[1.CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
I CALL A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND TO ORDER ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2025 AT 532.
IT'S ALL YOURS. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AT THIS TIME.
[2. CITIZENS APPEARANCES]
THAT BRINGS US TO SECTION TWO, CITIZEN'S APPEARANCE.EACH SPEAKER WILL BE ALLOWED THREE MINUTES, EACH PERSON IN ATTENDANCE WHO DESIRES TO SPEAK TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON AN ITEM POSTED ON THE AGENDA SHALL SPEAK WHEN THAT ITEM IS CALLED FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION. I HAVE NO SPEAKER CARDS.
IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON AN ITEM NOT POSTED ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA? ALL RIGHT. OKAY. YEAH. IF YOU COULD, PLEASE, IF YOU IF YOU COULD PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND FILL OUT A SPEAKER CARD AFTER YOU'RE DONE SPEAKING, PLEASE. YES. HI. SO THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, AND I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD UP YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING, SO. I SENT SOME IDEAS TO Y'ALL JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST IT WAS LIKE, IDEAS FOR, LIKE, INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THE, LIKE, MAYBE, LIKE, HELP REVENUE THE CITY A LITTLE BIT. I WAS DOING I GOT PICTURES AND STUFF FOR, LIKE, THE SIDEWALKS. AND I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE, LIKE, Y'ALLS, BUT Y'ALL GOT.
I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE DIFFERENT ISSUES. WHATEVER, THOUGH, BUT ANYWAYS, WELL THE MAIN CONCERN WAS THE MAIN CONCERN FOR ME FOR DOING THIS PRETTY MUCH IS FOR, LIKE, SAFETY FOR, LIKE, SENIOR CITIZENS AROUND HERE. WELL, MY DAD BACK IN THE 90S HAS BEEN UP HERE, HIM AND MY NEIGHBORS.
AND HE HELPED LIKE THE BOND ELECTIONS GET MADE AND THE AND THE HOME DEPOT HE MADE AS WELL.
SO ANYWAYS I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE I'M NOT REALLY USED TO DOING ALL THIS, I'M SAYING.
JUST. IF THAT'S COOL, WHATEVER I CAN, I GOT PICTURES OF, LIKE, CERTAIN PART OF THE CITY I'M SAYING I GOT TOOK PICTURES OF [INAUDIBLE] SO IT'S JUST LIKE, FOR, LIKE, INFRASTRUCTURE, LIKE SIDEWALKS AND POSSIBLY LIKE SCOOTER AND BIKE IDEAS.
BECAUSE I THINK ONE OF THE MAYORS ACTUALLY DID HELP WITH THAT, ACTUALLY, WITH THE BIKE TRAILS, I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT GINA TOLD ME. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S A SIDE NOTE ANYWAY. BUT ANYWAY. SO I JUST THOUGHT SOME IDEAS, SO I MAILED IT TO, LIKE, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I MAILED THE GOVERNOR ABBOTT, I MAILED TO DEVELOPER CENTER HERE IN BURLESON.
SO. AND I KNOW Y'ALL GOT SO MUCH GOING ON AND WHATEVER, THOUGH I'M NOT TRYING TO HOLD Y'ALL.
YOU KNOW, I GOT THREE MINUTES LEFT, THOUGH, YOU KNOW, I'M SAYING. BUT I THINK THIS WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD IDEA FOR THE CITY BECAUSE REALLY, FIXING THE SIDEWALKS AND BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE FALLS AND THEY DON'T HAVE LIFE ALERT AND NOBODY'S THERE TO WATCH THEM, LIKE, OH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, CAN'T CALL 911 REAL QUICK FOR EMERGENCIES, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? SO AS FOR THAT AND THAT WAS LIKE, LIKE A SKYBRIDGE IDEA. I KNOW IT SOUNDS A LITTLE FARFETCHED, A LITTLE SQUIRRELY, BUT IT'S REALLY ACTUALLY A GOOD IDEA.
REALLY? YOU KNOW, I WOULD THINK SO. AT LEAST I'M SAYING SO.
AND SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AND SOME OF MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS SHOWED THEM THIS, THEY DEFINITELY THEY THOUGHT IT WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL. REALLY. SO ANYWAYS, BUT SO IT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF IDEAS I SHARED.
I DON'T WANT TO KEEP Y'ALL'S COUNCIL HOLDING. SO I JUST KIND OF WANT TO SHARE.
LIKE. AND THEN THERE WAS ONE, WHENEVER I WENT TO THE LIBRARY, LIKE MONTHS AGO IN LIKE JANUARY, I WAS CROSSING THE STREET AND I, YOU KNOW, CROSS THE CROSSWALK WITH SOMEONE'S GOT REAL CLOSE TO ME.
WELL, I MAILED IT, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? SO I JUST KIND OF THIS IS MORE LIKE AWARENESS, YOU KNOW, I'M SAYING JUST IDEAS. I'M SAYING TO BE CREATIVE, YOU KNOW, I'M SAYING. SO, YEAH, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS. I'M NOT REALLY USED TO DOING ALL THIS. I'M SAYING I DEFINITELY HAVE A VOICE AND WE ALL HAVE A VOICE HERE.
BUT I'M VERY RESPECTED AROUND TOWN AND, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER THE CASE MAY BE.
BUT MY DAD DID THIS BACK IN THE 90S, SO HE WAS HERE EVERY WEEK WITH THE NEIGHBOR, AND HE HELPED BUILD HOME DEPOT, INFRASTRUCTURE MADE AND A LOT OF STUFF, YOU KNOW, I'M SAYING. SO I JUST FIGURED, YOU KNOW, IF HE CAN DO IT, I JUST GIVE IT A TRY. I'M SAYING SO ANYWAYS, SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAVE THAT WITH US? I'M SORRY, SIR. WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAVE THAT WITH US? AND SURE, I CAN, I CAN I WANT TO STAY FOR Y'ALL BECAUSE I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS.
I'VE NEVER REALLY DONE THIS. YEAH. IS IT COOL? YOU'RE DOING IT GOOD. YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. OKAY. OH, YES, SIR, YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. HEY, I APPRECIATE IT, SIR.
SO I KNOW Y'ALL GOT. WE GOTTA KEEP IT PROFESSIONAL HERE. SO SORRY IF I'M SAYING OR.
YEAH, WHATEVER. I GOT A LITTLE DISABILITY GROWING UP, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? BUT I'M REALLY SMART, SO. AND I WAS IN BOY SCOUTS AND CUB SCOUTS GROWING UP AROUND HERE, SO, LIKE, TROOP FOUR 3141.
SO. SO JUST LEAVE YOUR PAPERWORK, BE SURE, AND FILL OUT A CARD.
JUST LEAVE IT WITH THE SECRETARY OVER THERE. YEAH, YEAH.
OKAY, COOL. AWESOME. WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR FOR LETTING ME DO THAT.
AND I THINK I'LL GIVE YOU THAT PRETTY MUCH. I APPRECIATE Y'ALL.
I SEE NONE. THAT MEANS WE'LL MOVE ON TO SECTION THREE CONSENT AGENDA.
[3. CONSENT]
[00:05:05]
ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY COUNCIL, AND WILL BE ENACTED WITH ONE MOTION.THERE WILL BE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THE ITEMS. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AUTHORIZES THE CITY MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT EACH ITEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS.
TONIGHT, THE CONSENT AGENDA CONSISTS OF ITEM 3.A.
IS THERE A MOTION ON CONSENT AGENDA? TO APPROVE.
I HAVE A MOTION BY VICTORIA. SECOND BY ALEXIS.
PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THAT BRINGS US TO SECTION FOUR, BUDGET AND TAX RATE.
[Items 4A - 4I]
TONIGHT THE ITEMS 4.A THROUGH 4.I WILL BE PRESENTED WITH ONE PRESENTATION.THE PRESENTER THIS EVENING IS KEVIN HENNESSEY, THE INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR.
AFTER MR. HENNESSY THEN WE WILL CALL EACH ITEM FORWARD ONE BY ONE FOR ACTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. AND AS AMANDA INTRODUCED, WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE AND CORRESPONDING ORDINANCES. AND SO AS YOU SEE ON OUR CALENDAR HERE, THAT WE ARE AT THE FINAL READING OF THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE.
AND SO THIS IS THE SECOND READING. SO THIS PRESENTATION IS THE SAME AS LAST WEEK'S, VERY SIMILAR, SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THEM AT A LITTLE QUICKER OF A CLIP.
SO WE BEGIN WITH OUR STRATEGIC FOCUS WHEN DEVELOPING A BUDGET.
AND SO THE UPDATED VERSION WAS BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL IN AUGUST AND ADOPTED AT OUR LAST MEETING, AND HERE'S OUR KEY BUDGET AREAS WITH SOME EMPHASIS ON A STRONG FUND BALANCE, NOT ONLY IN THE CURRENT YEAR, BUT IN OUR FIVE YEAR HORIZON WITH SOME CONSERVATIVE REVENUES.
EXCUSE ME. AND HERE'S OUR SURVEY IN SPRING, WE HAVE A SURVEY EVERY YEAR STREETS, TRAFFIC CONTROL, POLICE AND FIRE. AGAIN, WE'RE A TOP PRIORITIES AS RESULTING FROM THAT SURVEY.
AND HOW THAT 0.0591 INCREASE IS BROKEN UP AMONG THE DEBT SERVICE AND THE INS, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL FUND OR THE PORTION OF THE TAX RATE. HERE'S A SLIDE SHOWING OUR HISTORICAL RATES.
WITH THE NEW PROPOSED RATE OFF TO THE SIDE, AS WELL AS OUR CERTIFIED VALUE HISTORY.
THIS BRINGS US TO A TABLE SHOWING THE IMPACT ON THE AVERAGE HOME VALUE.
THE ASSUMPTION OF THE 300,210 VALUE OFF TO THE RIGHT OF THAT TABLE SHOWS THE ANNUAL IMPACT, WHICH BREAKS DOWN TO A $14.96 CENT INCREASE PER MONTH FOR THOSE ASSUMPTIONS.
AND SO WE WERE ASKED TO COMPARE THIS PROPOSED BUDGET TO FY 26, WHICH WAS A COMPARABLE TAX RATE.
AND SO IN 2025 WE ADDED THAT THREE CENT TAX RATE SPECIFICALLY FOR STREET MAINTENANCE.
AND SO WITHOUT THAT THREE CENT THAT GOES SPECIFICALLY TO STREET MAINTENANCE, THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT OR GENERAL GOVERNMENT FUND DOESN'T SEE IT AS COMPARABLE TO THOSE TWO YEARS AT THE BOTTOM. AND THEN HERE'S SOME DETAIL OF THE EXPENDITURE SIDE OF THOSE TWO BUDGETS, AND HOW THE DIFFERENCE BREAKS DOWN WITH A STAFFING TABLE OFF TO THE RIGHT TO SHOW THE CHANGES IN STAFFING.
WHICH BRINGS US TO THE DISCUSSION OF LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT TAX RATE OPTIONS AND HOW WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE FROM ONE OPTION TO THE OTHER. SO IF WE GO FROM THE, TO GO BACK DOWN TO THE INTEREST AND SINKING RATE TO THE 0.1923, THE IMPACT WOULD BE A PROPOSED CIP THAT ESSENTIALLY FOCUSES ON PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS EQUIPMENT.
AND FOR THE M&O SIDE TO GET DOWN TO THE CURRENT LEVEL OF WHERE WE CURRENTLY ARE, THE 6627 TOTAL RATE WOULD REQUIRE THE REMOVAL OF THE $1 MILLION, ONE TIME SUPPLEMENTAL FOR STREET MAINTENANCE,
[00:10:05]
AS WELL AS SHIFTING THE MERIT AND STEP, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY EQUITY PAY BACK TO JANUARY 1ST AS AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND THEN TO GO TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE WOULD REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS OF THE SEASONAL DRAINAGE WORKER AS WELL AS THE POLICE OFFICER POSITION.THOSE POSITIONS ARE ON THE CURRENT SUPPLEMENTAL, WOULD BE NEW POSITIONS FOR FY 26.
AND THEN JUST ADDITIONAL CONTEXTUAL COMMENT, THE THREE PARAMEDICS THAT ARE PROPOSED IN THE SUPPLEMENTALS ARE FUNDED THROUGH OUR MEDICAL TRANSPORT FUND, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
BUT THEY ARE HOUSED IN THAT FUND. THIS IS A DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT IT.
IT'S THE SAME INFORMATION KIND OF JUST PARSED OUT IN BULLET POINT FORM.
SO THIS WOULD BE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE COMPARED TO THE CURRENT RATE.
ADDITIONAL 3.4 MILLION IN REVENUE, TWO OF WHICH IS FOR THE I&S THAT CAN GENERATE $46.3 MILLION IN AVAILABILITY IN OUR CIP OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THE 1.440, WHICH IS MADE UP OF THE STREET MAINTENANCE AND THE TIMING OF THOSE PAY OPTIONS. AND THEN THE $208,000 THAT TAKES US FROM THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE TO THE CURRENT RATE WOULD REQUIRE THE REDUCTION OF THE SEASONAL DRAINAGE WORKER AND THE POLICE OFFICER, WHICH 180,000 OF THAT 288 IS ONGOING COSTS.
HERE'S A TABLE OF OUR CURRENT INCENTIVES. THIS BRINGS US TO THE SECTION THAT COVERS OUR PROPOSED FEE CHANGES TO THE FEE SCHEDULE, BROKEN DOWN BY FUND.
SO WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE GENERAL FUND, WHERE WE HAVE A POLICE PROPOSAL AS WELL AS COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND THEN THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WHICH CONTINUES, WHICH BRINGS US TO SOME FIRE PROPOSALS AND SOME ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IN THE GENERAL FUND AND THEN SOME FIRE, SO SOME OF THE FIRE PROPOSALS IN THE FEE SCHEDULE, WE HAVE NOTATED THAT SOME OF THOSE ARE EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY 1ST.
AND THOSE ARE NOTED IN THE THE FEE SCHEDULE. THIS BRINGS US TO THE WATER AND WASTEWATER FEES. SO SOME ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES, THE BIG CHANGE HERE IS OUR IVR, OUR INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE VENDOR.
AND HERE'S A TABLE OF SOME PROPOSED CHANGES.
THAT IS PROPOSED THAT THE WATER AND THE SEWER RATES WILL BE INCREASED BY 5% THIS YEAR.
SO THIS IS A TABLE SHOWING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CONSUMPTION FOR WATER AND SEWER USE AND SHOWING THE THE ANNUAL IMPACT FOR THOSE DIFFERENT RANGES. THIS IS THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE.
AND THEN WE HAVE HERE THE COMMERCIAL SIDE. AND A TABLE SHOWING WHERE WE COMPARE TO SOME OF OUR COMPARABLE CITIES. AND THEN ANOTHER TABLE SHOWING WHERE WE ARE ON THE TABLE OF FORT WORTH WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS.
AND SO HERE'S A TABLE SHOWING THE BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THAT FEE WILL BE IN OUR PROPOSAL FOR FY 26.
AND HERE'S THE NONRESIDENTIAL DETAIL. AND THEN WHERE WE COMPARE TO SOME OF OUR COMPARATIVE CITIES.
THIS IS THE FY 25 RATES. AND SO WE HAVE OUR 25 COLUMN.
AND THEN A 26 COLUMN TO SHOW WHERE THE PROPOSAL STANDS.
THIS BRINGS US TO OUR BUDGET SUMMARY INFORMATION.
[00:15:03]
COME TO A PROPOSAL THAT INCLUDES 500 AND JUST UNDER $542,000 IN BASE BUDGET REDUCTIONS, WITH AN ADDITIONAL PROPOSAL TO REDUCE AN ADDITIONAL 778,000. AND THEN WE BUDGET SALARY SAVINGS AND ATTRITION OF $1 MILLION.WHICH BRINGS US TO THE $2.3 MILLION IN REDUCTIONS.
SO HERE'S THE TABLE OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET. AND COUNCIL'S DIRECTION.
SO COUNCIL WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED WITH THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE TAX RATE OF THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE WITH THE INCREMENT OF 0.7218, THE MERIT AND STEP INCREASES AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADJUSTMENT BE RETURNED OCTOBER 1ST.
THREE PARAMEDICS AND ONE POLICE OFFICER WILL BE BUDGETED JANUARY 1ST, AND THEN A ONE TIME $1 MILLION FOR STREET MAINTENANCE TO BE REEVALUATED, EVALUATED, REEVALUATED ANNUALLY. SO THIS IS THE ZERO POINT OR THE 07218 TAX RATE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT IS CONNECTED TO THAT TAX RATE, THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE WITH INCREMENT THAT'S BEING CONSIDERED TONIGHT FOR ADOPTION.
AND SO THERE IS ALSO A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION THIS EVENING.
AND SO THOSE TIED TO THESE CIP PROPOSED PLANS.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THIS REGIONAL PROJECTS MAP THAT WE LOOKED AT AND DISCUSSED LAST WEEK.
SO THERE ARE MORE NO MORE NEXT STEPS IN THE BUDGET AFTER THIS EVENING.
AND SO THE ITEMS FOR TONIGHT ARE TO APPROVE OR DENY THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES.
THE FY 25-26 BUDGET, THE FY 26 BUDGET RATIFICATIONS, LEVYING THE PROPERTY TAX FOR THE 25 TAXABLE VALUES. ADOPTING THE PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.7218 PER $100 IN VALUE, APPROVING THE TAX ROLL FOR 2025, APPROVING THE 2025 2026 PROPOSED SCHEDULE OF FEES, ESTABLISHING THE 25-26 RATES FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES, 5% INCREASE FOR BOTH OF THOSE RATES, ESTABLISHING THE 25-26 RATES FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICES, WHICH YOU MENTIONED, THE 4% CPI INCREASE AND THEN APPROVING THE FY 26 CIP REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION, AS WELL AS THE FY 27 POLICE BUILDING EXPANSION REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION.
SO WE CAN ENGAGE ON THAT PROJECT. AND WITH THAT, I'LL GLADLY STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL, ONE POINT OF CLARIFICATION I WANT TO BRING UP IS, AS YOU DID LAST TIME IN THE FIRST READING OF THE BUDGET, IF THE DESIRE IS TO REMOVE THE SAUNA FROM THE CAPITAL PLAN AND TO GIVE US DIRECTION TO PROCEED WITH THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED FOR EXPENDITURES FOR THE .7218 RATE, IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION FOR TONIGHT.
ANY QUESTIONS? I THINK WE'RE READY TO PROCEED.
OKAY. I'M SORRY. MAYOR, I DO WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE ALL BEEN REACHED OUT TO ABOUT THIS BUDGET, AND WE HAVE NEW PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE AND PEOPLE THAT MAY BE VIEWING THAT HAVEN'T WATCHED ALONG THE WAY.
ONE OF THE SLIDES AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PRESENTATION, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION, WAS A TIMELINE OF HOW FAR BACK WE BEGIN THIS PROCESS. IT'S IT'S OVER MANY MONTHS. AND AND A LOT OF INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AND AVAILABLE TO US TO DIGEST.
BUT I DO WANT TO STRESS THAT THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH BUDGET YEAR, AND WE'VE KNOWN PROBABLY OVER SINCE LAST YEAR'S BUDGET THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT A TAX RATE INCREASE FOR THE COMING YEAR. WE'RE GROWING EXPONENTIALLY, AND CITIZENS CHOOSE TO LIVE HERE FOR QUALITY OF LIFE, WHICH INCLUDES SAFE, DRIVABLE ROADS AND ADEQUATE STAFFING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE TURNOVER IS EXPENSIVE.
WHEN WE HAVE TO CONTINUALLY REINVEST IN THE ONBOARDING OF NEW OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHERS, IT'S ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE OUT.
[00:20:08]
OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN CAN SUPPORT. AS IT STANDS, WE'VE PUSHED MANY PROJECTS OUT TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR DEBT, WHICH ONLY PROLONGS THE ISSUES OF CONGESTION.IT'S BEEN A TOUGH BUDGET, AND REDUCTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE BY DEPARTMENTS ALL ACROSS.
DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN STRATEGIC ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT WE DO HAVE.
AND THEN THERE'S VARIABLES THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE PREDICTED, SUCH AS JOHNSON AND TARRANT COUNTY MOVING THEIR CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICTS, MOVING TO THREE YEAR REAPPRAISAL SCHEDULES, WHICH LEFT US IN A SERIOUS BIND.
WE'RE, EACH OF US UP HERE ARE HOMEOWNERS IN THIS TOWN.
I GREW UP HERE. I'M RAISING MY KIDS HERE. IT'S ESPECIALLY TOUGH ACCEPTING, AND I VOICED THIS OVER ONE OF OUR BUDGET MEETINGS THAT WE HAD FOUR STRAIGHT BUDGETS OF SIGNIFICANT TAX REDUCTIONS. AND NOW WE'RE HAVING TO RAISE IT BACK UP.
BUT WE ALSO COULDN'T HAVE PREDICTED THE ESSENTIALLY TAX APPRAISAL DISTRICT FREEZES AND AND THE GROWTH. I MEAN, WE'VE DONE OUR BEST TO JUGGLE PUSHING THINGS OUT AND MOVING THINGS FORWARD.
AND THEN SOMETIMES NEW THINGS COME INTO PLAY THAT WE COULDN'T HAVE PREDICTED, SUCH AS A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BEING BUILT ON A ROAD THAT WE MOVED FURTHER OUT FROM OUR CIP PLAN, AND NOW WE'VE HAD TO MOVE IT BACK UP KNOWING THAT AN ELEMENTARY IS COMING INTO PLAY.
SO NOT TO MENTION THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER AREAS THAT WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY FINDING OUT THAT WE NEED TO EXPEND FUNDS IN, SUCH AS STORMWATER RUNOFF. WITH THE INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE WE ARE SOLELY DEDICATING THAT INCREASE, THOSE FUNDS THAT WILL BE CAPTURED FROM THAT INCREASE TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND STREETS.
SO WHILE WE SO APPRECIATE HOW MUCH CITIZENS HAVE PAID ATTENTION TO THIS BUDGET, HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS, HAVE REACHED OUT THROUGH EMAIL AND PHONE CALLS AND TEXT MESSAGES.
WE JUST WANT, I WANTED TO ENSURE THAT IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT WE TOOK LIGHTLY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DEDICATED A LOT OF TIME TO AND COMBED OVER AND PINCHED WHERE WE COULD.
BUT ULTIMATELY, THINGS ARE CATCHING UP TO US THAT WE CAN NO LONGER PUT OFF.
THEN THERE'S ALSO THINGS LIKE A BOND PACKAGE THAT WAS PASSED BY THE CITIZENS IN 2021, WHICH INCLUDED THE POLICE STATION EXPANSION AND MANY ROAD PROJECTS, AND SO THOSE THINGS HAVE TO BE PAID FOR, WHICH IS WHY THE DEBT SIDE OF OUR TAX RATE'S ALSO GOING UP.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I KNOW THAT WE RECEIVED SOME MESSAGES AFTER THE LAST MEETING THAT THINGS MOVED FAST AND THEY HAVEN'T. THEY'VE STARTED WE STARTED MEETING IN MAY, BUT IT IS A LOT TO CATCH ON TO AND PAY ATTENTION TO, AND THERE'S SO MANY MOVING PARTS. SO I JUST WANTED TO CONVEY TO THE CITIZENS THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DID TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY, AND IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT I DON'T THINK ONE OF US WANTS TO SIT UP HERE AND SAY, YAY, MORE TAXES.
THAT'S WELL SAID, VICTORIA, I APPRECIATE THAT.
I WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO OUR STAFF. THIS WAS A BUDGET YEAR THAT FOR THE LONGEST, THERE WAS NOTHING CERTAIN AS FAR AS THE INFORMATION THAT THE CITY WAS GETTING FROM THE TAX ENTITY IN JOHNSON COUNTY THAT THE ISSUES WE REALLY FACED ON THIS THING WAS A BAD ECONOMY. BUILDING DROPPED OFF. JUST EVERY TIME YOU TURNED AROUND, IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT AUSTIN WAS GOING TO DO, AND OUR STAFF DEALT WITH IT EVERY TIME WE TURNED AROUND.
SO THANK YOU A WHOLE LOT. AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE.
THE GUYS THAT WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD.
A LOT OF HOURS. THEY DIDN'T GET PAID A WHOLE LOT EITHER.
SO I WANT TO THANK THEM TOO. SO WE'RE READY TO MOVE ON HERE.
OKAY. THAT BRINGS US TO A VOTE ON ITEM 4.A. 4.A IS TO CONSIDER AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026 BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, AND TERMINATING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026 AND MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR EACH FUND, REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND FINDING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS ORDINANCE IS PASSED IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY AN AMOUNT OF $3,115,704, WHICH IS A 7.38% INCREASE. AND OF THAT AMOUNT, $873,089.
IS TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLLS THIS YEAR.
[00:25:02]
THIS IS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL ON FINAL READING.IS THERE A MOTION FOR 4.A? I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON 4.A, AND TOMMY, IS THIS THE RIGHT PLACE TO PUT IN ABOUT THE 4.B? YES, SIR. B, THE AS WELL AS THE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXPENDITURES IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE WE PRESENTED MULTIPLE OPTIONS.
OKAY. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO TAKE ACTION ON AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2526 BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, AND TERMINATING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, WITH REMOVING THE DRY SAUNA FROM THE 4.B CIP AND ALSO ACCEPTING THE RATE OF 0.7218. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY LARRY AND A SECOND BY DAN.
PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THAT BRINGS US TO 4.B CONSIDER AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON A MINUTE ORDER RATIFYING THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET.
EXCUSE ME, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 AND TERMINATING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026.
IS THERE A MOTION ON 4.B? I'LL MAKE A MOTION ON FOUR B TO TAKE ACTION ON A MINUTE ORDERING RATIFYING THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 25-26 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025 AND TERMINATING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026. IS THAT A MOTION OF APPROVAL? COUNCIL MEMBER.
THAT'S A MOTION OF APPROVAL. CORRECT. AND JUST TO CLARIFY, COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT, THAT WOULD BE TO JUST AS YOU MADE IN YOUR MOTION ON 4.A TO REMOVE THE DRY SAUNA AND TO INCLUDE THE EXPENDITURES AT THE .7218 TAX RATE, REMOVE THE DRY SAUNA FROM THE 4.B CIP AND APPROVAL OF THE TAX RATE AT .7218. I HAVE A MOTION BY LARRY, A SECOND BY PHIL.
PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUS.
AMANDA ON THE FIRST, ON 4.A WAS IT WAS IT A MOTION FOR APPROVAL? I DON'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS APPROVAL OR. YES, SIR.
IT DID SAY APPROVAL. OKAY. AS I RECALL HE SAID APPROVAL.
HE SAID APPROVAL OKAY. JUST MAKING SURE. WE'RE GOOD THERE.
C, CONSIDER AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON AN ORDINANCE LEVYING THE AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES OF THE CITY OF BURLESON FOR TAX YEAR 2025 ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY ON JANUARY 1ST, 2025, AND ADOPTING A TAX RATE OF 0.7218 PER $100 EVALUATION FOR TAX YEAR 2025 PROVIDING FOR REVENUES FOR PAYMENT OF CURRENT MUNICIPAL MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION EXPENSES AND PAYMENT OF INTEREST AND PRINCIPAL ON OUTSTANDING CITY OF BURLESON DEBT.
PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT OF COLLECTIONS, REPEALING CONFLICTING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND FINDING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS ORDINANCE IS PASSED IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
THE PROPOSED TAX RATE EXCEEDS THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE.
IS THERE A MOTION ON 4.C? WE HAVE CERTAIN WORDING THAT WE HAVE TO PRONOUNCE EXACTLY TO LEGALLY ADOPT THE TAX RATE. IT'S BEEN MY PRACTICE EVERY YEAR UP HERE AS LONG BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER TO BE THE ONE TAKING IT FOR THE TEAM AND MAKING THE MOTION TO ACTUALLY RAISE YOUR TAXES. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT ONE THING IF ANYBODY'S LISTENING.
IT'S NOT JUST YOUR TAXES THAT ARE BEING RAISED, IT'S OUR TAXES AS WELL.
AND WE IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, DO THE THINGS THAT WE DO FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CITY DOWN THE LINE FOR US, FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR GOOD, STEWARDSHIP OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.
AND I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THIS IS TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY BY EVERYONE UP HERE.
[00:30:04]
SO WITH THAT SAID, I'M GOING TO MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF $0.7218 PER $100 VALUATION, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 9.51% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE OF THAT RATE, $0.4933 PER $100 VALUATION IS TO FUND MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, AND $0.2285 PER $100 VALUATION IS TO FUND THE CITY'S DEBT SERVICE. I HAVE A MOTION BY DAN AND A SECOND BY ALEXA.PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS IS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL ON FINAL ADOPTION.
IS THERE A MOTION ON 4.D? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE TAX ROLLS.
OH, YOU GOT IT. I'LL SECOND YOU THEN. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE TAX ROLLS FOR 2025.
I HAVE A MOTION BY VICTORIA AND SECOND BY ADAM.
PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUS.
THAT BRINGS US TO 4.E CONSIDER AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING A FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026 SCHEDULE OF FEES FOR VARIOUS CITY OF BURLESON SERVICES. THIS IS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL ON FINAL READING.
IS THERE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSIDER AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE ORDINANCE PROVIDING 2025 2026 THE WASTEWATER AND WATER SERVICES.
WE'RE ON THE SCHEDULE OF FEES FROM THE SCHEDULE OF FEES.
THANK YOU. I HAVE A MOTION BY PHIL AND A SECOND BY ALEXA.
PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THAT BRINGS US TO 4.F.
THIS IS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL ON FINAL READING.
IS THERE A MOTION ON 4.F? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES FOR 2025 2026.
I HAVE A MOTION BY ADAM AND A SECOND BY ALEXA.
PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THAT BRINGS US TO 4.G. CONSIDER AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026 RATES FOR COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE, RECYCLABLES AND TRASH.
THIS IS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL ON FINAL READING.
IS THERE A MOTION ON 4.G? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FISCAL YEAR 25-26 RATES FOR COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE, RECYCLABLES AND TRASH.
I HAVE A MOTION BY LARRY AND A SECOND BY ALEXA.
PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUS. THAT BRINGS US TO 4.H. CONSIDER AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE INTENTION TO REIMBURSE AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 82,500,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026. PLANNED CAPITAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING PUBLIC WORKS, PUBLIC SAFETY, PARKS, WATER WORKS AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS.
IS THERE A MOTION ON 4.H? I MOVE TO APPROVE. I HAVE A MOTION BY ADAM.
I'M SORRY. A MOTION BY DAN. A SECOND BY ADAM.
PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THAT BRINGS US TO 4.I, CONSIDER AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE INTENTION TO REIMBURSE AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 16,000,500 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027. PLANNED CAPITAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING PUBLIC WORKS, PUBLIC SAFETY,
[00:35:01]
PARKS, WATER WORKS AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS. IS THERE A MOTION ON 4.I? MOVE TO APPROVE. HAVE A MOTION BY ALEXA AND A SECOND BY PHIL.PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THAT BRINGS US TO SECTION FIVE EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDA.
[5. RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION]
BEFORE WE ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, I WOULD ASK THE MAYOR THAT WE TAKE A BRIEF RECESS FOR FIVE MINUTES.THAT'D BE FINE. TAKE A RECESS. FIVE.
TO HAVE A MOTION TO RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION.
SECOND. GOT A MOTION BY ADAM. SECOND BY DAN. PLEASE VOTE.
MOTION. PASS UNANIMOUS. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I GOT A MOTION BY VICTORIA. SECOND BY DAN. WE ARE OUT OF HERE AT 6:31.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.