Aug 13, 2026 Special City Council

[00:00:02]

IT IS 6:01. WE'RE GOING TO CALL THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER.

[DECLARATION OF A QUORUM AND CALL TO ORDER]

[1. Discussion and possible action on approving Resolution No. 20260813-001 authorizing the commitment of additional local funds for the Texas General Land Office Community Development Block Grant – Mitigation Method of Distribution (CDBG-MIT MOD) program, Contract No. 24-065-043-E535. ]

AUTHORIZING THE COMMITMENT OF ADDITIONAL LOCAL FUNDS FOR THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT LAND OFFICE FOR TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT MITIGATION METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION. CBDG-MITMOD PROGRAM CONTRACT NUMBER 24-065-043-E535. HECTOR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

SO WE HAD BROUGHT THIS PREVIOUSLY IN MARCH 25TH, 2025.

IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER WE HAD ONCE WE GOT BIDS IN, WE FOUND OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAME IN WAY UNDER BUDGET FOR THE TOTAL AMOUNT WE WERE GETTING FROM THE GLO. SO WE DECIDED TO KIND OF EXPAND THE PROJECT.

BUT ALSO THAT MEANT EXPANDING, YOU KNOW, ENGINEERING AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEES.

SO THAT'S WHERE THIS COST CAME IN. AND HDR JOHN PETERSON CAME IN TO DESCRIBE THE AMENDMENT, AND THAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY REQUIRE AN $8,045 WORTH OF LOCAL FUNDS.

IT WAS APPROVED AT THE TIME TO GO FORWARD WITH THE AMENDMENT AND THESE FUNDS.

AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, GLO ACCEPTED JUST MINUTES, JUST THE MINUTES FROM THE MEETING AS AS DOCUMENTATION OF IT.

BUT AS OF TODAY, NOW THEY WANT A RESOLUTION FOR IT.

SO THAT'S WHY I'M COMING IN AND JUST ASKING TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH IS APPROVING WHAT WAS ALREADY APPROVED.

RIGHT. AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALL IT IS. AND CITY ATTORNEY HAS VIEWED THIS ALREADY.

AND YOU KNOW, HE JUST BASED ON THEIR ADVICE, THEY WANTED US TO ACTUALLY COME HERE, PUT IT IN A MEETING AND THEN HAVE IT APPROVED.

OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 20260813-001.

THIS IS TIED TO CONTRACT NUMBER 24-065-043-E535.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN SARTIN, SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN DANIEL FOR APPROVAL.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? HEARING NONE.

CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.

AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. THERE YOU GO. NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO WORKSHOP ITEM NUMBER TWO DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 2027.

[2. Discussion and possible action on the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Proposed budget book presentation and plan for balancing Fiscal Year 2027 budget pursuant to Chapter 102 of Texas Local Government Code. ]

MAYOR COUNCIL. AS YOU ALL REMEMBER, LAST THURSDAY WE LEFT IN DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSAL FOR THE PROPERTY TAX.

I WILL BE PRESENTING TWO SCENARIOS. THIS IS THE FIRST SCENARIO WITH THE PROPERTY TAX.

AT THE RATE. WITH THE DISCUSSION WITH SEVERAL MEMBERS OF DIRECTORS THAT COUNCIL.

I HAVE GONE BACK IN AND I HAVE DONE SOME REEVALUATION ON SOME REVENUES AND SOME REEVALUATION OF SOME EXPENDITURES.

AND AT THIS MOMENT WE ARE AT 89,782 TO THE GOOD USING THE DIMINISHED RATE.

I WILL GO DOWN THE LIST AND SHOW YOU EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE CHANGED SINCE LAST THURSDAY.

THERE WERE EXTRA REVENUES IN THE INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENT, BUILDING PERMITS, LICENSE AND PERMITS.

THOSE WERE THE EXTRA REVENUE ITEMS THAT I HAVE CHANGED.

I HAVE ADDED THE 94,590 THAT IS FOR ONE PARKS EMPLOYEE, WITH 30% BEING PAID BY ABLC AND ONE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE TECH FOR 57,000.

$45,000 FOR A SERVER FOR IT.

THE CHANGE THAT HAS OCCURRED IS INSTEAD OF DOING 174,000 TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE STREET DEPARTMENT, ONLY HALF OF THAT WOULD BE TRANSFERRED FOR 72,000 TO 78.

NOW, SINCE WE DO HAVE A BALANCE OF 89,000. IF YOU WOULD WISH TO DO THE WHOLE 3%, THAT IS YOUR CHOICE.

THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY THERE, BUT THIS IS WHERE WE STAND, AND THOSE ARE THE ONLY CHANGES THAT WERE DONE TO THE DE MINIMIS RATE.

[00:05:14]

OR THE OTHER YELLOW ITEMS WERE ALREADY THERE THAT WERE APPROVED BY COUNCIL ON OUR FIRST MEETING.

FROM THE ADDITIONAL REQUESTS THAT WERE DONE FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS.

THOSE WERE ITEMS THAT WERE PUT IN YELLOW BECAUSE THEY WERE FROM A DIFFERENT BUDGET. THANK YOU.

THE SECOND PROPOSAL. IS USING OUR CURRENT TAX RATE, OUR CURRENT TAX RATE BEING. 515246. THAT IS OUR CURRENT TAX RATE.

YOU WILL SEE THE ITEMS THAT ARE IN THERE OR THE ITEMS THAT WERE ALREADY IN THE FIRST ONE AS BEING INCREASED FOR THE REVENUES. THE DIFFERENCES WOULD BE IN YOUR EXPENDITURES TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE USING THE CURRENT TAX RATE. INSTEAD OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PERSON AND THE PUBLIC PARKS EMPLOYEE THERE ARE TO BE PUT IN AT HALF TIME IN MARCH.

THEY WOULD START IN MARCH INSTEAD OF STARTING IN OCTOBER.

THE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS TO BE BOUGHT FROM THE BUDGET, THE BRUSH HOG AND OTHER EQUIPMENT FOR PARKS WOULD BE FINANCED INTERNALLY, INTERNALLY, TRYING TO FIND IT.

IT'S 110,500, RIGHT? I'M TRYING TO FIND IT, JOHN.

OKAY. THESE ITEMS IN THE OTHER FOR THE. NO, I MEAN THE THE MINUTES.

RIGHT. THESE ITEMS WERE PUT IN THE BUDGET TO BE PAID.

THESE ITEMS NOW WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE BUDGET AND WOULD BE INTERNALLY FINANCED BY THE CITY.

SO 110 500 WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE BUDGET.

THE AMOUNT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE STREET FUND INSTEAD OF 72,000.

IT IS COMPLETELY ELIMINATED. BUT YOU STILL HAVE A TRANSFER OR YOU STILL HAVE TO BE TRANSFERRED.

THE 168 649. THAT WAS FROM LAST YEAR. THAT IS STILL IN THERE.

SO YOU ARE STILL TRANSFERRING TO THE STREET FUND, BUT NOT ANY ADDITIONAL FROM THIS YEAR'S SALES TAX.

SO THOSE ARE THE CHANGES THAT YOU HAVE ON OPTION TWO.

AND THE DIFFERENCE BEING THAT YOU ONLY HAVE. A $3,000. BALANCE ON CURRENT BUDGET. ON CURRENT ON THE CURRENT TAX RATE. TAX RATE WOULD NOT BE INCREASED AT ALL.

NO SERVICES WERE CUT. NO SERVICES. ADDITIONAL HEADS WERE ADDED.

ALL THE PLANNED PROJECTS ARE STILL IN THERE. AND YOU STILL ARE.

YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THE BUDGET IS. EVERY YEAR WE PUT MONEY BACK OFF OF.

ESPECIALLY THE PERSONNEL COSTS. WE'RE NEVER FULL EMPLOYED, AND WE'VE GOT CONTINGENCY LINES IN HERE IN THIS BUDGET,

[00:10:01]

THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE, JOHN, IS WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE IS GOING TO DO.

THAT'S TRUE. BUT YOU ALSO KNOW ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR INSURANCE, A $3,000 INCREASE OR FUND BALANCE FOR THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET? DOES IT GIVE YOU ANY WIGGLE ROOM FOR ANYTHING TO HAPPEN? I'M NOT SAYING THE DEPARTMENT HEADS OR THEY ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR BUDGETS AND THEY STICK TO THEIR BUDGETS.

BUT AFTER THIS YEAR, HOW MUCH ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE PUT BACK IN? HOW MANY DAYS OPERATIONS WILL YOU HAVE AT THE.

WE WILL HAVE MORE THAN 90 DAYS. BUT IF ANYTHING HAPPENS IN THIS NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, YOU WILL BE TAKING MONEY OUT OF YOUR FUND BALANCE.

THAT'S CORRECT. THESE ARE THE TWO OPTIONS I HAVE TO OFFER.

DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OTHER INPUTS HAVE STAYED HOW THEY FELT.

AND SO WE INCORPORATED EVERYTHING THAT WAS GIVEN TO US.

AND THESE ARE THE ONLY TWO SCENARIOS THAT I COULD COME UP WITH.

YOU'RE ALSO ADDING TO THE WATER RATE $4.21. YES, SIR.

AND BUT WE'RE ALSO OFFERING A $5 DISCOUNT ONLY ON WATER AND ON SEWER.

SO YOU'RE ACTUALLY GIVING THEM A $10 DISCOUNT TO YOUR SENIOR CITIZENS, DISABLED AND VETERANS.

AND SENIOR CITIZEN MEANS 65 YEARS OF AGE, RIGHT.

YOU'RE ADDING YOUR WELL, MAINTENANCE. YOUR TANK MAINTENANCE. YES, SIR.

YOUR SAFETY, WHICH IS ANOTHER $50,000 IN THE WATER AND SEWER LIFT STATION.

MAINTENANCE OF $75,000. HECTOR, YOU HAVEN'T HAD LIFT STATION MAINTENANCE BEFORE, HAVE YOU? THAT IS A LINE ITEM, RIGHT? THAT'S NEW FOR THAT M&O ALL THE TIME.

YEAH. 150,000 IN WATERLINE UPGRADES. ADDITIONAL.

ADDITIONAL. FOR MOWERS BETWEEN THE WATER, SEWER AND GENERAL FUND FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. I GUESS ONE OF THOSE PARKS, ISN'T IT? I BELIEVE ONE IS FOR ONE'S FOR YOU GUYS, RIGHT? YEAH.

IS THE IS THE SERVER ALSO IN THIS SECOND OPTION? YES, SIR. YES, MA'AM. WAS REALLY FAST, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE. IT'S IN THERE.

COUNCIL OPINIONS.

I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE $3,000 ONE.

I THINK PAST HISTORY HAS SHOWED US THAT BAD THINGS HAPPEN.

BAD THINGS. WE HAVE PENDING RIGHT NOW AT THIS MOMENT, AND I.

THE WAY I LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND THINGS I DO FOR CITY COUNCIL IS I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL.

I CAN'T SEE INTO THE FUTURE. I DON'T WANT TO JUST SAY ZERO.

I'M NEVER GOING TO VOTE FOR A TAX INCREASE. I JUST DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.

I THINK CITIZENS DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR DITCHES CLEANED OUT.

THEY DESERVE TO HAVE A GOOD CONNECTION ON THE COMPUTER.

THEY DESERVE THINGS THAT THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT ON FACEBOOK.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND WHAT I DO FOR COUNCIL, I DO IT FOR THE WHOLE CITY.

I DON'T DO IT FOR ONE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I THINK ABOUT THE ENTIRE CITY AS A UNIT.

AND WHAT DO WE NEED FOR THE CITY AND WHAT ARE WHAT'S OUR BEST THING TO DO? AND YOU KNOW, WE NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS. WE NEED TO PAY PEOPLE BETTER.

WE NEED TO RETAIN AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT UP HERE ASKING FOR $12 MILLION.

Y'ALL AREN'T YOU KNOW, Y'ALL ARE RUNNING AS LEAN AS MEAN AS YOU CAN, BUT ALSO THE BOOGEYMAN IS OUT THERE.

BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN. AND THEN HERE WE SIT GOING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

SO AND WE ALWAYS MAKE IT HAPPEN. WE ALWAYS MAKE IT WORK.

[00:15:04]

ALL THE EMPLOYEES ARE GREAT. BUT WE GOT TO THINK ABOUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

AND WHAT DO WE NEED FOR THE CITY. AND. WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

PEOPLE WANT QUICK RESPONSE TIME, WHICH I BELIEVE.

CHIEF, YOU CAN CHIME IN ON THIS. Y'ALL HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL RECORD.

AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT THEIR DITCHES CLEANED.

AND HECTOR, I KNOW YOU HAVE A PLAN. YOU'RE WORKING ON IT, BUT.

AND FIRE CHIEF. Y'ALL NEED MORE PARKS. SORRY.

YOU KNOW, BUT WE HAVE THE PARKS NOW. WE PAID FOR THEM.

NOW WE GOT TO MAINTAIN THEM. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ABIGAIL AREAS COMING.

THERE ARE THINGS WE DON'T KNOW. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD JUST GO DOWN TO 0 OR 3000 JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY MADE A PROMISE, YOU KNOW, A LONG TIME AGO. NOBODY HAS A CRYSTAL BALL.

NOBODY CAN SEE INTO THE FUTURE. SO LET'S NOT JUST SQUEAK ALONG AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE.

FOR ONE GROUP'S VOTES. CHIMING IN WITH THAT. BARBARA.

COUNCILWOMAN. BARBARA. A $50,000 HOME. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RATE AND THE CURRENT TAX RATE IS $10 ANNUALLY ANNUALLY FOR $50,000. BASED ON 2075 AND WHEN WHEN THE FINANCE DIRECTOR SAYS THAT SHE'S NOT BEING FLIPPANT AND JUST SAYING, WELL, EVERYBODY CAN AFFORD THIS, THAT IS NOT WHAT SHE'S SAYING. SHE'S SAYING, IF YOU HAVE A SMALLER VALUE, YOU HAVE, FORTUNATELY, YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CITY FOR YOUR TAX BILL WILL BE LOWER.

AND NOBODY WANTS TO RAISE TAXES. HOWEVER, COMMA, THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

$500, $500,000 HOME IS 103.75 ANNUALLY. SO DIVIDED BY 12 AND $8.60. EVERYBODY ON FACEBOOK, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED.

YOU KNOW THAT YOUR PERCEPTION IS THINGS ARE NOT GETTING DONE.

SO EITHER COME TO A MEETING, TELL US WHAT YOU WANT.

MR. COOK CAME AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. SPEAK UP.

SAY WHAT YOU WANT. AND THEN ALSO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IS IT'S ONE TIGHT, NASTY BUDGET.

SO IF WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR IT, WE CAN'T JUST MAKE MONEY.

IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. IF THIS WAS YOUR HOME BUDGET, YOUR CAR BROKE.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? THE MONEY'S NOT THERE.

YOU'RE WALKING. BURST PIPE IN YOUR CEILING. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? LOST YOUR JOB. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? SO, STAFF, CITY MANAGER, FINANCE DIRECTOR AND THE MAYOR. THEY WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD ON THESE NUMBERS.

EACH COUNCIL PERSON FEELS DIFFERENTLY ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT SEEN WITH THE BUDGET, BUT IT.

IT MAKES ME NERVOUS TO GO DOWN TO NOTHING. IT JUST DOESN'T.

SO FINISHED. I'M GONNA FIRST SAY I AGREE WITH MISS SIMMONS.

YOU CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE. IT'S ALWAYS A LUXURY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME SET FOR A RAINY DAY FUND OR SOMETHING THAT WILL BREAK, AND IT WILL INEVITABLY BREAK, OR IT'LL BE A DISASTER OR A STORM OR WHATEVER.

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT EITHER ONE OF THE TWO PROPOSED OPTIONS IS A TAX RAISE.

IT'S NOT A FLAT. IT'S NOT THE NO NEW NET REVENUE OR A DE MINIMIS.

THIS IS EVEN AT THE CURRENT RATE IT STILL EFFECTIVELY ACTS AS A TAX INCREASE.

SO THE QUESTION BECOMES, WHAT DO WE FIND? AND THEN BASICALLY, WHAT'S OUR, I GUESS ADJUSTED SURPLUS. TO ME, JUST BIG PICTURE, BIG CITY. $3,000 MAY NOT BE COMFORTABLE, BUT IT'S NOT EXACTLY $89,000 BLOWING IT OUT OF THE WATER EITHER.

SO I'LL JUST SPEAK MY PIECE. MY PIECE IS, IS.

[00:20:09]

IT'S SUPPOSED TO MAKE YOU MAKE HARD DECISIONS.

WE SHOULD NOT BE LIVING WHERE THERE'S EXTRA MEAT OR FAT ON THE BONE.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T LIVE THAT WAY. WHEN WE'RE FUNDING OURSELVES, OUR HOMES, IF WE'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO DO THAT, GREAT. YOU KNOW, GOD BLESS YOU. SERIOUSLY. HOPE YOU CAN DO THAT.

BUT MY OPINION IS IF WE CAN GET THE THINGS THAT WE WANT FOR THE LESS COST TO THE TAXPAYER, I I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT. WE HAVE JUST ADDRESSED A COUPLE OF ISSUES.

WE HAVE GIVEN CITY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I THINK YOU ALL ARE GETTING RAISES, CORRECT? YEP. I MEAN, IT'S FUNDED. SO IT'S NOT A LACK OF I DON'T BELIEVE IN PUBLIC SAFETY.

I CERTAINLY BELIEVE IN PUBLIC SAFETY. I THINK THAT'S CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK WE CAN HAVE THIS DEBATE ON ALL OUR POSITIONS, WHETHER IT'S PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS PUBLIC SAFETY I T I'M JASON PROBABLY WORKS FOR. IF JASON WENT ON THE OPEN MARKET, HE'S GOING TO MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY THAN WORKING FOR THE CITY OF ANGLETON.

THAT'S JUST THE REALITY. BUT IF IF THE CITY OF ANGLETON CANNOT GET IN A BIDDING WAR ON SALARIES WITH CERTAIN ENTITIES, WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH TEXAS DPS.

RIGHT, CHIEF? WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE COUNTY.

THOSE ARE EVEN PEARLAND IS. I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A CITY THAT'S SIX TIMES OUR SIZE.

WE'RE NOT IN THE SAME BUCKET. SO WE HAVE TO FIND UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE I MEAN, I SAY UNFORTUNATELY IT'S A GOOD THING WE FIND PEOPLE WITH SERVICE HEARTS WHO LOVE OUR COMMUNITY AND ARE WILLING TO WORK IN IT.

AND SO LIKE I SAID FOR JASON, BUT COULD HOLD TRUE FOR ALL THESE OTHER DIRECTORS IF THEY PROBABLY WENT OUT IN THE OPEN MARKET, THEY COULD PROBABLY DRAW MORE COMPETITIVE SALARIES, BUT WE TRY TO BE RESPECTFUL.

I MEAN, I, I HOPE YOU DON'T TAKE A DECISION LIKE THIS AS DISRESPECTFUL FOR THE QUALITY OF WORK THAT YOU PERFORM.

SO THAT'S JUST MY OPINION. I THINK YOU'LL DO A GREAT JOB.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE DIRECTORS AND THE PEOPLE WHO'VE PRESENTED STOOD RIGHT THERE.

I FEEL LIKE THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN KNOWLEDGEABLE STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC DOLLAR.

THEY WORK HARD TO MAKE IT ALL WORK. I AGREE WITH MISS SIMMONS ON THAT.

I MEAN, THEY WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE THEIR BUDGETS MATCH AND MEET ENDS, MAKE ENDS MEET.

SO BUT THAT'S JUST WHERE I SIT ON IT.

I'M GOING TO GO IN MIRROR WHAT MAYOR PRO TEM TOWNSEND SAYS.

IF WE CAN DO EVERYTHING THAT IS BEING ASKED ON THE SAME RATE.

I'M FOR IT. I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE ANY, YOU KNOW, INDICATION THAT.

I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO SIT THERE AND GO THAT WE DIDN'T RESPECT EVERYBODY'S OPINIONS ON THIS.

EVERYBODY'S GOT A DIFFERENT OPINION ON THE TAX RATE AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FUND AND ALL THIS STUFF.

BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A BUNCH LEFT OVER IF WE SHOULDN'T GO 0 TO 100 REAL FAST. I MEAN, WE JUST GOT BACK TO THE POINT THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY DOING THINGS AND DOING THINGS WELL AND RETAINING MONEY.

FINALLY, I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD JUST GO GUNG HO AND GO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT THIS NOW.

WE'RE GOING TO GO WAY UP HERE WHEN WE CAN, YOU KNOW, STAY WHERE WE'RE AT AND TRY TO TAKE SOME OF THE STUFF INTERNALLY.

I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S HARD WORK ON THIS, BUT IT'S NOT JUST INCREASING THE TAX RATE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING OUT FOR WATER AND SEWER.

AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SENIORS AND VETERANS AND DISABLED ARE GETTING A DISCOUNT ON THAT RATE TOO.

ON THE WATER SIDE OF IT AND SEWER SIDE. BUT. THAT'S WHERE I STAND ON THAT.

TANNER. CHRISTINE. HECTOR. JASON, HOW DO YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT WAITING ANOTHER SIX MONTHS FOR YOUR POSITIONS?

[00:25:05]

IT WOULD BE IDEAL TO HAVE IT SOONER, BUT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT WORK.

I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF Y'ALL FOR Y'ALL AREN'T JUST THINKING ABOUT YOUR DEPARTMENT, YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE'S DEPARTMENTS, AND YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT HOW THE CITY IS FUNCTIONING AS A WHOLE, AND THE CITIZENS TOO. IT'S HARD WORKING SO TIGHT.

AND THANK YOU FOR GOING THROUGH AND COMBING THROUGH AND GETTING ALL OF THE THINGS PUSHED AROUND AND SHUFFLED SO YOU CAN MAKE IT HOW IT IS. WHAT IS OUR PERCENTAGE? ARE WE AT 25% YET? I DON'T KNOW THE ACTUAL NUMBER. CHRISTIENE TO GIVE YOU THE EXACT RATE, BUT TO WHAT I CAN FORESEE IS WE WILL BE 25 A LITTLE BIT OVER.

OKAY. THAT'S FANTASTIC. HOW MUCH DID WE FOR THE DISABLED AND ELDERLY. IT'S $5 DISCOUNT FOR WATER AND $5 DISCOUNT FOR SEWER.

AND THEN WE RAISED THEIR CAP, DIDN'T WE? NO WE DIDN'T.

IT'S STILL THE SAME AS LAST YEAR. OKAY. AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ADDING THAT DISCOUNT TO THE WATER AND SEWER NOW.

I'M. IF WE CAN GO WITH THE CURRENT RATE. I THINK THAT WOULD BE.

I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE BECAUSE EVERYONE EVERYONE'S HURTING LIKE WE'RE HURTING.

THE CITY'S HURTING. THE DEPARTMENTS ARE HURTING, THE CITIZENS ARE HURTING. EVERYTHING IS JUST RAISING AT SUCH A RATE.

SPENDING COSTS. ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP.

TANNER Y'ALL WANT TO HEAR WHAT I HAVE TO SAY? I DO. I RESPECT YOU, I WANT TO HEAR. WE WANT TO HEAR IT.

WHY WOULD WE NOT? THE TAX RATE, THE TAX RATE IN THIS CITY WAS IT WAS IT I THINK 5052 AND SOME CHANGE IN 23.

I THINK WE WE REDUCED IT TO 49 AND SOME CHANGE IN.

24. SOUND ABOUT RIGHT, SUSIE? YES, SIR. 51. FIVE AND 25.

WE WERE. 52 AND WE REDUCED IT TO 49. AND THEN LAST YEAR WE WENT TO 5151 AGAIN, RIGHT.

TWO YEARS. THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE OF THE DECREASE IN REVENUE WAS REALLY TO SHORE UP OUR BOOKS, AT LEAST ON MY END. I KNOW PROMISES WERE MADE TO THE CITIZENS ABOUT CUTTING TAXES AND REDUCING TAXES, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WITH WITH THE DOORS I KNOCKED ON, THAT WAS NEVER MY PROMISE.

THE PROMISE OF THE CITY. I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO FIND BUDGET TO STRIPE CROSSWALKS.

YOU KNOW, NOBODY'S LIVING HIGH ON THE HOG OVER HERE.

WE'RE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE NEED WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PROJECTS.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THE PROJECTS WE HAVE? BUT ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING THAT'S CAUSED PROBLEMS BEFORE AND SAID THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO.

I MEAN, PROBLEMS WE HAD WERE OBVIOUSLY FINANCE RELATED.

BUT ONCE WE WORKED THROUGH THAT, I MEAN, HERE WE ARE AND WE'RE NOT GIVEN WE'RE NOT GIVEN THE DEPARTMENTS THE HEADCOUNT THAT THEY NEED TO TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

SO THEN WHAT WHAT ARE WE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SAY? HEY, YOU DIDN'T SPEND THE MONEY. YOU DIDN'T GET THE PROJECTS DONE. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE HEADCOUNT TO DO SO. I MEAN, WOULD YOU SAY WOULD YOU SAY ON A HALF MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE, HALF $1 MILLION HOME, 100 AND.

103.75 $103. 500. THAT'S 500. YEAH. 500. THAT'S WHAT I SAID.

I'M SORRY. FOR 100. NO NO NO FIVE. FIVE. IT'S 103, 100, $103.

[00:30:09]

WELL, THAT'S THAT'S WHAT Y'ALL ARE ASKING. I'M A FAN OF THE WHOLE ENCHILADA.

I THINK WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THE THING IS, WE'RE NOT DOING OURSELVES ANY FAVOR IF WE'RE NOT AT LEAST PUSHING FORWARD AND MAINTAINING THE CITY.

WE COULD DO THESE. WE COULD DO ALL THESE PROJECTS AND STUFF.

WE HAVE ANOTHER HURRICANE. WE'RE BACK IN A SITUATION WITH.

AND WE'RE CARRYING A NOTE RIGHT NOW THAT'S GOT A BALLOON PAYMENT DUE.

AND WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET PAID BY FEMA ANYTIME SOON.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT MONEY. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE.

OUT OF CURIOSITY, WHAT PROJECT WOULD BE FINISHED OR DONE WITH THE DE MINIMIS RATE THAT WE DON'T GET WITH THE CURRENT RATE? MOST OF YOUR PROJECTS ARE BY BOND. PROJECT THAT WE MIGHT HAVE.

WHAT? WHAT ITEM IN THE BUDGET WOULD WE GET WITH THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM.

TO DEMONSTRATE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FIRST.

THE FIRST PROPOSAL AND THE SECOND PROPOSAL WAS THE EXTRA GOING TO REFUND THAT WAS COMPLETELY ELIMINATED AND YOUR EMPLOYEE STARTING AT HALF FOR SIX MONTHS AND THEN FINANCING INTERNALLY THE FINANCING, THE EQUIPMENT, THAT WAS THE CHANGE. SO DON'T FINANCE THAT EQUIPMENT THAT GIVES YOU MORE MONEY TO BUY VEHICLES STRAIGHT FROM ENTERPRISE INSTEAD OF US.

SURE GIVES US THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE INTERNALLY TO DO TO DO THAT.

THIS CURRENT BUDGET IS ADDING ALMOST $1 MILLION IN NEW SPENDING.

IN SCENARIO ONE, $1 MILLION. THAT'S A LOT. THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT.

AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IS FIND WAYS TO TAKE THAT MILLION DOLLARS AND BITE IT INTO DIFFERENT BUCKETS.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT, SUSIE? WELL, WE DID NOT TAKE OUT AND SIMMONS, I, I HEARD YOU AND I, I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION. WE HAVE LEFT THE 3% PAY RAISE IN FOR THE EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE THE STEP RAISE FOR THE PD. WE FUNDED THE PD COMPLETELY, FULLY, ALTHOUGH THEY NEVER COME UP TO THAT NUMBER.

I'M LOOKING AT PERSONNEL COSTS. 4.2% YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE WITHOUT THE STEP.

RAISE $333,000 IN PAY INCREASE. NEW COST IS 127,000 AND NEW NEW POSITIONS IN TOTAL.

SO WE ARE INVESTING IN THE STAFF. WE ARE GIVING RAISES.

I LOOK AT THE PD SPECIFICALLY 5.5 MILLION IN PERSONNEL COSTS.

THAT'S UP 181,000 FROM PRIOR YEAR. WHERE THEY FINISHED HISTORICALLY IS USUALLY AROUND 4849.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE 3000 LEFT IN THE BUDGET, THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY TRUE.

THAT'S FULLY FUNDED. IF YOU KNOW, WE ALL HOW MUCH ARE YOU GOING TO PUT BACK THIS YEAR, SUSIE ESTIMATE FROM THE BUDGET WHAT WE'VE BEEN WE'RE GOING TO GIVE BACK FOR THE ONE TIME RECEIVABLE.

BUT TAKING THAT OUT, I'D SAY I WILL. I WILL PROBABLY BE PUTTING BACK EIGHT 800,000 OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE OR ADDITIONAL FUND BALANCE COMING FROM THIS BECAUSE WE'VE OVER BUDGETED IN SOME CASES, WHICH, HEY, I AM THE FIRST PERSON HERE TO SAY IT'S BECAUSE THE GREAT STAFF WE HAVE, YOU ALL DO AN AMAZING, OUTSTANDING JOB OF BEING VERY PROACTIVE, RESOURCEFUL AND DOING THINGS AS THE CITIZENS WOULD EXPECT US TO BE,

[00:35:10]

AS MAYOR PRO TEM TOWNSEND MENTIONED, THIS IS STILL A TAX INCREASE, EVEN IF YOU DO THE CURRENT TAX RATE AS IT IS NOW, YOU'RE STILL RAISING IT RAISING MORE REVENUE THAN YOU DID IF YOU DID THE NO NEW REVENUE.

ANOTHER POINT TO MAKE THAT I'M, I'M HEARING A LOT OF THINGS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ALL GET ADDRESSED.

SUSIE, CAN YOU GO TO THE TAX RATE HISTORY AGAIN IN A BIGGER FONT? YEAH, WITH A MUCH BIGGER FONT. THE RATE HISTORY.

THE RATE HISTORY. YES, MA'AM. THE HISTORICAL DIFFERENCE IN THE TAX RATE AND WHY IT'S DECREASED LIKE IT HAS IS TWOFOLD. ONE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF THE SALES TAX BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THAT SALES TAX INCREASE.

BUT TWO IS DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE CHANGED OVER FROM DEDICATING ALL OF THE STREET FUND MONEY TO THE GENERAL FUND? WAS THAT 2021 OR 22? THAT WAS WAY BEFORE THAT TIME.

WHEN. SCOTT. SCOTT. YEAH, HE LEFT IN 20. RIGHT.

2020. SO YOU CAN SEE THE THE 70 THE 66, AND THEN IT DROPS TO 63, 61, 52.

AND THEN WHEN WE TOOK THE ACTION WE DID WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE IN 2024, THAT WAS TO STOP.

BUT WE ALSO HAD SOMETHING ELSE IN THERE, THE COVID MONEY WE WERE LIVING OFF THE COVID MONEY OF ABOUT, I THINK, $2 MILLION OR SO THAT WE WERE FUNDING DURING THAT TIME.

SO WE WERE DROPPING THE TAX RATE ALSO BECAUSE OF THAT COVID MONEY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE FACTS ARE OUT THERE AND WE ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. WE WE GOT DOWN TO THAT BECAUSE OF WHAT WE WERE DOING THERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAME INTO THOSE BUDGETS THAT ARE NOT RECURRING EVER AGAIN.

I AGREE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS ONE DISASTER AWAY AND WE DO HAVE THE LOANS STILL SITTING OUT THERE.

BUT I LOOK AT THE RESIDENT AND YEAH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S MINIMAL TO A LOT OF US $100 ISN'T MUCH AND I'M, I'M, I UNDERSTAND BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY UNDERWATER AND $100 IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GAS AND THE TANK TO GET TO WORK. SOMETIMES I'M NOT MAKING ANY, ANY LIGHT OF THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE HURTING PARTS OF THEIR HOUSE THAT THEY NEED TO GET FIXED AND THEY NEED THAT EXTRA MONEY TO DO SOMETHING. I'M NOT TRYING TO PAINT A SOB STORY, BUT I'M SAYING THAT WE'RE ASKING THE STAFF TO DO AS MUCH AS THEY CAN WITH AS LITTLE AS THEY GOT, JUST BECAUSE THE CITIZENS ARE DOING THE SAME THING.

IN A LOT OF CASES, I THINK IT'S EQUALLY SHARED PAIN.

RIGHT? WE TALK ABOUT PROJECTS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE DIDN'T CUT ANYTHING OUT OF THIS BUDGET THAT WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO BY GETTING TO THE, TO THE CURRENT TAX RATE. WE HAVE FUNDED EVERYTHING WE'VE ASKED THAT YOU'VE ASKED FOR PRETTY MUCH WITHIN REASON.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE MANPOWER OR THE ABILITY TO PUT MORE ON YOUR PLATE.

IF WE GAVE YOU MORE MONEY AND SAID, GO GET MORE PROJECTS DONE.

I THINK IF I GAVE YOU MORE PROJECTS, YOU WOULD SAY, I NEED MORE PEOPLE, I NEED TO GO GET THIS DONE.

I GET THAT AND WE STILL HAVE OPEN PROJECTS WORKING NOW.

WHAT I USUALLY HEAR FROM THE CITIZENS MOST OF ANYTHING IS COMMUNICATION.

IF THERE WAS ONE THING I WOULD SAY THAT THEY JUST WANT TO KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, NOT I MEAN, I MEAN, YES, WE HEARD MR. COOK SAY, I NEED YOU TO FIX THAT. OKAY. WE CAN WE CAN PUT THAT AS A PRIORITY AND GET WORKING ON IT.

BUT TO SAY THAT THE STAFF WANTS MORE PROJECTS AND THE CITIZENS WANT MORE PROJECTS, I DON'T THINK THAT'S EQUAL.

I THINK WE'RE, WE'VE GOT TO SHOW THE CITIZENS THAT WE CAN DO THINGS WITH WHAT WE GIVE THEM AND WHAT WE'VE GOT.

WE'RE ALSO ON THE PRECIPICE OF A MAJOR CHANGE IN THE CITY.

AND I THINK WE CAN'T LOSE SIGHT OF THAT AS WELL.

TAX RATES ARE GOING TO CHANGE. SALES TAX IS GOING TO INCREASE.

AND I, I THINK OUTLIVING OUT SPENDING YOUR REVENUES IS NOT RESPONSIBLE IN SOME CASES.

SO FOR ME, I SAY NO NEW REVENUE. BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE POSITION IS COUNCIL'S IN.

AND THE STAFF IS IN. I MEAN, AT MAX I COULD GO WITH THE CURRENT TAX RATE, BUT I.

[00:40:04]

BUT POOR SUSIE'S HAD TO LISTEN TO MY PHONE CALLS ALL THE TIME.

WE'RE THERE. IT'S IT'S UP TO YOU ALL HOW YOU WANT TO DO THIS.

I CAN'T MAKE THE MOTION, BUT I RESPECT EVERYONE ON THIS COUNCIL AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR POSITIONS.

I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT EASY TO ADOPT A TAX RATE AND TO STAND THERE AND TELL A CITIZEN YOU HAVE TO SPEND MORE OF THEIR MONEY.

BUT I THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE IT THE RIGHT WAY.

BEEN VERY RESPONSIBLE. AND THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY.

SUSIE, WHAT DID YOU SAY THE, THE INCREASE WAS ON A, ON A HALF MILLION DOLLAR VALUATION 108.

YEAH. SO YOU WERE SAYING 100. YOU WERE SAYING $100 ON A $500,000 HOUSE.

I KNOW TO ME THAT'S NOT A LOT. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THAT'S THAT MAY BE THE DIFFERENCE IN THIS PERSON WITH A HALF $1 MILLION HOUSE PUTTING GAS IN THEIR VEHICLE OR THEY'RE ALREADY UPSIDE DOWN. YEAH. I DON'T LIVE IN A HALF MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE.

I GUESS I WOULDN'T KNOW. ME NEITHER. I'M JUST SAYING IT'S KIND OF IT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A DIFFERENT TOPIC. BUT YOU KNOW, I I'LL STOP.

I'LL JUST SAY THAT. WE SHOULDN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO APOLOGIZE FOR WHERE YOU LIVE, SO I'LL JUST SAY IT THAT WAY.

I HAVE A QUESTION BEFORE WE MAKE SURE IF WE DON'T HAVE A MAJORITY, WHAT HAPPENS? YOU MIGHT WANT TO SPELL THAT OUT. YEAH. AND THE COST RAMIFICATION.

IT GOES TO THE NO NEW REVENUE WHICH NONE OF THESE NONE OF THOSE NONE OF THESE SLIDES ADDRESSES.

THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS 133. 103 3133508068. AND WE'RE 515246. THAT WOULD MEAN.

IF I WAS TO CHANGE IT HERE TO. 133, SORRY.

I THINK. I'LL TRY AGAIN.

SHORT AND $38,000.

SO ALL I WANT TO SAY IS EVERYBODY'S VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IT'S IT'S NOT A TYPICAL VOTE, I WOULD THINK. IT'S TRUE.

SUSIE, COULD YOU DO ME SOME CALCULATIONS? IF WE DEFAULT, YOU GET TO KEEP YOUR PROMISE.

THE YEARLY INCREASE FOR A $15 MILLION PROPERTY AND THE YEARLY INCREASE FOR A $10 MILLION PROPERTY.

IS $10. $10 MILLION. 60 1210. 15 MILLION. 15 MILLION.

YES. YES. I PICKED OUT TWO APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

YEAH. WHERE YOU WERE GOING WITH THAT? KEEP IT SAFE.

WHO DID THAT? IT'S LOUD UP HERE. YOU KNOW.

[00:45:18]

IN LANDLORD, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE. SO IT WOULD BE $25 PER YEAR PER ONE OF THE APARTMENTS.

BUT IN LANDLORD MATH, THEY WOULD MULTIPLY THAT MULTIPLE TIMES TO INCREASE THEIR PROFIT AND PUSH IT ON TO THE RENTERS.

IT'S NEVER AN EASY VOTE, COUNCIL, BUT SOMEONE'S GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION.

WELL, I'M GONNA SAY THIS WITH RESPECT TO MISS SIMMONS AND MR. SARTIN. I APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHTS. I MEAN, I'M SERIOUS.

I KNOW YOU LIKE. WELL, YOU GOT A HALF SMILE ON YOUR FACE.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN. BUT THE IDEA THAT THERE ARE OBJECTIVES OR GOALS TO ACHIEVE.

I AGREE, I THINK WE ALL HAVE SIMILAR. WE DON'T HAVE TO AGREE ON WHAT THEY ARE, BUT WE HAVE IDEAS AND WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE.

I DO AGREE WITH MISS SIMMONS. I, I MEAN IT IS SCARY TO THINK ABOUT.

AND TANNER BROUGHT THIS UP TOO, TO THINK ABOUT A STORM COMING IN BECAUSE WE HAVE A NOTE THAT'S OUTSTANDING.

IT'S NOT COMFORTABLE TO PAY THAT NOTE. FORTUNATELY, IT'S A LOW INTEREST RATE, BUT IT'S STILL INTEREST. WE'RE STILL PAYING ON THAT NOTE.

SO THAT, THAT CERTAINLY WEIGHS ON ME WHEN MY THOUGHT PROCESS BEFORE YOU SPOKE.

I MEAN, IT WASN'T I'M GLAD YOU EXPRESSED THOSE THINGS, BUT I'M STILL VERY COMFORTABLE WITH MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS.

NO, HE HASN'T MADE ONE YET. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE CURRENT PERCENT THE CURRENT TAX RATE.

CURRENT TAX RATE. OKAY. THAT WAS A SCENARIO TOO.

OKAY. SCENARIO TWO. MINE WAS SCENARIO. WELL, THE ONE THAT SUSIE SAYS.

SCENARIO TWO IS THE ONE I PUT IN MY FILE. THAT WAS SCENARIO THREE.

CORRECT. SUSIE. AND THAT IS THE ONE THAT YOU KNOW.

COUNCIL MEMBER SARTIN POINTED OUT THE .51. SO, SUSIE, NEITHER OF THE OPTIONS YOU PUT UP ORIGINALLY ONE AND TWO, THEY ARE NEITHER ONE OF THOSE IS A DE MINIMIS RATE.

THE VERY FIRST ONE IS THE DE MINIMIS RATE. OKAY.

THIS ONE. NO. THIS ONE. THE ONE THAT FUNDS THE THE.

IT FUNDS THE PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES AND THE POSITION CHANGE AT THE FISCAL YEAR.

IT FUNDS NOT HAVING TO FINANCE IN-HOUSE THE THE NEW PURCHASES THAT WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE.

AND I'M SORRY, I'M FORGETTING THE THIRD ITEM, BUT DELAYS THE EMPLOYEES TO MARCH.

RIGHT. THIS IS DE MINIMIS RATE. WITHOUT MAKING

[00:50:04]

YEAH. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE TRANSFER TO THE STREET FUND IS ONLY HALF.

THE RATE IS 0.535996. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. I MEAN, I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

LET'S TAKE CARE OF THAT FIRST. I HAVE A MOTION. DOES SOMEBODY WANT TO MAKE A SECOND ON THAT. YOU WANT TO USE YOUR POINT YOU NEED TO MAKE BEFORE WE MAKE A VOTE. YEAH, YEAH. IN MY SCENARIO THREE THAT I GAVE YOU. I ONLY DELAYED ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES.

I DIDN'T DELAY BOTH. AM I REASONING BEHIND THAT? WAS THAT THE PARKS PERSON STARTING IN OCTOBER, IT'S WINTER MONTHS.

MOWING SEASONS KIND OF COMES DOWN SLIGHTLY, YOU KNOW, THAT WE COULD DELAY IT TILL MARCH BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE MOWING AND EVERYTHING KIND OF PICKS BACK UP AND STARTS GOING. SO I DELAYED THE THE PARKS PERSON, NOT THE PUBLIC WORKS PERSON.

I LEFT THE PUBLIC WORKS PERSON IN FULL TIME STARTING IN OCTOBER.

THE OTHER THING THAT YOU HAD DONE WAS TAKEN AWAY, THE 66 THAT I HAD FOR THE JANITORIAL.

YES, I DID. AND I HAD TO PUT THAT BACK BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF INCREASE, EVEN IF YOU DON'T MAKE THAT DECISION RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT KMART BUILDING THAT SOMEONE'S GOING TO HAVE TO CLEAN IT.

AND THE DIFFERENCE IS OF 40,000, NOT THE 66. OKAY.

SO OKAY, THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. THAT'S WHAT I WAS AFTER. OKAY.

I JUST HOPE PEOPLE REALIZE WE'RE OVER HERE DEBATING ON $20 MILLION BUDGET, YOU KNOW, $40,000 HERE AND THERE. AND I MEAN. WE CUT 6000 OUT OF HAROLD'S BUDGET FOR LIGHTS.

SO WE LOOK AT EVERYTHING. DO I HAVE A MOTION? DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM TOWNSEND.

SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN DANIEL TO ADOPT THE CURRENT TAX RATE.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? SUSIE, IS THIS A ROLL CALL? YES, I BELIEVE IT IS. YEP. OKAY, LET ME GET DOWN TO IT.

HOLD ON. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS A ROLL CALL VOTE.

SO I'M GOING TO CALL FOR EACH PERSON TO SIGNIFY BY SAYING I COUNCILWOMAN DANIEL I COUNCILMAN SARTIN.

NO. COUNCILMAN SMITH. AYE. COUNCILWOMAN SIMMONS.

COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TEM TOWNSEND. AYE. MAYOR WRIGHT.

AYE. THAT MOTION PASSES.

ANYTHING ELSE Y'ALL WANT TO TALK ABOUT? ALL RIGHT.

WELL, IT'S A TOUGH VOTE. I'M. GLAD THIS PART'S BEHIND US.

NOW WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD. SUSIE, I THINK THE NEXT THING IS TO ADOPT WATER AND SEWER RATES AT THE NEXT MEETING.

YES, SIR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY, SUSIE? THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK. WE WILL ADJOURN AT 6:56 P.M..

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.