[Call to Order, Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance.]
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IT IS 6:00 P.M. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 AND I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL MIDLOTHIAN TO ORDER AND WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT AND AVAILABLE SO I WENT TO START THE MEETING OFF BY ASKING COUNCILMEMBER ROGERS TO LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND LEGENDS.
>> JOIN US AS WE PRAY DEAR LORD WE ARE BLESSED TONIGHT TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND A COUNSEL. THIS COUNSEL HAS BEEN ELECTED TO TRY TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BALANCE AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS ALL THE COMMUNITY AND DOES THE BEST PROVISIONS WE FEEL WE CAN PROVIDE.
WE ARE THANKFUL LORD WE COME TOGETHER TONIGHT FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR OUR CITY STAFF AND HOW THEY APPROACH THIS EACH AND EVERY DAY TO TRY TO DO THE BEST I CAN FOR THE CITIZENS. WE ASKED LORD YOU WOULD BLESS US THROUGH THIS MEETING TONIGHT AND BLESS THOSE IN ATTENDANCE AND BLESS THOSE SAFELY AND BLESS THOSE THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK TO WALK IN A WAY PLEASING TO YOU.
IN JESUS NAME I PRAY AMEN. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG; I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER ROGERS I
[2023-332 ]
APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYER FOR THE EMERGENCY SERVICES AND THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS 2023-332 PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MONTH . I WILL ITE MS. TONYA HUNTER TO COME UP AND I WILL PRESENT THEE PROCLAMATION. >> MAYOR IF I CAN INVITE A FEW OTHERS TO THE PODIUM.
CHIEF SMITH, ASSISTANT CHIEF BROWN AND CHRISTINE THOMPSON WHO IS OUR 9-1-1 CENTER MANAGER WITH THE DISPATCH AND IF WE HAVE ANYBODY FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> I WANT TO THINK THIS TEAM PROBABLY DUE TO KEEP ALL OF OUR CITIZENS SAFE AND HAVE LOTS OF FORETHOUGHT INTO EVEN SAFETY AND OTHERWISE AS THEY DO A LOT TO TAKE CARE OF THE CITIZENS OF MIDLOTHIAN. PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN COUNSEL IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MONTH WHEREAS NATIONAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MONTH OCCURRING ANNUALLY IN SEPTEMBER CREATES IDEAL OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY RESIDENT OF MIDLOTHIAN TO JOIN CITIZENS ACROSS THE NATION TO REPAIR HOMES, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITIES FOR NATURAL AND MAN-MADE EMERGENCIES. WHEREAS MIDLOTHIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PARTNERS WITH ELLIS COUNTY AND TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PRIVATE NONPROFIT AND OTHER TYPES OF COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT EDUCATE CITIZENS ABOUT LOCAL HAZARDS. HOW TO BEST PREPARE FOR THEM.
WHEREAS THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY AGENCY FEMA HAS ANNOUNCED BETWEEN 23 PREPAREDNESS MONTH THEME WILL BE PREPARING FOR OLDER ADULTS AND WHERE IS THE BEST WAY TO DEVELOP AND PREPAREDNESS IS TO PLAN BEFORE A DISASTER TO MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR SURVIVAL OF ONE'S FAMILY AND COMMUNITY IN A DISASTER SITUATION. WHEREAS THE RESILIENCE OF COMMUNITY AND RETURN TO NORMALCY AFTER DISASTER RELIES UPON THE EDUCATION OF THE CITIZENS ON HOW TO PLAN FOR REPAIR AND COOPERATE ALONGSIDE FIRST RESPONDERS AND RESCUE TEAMS FOLLOWING THE DISASTER SITUATION AND HEREAS IN FURTHERANCE OF DISASTER EDUCATION AND PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE THE CITY OF F MIDLOTHIAN AND MIDLOTHIAN CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS REGARDING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR ALL OF ITS CITIZENS, BUSINESSES AND OUR COMMUNITY.
THEREFORE BE PROCLAIMED BY MAYOR JUSTIN COFFMAN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN HEREBY RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER AS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN FOR 2023, THE THEME OF EDUCATING CITIZENS TO PREPARING FOR OLDER ADULTS AND LOVED ONES AND COMMUNITY DAY-TO-DAY THE FIFTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2023. CONGRATULATIONS.
[APPLAUSE] >> ME OF AN AMAZING EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE TEAM AND PLAN AT
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ANCHORAGE ANYONE WHO HAS FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE PROGRAMS TO GET EDUCATED ON THEM AND LEARN MORE BECAUSE IT'S A COMMUNITYWIDE EFFORT. MRS. HUNTER HAS PUT TOGETHER.WILL WORK WONDERS FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN THE CASE OF SOME SORT OF EMERGENCY.
WITH THAT WE MOVE ON TO 2023-333 CITIZENS TO BE HEARD MINUS THE CITY COUNCIL INVITES CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON ANY TOPIC NOT ALREADY SCHEDULED FOR A PUBLIC HEARING. CITIZENS WISHING TO SPEAK SHOULD COMPLETE A B AND PRESENT IT TO THE CITY SECRETARY PRIOR TO THE ITEM
[2023-334]
BEING OPENED FOR DISCUSSION. SPEAKERS ARE LIMITED TO 3 MINUTES. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT, THE CITY COUNCIL CANNOT ACT ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA. HOWEVER, YOUR CONCERNS MAY BE ADDRESSED BY CITY STAFF, PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA, OR RESPONDED TO BUY SOME OTHER COURSE. CITIZENS NOT ATTENDING IN PERSON MAY SUBMIT COMMENTS ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.MIDLOTHIAN.TX.US/PART ICIPATE. DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION? NO COMMENTS ON THAT ONE.E MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 2023-334 CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED FY 2023-2024 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGETS FOR THE CITY OF IDLOTHIAN.>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ITEMS TODAY AND I WILL TRY TO GO THROUGH THEM QUICKLY BUT IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS STOP ME AT ANYTIME TONIGHT. THE FIRST ITEM IS PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO. HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED AND IT IS SCHEDULED LATER IN THE EVENING. THIS NOTICE FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS ANNOUNCED AT THE AUGUST 8 2023 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND ADDITIONALLY PUBLISHED IN THE FOCUS DAILY NEWS ON AUGUST 2023 AND AUGUST 27 AND CURRENTLY ON THE CITIES WEBSITE. WE DO HAVE A TAX RATE OF .65 WHICH INCLUDES .329455 AND INS OF .320 545. IT WILL GENERATE 22,247,000 AND FOUR DOLLARS AT A COLLECTION OF 100 PERCENT FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION FEES AND 21 MILLION 645 341 FOR THE INTERESTS OR THE DEBT SERVICE. THERE IS NO OFFICIAL ACTION THAT IS TO BE TAKEN ON THIS ITEM. WE JUST CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE OTHER ITEMS. I WILL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS NOW OR AFTER THE
PUBLIC HEARING. >> THANK YOU AND FOR THIS ITEM THERE'S NO ACTION TAKEN ALTHOUGH WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT I'M SURE. COUNSEL THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGENDA ITEM IS SIMPLY TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC WE WILL TAKE A VOTE LATER FURTHER.
IN THE AGENDA ITEM I WANT TO MENTION THERE WERE TWO ONLINE SUBMITTALS REGARDING THIS.
THE SPECIFIC TOPIC. ONE FROM MRS. KIMBERLY VANDERVEEN WHO IS IN OPPOSITION AND WE HAD ONE FROM MS. KAREN DEMENT WHO IS SUPPORTED OF THIS AGENDA ITEM.
WHEN THAT DID ANYONE SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON 2023 Ã334? IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE WITHIN THE CITY
LIMITS. >> MY NAME IS VICTOR CALLING HIM AND I MUST TELL YOU THE THREE MINUTE LIMIT IS OGUS. THERE IS NO WAY I CAN GIVE YOU THE NFORMATION I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO READ 2022 SALARIES THAT ARE PART OF THE BUDGET.
IT WOULD TAKE ME OVER THREE MINUTES TO READ ALL OF THOSE I WILL TELL YOU WHAT THE BALANCE IF THAT IS FOR THE YEAR OF 2022. THAT AMOUNT FOR JUST SALARIES, NOT FOR BENEFITS BUT JUST FOR SALARIES IS $5.2 MILLION. OF THE BUDGET.
THERE ARE 182 PEOPLE THAT ARE ON SALARY. THAT GET A YEARLY SALARY OR HOURLY SALARIES. YOU CAN SEE WE ARE REALLY TOP-HEAVY.
THOSE STATISTICS AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE 35 TO 168 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE.
THAT'S WHERE A BIG PORTION OF THE BUDGET IS SPENT ON PEOPLE WHO GET BIG SALARIES.
THERE IS A 43 PEOPLE IN THE TOP TEGORY THAT GET THAT $5.2 MILLION.
43. THAT IS JUST NOT GOOD. THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
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I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ARE GOING TO ADDRESS IT BECAUSE ONCE YOU GIVE YOU CAN'T TAKE AWAY BECAUSE PEOPLE LEAVE. MAYBE THEY NEED TO LEAVE. I'M OPPOSED TO THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE TWO YEARS AGO I BELIEVE IT WAS WE VOTED TO HAVE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AT 3.5 PERCENT. WHERE DID THAT GO? HOW DO YOU FIGURE 12.97? IS THAT RIGHT? 12.97? BUDGET INCREASE. WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN A HECK OF A BIG HIT IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. MANY JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST. BUSINESSES HAVE CLOSED DOWN.
PEOPLE'S SAVINGS HAVE BEEN SHOT. DO YOU REALIZE 35 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY ARE LIVING OFF THEIR CREDIT CARDS? 32 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MORTGAGES ARE LATE. 10 TO 11 PERCENT OF THE AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE GOING UP. 20 TO 30 PERCENT OF THE HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE PACKAGES
ARE GOING UP. BY 20 TO 30 PERCENT. >> IF YOU CAN WRAP YOUR
THOUGHTS UP IT HAS BEEN THREE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.
I NEEDED 15 MINUTES. LOOKS I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ONE THING IT IS 17.04 PERCENT.
NOT 12 PERCENT. 17 PERCENT INCREASE THIS YEAR, JUST LETTING YOU
IN THE OVERALL L BUDGET. JUST CLARIFYING. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME SIR.
THE CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN HAS ROUGHLY 300 EMPLOYEES AND IT'S A SERVICE ORGANIZATION.
MY OPINION IS IT IS NORMAL FOR A SERVICE ORGANIZATION TO HAVE TO PAY SALARIES.
MOVING ONTO THE NEXT ONE. IF YOU WILL COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME AND WHETHER YOU LIVE
IN THE CITY LIMITS AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES AS WELL. >> HI MY NAME IS LISA HEALY AND I LIVE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AND I'M GOING TO READ SOME OF KIM VANDERVEEN'S SUBMISSION AS I THINK HER POINTS ARE REALLY GOOD. I TEND TO AGREE WITH THEM.
I BROKE INTO TWO BECAUSE THIS IS THE BUDGET AND THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING IS ON THE TAX RATE. YOU ARE ABOUT TO PASS A BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE A PERSONAL INTEREST IN. IT IS GIVING YOURSELVES A RAISE.
MOST PEOPLE HAVEN'T GOTTEN RAISES THIS YEAR AS THE GENTLEMAN MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY.
AND ESPECIALLY TO THE TUNE OF 200 PERCENT, 300 PERCENT FOR MAYOR PRO TEM AND 400 PERCENT FOR MAYOR I TAKE ISSUE WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT IT IS OVERESTIMATED.
THE WHOLE THING IS AN ESTIMATE BUT IF EVERY LINE ITEM IS ADDED LIKE YOUR WAGE INCREASE IS PADDED SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE MAKING SOME SERIOUS INQUIRIES. DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS U.S.
COUNSEL SHOULD HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT BUDGET SCENARIO. ONE BEING AT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE YOU DID NOT ASK AS A POINT OF COMPARISON TO SEE WHAT ITEMS BECOME TRUE PRIORITIES.
INSTEAD LET THEM BRING A BUDGET THAT INCLUDES NOT UST ALL THE NEEDS AND WANTS MANY SUPPLEMENTAL REQUESTS. THAT BUDGET HAS OVERESTIMATED AS IT IS CAN BE FUNDED WITH A .62 TAX RATE. YET YOU ARE GOING ABOVE THAT EVEN SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE APPROXIMATELY 5 MILLION MORE FOR A BOND. WE DO NOT NEED TO TAKE ON ADDITIONAL DEBT RIGHT NOW. AND FOR WHAT? FOR A SET OF PET PROJECTS ONE OF WHICH KEEPS GETTING BROUGHT UP IN WHAT I CAN ONLY ASSUME IS ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY REPETITION AND RECOGNITION. THAT IS THE CREEK BED PROJECT ONE THAT WILL CONSUME THE ENTIRETY OF THE EXTRA .3 CENT TAX REVENUE TO THE BENEFIT OF A HANDFUL OF AFFLUENT RESIDENTS WHOSE NAME SHOULD RAISE RED FLAGS. WHICH IS WHY YOU WOULD NOT ALLOW COUNCILMAN GARDNER TO READ THEM INTO RECORD AT A PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING.
THE ONLY PLAY WE HAVE LEFT IS TO ASK YOU TO REMEMBER YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISES AND SUPPORT THE OVERBURDENED TAXPAYERS. DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE WHILE WE ARE OVERBURDENED.
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COUNCILWOMAN ANNA HAMMONDS HE SAID HE WANTED TO BE PART OF THE COUNCIL THAT GETS THINGS DONE. THAT TAKES ACTION NOW. NOT BY PUSHING THINGS OFF TO ANOTHER COUNSEL. SO DO THAT TONIGHT AND PROVE YOUR SUPPORT FOR TAXPAYERS AND BE THE COUNCIL THAT LOWERS THE TAX RATE NOW. NOT NEXT YEAR OR THE YEARAFTER. >> IT HAS BEEN THREE MINUTES. >> DO NOT BE THE COUNCIL THAT LITERALLY TAKES MONEY OUT OF OUR POCKETS TO PUT INTO YOUR OWN.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. NO OTHER SPEAKERS ON THAT ITEM? OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE FOR THE RECORD WE NEED TO ANNOUNCE THE ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET AND TAX RATE WILL BE HELD AT THIS MEETING LATER AS THE AGENDA GOES. I WANT TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING. >> OPENING ITEM 2023-335 CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED FY 2023-2024 TAX RATE, AND SCHEDULE AND ANNOUNCE THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF THE MEETING TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE.
SORRY, I APOLOGIZE. >> I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE A PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION BY THE PRO TEM SECOND BY MS. ANNA HAMMONDS PLEASE VOTE. IT PASSES SIX ÃZERO APOLOGIES.
[2023-335 .]
OPENING ITEM 2023-335 CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED FY 2023-2024 TAX RATE, AND SCHEDULE AND ANNOUNCE THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF THE MEETING TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE.ONIGHT AN APPALLING AGENDA ITEM. > THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE TAX RATE. AGAIN AS MENTIONED BEFORE THE COUNCIL AT THE AUGUST 8 CITY COUNCIL MEETING TOOK A RECORD VOTE TO PROPOSE A TAX ATE OF $0.65 PER HUNDRED VALUATION AND THIS TAX RATE DOES EXCEED THE NEW REVENUE TAX RATE THAT WAS . SINCE THE PROPOSED TAX ATE CEEDS THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE THE PUBLIC HEARING REQUIREMENT IS TRIGGERED.
HENCE WHY WE ARE HERE. THE COUNCIL MAY ADOPT THE FINAL TAX RATE EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE CURRENTLY PROPOSED TAX RATE OF $0.65. IF A HIGHER TAX RATE IS PROPOSED THAT WE WOULD START THE TAXATION AND LEGAL NOTICES AGAIN.
AS WE'VE SAID WE ARE PROPOSING $0.65. AND I WILL SAY ON THIS ONE AGAIN LIVE TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE IS SCHEDULED LATER THIS EVENING.
I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THIS IS ONE WE TAKE NO FORMAL ACTION AT THIS TIME BUT CONDUCT
A PUBLIC HEARING AND ANNOUNCE THOSE DATES. >> IS HER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? MS. HEALY IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK UP?
>> MAYOR CAN GET A COPY OF THE WRITTEN FOR OR AGAINST THE METALS.
IS THAT POSSIBLE? >> AS STATED BEFORE THERE WAS TWO OF THEM, ONE IN SUPPORT I
WENT AGAINST I APOLOGIZE MS. HEALY. >> I'M LISA HEALY AND LIVE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. I'M GOING TO COVER SOME OF KIM'S COMMENTS REGARDING THE TAX RATE. I MAY ADD IN A LITTLE OF MY OWN.
KIM IS ASKING FOR YOU TO VOTE TO PASS THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AS OPPOSED TO THE CURRENT .65 TAX RATE. THAT IS PROPOSED WHICH REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT TAX INCREASE TO TAXPAYERS. I WILL REMIND EACH OF YOU YOU ARE ELECTED ON A PROMISE TO LOWER TAXES AND REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU CAN BLAME THE SITUATION ON APPRAISAL DISTRICT ALL YOU WANT YOU ARE THE FINAL AUTHORITY AND YOU HAVE AND CAN AND SHOULD EASE THE POWER BURDEN. INSTEAD YOU PLAN TO PASS .65 TAX RATE, JUST FRACTIONS OF A PENNY SHY OF WHAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED VOTER APPROVAL. THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THAT CITY STAFF HAS PROPOSED THAT AT LEAST THIS YEAR THEY DID NOT TRY TO CALL IT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. YOU REALLY SHOULD IF YOU FEEL YOU NEED ALL THIS MONEY FROM US YOU SHOULD HAVE PUT IT TO A VOTE. AND LET THE TAXPAYERS VOTE ON IT. YOU JUST SKIRT THOSE EDGES CONSTANTLY.
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WE DON'T APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN GARDNER AND ALL THE WORK YOU DID NEGOTIATING FOR A HIGHER HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. BUT IN THAT YOU GAVE YOUR WORD TO AGREE THAT YOU WOULD FIGHT THIS .65. THAT IS NOT BENEFITING US AS TAXPAYERS. I KNOW YOU GAVE YOUR WORD BUT I DON'T TRUST OTHERS ON THIS COUNSEL TO STICK TO THEIR WORD. I BET YOU WILL BE HERE NEXT YEAR AND THEY WILL COME UP WITH SOME REASON NOT TO GIVE US THAT 20 PERCENT HOMESTEAD. I ASK FOR YOU TO ADD LEAST DECREASE IT BY THREE CENTS. DO NOT PUT US AN ADDITIONAL DEBT.BY $5 MILLION. LET US GET CITY HALL DONE AND GET THE LIBRARY DONE AND LET US GET THE SAFETY BUILDING DONE. DO A BUDGET WE ARE ASKING THAT IS ALREADY OVERBUDGET AND WE
CAN TAKE ON SOME NEW DEBT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU MS. HEALY.
>> MRS. MCCLURE YOU CAN COME STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE IN
THE CITY LIMITS AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AS WELL. >> I'M GOING TO READ BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT TO SAY BELIEVE IT OR NOT AND I WANT TO READ AND MAKE SURE I GET IT IN.
WHAT I BELIEVE IS PAID FOR BY THE CITY OVER 20 TO 25 YEAR PERIOD AND I WILL THINK THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE SUPPORTING ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS THE FLOODING ISSUES.
IN AND AROUND THE CREEK SUBDIVISION WHICH WE'VE SEEN FLOODED HOMES AND WASHED AWAY FENCES AND GARAGES AND STORAGE BUILDINGS AND LAND THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR HOMEWORK TO UNDERSTAND THROUGH ALL THE GROWTH WEST AND SOUTH OF US THE VOLUME AND VELOCITY OF WATER HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND IN FACT DANGEROUS. EXAMPLE, SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER FOUR YEARS AGO A YOUNG MAN DROVE HIS TRUCK INTO THE WATER OVER THE CREEK BRIDGE AND IT STALLED OUT. THAT WAS BEFORE THEY PUT THE DEPTH SIGNS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY RESPONDED WITH A LETTER TRUCK AND WAS ABLE TO SAVE HIM.
LAST YEAR I POSTED PICTURES ON FACEBOOK OF THE WATER VERY QUICKLY COMING UP INTO OUR BACKYARD OVER OUR RETAINING WALL. WHICH IS OVER 10 FEET FROM THE FLOOR TO THE CREEK ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE CREEK STREETS CLEARWATER THOSE RESIDENTS WERE TOTALLY BLOCKED IN BECAUSE WATER WAS OVER BOTH THE OUT ROADS.
THE FLOODING OVER THOSE STREETS APPEAR TO BE BECAUSE OF THE NORMAL GROWTH.
NOT SURE IF IT'S BECAUSE IT WAS SO FLOODED, I'M NOT SURE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT COULD HAVE GONE TO ANYONE ON THE OTHER SIDE. PLEASE STAND STRONG WITH A $0.65 TAX RATE AND TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE RETENTION DETENTION POND TO HELP WITH FLOODING AND IN ADDITION BUILT MUCH MORE NEEDED STREETS MR. GARNER SAID THE ONLY REASON ENLARGING THE DETENTION POND WAS BROUGHT UP WAS BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE.
THUS THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE AND I'M ONE OF THEM. I WILL GO ON THE RECORD AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT. HOPEFULLY THAT SATISFIES YOU. I ASSUME YOU KNOW ALL THOSE TAXPAYERS INCLUDING ME ARE TAXPAYERS AND AS A COUNCILMEMBER THAT IS SUPPOSED TO SERVE ALL TAXPAYERS YOUR STATEMENT MAKES IT CLEAR TO ME THAT YOU ARE ONE THAT ONLY SERVES YOUR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP. IT DOESN'T TAKE A GENIUS TO FIGURE OUT THAT IF THE COUNCIL VOTES TO LOWER THE TAX RATE FURTHER DOWN IS LESS MONEY FOR THE CITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE CITY CITIZENS I SUGGEST EACH COUNCILMEMBER LET THOSE HERE AND THE SOLID MAJORITY OF THE MIDLOTHIAN TAXPAYERS KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO CUT OUT OF
THE BUDGET. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
MR. WHATLEY I INVITE YOU UP AND IF YOU CAN STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND WHETHER YOU LIVE
WITHIN CITY LIMITS AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AS WELL. >> VOICE WHATLEY 836 TRAIL IN MIDLOTHIAN. I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS.
AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW I WAS A ELECTED OFFICIAL FOR 13 OF THOSE.
I HAVE SOME AT SAINT MEMBERS THAT SAID WHY DIDN'T YOU ADDRESS THAT WE ARE UP THERE AND I SAID BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT ANY PERCEPTION THAT IS GOING TO G TO BENEFIT THE
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INDIVIDUAL WHO IS MAKING THE SION. IN HINDSIGHT I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE TURNED IT OVER TO TO THE OTHER SIX AND TODAY WE PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE TALKING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THE WORK WOULD HAVE BEEN, I BELIEVE COMPLETED.I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START. WHEN YOU LOSE 100-YEAR-OLD TREES AND YOU'RE PAYING 600 BUCKS TO HAVE THEM CUT DOWN OR ANOTHER SIX OR $700 TO HAVE THEM HOLD OFF ON HAVING TO REPLACE ROCK IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT I'VE DONE OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS. TO TRY TO ABATE IF YOU WOULD SOME OF THE FLOODING ISSUES WE HAVE OUT HERE. WHEN THE NEIGHBOR TO MY RIGHT HAS WATER IN HIS HOUSE AND THE NEIGHBOR TO MY LEFT HAS THREE FEET OF WATER IN HIS WORKSHOP. HE TOOK OUT HIS MOTORCYCLES AND ALL OF HIS LAWN EQUIPMENT. THE NEIGHBOR NEXT TO HIM THREE FOOT OF WATER IN HIS WORKSHOP.
THE NEIGHBOR NEXT TO HIM HAS LOST HIS FANS ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION.
BACK IN THE 80S, EARLY 80S WHEN I APPEARED BEFORE COUNSEL AT THAT TIME, MR. POWERS WAS THE CITY MANAGER AND GAVE COUNSEL A LIST OF THE TOP 10 ITEMS RELATING TO FLOODING THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THIS CITY. THERE IS ONE THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE YOU CAN GUESS WHICH ONE IT IS. IT IS GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU ANNEX THE PROPERTY YOU'VE GOT AN OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN THAT AND IF IT IS SUBSTANDARD TO THE POINT IT IS AFFECTING LIFE AND SAFETY OF YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR NEIGHBORS IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IF YOU LOOK AT THE 2018, I'D LIKE TO SAY IT WAS THE WORST FLOODING WE HAD BUT IT HASN'T BEEN.
THERE'S BEEN WORSE THAN THAT 2019 WE HAD THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS WHERE WATER WAS OVER THE ROADWAY. 2021 AT LEAST ONCE OVER THE ROADWAY AND AGAIN MR. MCCLURG MENTIONED THE LETTER TRUCK THAT CAME TO RESCUE A MAN WHOSE TRUCK HAD BEEN SWEPT AGAINST THE GUARD RAILS ON CREEK BEND DRIVE. CAN'T HELP IT IF ANY ONE OF OUR KIDS WAS IN ONE OF THOSE VEHICLES OR IN A SCHOOL BUS OR MY 91-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WHO WAS BEING TRANSPORTED BY AN AMBULANCE BECAUSE OF SOME MEDICAL ISSUE.
WHERE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT GET IN THERE. >> IF YOU CAN WRAP YOUR
COMMENTS UP. >> I THINK THE LEGISLATURE CUT YOU OFF AT THE KNEES AND I HAVE THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. IT IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE YOU ARE NO LONGER SELF GOVERNED.
IT USED TO BE IF IT WAS A STATUTE YOU CAN MAKE THE DECISION SO IF IT'S BEST FOR YOUR COMMUNITY BUT THEY HAVE CUT YOU OFF AT THE KNEES. TODAY YOU HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO MAINTAIN A TAX RATE THAT WILL LEAVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF MEAT ON THE BONE.
YOU CAN DO SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE AT LEAST IN THE INTERIM BEFORE THE NEXT FLOOD.
ALL OF YOU HAVE THE FLOOD STUDY. THREE OR FOUR OF YOU WERE NOT APPEAR LAST TIME AND I BELIEVE MR. GARDNER YOU WERE HERE AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE $4 MILLION.
>> MR. WHATLEY. >> I'M GOING TO CUT IT SHORT TO TELL YOU IT'S AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE FOR ME. I'VE GOT FAMILY THAT DOES LIVE OUT THERE AND GRANDKIDS AND A MOTHER, 92-YEAR-OLD MOTHER SOON TO BE PAID LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS MR. WHATLEY WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR SERVICE.
TAMMY ARE THERE OTHERS SIGNED UP TO SPEED ON THIS ISSUE? NO MORE FOR THIS ITEM I WILL
ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC
HEARING. >> MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM AND SECOND BY ANNA HAMMONDS PLEASE
[2023-336 .]
VOTE CLOSED SIX ÃZERO MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER 2023-336 CONSIDER AND ACT UPON AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 11 TITLED B AMENDING ARTICLE 11.02 TITLED B AMENDING DIVISION 2 TITLED B SECTION 11.02.034 TITLED B RESIDENCE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION Ã GRANTEDB BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2024 IN THE AMOUNT EQUAL TO TWENTY PERCENT (20%) OF THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE RESIDENCE HOMESTEAD WITH A MINIMUM EXEMPTION OF $5,000.CHRIS? WHO IS TAKING THIS? >> AS DISCUSSED IN THE PREVIOUS BUDGET WORKSHOPS THE COUNCIL WANTED TO MOVE TO A 20 PERCENT EXEMPTION FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. WHICH BEGINS OR TEXTURE WHICH BEGINS JANUARY 1, 2024 KEEP IN
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MIND WE HAVE TO DO THIS JULY ONE OF THE YEAR. WE WENT TO 10 PERCENT FOR THE 2023 TAX YEAR AND IF APPROVED P FOR THE 2024 TAX YEAR. I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ASK ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK COUNSEL?USSION? >> I WILL GO GO FIRST. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I ERSONALLY PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT. I THINK MAKING THIS DECISION NOW GIVES STAFF THE ABILITY TO PLAN PROPERLY MOVING FORWARD AND ALSO MAKES A COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT RISING VALUATIONS AND TAXES WE WANT TO PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE GRADUALLY 10 PERCENT THIS YEAR AND 20 PERCENT NEXT YEAR TO DO SOMETHING, MAYBE NOT TO LOWER THE TAX BILL BUT AT LEAST AT THE VERY LEAST PREVENT THE TAX BILL FROM GOING UP OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND NEXT YEAR. BASED ON THE MAX APPRAISAL.
I'M PERSONALLY EXCITED AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT IT BEING A LITTLE EARLY IN THE TIMELINE TO DO THAT. I THINK WITH THAT BEING SAID EVERYBODY NEEDS TO LOOK AT THEIR CONSCIOUS AND WHAT THEY FEEL IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
IN SUPPORT OF IT. >> OTHER COMMENTS? >> I JUST WANT TO AY IT'S AN EXCELLENT T START AND GIVEN SOME RELIEF TO CITIZENS OF MIDLOTHIAN.
THAT'S ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL THINGS IRAN ON. I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO THIS POINT. I WISH WE COULD HAVE DONE MORE AND I STILL THINK THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM TO DO MORE. I HOPE THIS ISN'T USED AS A POSITION TO STAND ON SAYING WE SUCCEEDED BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE DID. I FEEL LIKE WE STILL HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRULY LOWER TAXES AND I FEEL LIKE WE ARE SOMEWHAT FAILING TO CITIZENS WHEN WE HAVE A 17 PERCENT BUDGET INCREASE AND A WINDFALL IN PROPERTY VALUATIONS AND TAXES. THAT WE COULD HAVE USED TO HELP THE CITIZENS MORE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID I'M GLAD WE ARE DOING THIS BUT I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE THE END AND I WANT US TO CONTINUE TO WORK AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO RELIEVE THE BURDEN ON PEOPLE.
>> I WOULD ONLY MENTIONED I MYSELF ALSO RAN ON THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME DISCUSSING IT. THE 10 PERCENT ACROSS THE BUDGET, CORRECT ME ANYPLACE I'M WRONG, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE RESIDENTS ARE AWARE WHAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED AS HOMESTEADERS. AS HOMESTEADERS ACROSS THE BOARD IT IS .042 CENTS.
FOUR CENTS. 4.2 CENTS. IF YOU DIRECT IT EXACTLY TO THOSE WHOM BENEFIT IT IS .071 TWO THE HOMESTEADERS. WHICH MAKES THE ACTUAL PLAT RATE .579 I DO APOLOGIZE TO HOMESTEADERS. WE DID NOT GET TO THE NNR THIS YEAR. WE WERE 2 AND A HALF CENTS OFF AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
I'VE BEEN AROUND HERE LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW THE LARGEST SINGLE TAX REDUCTION WE'VE HAD HERE THAT I KNOW OF EVER IN THE CITY WAS 2 AND A HALF CENTS. BACK IN 2018 OR 2019.
WE HAVE GAINED .071 IN ONE YEAR AND NEXT YEAR AFTER THE 20 PERCENT IS REACHED WHICH I MIGHT ADD IS THE MOST THE LEGISLATURE WILL ALLOW US TO DO.
IT WILL BE 14.2 CENTS TO THE HOMESTEADERS. THAT COMES TO A GRAND TOTAL OF 50.8 CENTS. THAT WILL BE A NICKEL BELOW WHERE THE NNR IS TODAY.
IT IS 55.2 WHICH IS WHERE IT IS TODAY. I'M NOT TALKING ACROSS THE BOARD AS THE HOMESTEADERS GO AND I DO FEEL LIKE WE MADE SOME GOOD STRIDES.
THERE IS MORE STRIDES TO BE MADE I DON'T WANT THIS TO APPEAR AS IF NOTHING HAS BENEFITED ANYONE. I OWN A BUSINESS IN THIS TOWN AND MY BUSINESS TAXES HAVE OVER
[00:35:01]
DOUBLED AT THIS POINT. I OWN A HOME IN THIS TOWN AND I PAY MORE TAXES.I GET HURT JUST LIKE THE REST OF FOLKS BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE HOMESTEADERS UNDERSTAND THAT AS OF THIS YEAR YOUR EFFECTIVE RATE WHEN YOU REDUCE THE 10 PERCENT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS 57.9 CENTS IS WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS FOR HOMESTEADERS.
I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT AND MAYBE DO MORE NEXT YEAR.
>> ANY COMMENTS? >> IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
I KNOW EVERYONE THINKS WE START TALKING ABOUT THE HOMESTEAD AND BUDGET PROCESS BUT THERE'S THREE OF US THAT WERE DISCUSSING TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT IN FEBRUARY.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS. I'M GLAD WE GOT HERE. TO ALLEN'S POINT THE NUMBERS GUY GETS NERVOUS ONLY BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THOSE I LIKE LOOKING AT NUMBERS.
THE INTENT OF WHAT WE ARE DOING I AGREE WITH SO FOR THAT IT HELPS ME GET OVER THAT HUMP.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO DO THAT AND PROVIDE SOME RELIEF.
I'M EXCITED FOR IT. >> I ECHO COUNCILMEMBER ALLEN MOORMAN'S SENTIMENTS AND THIS EQUIPS THE STAFF TO PLAN AND PREPARE AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY SOME EXCITED AS WELL.
ANNA ANYTHING? WITH THAT I ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> I HAVE ONE MORE THING I'D LIKE TO PUT ON THE RECORD. THIS IS FOR THE FOLKS AT HOME. THIS WAS PRESENTED AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP WHEN WE DISCUSSED HOMESTEAD BUT JUST SO, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN CONFUSION ABOUT I THOUGHT WE ALREADY HAD A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS CONFUSION ABOUT WHERE EVERYBODY'S TAX BILL COMES FROM.
YOU HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ON YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TAXES AS WELL AS COUNTY TAXES.
SPECIFICALLY WITH CITIES IT IS PRETTY RARE TO HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND HAVE ONE OF THIS MAGNITUDE SO I WAS GOING TO READ OFF SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES AROUND ELLIS COUNTY AND WHAT THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS ARE SO THEY CAN SEE THE MOVE IN COMPARISON TO THOSE WHAT'S HATCHING PAST A ONE PERCENT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. CITY OF PARIS HAS A FOUR ERCENT AND CITY OF VENICE HAS A ONE ERCENT. THE COUNTY HAS A ONE PERCENT.
THE CITY OF ROGUE IS ZERO. THE CITY OF MINAS ZERO. EVERYBODY ELSE FOR THE MOST PART DOES NOT HAVE ONE OF THESE WE ARE MORE THAN DOUBLE ANY OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTY WITH THIS MOVE FOR NEXT YEAR. I'M PROUD OF HAT AND EXCITED ABOUT IT AND I WANTED TO BRING SOME CLARITY SOME FOLKS AT HOME CAN UNDERSTAND KIND OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND SURROUNDING
CITIES. >> I WOULD LIKE TO TENSION ON ALLEN MOORMAN'S BEHALF BECAUSE HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT DOING SOME BENEFIT TO THE DISABLED COMMUNITY AND FOR THE FIRST TIME WE ALSO HAVE THE DISABILITY EXEMPTION. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF STRIDES WE'VE MADE THAT I THINK ARE GOOD THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW ON AS MR. GARDNER MENTIONED WE'VE MADE SOME EXCELLENT STRIDES. I'VE BEEN AT THIS GAME SINCE 2011 AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I'M BLESSED.
>> COUNSEL WITHOUT A WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THE 20 PERCENT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED. >> SECOND.
>> MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM AND THE SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER ALLEN MOORMAN ITEM PASSES SIX Ã
[2023-337 ]
ZERO I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR RESEARCH ON THE ITEM AS WELL.IT WAS IN-DEPTH. OPENING ITEM 2023-337 CONSIDER AND ACT UPON AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN, TEXAS, TAX NOTES, SERIES 2023, IN AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,000,000 APPROVING THE SALE OF THE NOTES; AND ORDAINING OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO, INCLUDING IMMEDIATE
EFFECTIVENESS. >> AS WE MENTIONED THIS IS A $5 MILLION TAX NOTE.
IT IS TO FUND ROAD REHABILITATION AND DRAINAGE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT APART DESIGNING INSTRUCTION AND POTENTIAL LAND PURCHASES. THIS REQUEST TIES INTO THE OVERALL BUDGET STRATEGY THAT WE DISCUSSED OVER THE SUMMER. AND TO ADDRESS THE DEPARTMENTAL NEEDS AND COUNSEL PRIORITIES. THE TAX NOTES ARE PRIVATELY PLACED.
THERE'S TWO CEREAL NOTES EACH OF WHICH HAVE THEIR OWN DEBT SERVICE SCHEDULES SO IF YOU SEE IN YOUR PACKET THERE ARE TWO SCHEDULES. AND THE TWO TAX NOTES ARE
[00:40:02]
NONCALLABLE. THESE WERE INCLUDED WHEN WE CALCULATED THE INTERESTS PORTION OF THE TAX RATE. I WILL INTRODUCE RYAN CUNNINGHAM WHO IS HERE FROM SAMCO. HE WILL TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL DETAILS OF THE NOTES.>> RYAN CUNNINGHAM FINANCIAL ADVISOR TO THE CITY AND MY COLLEAGUES ANDREW FREEMAN SO THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] THE CITY RECENTLY ISSUED GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS VIA PUBLIC SALE IN THE MARKET AND GOT A BOND RATING AND HAD GOOD RESULTS.
DOUBLE A+ BOND RATING AND COULD RESULT. THIS IS PRIVATELY PLACED AND THERE'S A MUTUAL FUND IN SAN ANTONIO THAT'S AGREED TO BUY THIS 4.5 PERCENT FOR EACH OF THESE TWO MATURITIES. AS YOU KNOW WE ARE AN INFLATIONARY GARMENT AND RATES HAVE GONE UP ONE BENEFIT AS WE WERE ABLE TO LOCK IN RATES ON AUGUST 29.
RATES HAVE GONE UP SEVEN POINT SINCE THAT DATE. THE MARKET IS UP AND DOWN EACH DAY. THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE IN FRONT OF YOU WOULD ALLOW TO HIT THE TARGET TAX RATE OF .32 0545. MAINTENANCE OPERATION PORTION .65 BEFORE YOU GLAD TO GET INTO DETAILS ON THE STRUCTURING OR THE RATE OR THE MARKETS IN GENERAL OR ANY QUESTIONS YOU
MAY HAVE. >> TAMMY DID ANYONE SIGN UP TO SPEAK?
CANCEL ANY QUESTIONS. CANCEL ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? >> I WILL ENTERTAIN A OTION.
>> ONE QUICK QUESTION AS FAR AS WHAT WE ARE APPROVING TONIGHT THESE FUNDS FROM THIS PARTICULAR TAX NOTE CAN BE UTILIZED FOR ANY OF THE LISTED PURPOSES HERE THAT WERE NAMED OFF BUT REGARDING THE SPECIFIC PURCHASES THOSE ARE BROUGHT BACK TO COUNSEL REGARDING WHICH ROAD PROJECTS AND WHICH DRAINAGE PROJECTS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING BACK CONTRACTS DRAINAGE FOR EXAMPLE
WE WOULD BRING BACK CONTRACTS FOR ENGINEERING. >> SAME THINGS FOR ROADS?
>> YES DONE FOR ANY OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THAT LIST. >> OKAY THANK YOU.
>> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION BUT I HAVE A COMMENT TO MAKE ON THIS.
CONTRARY TO WHAT'S BEEN SAID I AM IN FAVOR OF DEALING WITH THE DRAINAGE ISSUES WE HAVE NOT ONLY IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS BUT ACROSS THE CITY. I MET WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND WE TALKED ABOUT A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. REGIONAL DRAINAGE SYSTEM THAT WOULD ADDRESS NOT JUST ONE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE CURRENTLY HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS THERE ARE SEVERAL OUT THERE IT WOULD ALSO HELP US TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE AS THEY GO FORWARD. IT IS A BIGGER LIFT AND NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE COVERED BY THIS. JUST ONE CREEK BAND PROJECT WE TALKED ABOUT, IF YOU WERE TO GO WITH THE FULL REMEDIATION PLAN 7.8 MILLION I BELIEVE, 9
MILLION? >> ONE WAS SEVEN POINT AND ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS NINE.
>> JUST THE ONE THING WOULD TAKE THIS ENTIRE 5 MILLION AND NOT BE COMPLETED.
I DON'T THINK ADDRESSING THIS IS AN ISSUE ABOUT THE ONE DRAINAGE PROJECT IS THERE AND I DON'T THINK IT IS ACCURATE. IT WILL NOT COMPLETELY SOLVE THE GRANTEE WE COULD USE SOME OF THE MONEY TO WORK ON THE RETENTION POND WE TALKED ABOUT. THAT WOULD HELP ASSIST I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT. I DON'T THINK TAKING ON ADDITIONAL DEBT FOR THE CITIZENS OF MIDLOTHIAN IS THE WAY TO DO IT.
WITHOUT TAKING IT TO THE VOTERS AND LETTING THEM DECIDE IF WE PUT FORWARD A REGIONAL DRAINAGE PLAN AND PUT IT TO THE VOTERS I THINK THEY WILL APPROVE IT. I THINK IT WILL BE A BIGGER PROJECT AND ACTUALLY HAVE A BETTER RESULT FOR THE CITY IN THE LONG-TERM.
THE REST OF THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN NAMED WE'VE GOT A VERY AGGRESSIVE ROAD SCHEDULE THAT'S IN THE BUDGET. AS BEEN SAID THAT BUDGET IS UP 17 PERCENT, 17.04 PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR A LARGE PORTION IS THE ROAD PROJECTS WE ARE TAKING ON.
THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT WE ARE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE LARGER BUDGET.
I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED TO TAKE ON ADDITIONAL DEBT. I THINK THIS IS A MISTAKE TO DO
[00:45:01]
SO. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I WANT TO MENTION SOMETHING REAL QUICK. WHEN I RAN ON GOOD ROADS AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME.
I VISITED TWO HOMES ACROSS TOWN OFFICE 3087 THAT ARE GETTING FLOODED.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF 1387. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT ONE WE KNOW THE ONE WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHICH IS ON THE SOUTH AND OF THE MIDLOTHIAN PARKWAY DRAINAGE. A SERIES OF DRAINAGE PROBLEMS, NOT JUST ONE.
THE ONE WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT IS THE END RESULT THAT'S GETTING THE BRUNT I WILL TELL YOU A QUICK STORY ABOUT ROADS. WE HAVE $7.8 MILLION WORTH OF ROAD REPAIRS TO DO NOW.
TODAY. THIS YEAR IN THE BUDGET WE ARE GOING TO DO 1.8 MILLION OF THE 7.8 MILLION TODAY. I RAN ON ROADS AND I HAVE TO ADMIT I WAS SECOND-GUESSING MYSELF. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS OUT VISITING WITH FOLKS AS I DO REGULARLY. IN DISCUSSING CONCERNS OF THEIRS ABOUT THE CITY.
I FINISHED THE CONVERSATION AND AS I DID I GOT UP AND I WAS TALKING TO OTHER FOLKS IN THE RESTAURANT AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE IN THE MEANTIME A YOUNG LADY SAT DOWN IN HER MID-40S. AS I WAS WALKING OUT SHE SAID EXCUSE ME DO YOU WORK FOR THE CITY AND I SAID NO MA'AM I DON'T WORK FOR THE CITY AND THE CITY COUNCILMEMBER.
SHE SAID GOOD I HAVE A QUESTION AND I SAID WHAT SHE SAID WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FIX MY ROAD? I SAID I DON'T KNOW WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AND WE HAVE A LOT OF ROADS TO FIX.
I SAID WE ARE GOING TO DO 1.8 MILLION THIS YEAR. THERE ARE $7.8 MILLION SO THERE'S $6 MILLION MORE WORTH OF ROADS TO FIX RIGHT NOW. WHERE IS YOUR ROAD AT I'M AT THE NORTH END OF WALNUT GROVE AND TAR ROAD. I SAID OKAY I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT I'M TRYING TO GET YOU SOME RELIEF. I LET THE CONVERSATION AND HAD MY BUDGET BOOK IN MY TRUCK AND I OPENED IT AND I GOT THE STREET SHE OUT.
GUESS WHAT? ONWARD AND TAR ROAD IS THE THIRD LINE ITEM ON THE ROADS TO BE FIXED NEXT YEAR. NOT THIS YEAR. NEXT YEAR.
THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU ADD UP AND WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT PUTTING MORE ASTROTURF SOMEWHERE. THESE ARE ROADS AND DRAINAGE PROBLEMS PEOPLE GETTING FLOODED. WE HAVE THE CITY HALL WE MIGHT NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY $14-$16 MILLION WORTH OF STUFF AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
WHAT WE DECIDED TO TRY TO MAYBE HAVE ACCESS TO ADD LEAST $5 MILLION TO GET SOME OF THIS DONE. THE ROADS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME AND WE ARE NOT EVEN GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIX BUT MAYBE NEXT YEAR'S WORTH OF ROADS IS EVEN PART OF THIS BUDGET BUT MAYBE NOT. I LOOK AT THIS AS A FAR BIGGER ISSUE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF NEEDS OUT THERE FROM THE SERVICE CAPACITY.
LET ME JUST SAY THIS I FELT LIKE WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN WHAT WE NEED TO TRY TO GET DONE WHILE STILL GIVING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND OTHER REBATES.
I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD MENTION THE IMPORTANCE OF ROADS WHEN WERE TRYING TO GET SOMETHING
DONE. >> THE QUESTION I ASKED SINCE I WAS WENT TO THE FIRST TIME WAS DOES GROWTH PAY FOR GROWTH OR EXISTING TAX PAPER GROWTH I THINK IT HASN'T CLICKED UNTIL THIS YEAR BUT IT IS EXISTING TAX THAT PAYS FOR THE GROWTH. THE NEW HOUSES DON'T PAY TAXES UNTIL THEY ARE FULLY BUILT WITH TO IMPROVE THE ROADS UNTIL THEY START USING THEM AND WE REALIZE THERE UNDER CAPACITY OR OVERCAPACITY. WHETHER THAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG OR INDIFFERENT SOME OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE CAME ONLINE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE WERE APPROVED BEFORE US. AS MUCH AS I AGREE WITH LOWERING TAXES AT THE SAME TIME YOU'RE CAUSING HER SOME ISSUES WHILE TRYING TO KEEP UP ROADS SPECIFICALLY.
WE CAN PUT EVERYTHING ELSE ASIDE. THE COST OF A POLICE OFFICER FOR SO MANY THOUSAND CITIZENS YOU HAVE. I THINK WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB.
I DO WANT TO JUST SAY I HATE THE TERM THESE ARE BEING PET PROJECTS.
THESE ARE NOT PET PROJECTS BUT PROJECTS AFFECTING ACTUAL CITIZENS WHO LIVE HERE AND PAY TAXES AND ASKING US TO HELP THEM WHEREVER THAT IS WHETHER A ROAD THAT SERVICES THEIR STREET OR RETENTION POND THAT SLOWS THE WATER COME INTO THEIR HOME. THIS ISN'T, WE ARE NOT TAKING OUT $5 MILLION WITHOUT PERMISSION TO BUILD A AMPHITHEATER OR REC CENTER OR
[00:50:01]
SOMETHING THAT WAS USELESS TO SERVICE PEOPLE. WE ARE TAKING THIS MONEY TO PROVIDE SERVICE AND RELIEF TO ACTUAL PROBLEMS IN OUR CITY I THINK BECAUSE OF THAT THIS IS A WIN AND INTEREST-RATE TERM WE ARE ONE OF THE BEST RATES YOU CAN HAVE ON WHAT WE ARE PAYINGINTEREST FOR THIS LOAN. I'M IN SUPPORT. >> FURTHER COMMENTS?
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> MOVED TO APPROVE. MOTION FOR PRO TEM AND SECOND BY MRS. ANNA HAMMONDS. PLEASE VOTE. IT PASSES FIVE ÃNE.
THANK YOU COUNSEL. OPENING ITEM 2023-338 CONSIDER AND ACT UPON AN ORDINANCE, BY
[2023-338 ]
RECORD VOTE TO ADOPT THE FY 2023-2024 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET AND PLAN FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2023 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, IN ACCORDANCE WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE B'102; APPROPRIATING MONEY TO A SINKING FUND TO PAY INTEREST AND PRINCIPAL ON THE CITYB APPROPRIATING THE VARIOUS AMOUNTS THEREOF; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS; INCLUDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE .>> THANK YOU MAYOR. THIS IS OUR AGENDA ITEM TO ADOPT THE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL EAR. FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING OR IN THE AUDIENCE WE STARTED THIS PROCESS MONTHS AGO. RELATE THE BUDGET PROCESS STARTED IN APRIL.
IT HAS CULMINATED TONIGHT. REAL BRIEFLY I WILL MENTION THE FUNDS THAT THE EXPENDITURES ARE BEING APPROPRIATED FOR. I WILL REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE ADOPT A BUDGET FOR EXPENDITURES NOT REVENUES WE HAVE GENERAL FUND REVENUES, 53,000,005 69 008.
WE HAVE UTILITY FONT. 36 MILLION ZERO 70 FEBRUARY 2, 2022 MIDTOWN 400.
ELLIS COUNTY RADIO IO FUND FIVE AND 37,008 OR $65. THE SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER FORM $4270. THE TAIPEI OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORPORATION 6 MILLION TO 5,348. THE TYPE B B CORPORATION MIDLOTHIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BY 24,000 $667. THE CONFERENCE CENTER SIX OR AND THAT MIDLOTHIAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 49 $255,953.
AND AGAIN I WILL REMIND WE DO NEED TO HAVE A RECORD VOTE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.
LOOKS THINK YOU WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT YOU BROUGHT UP THE PROCESS STARTED BACK N MARCH APRIL TIMEFRAME WITH STAFF RKING WITH CITY MANAGER TO PROPOSE THE BUDGETS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS. THE PROCESS IS A LENGTHY ONE AND TOOK MANY OF MAN HOURS BUT ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUNCILS ENGAGEMENT IN DISCUSSIONS.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS FOR ALL OF US. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE DATES.
WE MET ON JULY 25 TO PROPOSE THE ANNUAL BUDGET. WE HEARD INITIAL PRESENTATION AND HAD A ALL DAY WORKSHOP JULY 28. WE HAD A EVENING WORKSHOP ON AUGUST 1. WE HAD A ALL DAY WORKSHOP ON AUGUST 4.
WE HAD ANOTHER MEETING TO PROPOSE THE TAX RATE ON AUGUST 8.
WE HAD ONE FINAL WORKSHOP ON AUGUST 11 AND WE HAD PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS BUDGET ON AUGUST 22. THE EFFORT AND INPUT HAS BEEN AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AND COUNTLESS CONVERSATIONS AND LENS DAYS AND ALL THOSE THINGS WHERE WE MEET CONSTITUENTS TO DISCUSS THE BUDGETS. I APPRECIATE THIS COUNSEL FULLY ENGAGING IN THIS PROCESS AND YOUR TIME AND SACRIFICE DID NOT GO UNNOTICED AND SHOULD NOT GO UNNOTICED BY THE COMMUNITY EITHER. DID ANYBODY SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE? ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANNA OR CHRIS? WE HAMMERED ALL THE QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. WITH THAT I WILL ENTERTAIN A
MOTION. >> I HAVE A COMMENT NOT A QUESTION FOR ONE OF THE TWO.
WE WENT THROUGH THIS BUDGET WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB. WHILE THERE'S A LOT OF GROWTH THERE 17 PERCENT GROWTH. THE CITY HAS GROWN A LOT AND I DO AGREE WITH THE SERVICES WE ARE BUDGETING FOR IN THE COMING YEAR. THEY ARE NECESSITIES.
[00:55:04]
WE ARE GROWING AND HAVE ADDITIONAL NEEDS FOR FIRE AND POLICE IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR GOVERNMENT. I ABSOLUTELY FEEL WE COULD HAVE FUNDED THIS WITH A LOWER TAX RATE AND WE COULD HAVE GIVEN THE CITY STAFF ALL THEY NEEDED IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR MISSION. WITH THIS BUDGET. THERE IS ONE PORTION OF THIS I CANNOT AGREE WITH AND THAT WAS I CANNOT AGREE WITH GIVING MYSELF A RAISE.I SIGNED UP FOR THIS I TOOK THE JOB KNOWING WHAT IT PAID. WHAT LITTLE IT PAID.
BUT THAT BEING SAID I BELIEVE THAT WAS A SOCIAL CONTRACT AND I DON'T FEEL IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE MYSELF A INCREASE IN PAY. THAT UNFORTUNATELY WAS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.
I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO GOT IT FOR FUTURE COUNSEL AND ONE THAT WOULD'VE HAD TO BEEN VOTED IN AFTER THIS WAS DONE. OR EVEN TAKEN IT TO THE VOTERS. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WAS THE MECHANISM FOR DOING IT AND FOR THAT REASON I HAVE A DIFFERENT STANCE ON THIS BUDGET THAN I
WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. CLARK?
>> ARE THERE FURTHER COMMENTS? >> IS THIS MOTION? I MOVED TO APPROVE.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE FROM PRO TEM AND DO I HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND FROM ANNA HAMMONDS AND THIS IS A RECORD VOTE SO TAMMY WILL CALL ROLL. [VOTING] THE ITEM PASSES.
FIVE ÃONE. OPENING ITEM 2023-339 CONSIDER AND TAKE A SEPARATE VOTE TO
[2023-339 ]
RATIFY A PROPERTY TAX REVENUE INCREASE AS REFLECTED IN THE FY 2023-2024 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET WHEN COMPARED TO THE FY 2022-2023 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET; THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEARB BUDGET BY $6,389,757 WHICH IS A 17.04 PERCENT INCREASE FROM LAST YEARB THAT AMOUNT, $2,176,457 IS TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL THIS YEAR.>> I MISSPOKE THIS IS NOT THE ONE BUT THE FINAL ONE. IT IS THE ONE AFTER THIS.
THIS IS REQUIRED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE THAT BECAUSE THE CITY IS ADOPTING A BUDGET THAT WILL RAISE MORE REVENUE FOR PROPERTY TAXES THAN PREVIOUS YEAR WE DO HAVE TO HAVE A SEPARATE VOTE TO RATIFY THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET.
AGAIN AS THE MAYOR READ THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE PROPERTY, THE VALUE IS GOING TO INCREASE. THERE'S ALSO A NEW PROPERTY INCLUDED.
I WILL REPEAT THE NUMBERS AGAIN THAT HE JUST WENT THROUGH. THOSE ARE THE TWO COMPONENTS THAT ADD TO THIS. THE NOTICE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR BUDGET THAT WE JUST SAW WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FOCUS DAILY NEWS ON AUGUST 20 AND AUGUST 27. IT HAS BEEN POSTED ON THE CITIES WEBSITE.
ADDITIONALLY THE PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THE TAX INCREASE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FOCUS DAILY NEWS AND THAT WAS AUGUST 13. AN AUGUST 20 AND ALSO HAS BEEN PUBLISHED ON THE WEBSITE.
THIS ONE IS CONDUCTING A VOTE TO RATIFY A PROPERTY TAX REVENUE INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT
AS PRESENTED. >> ANYBODY SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON THIS CASE?
COUNSEL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR CHRIS FOR CLARIFICATION SAKE.
BASED ON THE STRUCTURE WITH THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A RESIDENT EVEN WITH A MAXIMUM APPRAISAL INCREASE TO SEE DOLLAR FOUR DOLLAR INCREASE IN THEIR TAX BILL FOR NEXT YEAR? IS THERE ANY WAY THAT CAN HAPPEN?
>> I HAVE TO LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNER TO KNOW THAT.
I ASSUME YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE 10 PERCENT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND THE CAP
[01:00:05]
BEING 10 PERCENT THEY STILL COULD IF THEY ADD ANYTHING NEW. SO I DON'T WANT TO SIT ABSOLUTE. IF THEY ADD SOMETHING TO THEIR PROPERTY THEY COULD RAISE THEVALUE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN OUTSIDE THE CAP. >> WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS.
NONE OF THOSE RESIDENTS SHOULD SEE A DOLLAR FOUR DOLLAR INCREASE? OBVIOUSLY WITH NEXT YEAR THAT WILL IMPACT THAT AS WELL. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY BECAUSE WE ARE SEEN A BIG INCREASE IN REVENUE WHICH HAS CONCERNED ME AT VARIOUS TIMES OF THIS PROCESS. JUST FOR THE FOLKS AT HOME I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WE ARE WATCHING THE VALUATION INCREASE OUT THROUGH HAT.
AS FAR AS THE MAP OF THE DOLLAR FOUR DOLLAR IT SHOULD NOT CREATE THAT LTHOUGH THEY MAY
NOT SEE THE PRODUCTION AND SHOULD NOT SEE A INCREASE. >> THIS IS GOING TO BE PRETTY CLOSE. THIS ALSO INCLUDES ALL COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL ETC.
BROUGHT SO EVERYTHING IS INTO THIS NUMBER. >> GOT IT THANK YOU.
>> TO ECHO WHAT ELLEN SAID IT IS A 6.1 OR $6.3 MILLION INCREASE IN 2.1 OF THE IS NEW PROPERTY VALUES AND THE REST OF IT ASSUMING PEOPLE HAVE A 10 PERCENT CAP WILL BE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL REVENUE. WHICH WOULD MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
>> FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION.
>> ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> MOTION FROM PRO TEM SECOND FROM COUNCILWOMAN ANNA HAMMONDS. PLEASE VOTE IT PASSES FIVE Ã
[2023-340 ]
NE. OPENING ITEM 2023-340 CONSIDER AND ACT UPON AN ORDINANCE, BY RECORD VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN, TEXAS, LEVYING AND ASSESSING MUNICIPAL AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE CITY OF MIDLOTHIAN, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024, AT $0.329455 FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AND $0.320545 FOR INTEREST AND SINKING FUNDS, FOR A TOTAL OF $0.650000, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH SAID TAXES MAY BE EXPENDED AND DIRECTING THE ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION THEREOF; REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS; INCLUDING A EVERABILITY CLAUSE AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE ATE. I WILL REPEAT TO MAKE SURE IT IS VERY CLEAR TO EVERYONE THE TOTAL ASSESSED TAX RATE THAT WE WE ESTABLISHED BY THE ORDINANCE WILL BE .65 PER HUNDRED VALUATION. THIS RATE REPRESENTS NO CHANGE FROM THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR OVERALL TAX RATE OF .65. THE TAX RATE IS DIVIDED BETWEEN MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS WHICH WILL BE .329 FOUR 55 AT INTERESTS OR DEBT SERVICE WILL .320545.BASED ON THE TAX CODE THAT SPECIFIES A MOTION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE OR ORDER SETTING A TAX RATE THAT EXCEEDS THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE MUST BE MADE IN THE FOLLOWING FORM.
IT IS HERE AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT NEEDS TO BE READY FOR THAT.
I WILL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. ASK ANYONE SIGN UP TO SPEAK TAMMY? COUNSEL QUESTIONS FOR ANNA OR CHRIS OR STOPPED OR COMMENTS?
>> AT THIS POINT SINCE WE'VE APPROVED THE OTHER AGENDA ITEMS AS A COUNSEL WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF THIS WAS NOT ADOPTED? >> IF THIS IS NOT ADOPTED THEORETICALLY YOU WOULD HAVE, AT SOME POINT IT WILL REVERT BACK AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG THE VOTER APPROVED RATE
OR NO NEW REVENUE RATE. >> YES. >> IT IS EITHER THE 55 CENTS
BUT PROBABLY CLOSER TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. >> WE WOULD HAVE A DEFICIT AND IT WILL REQUIRE DEBT IN ORDER TO FULFILL THE OBLIGATIONS WE JUST MADE.
>> THAT OR DEPLETE THE FUND BALANCE. YOU HAVE TO PAY THE DEBT
[01:05:02]
SERVICE OF THE DEBT SERVICE IS NOT CHANGING SO THE ENTIRE DIFFERENCE IN THE RATES WOULD COME OUT OF OWEN M. YOU WOULD HAVE A DEFICIT THAT WILL HAVE TO BE MADE UP OF FUNDROUTES OR REVISIT THE ET. >> THANK YOU CHRIS I JUST WANT TO STATE MY VOTE ON THIS WILL COME TO A SURPRISE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. I DID MAKE A PROMISE TO THIS COUNSEL THAT I WOULD SUPPORT THIS IN FAVOR OF THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
I FEEL LIKE IT IS MY 20 PIECES OF SILVER BUT AT THE SAME TIME I AM A MAN OF MY WORD AND I DO STAND SOLELY ON MY WORD. FOR THAT STANDPOINT I'M GOING TO BE IN SUPPORT OF THIS.
>> THANK YOU ED ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL?
>> I ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> I MOVE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF POINT $0.65 WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY AT 17.91 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.
>> MOTION FOR THE MAYOR PRO TEM. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND FOUR ANNA HAMMONDS TAMMY WILL DO ROLL CALL.
>> ITEM PASSES SIX ÃZERO. THANK YOU STOP AND THINK YOU COUNSEL.
THIS WRAPS UP A VERY LONG AND DIFFICULT PROCESS AND THIS WILL BE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS WE LOOSELY BUT I
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.