATER AT 4 P.M. CITY HALL. JUST IN CASE WE CANNOT COME TO
A DECISION BY 5:50. >> GOTCHA.
THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION! THAT MAKES ME FEEL A LITTLE (LAUGHING) BETTER.
I'M REALLY HOPING YOU GUYS CAN COME TO A RESOLUTION TONIGHT BEFORE YOUR HARD STOP. AGAIN, I'M JUST GOING TO ASK THAT THE CITY COUNCIL REALLY THINK ABOUT VOTING NO AGAINST THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF .65 -- I'M SORRY,.65.
AND TRY TO COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE. I KNOW THAT THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN PLAY WITH IS ON THE M&O SIDE, AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE SOME BELT-TIGHTENING. BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED TO THE INS SIDE AT THE TWO MEETINGS AGO.
SO I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS
[00:05:07]
TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS. AND HAVE REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THE CONSTITUENTS AND WHAT WE ARE FACING WITH INCREASE COSTS -- WITH EVERYTHING. AND I KNOW THOSE COSTS, THAT AFFECTS THE CITY, TOO. BUT YOU GUYS HAVE YOUR BUDGET.LET'S LIVE WITHIN IT. SO I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD VOTE NO TONIGHT TO THE.65.
THANK YOU. >> MR. (NAME) BEARD.
>> CE TAYLOR BEARD, 1709 MEL BROOK DRIVE.
COUNCIL, TODAY AFTER HUNDRED HOURS OF CONVERSATION, (INDISCERNIBLE). PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THE DECISION MADE TODAY CAN IMPACT THE FUTURE DRAMATICALLY.
IN A VERY NEGATIVE WAY, IN SOME CASES, OKAY? THE CASE AND THAT IS OUR SERVICES.
THINK ABOUT WHAT WE DO FOR OUR CITIZENS IN THIS TOWN (INDISCERNIBLE). WHEN MY FAMILY DECIDED TO MOVE TO MIDLOTHIAN WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT TAX RATE WAS GOING TO BE WHAT IT WAS. IT'S GONNA BE HIGHER.
OKAY? WHY IS IT HIGH? WE HAVE GREAT PARKS, WE HAVE GREAT STREETS.
A LOT MORE THAN THAT. I'M CONSTANTLY ASKED HOW DO WE KEEP MIDLOTHIAN MIDLOTHIAN? IT'S BY THE PEOPLE IN THE TOWN AND HOW THE TOWN PROVIDE SERVICES FOR ALL AGES.
WITHOUT THE RATE SET TOWARDS THE TOP OF THE SPECTRUM, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWTH OF THE CITY.
TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TRAINING PROVIDE POLICE, AS WELL AS PROVIDE THEM WITH OTHER RESOURCES THEY NEED.
FIRE CHIEF (NAME) THE OTHER DAY DURING THE DINNER STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS A RESPONSE TIME OF LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES OR LESS. THAT TIME IS CRITICAL FOR PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL PROBLEMS. (INDISCERNIBLE) UNDER DESERVING MIGHT NOT GET THE CARE THEY NEED IN THE TIME THEY NEED IT.
I IMPLORE YOU TO SET THIS RIGHT.
WHERE NONE OF THESE GREAT THINGS CHANGE OR NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW. THAT WILL KEEP US ON THE PATH OF EXCELLENCE. I DON'T MIND PAYING.
I'M GONNA SAY THAT AGAIN ? I DON'T MIND PAYING.
I DON'T THINK MOST OF MIDLOTHIAN DOES FOR ALL THE GREAT SERVICES WE HAVE IN THIS CITY.
AND THE REASON I DON'T MIND PAYING IS TO KEEP MIDLOTHIAN MIDLOTHIAN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. WE ARE STILL OPEN, COUNCIL, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE CLOSE? DO WE HAVE -- OH, WE HAVE -- NEXT SPEAKER WOULD BE MR. DAN ALTMAN. YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. DAN ALTMAN, 474 LILY COURT.
MIDLOTHIAN, TEXAS. I'M NOT USUALLY AN ADVOCATE FOR TAXES. BUT I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE PART OF THE SOCIAL CONTRACT WE ALL ENTER INTO.
WE PAY TAXES, WE RECEIVED BENEFITS.
UNDER NATIONAL OR STATE LEVEL, SOMETIMES IT'S VERY ATTENUATED.
WE DON'T SEE SERVICES THAT WE GET FROM THE TAXES THAT WE PAY.
ON A LOCAL LEVEL, WE SEE THOSE EVERYDAY.
WE SEE POLICE SERVICES, WE SEE FIRE RESPONSE, WE SEE THE PARKS. MIDLOTHIAN HAS MADE A SOCIAL CONTRACT WITH ITS RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
I UNDERSTAND AND I SPOKE WITH A LOT OF MY FRIENDS WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR ZERO PERCENT TAX REVENUE INCREASES ACROSS THE BOARD IN MANY OF THESE MUNICIPALITIES AND LOCAL TAXES.
THEIR CONCERN BECAUSE WE ARE IN INFLATIONARY PERIOD.
WE HAVE INFLATION, WHICH REPRESENT SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN ABOUT 30 YEARS IN THIS COUNTRY.
IT'S NOMINALLY AT 8.6 PERCENT. IT'S PROBABLY EFFECTIVELY CLOSER TO 10 PERCENT. THE PROBLEM WITH INFLATION AS WE HAVE BEEN TRAINED BY THE LAST 30 YEARS TO HOLD ONTO OUR DOLLARS AND VALUE OUR DOLLARS. THAT IS PRUDENT, ECONOMIC SENS EXCEPT FOR WHEN INFLATION HITS. WHEN INFLATION HITS, YOUR ASSETS ARE YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR BUILDINGS , YOUR BUSINESSES AND YOUR COMMUNITY. THOSE ARE WHAT YOU WANT TO KEEP AND HOLD ONTO. WE HAVE LIVED THROUGH POOR MAGAZINE'S LIKE THIS BEFORE. IF YOU REMEMBER THE 70S, THERE WAS A STRONG ATTITUDE -- INFLATION HIT HARD AND THERE
[00:10:43]
WAS CONSERVATION. THERE WAS AN IDEA OF CONSERVATION.IMMY CARTER GAVE A SPEECH IN THE LATE 70S BEFORE THE ELECTION AGAINST REAGAN.HE KIND OF CHIDED THE AMERICANS FOR THEIR MALAISE AND NOT CONSERVING ENERGY AND COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW TO BE ENERGY INDEPENDENT. HIS SOLUTION WAS YOU TURNED DOWN YOUR THERMOSTATS AND YOU DROVE YOUR CARS AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. WE HAVE A DEPRESSION IN THIS COUNTRY NOW. PEOPLE WANT US TO EXPECT LESS AND THEY WANT US TO TAKE LESS. THE ZERO TAX REVENUE IS ABOUT WE ARE GOING TO ACCEPT LESS BECAUSE WE ARE COUNTING THINGS IN DOLLARS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT WAS NEVER THE SOLUTION AND IT'S NOT THE SOLUTION OUT.
RONALD REAGAN CAME ALONG AND HE LOOKED AT WHAT AMERICA'S ASSET WAS -- ITS PEOPLE, ITS BUSINESSES AND ABILITY TO GROW.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF WE ADOPT A ZERO TAX INCREASE, (INDISCERNIBLE) IF THE INFLATION IS AT 10 PERCENT, AND FIVE YEARS YOU WILL HAVE HALF THE REAL DOLLARS TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY. AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AS I SERVED ON -- I'VE SERVED ON THE 4B BOARD, I'VE SERVED ON PNC, I'VE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND I SEEN AGAIN AND AGAIN PEOPLE COME TO THE CITY BECAUSE THEY LIKE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, THEY LIKE THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE.
THAT IS OUR CONTRACT WITH THEM TO PROVIDE THAT.
IF WE DON'T DO THAT, WE ARE GOING TO LOSE OUR ABILITY TO BE THAT SHINING CITY IN ELLIS COUNTY.
I CAME TO ELLIS COUNTY 25 YEARS AGO AND I MOVED TO (INDISCERNIBLE) FIRST AND MIDLOTHIAN YEARS LATER.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME, MIDLOTHIAN WAS A SLEEPY LITTLE WEST SIDE OF THE COUNTY. ELLIS WAS BIGGER, WATCHING HASSEY WAS BIGGER. COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE YOU DREAMED BOLD DREAMS AND DID BIG THINGS.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, WHERE THE BIGGEST CITY IN TERMS OF VOTING STRENGTH IN THE COUNTY. AND I WOULD SAY WE ARE THAT SHINING HILL OF ELLIS COUNTY AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO ADOPT A TAX RATE THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO PROVIDE OUR CITIZENS WITH THOSE SERVICES, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE THAT SHINING CITY FOR ELLIS COUNTY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I MOVED TO CLOSE PUBLIC
>> WE HAVE A MOTION TO CLOSE AND A SECOND.
PLEASE VOTE. THE ITEM IS CLOSED AT 7-0.
WE CAN'T HAVE DISCUSSIONS AT THIS POINT.
COUNCIL, OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE, I WOULD GO INTO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM. BEFORE I MOVE ON, AGAIN, IF -- IF WE DO NOT APPROVE THE TAX RATE TONIGHT, AND WE HAVE A HARD STOP HERE AT 5:50, THEN WE WILL RETURN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 4 P.M. IN THE CITY CHAMBERS HERE.
[2022-408]
SO I AM OBLIGATED TO MAKE THAT OFFICIAL STATEMENT.REGULAR AGENDA. ITEM 2022-408, CONSIDER (INDISCERNIBLE) ORDINANCE BY (INDISCERNIBLE) VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN, TEXAS, LEVYING (INDISCERNIBLE) TAXES FOR THE CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023. AT $0.340590 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND $0.309410 FOR INTERESTS AND SEEK AND FUNDS FOR A TOTAL OF $0.650000. SPECIFICALLY, FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH SAID TAXES MAY BE EXTENDED IN DIRECTING THE ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION THEREOF, REPEALING CONFLICTED ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS, INCLUDING THE SERVE ABILITY CLAUSE, AND ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE DATE .COUNCIL, WE ARE NOT LIMITED TO .65, WE CAN GO UP AS HIGH AS .661 OR DOWN -- THE LOW END NUMBER.
>> JUST REAL QUICKLY. AND ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO IMPLORE THE COUNCIL TO PURSUE THE .65 RATE.
REASON BEING IS THAT, OBVIOUSLY, AS WE ALL KNOW THE TAX RATE IS SPLIT INTO TWO SIDES, THE M AND O SIDE.
ALSO, THE DEBT SIDE. AT THE .6 TAX RATE, WE WOULD BE ADOPTING A NO NEW REVENUE AND AN O RATE.
THE DEBT RATE HAS BEEN SET BY THE DEBT ISSUANCE.
[00:15:01]
SO I FEEL LIKE WE DON'T HAVE MUCH CONTROL ON THAT SIDE.IF WE GO BELOW THE NO NEW REVENUE ON THE M&O SIDE, IT WILL HAVE DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR CITY SERVICES.
SO I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO GIVE THE TAX RATE RELIEF DOWN 2.65, AND STILL BE ABLE TO OPERATE OUR CITY AND OUR CITY SERVICES AT A HIGH LEVEL.
AND .65 DOES JUST THAT. >> (INDISCERNIBLE)?
>> I UNDERSTAND WHAT JUSTIN IS SAYING.
I'M FRUSTRATED (INDISCERNIBLE) WE PUT 25 CITIZENS TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A GROUP OF CITIZENS SAYING WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN HAVE BONDS TO BUILD WHAT WE NEEDED TO BUILD.ND WHAT THEY FELT WAS NEEDED TO BE BUILT.
THEY WERE ASSURED AT THE TIME THAT WE COULD DO THAT WITHOUT CHANGING OUR TAX RATE. OF.75.
NOW, WE ARE DOWN TO .65 AND AT ONE POINT, WE HAD ALL AGREED TO GO ON 6.6134. AND THEN, COME VOTE TIME, WHILE THAT CHANGED. AND THEN, IT CAME UP WELL, MAYBE 6.5. OF COURSE, (INDISCERNIBLE) SIX POINT 314 IS THE MAXIMUM WE COULD DO.
WE'VE ALREADY SAID CITIZENS, WE KNOW YOU WANT TO DO THIS.
IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY THIS FOR IT, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT BETTER. WE ARE NOT GONNA LET YOU PAY THAT MUCH FOR IT. TO ME, AS A CITIZEN, I FEEL LIKE I'M BEING SLAPPED IN THE FACE BY SAYING WELL, YOU GUYS KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT I THINK I CAN SPEND THEN I DO.
MR. ALTMAN BROUGHT IT UP. PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR WHAT THEY GET IN MIDLOTHIAN. I'M JUST FRUSTRATED AND AIRED IT OUT RIGHT THERE. WE KILLED THE .75 RIGHT OFF THE BAT. I'M THROUGH.
>> AS A FIRST RESPONDER, I DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY UP HERE KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRST RESPONDERS MORE THAN I DO.
SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL IN NOVEMBER 2020, I HAVE FOUGHT FOR RAZORS: RAISES FOR OUR SPONSORS IN MANY WAYS.
I FOUGHT FOR (INDISCERNIBLE). I FOUGHT FOR IT THIS YEAR BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT TO GET IT DONE.
I THOUGHT FOR THE LANGUAGE PAY TO BE INCREASED; I DIDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT TO GET THAT DONE. WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE, WELL LET ME BACK UP. WHEN THE CITY DID A STUDY, WHEN THE COUNCIL WANTED THE CITY TO DO A STUDY TO LOOK AT WHAT WE PAY OUR EMPLOYEES, IT'S LIKE 11 CITIES, I THINK, WE HAD TO SEE IF OUR PAY WAS AVERAGE, ABOVE OR BELOW.
WE GOT THAT BACK, AND LET ME TELL YOU -- YOU DON'T GET EXCELLENCE BY PAYING AVERAGE. YOU JUST DON'T.
THOSE DAYS IN MIDLOTHIAN ARE GONE.
THE DAYS WHEN WE HAD AN EXCELLENT POLICE DEPARTMENT, EXCELLENT TEACHERS AND WE PAID AVERAGE? THOSE DAYS ARE GONE. YOU CAN'T DO THAT IN THIS MARKET. THEREARE DEPARTMENTS ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTY POACHING OFFICERS AND DISTRICTS POACHING TEACHERS. AND THE BEST AMONG US HAVE OPTIONS. THAT'S WHY I SPOKE UP AT OUR WORKSHOP AND SAID I THINK WE NEED TO GO TO THE 60 PERCENT LEVEL , COMPARED TO THESE OTHER CITIES.
I'M GLAD THE REST OF THE COUNCIL AGREED WITH THAT.
AND I AM GLAD THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GET NOT JUST FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT ALL THE EMPLOYEES A GOOD SIZE RAISE.
I THINK A WELL-DESERVED RAISE. BUT WE CAN DO THAT WITH A NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE. WE CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE. AND THAT'S WHAT SOME DON'T WANT YOU TO HEAR, BUT IT'S THE TRUTH.
>> ANNA? >> CAN YOU GIVE ME CLARIFICATION ON THE EXACT NUMBER THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING?
>> FOR WHAT? >> FOR THE TAX RATE.
>> 595. >> WHAT WOULD THAT BE ON THE
[00:20:01]
>> I'M NOT BEING A SMART ALEC. I'M CONFUSED.
>> THERE'S A $7 MILLION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN I-95 AND THE PROPOSED TAX RATE. WE CAN MAKE THAT UP.
WE CAN MAKE THAT UP WITH THE FRONT BALANCE.
WE CAN MAKE THAT UP -- TWO WEEKS AGO WE VOTED ON A $4.7 MILLION ITEM FOR WATER. DID WE HAVE TO DO THAT THIS YEAR? WE DIDN'T.
WE CAN MAKE THAT UP WITH FUND BALANCE.
I'M STILL NEEDING SOME CLARIFICATION ON THE EXACT M&O RATE YOU ARE PROPOSING. BECAUSE A CURRENT M&O RATE TO GET TO 6.5 IS.34. SO IF YOU'RE WANTING TO GET DOWN 2.59, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL OVERALL NO NEW REVENUE, THAT'S LOWERING IT DOWN TO .281, IF I'M DOING MY MATH RIGHT. SO ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT WE GO FROM OUR LOWEST PROPOSED OF .34 DOWN TO TWO 81?
>> YES. >> AND HOW MUCH WOULD THAT BE
CUTTING OFF OF OUR M&O? >> THERE'S A $7 MILLION DIFFERENCE. WE WENT THROUGH THAT.
THERE'S A $7 MILLION DIFFERENCE.
I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND SHOW YOU
I DON'T AGREE. I DON'T AGREE AT ALL.
SO WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS .65. >> YOU CAN --
>> I JUST HAVE MY MIC ON FOR CLARIFICATION SAKE.
WE DID INCREASE CERTIFICATION PAY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BY A PERCENT ON THE BUDGET YOU VOTED AGAINST.
I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT. WE ALSO DID AN INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEE PAY, AND THIS PAY STUDY THAT WE ALL AGREED ON.
SINCE WE HAVE SO MANY FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE ROOM, WE DID NOT DECREASE THE CERTIFICATION PAY.
>> NO ONE SAID WE DECREASED IT. >> YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN HERE LAST
TIME TO VOTE. >> YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T HAVE SUPPORT TO GET IT DONE. THE PROOF IS IN THE BUDGET AND WE DID GET IT DONE. NOT ALL OF US VOTED FOR IT.
>> WHAT DID THE CERTIFICATION GO FROM AND WHAT IS IT NOW? IF YOU VOTED FOR IT, LET ME KNOW, WHAT WAS IT BEFORE AND
WHAT IS IT NOW? >> (INDISCERNIBLE) OR JUST THE
CERTIFICATION PAY? >> IS CERTIFICATION PAY WENT UP $8400. IT'S NOT PER EMPLOYEE, IT (INDISCERNIBLE) FROM 110,002 (INDISCERNIBLE).F YOU REMEMBER, I WAS ADVOCATING TO DOUBLE CERTIFICATION PAY.
I HAD NO SUPPORT FOR THAT -- NONE!
>> COUNCIL, CAN WE GO AND DISCUSS THE TAX RATE?
>> I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT! I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PUT ASIDE POLITICS AND BE ABLE TO DISCUSS.
LIKE IF SOMEONE HAS A DIFFERING OPINION, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IT. AND A VALID POINT AS TO HOW WE WOULD GET TO THAT POINT. CAN WE, MAY BE, DISCUSS THAT? BETWEEN THE LOWEST, THE MID .65, AND HIGH AT THE.63.
>> I GUESS MY ONLY QUESTION FOR THE 65 -- BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, I WAS FOR THE 663, BUT I KEEP BRINGING MYSELF BACK TO WE CONTINUALLY TALKING ABOUT THE USE OF COVID RESERVE FUND BALANCE. IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER, CASH ON HAND. ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.S WHAT YOU HAVE OTHER PROJECTS OUT THERE.
I FEEL LIKE JUST IN CONVERSATION, THAT IT'S COME UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT WE WOULD JUST USE COVID FUNDS.
I FEEL LIKE WE'VE DEDICATED SOME MONEY.
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T OFFICIALLY DEDICATED MONEY.
SO I GUESS SOME CLARIFICATION -- IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THE 65 AND TAKE THE HIT FROM THE COVID FUNDS, I MEAN I GUESS I'M JUST LOST ON OTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE. I JUST DON'T WANT TO KEEP DIPPING FROM THE SAME BUCKET BECAUSE AT SOME POINT, THAT BUCKET WILL BE EMPTY AND I FEEL LIKE WE'VE SPENT IT ON THESE OTHER PROJECTS, BECAUSE THEY ADD UP TO OVER SEVEN MY LION.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE GOING WITH THESE OTHER
PROJECTS -- CROSS TALK] >> WE HAVE OTHER PROJECTS TO
DO, FOR SURE. >> I THINK IT'S A VALID POINT
[00:25:05]
AND A GOOD POINT. I WOULD ADVOCATE TO MAKE UP THAT DEFICIT FROM THE COVID RELIEF FUNDS.THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY GIVE A PORTION OF THAT COVID RELIEF BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, IS HOW I'M JUSTIFYING IT IN MY OWN MIND. SO I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION OF HOW DO WE MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE ON THE OTHER END. BUT AS FAR AS MAKING UP THE DIFFERENCE IN THE BUDGET DUE TO THE OPTION OF A 65 PERCENT TAX RATE, I WOULD SAY I VIEW THAT AS GIVING A TOKEN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY FROM THOSE FUNDS. IF THAT MAKES SENSE? IN THE FORM OF A TAX RATE REDUCTION.
>> ARE THERE OTHER COMMENTS? I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS I'M GOING TO MAKE. I WILL COME OUT JUST AS STRONGLY FOR THE .66 TAX RATE. WE STARTED THIS AT 67.5, .675 IS WHAT WE COMMUNICATED TO THE CITIZENS.
IF THEY APPROVE THE BONDS AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE EVENTS (INDISCERNIBLE) OF OUR ROADS, THE PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER AND CITY HALL, INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF MIDLOTHIAN.
AND WE WOULD MAINTAIN THE TAX RATE IN PLACE.
EARLY ON, WE LOWERED THE MAX TAX RATE DOWN TO 2.663.
AND THEN WE WENT INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS.
WE HAVE 60 PERCENT OF THE BUDGET IS IN FIRE AND POLICE.
WHICH WE ALL WANT TO MAINTAIN SERVICES THERE.
ALMOST 70 PERCENT OF THE INCREASE OF THIS BUDGET, YEAR-OVER-YEAR FROM THE PREVIOUS BUDGET, IS IN WAGES AND BENEFITS. SO IF YOU DO THAT, THAN THE REST -- THE NON-SALARY, THE NON-WAGES AND BENEFITS IS PROBABLY ABOUT A SEVEN PERCENT INCREASE IN THE BUDGET YEAR OVER YEAR, WHICH IS THE INFLATION THAT WE HAVE SENT .
INCLUDED IN THAT IS FUEL AND OTHER THINGS.
TO MAINTAIN OUR SERVICES AND TO DELIVER TO THE CITIZENS, WE WOULD NEED TO MAINTAIN THE TAX RATE AT.66.
THAT WILL GIVE US THE DEBT MANAGEMENT WILL STOP IT WILL ALSO GIVE US THE VOTER IMPROVED RATE, AS OPPOSED TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. WE HAVE APPROVED THE 15 PERCENT INCREASE IN SALARY AND BENEFITS.
WE HAVE ADDED POSITIONS TO THE BUDGET OVER WHAT CITY MANAGER ASKED FOR, AND THE TUNE ABOUT $600,000.
WE HAVE APPROVE THE BUDGET. WE HAVE APPROVED THE DEBT ISSUANCE. AND COUNSEL, IF WE DO NOT STEP UP AND DO THE TAX RATE OF .66, WE WILL BE DEPLETING OUR SAVINGS. WE WILL NOT BE POSITIONING OURSELVES FOR THE FUTURE, AND WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DELIVER THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED. WITH THAT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE -- DO I HAVE TO READ THE OFFICIAL WORDING?
>> YES. >> WHERE'S THE OFFICIAL WORDING FOR 66?I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF $0.661920, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY 11.08 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.
THAT'S MY MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND, WE'LL HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
4 TO 3. IT REQUIRES FIVE VOTES TO PASS.
IT FAILED. THEREFORE, A DISCUSSION AND/OR
ANOTHER MOTION. >> I THINK I WILL KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF. MY CONCERN THROUGH THIS WHOLE BUDGET PROCESS WASN'T EVER -- AND IT STILL IS NOT THE ACTUAL TAX RATE NUMBER. IT'S HOW WE CATEGORIZE, UTILIZE, SAVE AND SELL THE MONEY THAT WE RECEIVE.
I STILL, AS I AM PARTAKING IN THIS PROCESS, DO NOT UNDERSTAND
[00:30:01]
HOW WE HAVE PUT FORTH THE LARGEST BUDGET WE EVER HAD, BUT IT'S ALSO THE LEANEST BUDGET WE EVER PUT FORWARD.WE HAVE A PROJECT LIST THAT -- MIND YOU, THE BUDGET IS ROUGHLY $47 MILLION. WE HAVE A SUPPLEMENTAL PROJECT LIST THAT TOTALS $42.8 MILLION. AND AS THE CONVERSATIONS CHANGE AND THE OBJECTIVES OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS CHANGE, SO TOO IS OUR ABILITY TO EITHER COVER OR NOT COVER THE FINANCIAL OBLIGATION. SO THAT'S WHY I HAVE SUCH AN ISSUE WITH ARBITRARILY PULLING A NUMBER OUT OF MY HAT AND SAYING THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO GET US THROUGH.
I ASKED A FEW MEETINGS AGO -- CHRIS, I ASKED IF WE ARE FINANCIALLY SOUND. ARE WE OPERATING ON SUCH A THIN LINE THAT ONE YEAR OR ONE SERIES -- A COUPLE OF YEARS OF NO NEW REVENUE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES WOULD PUT THIS CITY UNDER. THE ANSWER I GOT WAS NO, IT WOULD JUST CHANGE TIMELINES ON HOW WE SPEND AND HOW MUCH WE SPEND AT THE SAME TIME. I'VE HEARD WE CAN WRITE A BUDGET AND RUN A CITY ON ANY TAX RATE.
I'VE HEARD IF WE DON'T GO WITH THE HIGHEST TAX RATE, OUR SERVICE WILL SUFFER. AND I RUN MY OWN BUDGET IN MY HOUSE. IF THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF MY PERSONAL HOUSE IS SO STRONGLY SWAYED TO SUCH POLAR OPPOSITES -- WITH EVERY CONVERSATION, EVERY OTHER CONVERSATION, I WOULD WONDER IF I AM FINANCIALLY SECURE AND ABLE TO MAKE PLANS MOVING FORWARD. OR IF I NEED TO HUNKER DOWN AND MAYBE SCALE BACK. SO THAT'S WHY I HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY QUIET ON THE MATH OF IT.
THERE HAS BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT SHOW ME HOW WE CAN DO THIS AND SHOW ME WHERE WE CAN CUT. AND SHOW ME -- CAN WE DO A 65? I THINK WE CAN. CAN WE DO A 5959? I THINK WE CAN. THE QUESTIONS IS, WHAT DO THE CITIZENS WANT? I VERY MUCH APPRECIATED DAN'S COMMENTS. DAN ALTMAN'S COMMENTS.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND IF I COULD, I WOULD ASK OF DAN AND I SUPPOSE I WOULD PROPOSE IT TO COUNCIL.
MIDLOTHIAN IS AN AMAZING CITY. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE LIVING HERE.
I CAN LIVE ANYWHERE, BUT I LIVE HERE.
I WILL PAY MY TAXES HOWEVER THEY ARE.
BUT WE WEREN'T ALWAYS THE CITY THAT WE ARE TODAY.
AND THERE HAS BEEN BETTER CITIES IN THE METROPLEX FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE IN. THERE HAS.
AND THERE'S BEEN CITIES THAT HAVE GROWN THROUGH THESE TRAJECTORIES THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING NOW.ND THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE SWORN UP AND DOWN THAT THOSE CITIES WERE AMAZING, AND THEN THEY MOVED.
SO I WONDER, IN THOSE CITIES AS THEY WERE GOING UP, AND EVERYONE THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS GREAT, WHAT CAUSED THEM TO LEAVE? BECAUSE I CAN THINK OF CITIES WHO HAVE MORE MONEY THAN WE DO. WHO HAVE NICER PARKS, BETTER ROADS. BETTER SCHOOLS.
BUT PEOPLE STILL LEAVE THOSE CITIES.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GRAPPLING WITH AS A COUNCILMAN TONIGHT, TO CHOOSE THIS TAX RATE MOVING FORWARD.
>> YOU JUST SAID (INDISCERNIBLE) THE CITY WE ARE TODAY. THAT'S TRUE.
I KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEFORE. AS FAR AS BUDGET IS CONCERNED, MY BIGGEST BUDGET AS FIRE CHIEF MY CAREER WAS $50 MILLION.
I COULDN'T GET MY HEAD WRAPPED AROUND THE $50 MILLION BUDGET.
BUT THERE IS NOBODY ON THE COUNCIL, PROBABLY NOT ANYBODY IN HERE THAT HAS THE EXPERTISE IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT, MANAGEMENT WITH FINANCES, MORE THAN OUR CITY MANAGER.
AND (INDISCERNIBLE) MY $15 MILLION IS DONE RIGHT, THAT'S IN ONE SMALL AREA. HE'S GOT AN AREA LIKE THIS, $48 MILLION. HE'S GOT EXPERTISE.
HE'S GOT OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH MUNICIPAL FINANCES.'D PUT MY MONEY ON HIS (INDISCERNIBLE).
[00:35:02]
I DON'T NEED TO USE MY (INDISCERNIBLE).>> COUNCIL, WE NEED ANOTHER MOTION.
AND THEN, WE CAN DEBATE THAT MOTION.
BUT FOR PROTOCOL, WE NEED TO HAVE A MOTION AND THEN A DEBAT , AND NOT CONTINUE WITH OPEN ENDED DISCUSSIONS.
THOUGH I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS OF EVERYBODY.
SO IS SOMEBODY PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION.
AND IT'S TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE AND FIND THAT BALANCE.
LET ME FIND THE OFFICIAL WORDING.
I MOVE THAT PROPERTY TAX RATE -- I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF THE TAX RATE OF .65, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY AT 9.08 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.
I NEED ANOTHER MOTION --. >> MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THAT MOTION. I GUESS MY QUESTION -- IO KIND OF RESTATE IT FROM MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS IS, IF 663 IS WHAT WE NEED, HOW IS 65 GETTING US THERE?
>> YEAH, SO GOOD QUESTION. VALID.
AND AGAIN, MY THINKING AND REASONING BEHIND THAT IS TO DISTRIBUTE A SMALL PORTION OF THE ARPA COBIT FUNDS BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. SO IT'S A GOOD WILL MOVE BACK IN THE COMMUNITY BY A RATE REDUCTION AND GIVING THEM A
PORTION OF THE ARPA FUNDS. >> I CAN SUPPORT THAT.
I GUESS I'M WONDERING, DO WE HAVE A DOLLAR VALUE FOR THAT?
>> ROUGHLY 660,000, IF I RECALL.
>> SO BASICALLY UTILIZING ARPA FUNDS, 660 SOME THOUSAND TO
COVER THE (INDISCERNIBLE)? >> EXACTLY.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK EARLIER IF YOU CAN CLARIFY WHAT NUMBER YOU'RE PUSHING? PROPOSING?
AND DISCUSS WITH THAT MOTION --
>> I TRIED THAT EARLIER. >> ONCE THAT MOTION FAILS -- (INDISCERNIBLE) OTHERWISE WE WILL BE HERE UNTIL MIDNIGHT.
ASKED THE QUESTION THAT I ASKED.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE TAX RATE WILL SOLVE OR CAUSE THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT HERE.
>> (INDISCERNIBLE) PLEASE LET US HAVE A MOTION.
IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO PUT FORWARD A MOTION?
>> SO WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DISCUSS (INDISCERNIBLE)?
>> WE CAN'T DISCUSSION WITHOUT EMOTION.
I'M GOING TO MAKE MOTION. I MOVED TO THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF THE TAX RATE OF .663, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 10 PERCENT INCREASE IN OVERALL TAX RATE. I MADE THE MOTION, SO YOU MAY
DEBATE. >> I WOULD LOOK AT THIS MOTION --
>> SORRY, THERE ARE TOO MANY MOTIONS UP HERE.
>> I WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING TO THE CITIZENS.
WHEN WE ISSUED THE BONDS, THEN THAT'S AT THE I AND S RATE, WHICH AFFECTS THE CALCULATION. THAT'S WHY THE (INDISCERNIBLE) RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF -- 661920, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY 11.8 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. NOW YOU CAN HAVE DEBATE.
>> (INDISCERNIBLE). >> I'LL SECOND.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
COUNCIL, THE DEBATE OR DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION THAT
HAS BEEN MADE. >> FOR EVERYONE WHO IS NOT
[00:40:03]
WALLOWING AROUND WITH THE MATH EQUATIONS, THAT IS AN EFFECTIVETOTAL TAX RATE OF -- >> .661019.
>> IT'S BECAUSE THE DEBT SIDE -- WELL, IT'S BECAUSE THE DEBT SIDE. I GUESS TO THE COVID -- AND I OBVIOUSLY VOTED FOR BOTH -- 61, HALF DOZEN OF THE OTHER.
LONG-RANGE PLANNING, I THINK, PERSONALLY FROM LOOKING AT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE APPROVE BACK IN, I BELIEVE, APRIL.
THE 663 IS BETTER FOR OUR LONG-RANGE PLAN.
BUT I UNDERSTAND GIVING BACK THE COVID MONEY.
SO REALLY -- I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER WALTER'S QUESTION. AT LEAST FOR ME, THAT'S HOW I LOOK AT IT. OUR STRATEGIC PLAN APPROVED BACK IN APRIL. (INDISCERNIBLE) THAT WASN'T MONEY WE WEREN'T EXPECTING ANYWAYS.
>> ANNA? >> AND JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON IT.
THE 42 MILLION THAT YOU QUOTED INCLUDES THE WATER PLAN EXPANSION, WHICH IS NOT ON THE TABLE ANYMORE.
SO TO ME, THAT IS MIDDLEGROUND OF HOW MUCH WE ARE HAVING TO MAKE UP BY PULLING FROM ARPA OR BY GENERAL FUND.
AND IT IS LESS THAN HAVING ALL THESE OTHER PROJECTS ON THE
TABLE. >> IT'S NOT ON THE TABLE (INDISCERNIBLE) BY ALLOCATING THE FUNDS APPROPRIATELY.
THE SOLID BEEN ASKING FOR THIS ENTIRE TIME.
IF WE WOULD TAKE FROM ALL OF THESE FUNDS IN PENCIL DOWN WHERE WE WOULD BE PUTTING THESE MONIES FOR THESE PROJECTS, I WILL VOTE ON A TAX RATE THAT IS REQUIRED TO KEEP THE CITY AFLOAT. BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE -- WE WILL SOLVE THE FUNDING PORTION OF IT LATER, I THINK THAT'S AN IRRESPONSIBLE WAY TO STEP FORWARD.
>> I THINK THAT'S MY QUESTION I ASKED IN THE BEGINNING.
I DON'T WANT TO GET OFF TOPIC, BUT IT WAS A WHOLE ISSUE I HAD WITH USING COBIT FUNDS. WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THESE PROJECTS BUT WE HAVEN'T PENCIL DOWN WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING.
TO YOUR POINT, THAT WAS MY WHOLE POINT ABOUT USING THE COVID FUNDS. WAIT A MINUTE, WE HAVEN'T EVEN FIGURED OUT WHERE WE ARE SPENDING THIS MONEY YET AND ARE WE OVER SPENDING WHAT IS THERE? AND IF SO, WE HAVE A RESERVE FUND BALANCE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOOD PRACTICE.
>> WE CAN PENCIL IN $660,000 RIGHT NOW.
>> I WOULD LIKE THE PENCIL AND 42.8 MILLION.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE. WE ARE NOT ALL OF THAT IS GOING
TO BE IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE. >> WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT
(INDISCERNIBLE) AND ALL THESE EXTRA THINGS WE ARE UTILIZING AS PROJECTS COMING FORWARD, THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED THIS EXTRA TAX REVENUE FOR. I AGREE.
WHAT'S NOT BEING PROPERLY CONVEYED IS HOW MANY BUDGET YEARS SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO PUSH INTO, BECAUSE NOT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING THIS YEAR.
AGAIN, I'M ON BOARD FOR 663, 661 -- BUT YOU GUYS HAVE TO TELL ME HOW ARE WE GOING TO SPEND THAT MONEY?
>> ARE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS CALCULATED IN THIS YEAR'S
BUDGET, CHRIS? >> NO, THESE ARE ABOVE AND
BEYOND. >> THEY'RE NOT EVEN CALCULATED
IN THE BUDGET. >> RIGHT, BUT WE ARE READY MADE VERBAL COMMITMENTS TO ACCEPT, LIKE FOR INSTANCE THE (INDISCERNIBLE) ON CITY HALL. SO KNOWING FULL WELL THAT WE ARE IN A $2.69 DEFICIT IN OUR BUDGET JUST TO MAKE THE $47 MILLION PRESENT, WE ARCTIC COMMITTED AN ADDITIONAL 7 MILLION. THAT'S FINE, BUT WHERE ARE WE GETTING THAT 7 MILLION FROM TODAY? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO PULL THAT MONEY FROM TO SATISFY THAT $7
MILLIONDEBT? >> WE HAD A WORKSHOP HERE A FEW WEEKS AGO . IN WHICH A MATRIX WAS PUT IN FRONT OF US OF MAJOR PROJECTS AND FUNDING SOURCES.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIME GIVEN, BUT THERE WAS NOT SERIOUS DISCUSSION ON THE ALLOCATION OF THAT FUND, INCLUDING YOUR QUESTION.ND YOU WERE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION. WE HAVE TRIED TO DISCUSS THOSE THINGS. BUT WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US IS A BUDGET. WHAT I ARGUE FOR IS TO MAINTAIN THE SAME FISCAL POLICY THAT HAS GOT US TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE AT NOW. AND NOT GO INTO A REACTIONARY, POLITICALLY DRIVEN -- AND THAT'S THE -- WE MADE TWO POSSIBLE CUTS ON THE TAX RATE. AND QUITE FRANKLY, I BELIEVE THAT BOTH OF THEM ARE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND NOT DOING THE NUMBERS. I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE BUDGET IN FRONT OF US -- THE BUDGET IN FRONT OF US IS THE BUDGET WE NEED TO GO FORWARD WITH THE CITY.
[00:45:01]
AND THE TAX RATE -- RAISE THE MONEY THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN THIS CURRENT FISCAL POLICY THAT HAS GOTTEN US HERE.WE HAVE A DOUBLE A+ RATING. WE HAVE A TRANSPARENCY RECOGNITION WHICH ONLY 65 CITIES IN THE STATE HAVE.
THERE'S TWO CITIES IN THE COUNTY THAT HAS THAT.
AND WE HAVE GOOD, STRONG RESERVE FUNDS.
THIS RATE OF 66 WILL MAINTAIN OUR TRACK RECORD.
>> CAN I -- ARE WE WORKING AGAINST AN ALARM?
SECOND. >> I'LL CALL THE BOAT.
>> I WILL CALL THE VOTE, IF YOU DON'T MIND?
>> WE ARE ALLOWED TO COME A MAYOR, UNDER PROCEDURES.
THE VOTE. WE HAVE A MOTION, SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION BEFORE A CALL FOR THE VOTE? WOULD YOU ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.
CAN -- >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. I PERSONALLY DON'T LIKE TO OPERATE IN EXTREMES, SO LET'S FIND A BALANCE, CAN WE? I MOVE THAT A PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF .65, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY AT A 9.8 PERCENT
>> DISCUSSION? >> YES, AM I ALLOWED TO SAY SOMETHING EARLIER TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT? I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE PROCESS -- LIKE, I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.
ABOUT IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE ALL OUR DUCKS IN A ROW AS FAR AS WHERE ARE THESE THINGS COMING FROM.
FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT WE ARE DOING ALL OF THESE THINGS. SECONDLY, WE ARE WORKING WITHIN A PROCESS. SO THAT WOULD BE IDEAL.
BUT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE AT NOW.
TO JUST CONTINUE TO VOTE NO BECAUSE WE DIDN'T FIGURE THIS OUT, TO ME, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
>> I WOULD AGREE. SAY FOR INSTANCE THE ONE PROJECT THAT IS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR WOULD BE THE CITY HALL AND THE APPROVAL OF THOSE CONTRACTS.
AN UNDERSTANDING TODAY, ON DAY ONE, AND ACCEPTING CONTRACTS THAT UTILIZE THE $7 MILLION ORIGINAL BUDGET, THAT SET QUICK. THAT SET NOW.
>> AND WOULDN'T THAT BE EVEN MORE OF AN ARGUMENT TO GO WITH SOMETHING LIKE THE .65, WHERE WE ARE ONLY 660,000 --?
>> AGAIN, I THOUGHT I WOULD VOTE FOR THE TAX RATE THAT'S REQUIRED TO APPROPRIATELY RUN THE CITY, IF YOU CAN TELL ME HOW WE WILL COVER THAT DEBT? IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR HALF A SECOND AND COMMIT ON RECORD WERE THAT $7 MILLION IS COMING FROM? WE'RE GONNA COVER THE $7 MILLION?
>> WELL, THE $7 MILLION OVERAGE ON CITY HALL IS A PROJECTED OVERAGE. IT IS NOT IN THE BUDGET AND NO CONTRACTS WILL BE LET UNTIL WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE SOURCE OF
IT'S NOT PART OF THIS BUDGET, THEREFORE IT'S NOT PART OF THIS TAX RATE. EXCEPT WE DID ISSUE BONDS TO
COVER CITY HALL. >> IS ALSO PART OF THIS TAX RATE, LIKE YOU SAID, BECAUSE WE ISSUE BONDS.
AND WE ARE EXPECTING TO UTILIZE OVERAGES THROUGH COLLECTION OF TAXES -- SALES TAX, DIFFERENT MECHANISMS WITHIN OUR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TO RECOVER SOME OF THIS MONEY.
IF WE HAVE A LOWER TAX RATE, THEN WHAT WE CAN DO WITHTHE MONEY THAT WE BRING IN HAS TO GO TO MORE DEDICATED THINGS, LIKE DIRECT SALARIES. OR TRUCKS.
ARE THINGS THAT ARE NOT --. >> WELL, THE BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED . AND THAT COVERS THE M&O PORTION AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO GIVE THE PAY RAISES, AND HOW WE ARE
[00:50:04]
GOING TO RUN THE CITY. TRYING TO REMEMBER YOUR OTHER POINT. SO WE ARE VOTING ON THE TAX RATE THAT IS GOING TO GIVE US THE MONEY TO OPERATE THE CITYAND PAY THE DEBT. >> BUT BOTH OF THE FUNDINGS -- SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING.OTH OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE CITY HALL OVERAGE SAID THEY NEEDED BETTER CLARIFICATION AS TO DIRECTLY WHAT THEIR FUNDS WOULD BE COVERING. AND WE CAN'T GIVE THAT TO THEM.
SO WE DON'T HAVE HARD DOLLARS IN THE BANK TO USE.
>> AND WE WON'T GO FORWARD WITH CITY HALL UNTIL WE DO.
>> BUT WE HAVE TO APPROVE CONTRACTS -- TOPIC AND WILL PROBABLY BE TOLD TO STOP.
BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT, THAT 7 MILLION TO RUN THE CITY, TO ME THAT 661. IF WE HAVE $7 MILLION OVERAGE AND ONLY HAVE 8 MILLION AND ARPA FUNDS (INDISCERNIBLE).
ME WHY WE ARE OVER.IF YOU GIVE SOMEONE $100 MILLION, THEY WILL RUN A CITY FOR $100 MILLION.
SO THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE? ARE WE ABLE TO MAKE AND PRIORITIZE OUR DECISION AND OUR SPENDING HABITS?> WELL, THE BUDGET IS OUR PRIORITY.
AND WE HAVE GONE THROUGH -- THIS IS THE THIRD BUDGET CYCLE THAT I'VE GONE THROUGH. WE'VE WENT THROUGH AND REVIEWED THE BUDGET (INDISCERNIBLE) CITY MANAGER.
WE DID NOT TAKE ANYTHING OUT. WE ADDED TO IT.
AND NOW, THE TAX RATE IS TO RAISE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE BUDGET -- THE M&O PORTION. THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DEBATING.
THE CITY HALL FUNDING IS A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION.
THOUGH, THEY DO IMPACT EACH OTHER.
>> WELL, WITHOUT (INDISCERNIBLE) BY WHY WE ARE OVER? THERE IS $4 MILLION IN SUPPLEMENTAL.NE-TIME EXPENSES OR HIRES -- (INDISCERNIBLE). THREE CAPTAINS (INDISCERNIBLE) ONE TRUCK. WE CAN GO THROUGH SUPPLEMENTAL (INDISCERNIBLE) AND SEE WHY WE WENT OVER.
THAT WAS AFTER A $2.6 MILLION CUT THAT THE CITY MANAGER DID ON HIS OWN. WE ADDED WHAT?
600,000 BACK TO OURSELVES? >> I REMEMBER (INDISCERNIBLE) $660,000 AS WE ADDED AS A LINCHPIN LEVER AS TO WHY OUR BUDGET IS UPSIDE DOWN. CROSS TALK]
>> IF YOU GO DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT, IT'S (INDISCERNIBLE) IT'S WAGES -- WHAT I'M GETTING AT IS IF WE HAD TO IDENTIFY, IT WOULD BE UNDER OUR SUPPLEMENTAL, ONE OF THEM IS ROAD REHAB (INDISCERNIBLE). WE COULD CUT IT DOWN TO
800,000. >> I GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID BEFORE. HOW COME BEFORE WE HAVE TO MAKE ANY TYPE OF FISCALLY (INDISCERNIBLE) DECISION, WE ARE CUTTING ROADS AND PEOPLE. WE ARE ALREADY 117 PEOPLE -- (INDISCERNIBLE) WE DID THIS PROCESS.
>> I AGREE, BUT WE DIDN'T GET THE RESULTS OUT OF THE PROCESS THAT WE WORK THROUGH. WHICH IS WHY WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE A TAX RATE WITH THE 5 MAJORITY.
>> WE WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE THING AND WE APPROVE THE BUDGET. NOW, WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE TAX RATE TO PAY FOR THAT. NOT TO BUILD A BUILDING WITH.
NOT TO BUILD CITY HALL WITH. 700 MILLION OVERAGE IS NOT PART OF THE BUDGET! THAT'S NOT WHERE WE ARE.E ARE AT THE TAX RATE, WHICH THE CITIZENS HAVE SAID 7.5 WOULD BE OKAY. TO DO ALL OF THESE JOBS THAT WE
WANT YOU TO DO. >> SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECONDED. I WILL CALL FOR THE ROLL CALL
VOTE NOW, PLEASE. >> (INDISCERNIBLE).
>> 65 WAS THE MOTION. WOULD SOMEBODY HERE READ THE
OFFICIAL MOTION? >> YOU WANT ME TO DO IT AGAIN,
>> I MOVE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF TAX RATE .65 WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 9.08 PERCENT
INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. >> I HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT I NEED TO MAKE. I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR IT FOR
[00:55:06]
ONE REASON: TO GET THIS OVER WITH! [LAUGHTER] I THINK IT SHOULD BE 66, BUT I'M GOING TO GO 65. TO GET FIVE VOTES TO CLEAR THIS THING UP AND GET IT OVER WITH! WE BEAT THIS THING TO DEATH.THE HORSE IS DEAD! >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, WAYNE! CALLED THE VOTE, PLEASE.
CARRIES. THERE WILL NOT BE A MEETING AS ANNOUNCED AT 4 P.M., SEPTEMBER 22, THURSDAY AND THE CITY HALL.
THAT MEETING IS CANCELED. WE WILL NOT HAVE IT.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? IS THERE A SECOND? PLEASE VOTE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.