Brownwood City Council adopted their FY 2016/2017 budget during this week’s council meeting. Along with the $33,580,634 City of Brownwood budget, council set new fee schedules and set the tax rate for 2016, which remains unchanged from that of last year.
The FY 2016/2017 budget is a 2.49% increase from the prior year. This budget was proposed July 22, 2016, with a public hearing which was held on August 23, 2016 to receive input from the public.
This year’s budget includes raises of the last five employees identified in last year’s salary survey which were found to be below the minimum pay level for their classification. These raises add $32,950 to the budget. The Meet and Confer Agreement with the Brownwood Professional Firefighter’s Association also added to the budget with raises of base salary and other pay for firefighters of 2.46%, drivers 5%, lieutenants 3%, captains 1% and assistant fire chief 1%; certification pay for EMT intermediates increased to $100 per month.
Although property values have increased by 3.7%, the newly implemented tax freeze for seniors and the disabled, the city’s tax take will be reduced by $27,820. Properties not subject to the freeze will increase the city’s tax take by $57,726. City officials project a sales tax revenue increase of 3% or $212,300 over last year.Another factor that increased the amount of the budget was the increased price of wholesale water that the city purchases from the Brown County Water Improvement District. This increase is 8.2% more than the prior year. The water consumption rate will be raised by 5.4% to help cover this cost. This raises the City of Brownwood’s water rate to $2.22/100 cubic feet to $2.34/100 cubic feet, an increase of twelve cents per unit.
The property tax rate for the City of Brownwood will remain at $0.7463/$100 valuation. Although this rate is the same as last year’s rate and that of several years prior, this is effectively a 5.4% increase in the tax rate due to increased property values and additional properties added to the tax roll.
“We have finally concluded the lengthy process that has taken us three or four months to get done. Thank you to Walter, thank you to Emily and all of our department heads,” said Brownwood Mayor Haynes. “Thank you for all your hard work in presenting this year’s budget.”
City Manager Emily Crawford echoed Haynes’ appreciation.
“Every single department head said this is what I think we need, but I am willing to take it for the team if we need it somewhere else,” said Crawford. “I just really want to appreciate them and thank them for that willingness. I also want to thank the council. You spent a lot of time with us on this and we appreciate your input.”
In other matters on Tuesday’s agenda:
*Council awarded a bid of $69,975 to Pruett Concrete & Construction to build a concession storage facility at the Bert V. Massey, II Sports Complex. This facility will be used by the Freshman Baseball League and Girls Softball League and will be located between the blue and yellow fields. Although approximately 10 contractors were contacted to bid the project, the only bids were received by Pruett Concrete & Construction and Waldrop Construction (bid total of $84,097). According to David Withers, Parks and Recreation Department Director, additional storage was needed and the cost to add to existing concession buildings was much greater. The building will be 1200 sq. ft., divided by a metal interior wall creating a separate storage space for each league. The building will be metal on a concrete slab with minimal insulation, have a 4 ft. wainscot around the building to match the existing structures in the park, and will have a seamless roof.
*Council approved an ordinance on second and third/final reading closing/abandoning Sixth Street between Coggin Avenue and Avenue E and the alley from Sixth Street to Seventh Street between Coggin Avenue and Avenue E, located in Block 1, Lots 7-12, Clark Addition and Block 30, Lots 1-12 of the Ford Addition.
*Council approved the Brownwood Municipal Development District Bylaws and the BMDD plan of work along with the BMDD 2016/2017 annual budget.
*Council approved a resolution authorizing twelve new capital leases totaling $1,892,369 with Citizens National Bank and assigning a property tax pledge.
*Council approved a resolution declaring ten city-owned properties as surplus and authorize the disposition and sale of these properties.
*Council approved acceptance of offers to purchase city-owned properties located at 1000 West Austin; Lot 2, Block 14, Bailey Addition (3300 Cordell); Hall & Austin Avenue BCAD No. 50232; 1st and Avenue E BCAD No. 51719; 1st and Avenue E BCAD No. 51724; 1507 4th Street; and authorizing the city manager to sign property contracts with each bidder and execute any documents necessary to sell the properties.
