Brownwood Finance Director Walter Middleton presented the city’s proposed budget, tax rate, and water rates for 2010/2011 fiscal year to the city council on Tuesday.
The total proposed budget for next fiscal year is $29,619,039 which is a decrease of 2.48% of the current year’s budget. That is a total decrease of $753,243.
Middleton said that the city planned to cut spending to compensate for the shortfall in revenue over the last year.
“This was one of the toughest budgets,” said Middleton “Bare bone, nearly to the marrow.”
Officials said that they cut the proposed budget without employee layoffs or furloughs and without increasing taxes. They also said that there will be no decrease in city services.
Brownwood is also proposing to keep the city’s property tax rate unchanged for the year at $.7452 per $100 valuation.
The city is proposing a .93% increase in water rates to offset increased wholesale prices. Currently the residential water rate is $2.14 for each 100 cubic feet of water purchased. The proposed new rate will be $2.16 per 100 cubic feet. The city says that this increase is needed to fund the Brown County Water Improvement District’s rate increase of 2.02% in the cost of treated water. The base rate will not increase. An average residence with monthly consumption of 10 units per month will see a monthly increase of 20¢ or an annual increase of $2.40 in the cost of water.
The city held a public hearing to allow residents to make their comments on the proposed budget. The city set dates in September to adopt the budget, tax rate, and water rate for the next fiscal year which begins October 1st.
CLICK HERE for a full copy of the city’s proposed budget.
In other business discussed at Tuesday’s Brownwood City Council Meeting:
*The city council finalized the authorization of an easement to Oncor Electric Delivery Company for electrical lines through the Camp Bowie Sports Complex.
*Council passed a resolution required by the Texas Department of Transportation to temporarily close two streets for the Brownwood Reunion Celebration.
*The city council approved final authorization for an easement for a new water line across the north side of Riverside Park for the City of Early.
*The council awarded a bid for an agricultural lease on 142 acres west of FM 45 and north of the city landfill for $1,988 annually.
*The city council amended the Meet and Confer Agreements between the city and the Brownwood Professional Firefighters Association and the Brownwood Municipal Police Association. These changes will defer the agreed pay increase for firefighters and police officers through a mutual agreement with the organizations. The amendment calls for a review of the status of the city budget in March of 2011 to consider reinstating the pay raises.
