[00:00:04]
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. WELCOME TO TODAY'S MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL.
[CALL TO ORDER]
TODAY'S DATE IS TUESDAY, AUGUST 18TH, 2026. TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY REVEREND EMANUEL D ECHOLS.SAINT JAMES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONE AND IF YOU SO CHOOSE, PLEASE STAND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. LET US PRAY. MOST GRACIOUS AND ETERNAL GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF THIS DAY AND FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF GATHERING TOGETHER IN SERVICE TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT.
AS YOUR WORD HAS REMINDED US, TO DO JUSTICE, TO LOVE MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOU, WE PRAY THAT THESE SAME VIRTUES WOULD GUIDE US IN THIS PLACE THIS AFTERNOON. WE LIFT BEFORE YOU OUR MAYOR, THE CITY, THE MEMBERS OF THIS CITY COUNCIL, OUR CITY MANAGER, AND ALL WHO HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP.
GIVE THEM THE COURAGE TO PURSUE WHAT IS. WHAT IS JUST THE COMPASSION TO REMEMBER THOSE WHOSE VOICES MAY NOT ALWAYS BE HEARD, AND THE HUMILITY TO RECOGNIZE THE WEIGHT OF THE RESPONSIBILITY THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO SERVE OUR CITY EACH DAY FOR OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, FIRST RESPONDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND ALL WHO WORK CONTRIBUTES TO THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THIS COMMUNITY.
PROTECT THEM, STRENGTHEN THEM, AND BLESS THEM FOR THE WORK OF THEIR HANDS AND GOD.
MAY THIS BE A CITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE WITH DIGNITY, OPPORTUNITY, SAFETY AND HOPE.
BLESS OUR FAMILIES, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR BUSINESSES, OUR CHURCHES AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
BE NEAR TO THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING, THOSE WHO ARE HURTING AND THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED.
NOW, LORD GOD, THE WORK THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THIS MEETING.
MAY EVERY CONVERSATION BE PRODUCTIVE, EVERY DECISION.
BE THOUGHTFUL AND EVERY ACTION TAKEN BE FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE AND THE BETTERMENT OF THIS CITY.
MAY JUSTICE GUIDE US. MAY MERCY SHAPE US. MAY HUMILITY KEEP US.
AND MAY YOUR WISDOM LEAD US AS WE SEEK A STRONGER AND MORE UNITED.
BEAUMONT, TEXAS. THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS, THE CHRIST, WE PRAY.
AMEN. 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.
ROLL CALL, PLEASE. MAYOR WEST. PRESENT. MAYOR.
PRO TEM. CRENSHAW. COUNCIL MEMBER. TURNER. COUNCIL MEMBER.
DORIO. HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. HILLIARD. COUNCIL MEMBER.
WILLIAMS AND COUNCIL MEMBER. SHERWOOD. THANK YOU.
TODAY WE HAVE A CITY OF BEAUMONT. COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE AT THIS TIME.
[ Communication Update]
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. HERE ARE YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THIS.PROPOSED UPDATES INCLUDE CHANGES TO THE LAUREL NORTH 11TH ROUTE, SATURDAY OPERATING HOURS AND MORE FREQUENT SERVICE ON SELECT ROUTES, ALL AIMED AT IMPROVING CONNECTIONS AND REDUCING OPERATING COSTS.
TO BROWSE THE ONLINE AUCTION ITEMS, GO TO RENOVATES.COM AND SEARCH CITY OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS.
BIDDING CLOSES AT 10 A.M. ON AUGUST 26TH, SO DON'T WAIT TOO LONG.
BROWSE IT, BID ON IT, AND MAYBE BRING IT HOME.
THROUGH THE CITY OF BEAUMONT'S PARTNERSHIP WITH CHRYSALIS, RESIDENTS CAN GET FREE, CONFIDENTIAL HELP FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AS WELL AS HOUSING, FOOD ASSISTANCE, LOW COST MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE, AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES.
CHRYSALIS IS AVAILABLE 24 OVER SEVEN. SIMPLY CALL 8885157881 OR VISIT
[00:05:06]
CHRYSALIS.COM/TX-BEAUMONT TO GET CONNECTED. HOW ABOUT A $20 BEST FRIEND? IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW SIDEKICK, BEAUMONT ANIMAL CARE IS CELEBRATING CLEAR THE SHELTERS WITH $20 ADOPTIONS THROUGH AUGUST 29TH.EVEN BETTER, THE FIRST 15 ADOPTIONS ON AUGUST 28TH AND 29TH ARE FREE.
STOP BY 1884 PINE STREET AND MEET THE DOGS AND CATS READY TO BE PART OF YOUR FAMILY.
THEN, ON AUGUST 28TH, THINGS GET A LITTLE REBELLIOUS WITH CRYBABY FOR BOTH CLASSIC MOVIE NIGHTS.
AND FINALLY, THE SMURFS AREN'T LETTING A LITTLE RAIN KEEP THEM AWAY FROM BEAUMONT.
AFTER MOTHER NATURE RAINED OUT OUR AUGUST 6TH SHOWING.
MOVIES IN THE PARK IS BACK FOR ONE LAST NIGHT, SO JOIN US AUGUST 22ND AT DUSK AT WUTHERING HEIGHTS PARK FOR OUR RESCHEDULED SHOWING OF THE SMURFS. AND THAT'S ALL FOR THIS WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT ANYBODY JUST CAME FOR THE PRESENTATIONS.
BUT IF YOU DID, YOU'RE FREE TO LEAVE. AT THIS POINT.
[PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA/CONSENT]
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IN TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR ANY CITIZEN WHO WISHES TO SPEAK.BEFORE THAT, THE CITY CLERK WILL CALL YOUR NAME WHEN IT'S YOUR TIME TO SPEAK.
CITY AND STATE, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SOMEBODY FROM CITY STAFF MAY REACH OUT TO YOU BEFORE YOU LEAVE, OR WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
AND WITH THAT WILLIAM SINCLAIR, 3400 VETERANS CIRCLE, BEAUMONT, TEXAS.
MAYOR MEMBERS. HONORED GUEST. I'M A NAVY VETERAN HERE IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS.
I COME HERE TO SPEAK OUT ON ONE SUBJECT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
BEING A DISABLED VETERAN. I FEEL LIKE THERE'S MORE NEED FOR STUFF LIKE SIDEWALKS, BIKE TRAILS, OR BIKE RIDE AWAY ON SOME OF THE STREETS. WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING OUT WITH BIKES AND SCOOTERS AND WHATNOT, AND I'M FOREVER SEEING ON THE NEWS WHERE PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES BEING RUN OVER BY MOTORISTS COMING AROUND, NOT PAYING ATTENTION WITH THE MOTORS AND WHATNOT.
AND I THINK THERE'S, YOU KNOW, MORE NEED FOR WALKWAYS AND WHATNOT.
AND I SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND A NUMBER OF OTHER DISABLED VETERANS THAT WALK WITH WHEELCHAIRS, WALKERS AND CANES AND SUCH. AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS BEING OUT IN THE STREET, WALKING THE STREETS.
WE NEED TO BE OFF THE STREETS, ON THE CURB. I HAPPEN TO NOTICE RIGHT AWAY IN MOST AREAS THAT THE CITY COULD, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATE THE NECESSARY GROUNDS TO PUT SIDEWALKS IN PLACE AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY ALL I GOT TO SAY. THANK YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU. I'M ALBERT HARRISON 1240 ASHLEY BEAUMONT, TEXAS.
EXCUSE ME, BUT I WILL NOT GIVE YOU ALL MY USUAL GREETINGS.
CONCERNED CITIZENS. NOW I TO ASK, WHY ARE THE GAS PIPES AND WATER PIPES NOT COVERED LIKE THEY SUPPOSED TO BE? WHY ARE MY CROSSWALKS ACROSS DITCHES ARE NOT THERE ON EVELYN FORREST.
EVELYN. SKINNER. EVELYN. EWING. OAKLAND. ASHLEY.
WHY ARE THEY NOT THERE? THIS IS A VIOLATION OF SAFETY BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED NOT JUST FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT FOR EVERY CITIZEN IN THIS ENTIRE CITY. BECAUSE IF THEY'RE EXPOSED THERE, THEY MUST BE EXPOSED SOMEWHERE ELSE AS WELL.
[00:10:02]
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR JEROME ALEXANDER, 1119 AVALON STREET, BEAUMONT, TEXAS.GOOD AFTERNOON. HOW Y'ALL DOING? I COME HERE TODAY TO TALK TO MISS MOLLY.
MISS MOLLY, YOU BROUGHT THE ENGINEER IN TO DIG THE DITCHES UP, SO HE DUG THE DITCHES UP.
AND THEY, LIKE YOU, SAY, THEY EXPOSED THE PIPES.
SO I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE CENTER POINT ENERGY GUY.
BUT HE SAID HE DID SAY IT CAN BE FIXED. SO WE APPRECIATE IF YOU CHECK INTO IT AND SEE CAN YOU GET THE PIPES FIX MAN, BECAUSE HE'S PLAYING A LIFE AND DANGER GAME WITH THEM PIPES EXPOSED LIKE THAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LARRY GAUTHIER 5926. GLENMORE.
BEAUMONT, TEXAS. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL AND EMPLOYEES. EMPLOYEES. I'M GONNA GO BACK TO 1992. TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION AND THE CITY OF BEAUMONT APPROVED SEISMOGRAPH TESTING TESTING FOR OIL IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, WATER DEPARTMENT.
THEY ALL EXPENSES JUST RAN CLEAN OUT THE ROOF WITH DAMAGES BEING DONE TO SEISMOGRAPH TESTING.
FOR EXAMPLE, I SHOWED BECKY AMES A CRACK BY THE ELEVATOR.
DAMAGES TO THE PROPERTY. MY HOUSE, WHICH WAS ON FOUR INCH PADS, FOUR INCHES.
PADS 12 INCH BLOCK. TOTAL OF 16IN SUNK ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE GROUND.
CAUSE. SEISMOGRAPH TESTING. $80,000 HOME GONE.
ALSO DAMAGES TO 60 OTHER RESIDENTS HOMES IN TERROR PARK.
I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE IMMEDIATE AREA PEOPLE BECAUSE I WAS SO BUSY WITH MY OWN AREA.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT AFTER SPEAKING TO A CERTAIN PERSON THAT LIVED THERE, NOW TODAY HE EXPERIENCED THAT DAMAGE. OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING DAMAGES.
WE GOT A SINKHOLE THAT'S TAKING PLACE. WE GOT A BUSTED LINE ON FRANKLIN STREET.
IF YOU DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE FROM THE PORT. WHEN THEY DID THEIR EXPANSION, THAT BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM BAM. IT DAMAGED THOSE LINES. SO THE PEOPLE IN AMELIA, PEOPLE IN TERROR PARK, THE PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH END OF BEAUMONT, WE ALL EXPERIENCED THAT BAM, BAM, BAM.
EVEN THE OVERPASS THAT WAS PUT IN CARROLL STREET, BAM, BAM BAM.
YOU'RE SHAKING THE GROUND. YOU'RE SHAKING THE EARTH.
YOU'RE SHAKING CITY HALL. I GET SCARED EVERY TIME I COME UP HERE BECAUSE IT MIGHT OPEN UP.
THAT IT'S RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU. IT'S RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S BASICALLY JUST LOOK AROUND YOU. YOU SEE THE EARTH IS MOVING, SHAKING, BEING DISTURBED.
AND WHAT IS THE CAUSE? THE ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS.
I BELIEVE IN FINDING THE ROOT CAUSE TO EVERYTHING.
AND MY ROOT CAUSE IS I THINK IT WAS THE TWO STREETS OUT WEST IN IF YOU WERE TO DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE FROM THE WATER PROBLEM ON FRANKLIN AND DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE ACROSS THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, YOU WOULD HIT. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
SHAWN PROCTOR, 4680 JAN CAR DRIVE, BEAUMONT, TEXAS.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR. COUNCIL PROTOCOL HAS ALREADY BEEN SET.
I JUST CAME TO KIND OF SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE THAT WE GOT WITH THE TAXES.
WE UNDERSTAND BUSINESS. WE UNDERSTAND BUDGETS FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT RUN BUSINESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT OF COURSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BUDGET. A LOT OF THINGS, JUST ME PERSONALLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS AND BUDGET COUNCIL, OF COURSE WE HAVE. YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLE THAT KIND OF PUT THE BUDGET TOGETHER. MR. BOONE AND HIS STAFF, WHOEVER DOES THAT, IT'S BROUGHT TO YOU GUYS. AND YOU GUYS LOOK OVER IT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT IT'S GOING TO FALL IN AND FIT IN WHEREVER YOU THINK. BUT WHEN YOU STUDY THAT, OF COURSE, IT'S ALL ABOUT RECOMMENDATIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU DO, THESE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU DO THAT WHEN WE START POINTING A FINGER, OF COURSE, YOU GUYS, THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME SITTING IN A BUDGET. PRIOR YEAR. YOU CAME IN
[00:15:02]
AND THE BUDGET WAS JUST BEING DONE AND YOU CAME IN. SO WHEN YOU SIT DOWN, YOU LOOK AT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE HAD THAT TIME TO DO THAT.BUT SOMETIMES I THINK IT'S NOT REALLY USED IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE IT USED IN.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, YOU GUYS COME IN THIS YEAR AS FAR AS THAT TRANSPARENCY AND BEING ON A BUDGET, BUT PRIOR TO THAT, THINGS HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN PLACE.
SO WHEN THE NUMBERS WERE OFF AND WE'RE SAYING THAT WE'RE IN A STRUGGLE, WE'RE IN A DEFICIT AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. AND THE NUMBERS WERE NOT, WHERE DID THEY START? DIDN'T JUST START NOW. THIS WAS PRIOR.
THIS WAS PREVIOUS. SO YOU GUYS HAVE JUST BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS.
SO IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM DIDN'T JUST START.
DID THEY KNOW? DID THEY NOT KNOW? IF YOU CAN'T COME IN AND SAY IT'S SOMEBODY'S PROBLEM, YOU CAN'T COME IN AND PUT IT ON THE MAYOR'S BACK? YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? BECAUSE EVEN PRIOR TO THAT, IT DIDN'T JUST START TODAY. AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO RUN A BUSINESS, YOU BUSINESS PEOPLE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO RUN A BUSINESS, YOU DON'T START HIRING PEOPLE. WHENEVER YOU GOT A, YOU GOT A PROBLEM, YOU FIND WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO CUT. YOU DON'T GO AND HIRE NEW PEOPLE.
YOU CUT. AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO CUT YOUR PEOPLE THAT YOU ALREADY GOT, THEN YOU KEEP THEM.
YOU PROTECT THEM BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN THERE. THAT'S WHERE YOUR LOYALTY LIES IN A SENSE. YOU DON'T HIRE SOMEBODY ELSE AND CREATE ANOTHER INCOME OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU HAVE. SO YOU START LOOKING AT THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU DO. AND THEN WE LOOK AT THIS TOO. I KNOW WE NEED EMS, FIRE, POLICE, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, BUT DO YOU GIVE A RAISE AND YOU GOT A PROBLEM IN YOUR BUDGET? DO YOU INCREASE MONEY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PAY OUT WHEN YOU ALREADY GOT A PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE? SO SOME THINGS WE GOT TO LOOK AT. AND THEN LASTLY, I DON'T CARE WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE WHERE THEY LIVE. BUT DO YOU TAX ME AND MAKE ME PAY TAXES FOR SOMEBODY THAT DON'T LIVE HERE, THAT DON'T PAY TAXES, BUT YOU DON'T GIVE THEM MORE MONEY? THOSE ARE JUST THINGS THAT I SAY WHEN YOU ASK QUESTIONS.
I DON'T HAVE TO PAY WHEN YOU RAISE EVERYBODY'S TAXES.
MY MOM IS A SENIOR CITIZEN. MY MOM CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE TAXES.
WE AIN'T GOING TO SAY THAT SHE CAN'T. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT? WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE THAT JUST DON'T HAVE THOSE FUNDS? AND WE ALREADY HAVE THE TAX ASSESSOR INCREASE THAT LAST YEAR? WE'RE GOING TO ADD THE CITY ON TOP OF THAT AND ALL THAT OTHER THINGS.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT'S LEFT HERE THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT, THAT CAN'T AFFORD THOSE TAXES? JUST THINK ABOUT THEM. WE KNOW THE CITY HAS TO RUN, BUT WHERE DO YOU CUT? THANK YOU SIR.
CHRISTIE ERNSBERGER 3050, LIBERTY BEAUMONT, TEXAS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OTHER CITY OFFICIALS.
BEAUMONT ZIP PARATRANSIT IS THE ONLY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT.
NUTRITION AND SERVICES FOR SENIORS NO LONGER OPERATES WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF BEAUMONT.
TO GET ESTABLISHED WITH PARATRANSIT, THERE'S A 14 PAGE APPLICATION WITH A 21 DAY PROCESSING TIME.
I FAXED THOSE APPLICATIONS IN FOR MY PATIENTS, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO SPEED THE PROCESS ANY.
WITH PARATRANSIT. THERE IS ALSO AN INEFFECTIVE CALL PROCEDURE FOR SCHEDULING.
PEOPLE ARE REQUIRED TO CALL DAILY STARTING AT 8:00 IN THE MORNING TO SCHEDULE A RIDE.
THEY END UP WAITING IN A QUEUE FOR A VERY LONG TIME, SOMETIMES OVER AN HOUR, TO SCHEDULE A RIDE.
RIDES ARE SCHEDULED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.
THERE IS NO PRIORITY FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS OVER SOMEONE GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE.
THERE IS A WAIT LIST TO ESTABLISH A SET SCHEDULE FOR PATIENTS WITH RECURRING APPOINTMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, GOING TO DIALYSIS, CHEMOTHERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO CALL IN WAIT IN THE QUEUE EVERY OTHER DAY FOR THESE RECURRING APPOINTMENTS. BASED ON THE CURRENT CALL SYSTEM, PEOPLE RUN THE RISK OF NOT GETTING TO THE RIGHT.
MY PROPOSED SOLUTIONS FOR BEAUMONT. BEAUMONT PARATRANSIT IS TO REDUCE THE APPLICATION PROCESS TIME TO ALLOWING PEOPLE TO ACCESS TRANSPORTATION SERVICES SOONER. BETTER MANAGEMENT OF THE PHONE SYSTEM FOR SCHEDULING RIDES AND REDUCING CALL WAIT TIMES.
PRIORITIZE MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS ABOVE OTHER TRANSPORTATION REQUESTS.
THIS WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE WITH RECURRING APPOINTMENTS TO BE ON A SET SCHEDULE, OR AT LEAST REDUCE THEIR CALL FREQUENCY TO ONCE A WEEK, OR MAYBE ONCE A MONTH FOR RECURRING APPOINTMENTS.
THIS WOULD ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THESE PEOPLE TO HAVE TO CALL EVERY OTHER DAY.
[00:20:01]
THIS WOULD ALSO REDUCE THE CALL VOLUME AND WAIT TIMES FOR PEOPLE TRYING TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH BEAUMONT.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. JUDITH RICH, 995 MONTEREY DRIVE, BEAUMONT, TEXAS.
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JUDITH RICH.
I'M HERE BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE TO DEMOLISH MY STRUCTURE AT 2394.
ANGELINA. I'M HERE TO ASK. WOULD YOU CONSIDER NOT DEMOLISHING MY BUILDING? GIVE ME A CHANCE TO BRING IT UP TO CODE AND REMODEL MY BUILDING.
BECAUSE DEMOLISHING THAT WOULD PUT ME IN A SITUATION WHERE I CAN'T EVEN RETIRE.
THAT IS MY LIVELIHOOD, MY RENTAL PROPERTY. AND THE REASON I COULDN'T ATTEND THE MEETINGS IS BECAUSE I'M SUFFERING FROM PANCREATIC CANCER. AND THERE'S DAYS THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO I AM.
SO I ASK THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER ME. I HAVE PEOPLE IN PLACE THAT'S WILLING TO GO TO WORK AND BRING THE PROPERTY UP TO CODE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. RODNEY.
4105 JASON AVENUE, BEAUMONT, TEXAS.
HELLO, COUNCIL. THE REASON I'M UP HERE IS BECAUSE I WAS TOLD TO COME UP HERE AND TALK.
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE TO TALK TO, BUT LIKE A WHILE BACK, THE CITY BUILT ME LIKE A RAMP GOING DOWN FROM MY SIDEWALK TO IN ORDER TO CROSS THE STREET, TO GET TO THE BUS STOP ACROSS THE STREET.
AND A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THEY CAME AND DID SOME PIPE WORK THERE.
AND WHEN THEY DID, THEY, I GUESS THEY LAID THE CONCRETE BACK.
AND WHEN THEY DID, I GUESS THE GROUND SUNK. AND CAN Y'ALL SEE THAT? THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE GROUND SUNK. AND I CALLED 311 TO, YOU KNOW, ASK THEM IF THEY COULD COME FIX IT. AND NO ONE EVER SHOWED UP. THE REASON I'M COMING IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MY NEIGHBOR, THE BUS USUALLY PARKS IN FRONT OF HER DRIVEWAY TO PICK US UP.
AND MY NEIGHBOR'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, GETTING, YOU KNOW, KIND OF COMPLAINING ABOUT IT.
SO I WAS SEEING IF Y'ALL COULD FIX IT FOR ME OR, YOU KNOW, TELL ME WHAT TO DO OR GIVE ME THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO GO TO GET IT FIXED. THAT WAY THE TRANSIT COULD PICK ME AND MY WIFE UP, LIKE RIGHT THERE WHERE THE BIKE LANE IS, OR MAYBE A C ABOUT HOW I GO ABOUT WITH A GET IN THE SIDEWALK, GOING TOWARDS THE STREET LIKE THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. SO THE PARATRANSIT COULD PICK US UP.
AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL LISTENING AND I THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SIR. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. WITH THAT PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
IF NO ONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA? I'LL MAKE A MOTION. THAT'S COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN HILLIARD.[00:25:02]
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I.AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT, MR. CITY MANAGER, WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN WITH ITEM TWO.
[2. Council to consider a resolution receiving the proposed FY 2027 Budget and scheduling a public hearing]
RIGHT. CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER TWO.AND AS PART OF THE PRESENTATION OF THIS ITEM WE DO HAVE A PRESENT, A PRESENTATION FOR YOU.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TODAY WE PRESENT TO YOU THE PROPOSED 2027 CITY BUDGET.
THE REALITY IS, IS CITY BUDGETING CAN BE TRICKY.
WE HAVE HAD, I THINK, AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS THIS YEAR.
SO WHERE WE'RE AT NOW IS IN THE PROCESS IS ESSENTIALLY PRESENTING THE BUDGET TO COUNCIL.
IT'S GOING TO BE BOTH THE BUDGET AS A TOTAL AS WELL AS THE CIP.
AND THEN LATER ON AFTER ITEM TWO, WE WILL PRESENT ITEM ONE, WHICH IS TO SET THE PROPOSED TAX RATE.
IT'S NOT TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE BUT TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSED TAX RATE.
SO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL. SEPTEMBER 8TH. THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET, A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE BUDGET AND ACCEPTING THE APPRAISED ROLL TAX ROLL AND A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE CIP, WHICH IS THE THE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
AND THEN FINALLY SEPTEMBER 22ND, THAT'S WHEN YOU'LL ACTUALLY ADOPT THE TAX RATE AND RATIFYING THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE WITH THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR, OCTOBER 1ST. WE'LL START WITH, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN OUR IN OUR BUDGET WORKSHOPS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT KIND OF WHERE, WHERE HAVE WE WHAT'S GOT US TO THIS POSITION? AND SO WHAT THIS SLIDE SHOWS IS THE GENERAL FUND.
AND WE'LL, WE'RE, OF COURSE, LOOKING AT SEVERAL FUNDS, BUT THE GENERAL FUND IS THE ONE THAT IS MOST OF INTEREST, I BELIEVE, TODAY. AND AS YOU'RE AWARE, THAT RED LINE GOING ACROSS THE SCREEN THAT REPRESENTS THE 27% FUND BALANCE AMOUNT FOR THE GENERAL FUND, AND AGAIN, THAT'S KIND OF YOUR RAINY DAY FUND IS SET BY CITY POLICY.
I WILL POINT OUT THAT THAT CAN BE ADJUSTED UP OR DOWN.
THAT'S APPROXIMATELY $36 MILLION. LOOKING BACK TO FY 20 FOR THAT FUND BALANCE WAS 44 MILLION.
IF YOU'LL NOTICE AS THE FAR RIGHT THAT'S THE PROPOSED FY 27.
AND YOU CAN SEE DESPITE THE INCREASED EXPENSES THAT WERE FACED THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE PROPOSING AN FY 27 GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE DEFICIT OF QUITE A SIGNIFICANT
[00:30:08]
REDUCTION. WHY? AND AGAIN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THESE IN PRIOR BUDGET WORKSHOPS, BUT WE'VE GOT INFLATIONARY PRESSURES AGAIN. THAT'S I THINK MOST MOST PEOPLE ARE FACING THOSE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.BUT CERTAINLY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT IS. NO, IT'S NOT IMMUNE TO THOSE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT REQUIRED TRANSFERS TO EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUNDS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT CONTRACTUAL WAGE REQUIREMENTS.
WE KNOW THAT OUR OUR. INFRASTRUCTURE IS A CHALLENGE.
AND SO PART OF THE EQUATION IS TRYING TO FUND INVESTMENTS TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE STREETS, ROADS, WATER, DRAINAGE, ETC.
SO THAT'S ALSO A CHALLENGE. YOU KNOW, IN YEARS PAST, WE USED TO, WHEN WE WOULD BUY VEHICLES WITH SPARE, WITH ADDITIONAL CASH. THIS LAST YEAR WE'VE ISSUED A TAX NOTE AND WE PLAN TO DO THE SAME IN THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR TO PAY FOR VEHICLES. I THINK WE HAVE OVER A THOUSAND, A THOUSAND PIECES OF EQUIPMENT ROLLING STOCK AND OTHERWISE THAT WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO USE IN THE COURSE OF OUR BUSINESS. AND SO IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THAT EQUIPMENT ROLLING STOCK NECESSARY TO DO THE JOB THAT WE DO.
AND THEN TECHNOLOGY, YOU'LL SEE THAT THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT.
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE TOOLS THAT WE NEED TO DELIVER SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS.
AND SO THIS GOES BACK TO THE PRIOR BUDGET WORKSHOP.
BUT SINCE THE INITIAL WORKSHOPS AND WE STARTED WORKING ON THIS BUDGET IN THE SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER, WE'VE TAKEN SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT STEPS TO TRY TO GET US BACK IN LINE WITH WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
AGAIN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN PRIOR WORKSHOPS WHERE SOME TRAVEL AND TRAINING IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN CERTIFICATIONS BOTH FOR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS.
SO AGAIN, TAKING THOSE EARLY STEPS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE'VE MANAGED TO LIFT UP WHAT WAS A PROJECTED FURTHER DECLINE IN THE FUND BALANCE TO A MUCH BETTER SCENARIO AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO FY 27 AND 28.
WE SHOULD POINT OUT THAT WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PRESSURES, INFLATION.
WE HAVE ESSENTIAL NEEDS. WE HAVE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS FOR POLICE AND FIRE.
THE EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUND STILL FACES SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES.
WE HAVE A COVID FUND THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RECOUP SOME OF OUR EXPENSES DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WE'RE STILL, EXCUSE ME, STILL WORKING TO TRY TO GET THAT RESOLVED.
I MENTIONED THE HIRING FREEZE IS A SIGNIFICANT CUT TO OUR EXPENSES.
HOWEVER THE LONGER WE KEEP THAT HIRING FREEZE IN PLACE, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT BECOMES TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES WE NEED TO PROVIDE AT THE LEVEL WE WANT TO PROVIDE THEM. I MENTIONED INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE NEW DEBT SERVICE.
WE'VE GOT PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES. WE'RE AWARE OF THAT COST MONEY.
AND THEN OF COURSE, I'LL MENTION THE INFRASTRUCTURE AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A QUICK HISTORY AND PROJECTION OF OUR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS FOR FIRE POLICE. YOU'LL SEE ON THE FAR RIGHT WE'VE GOT FY 27 PROPOSED AT 2%.
[00:35:03]
AND I MENTIONED THAT IN RELATION TO THE HIRING FREEZE, BECAUSE AS WE HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES OR EXCUSE ME, WE HAVE FEWER EMPLOYEES DOING MORE. THAT'S THAT'S IMPORTANT.SO WHAT'S THE STRATEGY LOOKING FORWARD? AGAIN, WE WANT TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED, THE OUR REVENUES ARE INCREASING. AND WE'LL SEE THAT HERE IN A MINUTE.
BUT OUR EXPENSES ARE INCREASING AT A HIGHER RATE.
AND SO THE IDEA IS THAT WE ESSENTIALLY IMPLEMENT AN AUSTERITY CAMPAIGN BEGINNING THIS FISCAL YEAR, GOING INTO NEXT FISCAL YEAR. OUR HOPE IS THAT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, WE'LL BE IN A BETTER POSITION AS WE LOOK FOR EFFICIENCIES AND COST SAVINGS, WHERE WE WILL BE IN A BETTER POSITION. LOOKING TOWARDS FY 28.
I MENTIONED THE HIRING FREEZE. I MENTIONED THE CUT CUTTING EXECUTIVE LEVEL STAFF.
I MENTIONED LIMITED TRAVEL AND TRAINING, LIMITED SUPPLEMENTALS, AND THESE ARE ADDITIONAL REQUESTS BY DEPARTMENTS TO TRY TO DO A BETTER JOB, A MORE EFFICIENT JOB FOR THE CITY. IT INCLUDES NEW PROGRAMING SOMETIMES, BUT WE'VE LIMITED THOSE TO ESSENTIAL ONLY.
AND THEN AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, WE REALLY CHARGE THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND DIVISION MANAGERS WITH TAKING A HARD LOOK AT THEIR OPERATIONS TO SEEING WHERE WE CAN FIND EFFICIENCIES. AND THEN FINALLY, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK, STARTING WITH OUR WATER FUND, TO UNDERTAKE AN EFFICIENCY STUDY.
BECAUSE THAT DEPARTMENT IS CONNECTED TO SEVERAL OTHER AREAS OF OPERATION WITHIN THE CITY.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE UNDERTAKE THIS YEAR AS WELL.
I MENTIONED A HIRING FREEZE. JUST A QUICK HISTORY ON PERSONNEL.
ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL THAT'S BEEN ADDED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
24 WE ADDED. 13. FY 25. 15. 26. 11 THIS YEAR WE PROPOSED TO ADD ZERO.
I MENTIONED THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON ESSENTIAL SUPPLEMENTALS ONLY.
THIS LIST WAS CONSIDERABLY LONGER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER, BUT AS YOU LOOK DOWN THE LIST, THE BIG TICKET ITEMS ARE RELATED TO SOFTWARE.
AND I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE ERP THAT GOES INTO HAVING A BETTER, BETTER TOOL TO SERVE THE CUSTOMERS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, AND THAT ERP IS OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM AND OTHER SYSTEMS THAT WILL EXTEND ACROSS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS.
IT'S A MULTIYEAR PROCESS, BUT AGAIN, IT'S A BIG TICKET ITEM, BUT IT IS ESSENTIAL.
THE CITY WORKS SOFTWARE. THAT'S A PRETTY BIG TICKET ITEM.
RIGHT UNDER IS YOU'LL SEE THE INITIALS EOL. THAT JUST MEANS IT'S END OF LIFE.
MENTIONING FLEET REQUESTS. IF YOU LOOK THE REQUEST INITIALLY FROM THE DEPARTMENTS AND OUR FLEET GROUP WAS 13.6 MILLION. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PARE THAT DOWN TO 6.4 MILLION.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S ESSENTIAL FOR THESE GROUPS TO DO THEIR DO THEIR WORK.
I MENTIONED THE COLA INCREASE PROPOSED FOR CIVILIANS EARLIER ALONG WITH POLICE AND FIRE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE LAST BUDGET SESSION WORKSHOP.
AND IT FALLS AT ABOUT $46,000. 92 $46,092 ANNUALLY.
AND SO A 2% COLA WOULD GIVE THAT EMPLOYEE ABOUT 76, 82.
I ALSO MENTIONED THAT WE'RE HAVING TO ASK OUR EMPLOYEES TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TO THEIR HEALTH PLAN, WHICH IS ABOUT 40 BUCKS A MONTH. AND SO NOW ALL THE SUDDEN THAT HAS DECREASED TO 36, 82 PER MONTH FOR THE MEDIAN EMPLOYEE.
AND AGAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT BECAUSE JUST LIKE INFLATION IS AFFECTING EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THE CITY, IT AFFECTS OUR EMPLOYEES AT HOME. SO NOW WE'LL PIVOT TO REVENUES AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THE FY 27 BUDGET.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AS MENTIONED, OUR REVENUES CONTINUE TO INCREASE.
UNFORTUNATELY, OUR EXPENSES OUTPACE THAT. YOU KNOW, AT FIRST GLANCE, THIS LOOKS LIKE A, YOU KNOW, GOOD NEWS. AND IT IS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DECREASING.
IF YOU LOOK TOWARDS THE RIGHT OF THE LINE, YOU'LL SEE HOW IT IS SOMEWHAT FLATTENING.
ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THIS IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE INCREASE OF PERCENTAGE YEAR OVER YEAR, YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT INCREASE OF PERCENTAGE YEAR OVER YEAR IS NOW DECREASING. SO AGAIN, WE'RE GETTING MORE MONEY FROM SALES TAX.
[00:40:02]
BUT THE GROWTH RATE IS NOT WHERE WE NEED IT TO BE.THAT SAID, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT OUR PROPOSED FEE STRUCTURE AS PART OF THE BUDGET.
AGAIN WE WE'VE TASKED DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS TO LOOK AND SEE HOW OUR SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE THAT REQUIRE FEES, COMPARE TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS AND ASK THEM TO OFFER UP A RECOMMENDED FAIR FEE.
SO NOW WE'LL PIVOT AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES.
THIS IS THE ASSESSED VALUES THAT WE'VE BEEN PROVIDED.
GOING BACK TO 2016 TO 2027, AGAIN LOOKING AT THE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE OVER THOSE YEARS, YOU CAN SEE THE GOOD NEWS IS IT'S GOING UP. BUT AGAIN, AS YOU LOOK TOWARDS THE RIGHT PART OF THE SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FLATTENING.
SIMILAR TO THE SALES TAX, YOU CAN SEE THE YEAR OVER YEAR GROWTH PERCENTAGE IS DECREASING.
SO LOOKING HISTORICALLY AT WHAT PROPERTY TAX RATES THE CITY HAS REQUIRED AS PART OF THEIR BUDGET, YOU CAN SEE GOING BACK TO 2018 $0.71, HELD STEADY THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS DROPPED OR STAYED STABLE IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS. AND I WILL SAY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, I THINK MOST KNOW THIS.
BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE THE THE CITY DOES NOT SET THE TAX VALUES.
THAT'S DONE BY A DIFFERENT SEPARATE ENTITY, THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
THEY GIVE US THE TAX VALUES. THE CITY COUNCIL IS CHARGED WITH SETTING THAT RATE.
AND SO THE COMBINATION OF THE VALUES TIMES THE RATE IS IS WHAT GIVES US THAT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
BUT I HAVE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE ABOUT WE'RE RAISING THEIR TAXES.
AND I TELL THEM WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
CAN YOU OR SOMEBODY FROM YOUR STAFF PLEASE EXPLAIN WHO HAS AUTHORITY OVER THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND HOW IS IT FORMULATED AND HOW DO THEY MAKE THESE DECISIONS? YEAH, IT'S A SEPARATE APPOINTED BOARD THAT ELECTED BOARD.
BUT WE, THE CITY, DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS OF SETTING WHAT THOSE VALUES ARE.
SO I KNOW THAT'S ALWAYS A POINT OF CONFUSION OF, YOU KNOW, THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET YOUR TAX BILL AND YOUR APPRAISED VALUE OR YOUR TAX VALUE HAS GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY AND YOU GET UPSET, YOU KNOW, WE GET IT, WE GET IT.
BUT THAT VALUE, WHETHER IT GOES UP OR DOWN, THAT'S NOT UP TO THE CITY.
WE DON'T WE DON'T DECIDE THAT. BUT IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THE CITY SETS THE TAX RATE, WHICH COMBINE THE RATE WITH THE VALUE THAT ESTABLISHES HOW MUCH IS OWED TO THE CITY, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER JURISDICTION LIKE THE THE B I, S D SETS THEIR OWN TAX RATE AND THAT ACCORDINGLY GETS GIVES THEM THEIR REVENUE. SOME OF THEIR REVENUE BASED ON WHATEVER THAT VALUE IS.
YES. COUNCILWOMAN. AND SINCE WE'RE HERE, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE I WAS WATCHING THE NEWS YESTERDAY, THIS TAX RATE WENT OUT TO VOTERS AND THEY APPROVED A CERTAIN AMOUNT.
RIGHT. SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN JUST A SECOND ABOUT THE RATES.
BUT YOU'RE CORRECT IN THAT IN NOVEMBER OF 2025, THERE WAS A BOND ELECTION AND THE VOTERS WERE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHAT, IF ANY, BOND PROPOSITIONS THEY WANTED TO APPROVE.
AND RELATED TO THAT, YES, IT IS TIED TO A TAX INCREASE.
IT IS TIED TO ADDITIONAL DEBT. AND SO AS A RESULT PROP A PASSED.
THAT'S THAT THE VOTERS DID APPROVE. AND SO IN A SECOND WE'LL WE'LL SHOW WHAT THAT RATE WAS.
SO THE VOTERS APPROVED. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU.
[00:45:01]
OKAY. SO AND THIS IS I GUESS WE'RE HERE. SO THESE ARE THE DIFFERENT RATES.BASICALLY KIND OF A MENU OF RATES TO LOOK AT.
THEN THERE'S THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. AND THAT'S A CALCULATION.
AS THE NAME IMPLIES NO NEW REVENUE SHOULD BE GAINED IF WE APPLY THAT RATE TO THE NEW VALUES.
THAT'S NOT ON AN INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY BASIS. THAT IS ON THE CITY AS A WHOLE BASIS.
THEN, AS YOU MENTIONED THE GEO DEBT RATE. SO THAT'S A RATE WE CALCULATED COMING OUT OF ONE OF THE RECENT WORKSHOPS WHERE WE WANTED TO SHOW, OKAY, WHAT'S THE CURRENT ADOPTED RATE PLUS THE ADDITIONAL TAX RATE REQUIRED TO COVER THE GEO DEBT AND THAT GEO DEBT, THAT'S THE BOND ELECTION FROM NOVEMBER. AND THEN WE ALSO CALCULATED THE DEBT RATE OR THE CURRENT RATE RATHER PLUS DEBT.
SO THAT'S THE GEO DEBT THAT THE VOTERS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER 2025.
SO ESSENTIALLY ALL THE, THE, THE RATE WE NEED FOR THE DEBT SERVICE TO BE COVERED.
PLUS THE CURRENT RATE IS WHAT THAT WHAT THAT LINE SHOWS.
THEN WE'VE GOT THE 2023 ADOPTED RATE OF 0.695.
AND AGAIN, AS THE NAME IMPLIES, THIS IS THE RATE THAT WAS IN EFFECT BACK IN 2023.
AND THEN FINALLY THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE. SO IF WE HIT THAT RATE THEN WE, WE CAN'T EXCEED THAT RATE, HIT THAT RATE OR EXCEED IT WITHOUT GOING BACK TO THE VOTERS FOR VOTER APPROVAL, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A PRETTY HIGH RATE.
SO AS ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT RATES THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE REVENUE THAT WOULD BE GENERATED ABOVE THE CURRENT ADOPTED RATE. SO AS YOU LOOK ACROSS THE SCREEN ON THE VERY FAR RIGHT.
THAT'S THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.
THAT IS OBVIOUSLY FAIRLY HIGH. AND THEN LOOKING ACROSS, YOU CAN SEE.
THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE GAINED FROM DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT BUSY, BUT I'LL START WITH THE GREEN AND THE BLUE, THE THE BLUE BEING REVENUES, THE GREEN BEING EXPENSES. THE RED IS THAT 20% FUND BALANCE LINE IN THE GENERAL FUNDS FUND BALANCE.
AND THAT'S AT ABOUT 36 MILLION. AND THEN THE ORANGE LINE IS THAT ENDING FUND BALANCE LINE.
SO FOR THE CURRENT ADOPTED RATE, THAT'S THAT'S PART OF THE 20 FY 26 BUDGET.
THIS IS WHERE IT PUTS US BASED ON EVERYTHING WE KNOW.
AND I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT 20% IS NOT A LOSS.
IT'S JUST OUR POLICY. THE AND SO, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S THE TARGET WE'RE AIMING FOR HERE.
NOW THE NEXT SLIDE IS ANOTHER SCENARIO. THAT'S THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
AND AGAIN, AS YOU CAN SEE IT PUTS OUR ENDING FUND BALANCE STILL BELOW PROVIDES A LITTLE MORE REVENUE, BUT PUTS US STILL BELOW THAT 20% LINE CURRENT DEBT RATE PLUS GEO.
CURRENT DEBT RATE PLUS ALL DEBT. THAT'S 0.692802.
SO MUCH CLOSER TO THAT 20% LINE. THEN LOOKING BACK AT THE 2023 ADOPTED RATE PUTS US ALMOST ON LINE WITH THE 20%. THE 71, THAT'S THE ONE GOING BACK A FEW YEARS BACK.
THAT WOULD PUT PUT US WELL ABOVE THE 20% RATE.
AND THEN THE FINAL IS THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, WHICH PUTS US WELL, WELL ABOVE THE 36 MILLION MAYOR.
YES. COUNCILMAN ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW A SLIDE THAT ACTUALLY SHOWS HOW MUCH OF THE HOMEOWNERS TAXES ARE GOING TO GO UP IN CASH, LIKE FOR DIFFERENT VALUE HOUSES, HOW MUCH IN MONEY PER YEAR THAT'S GOING TO GO UP?
[00:50:04]
I THINK WE DO HAVE A SLIDE. IF NOT, WE CAN GET YOU THOSE NUMBERS BECAUSE WE CALCULATED IT BASED ON $150,000 SLIDE.BUT I THINK WE DO HAVE THAT SLIDE. COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW ON PAGE 29 OF YOUR 2027 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET, IT HAS A STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES AND FOR.
FISCAL YEAR 2027. IT INDICATES 180,502,000 FOR EXPENSES. AND THEN IT SAYS THE REVENUE LOSS, BASICALLY, THE DEFICIT THAT YOU'RE PROJECTING FOR 2027 IS ONLY 605 000. WHAT RATE IS THAT BASED ON WHAT TAX RATE WE'RE GETTING THERE.
OKAY. YEAH. YOU CAN'T JUST TELL ME 695695. OKAY.
AND THAT IS IMPRESSIVE. I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT RATE IS GOING TO WORK, BUT THAT'S IMPRESSIVE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE REDUCED WHAT WE'RE DEFICIT SPENDING AND HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS DOWN TO 605 000.
WHAT IS AND I'M NOT AND I KNOW NO ONE'S PROBABLY GOING TO KNOW THIS OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, BUT WHAT HAVE WE SPENT DEFICIT WISE THE LAST FOUR YEARS? I KNOW RIGHT NOW WE'RE PROJECTING PROJECTING 5 MILLION FOR 2026.
WHAT DO WE DO IN 25 AND 24? OH IT'S OKAY, IT'S OKAY.
BUT LAST YEAR WAS ONLY 2.5, 2.5 AND 2024 WAS 3.6, 3.6.
OKAY. THANK YOU. SO AGAIN, THIS IS 76, WHICH IS VOTER APPROVAL RATE, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST BEING PROPOSED.
AND AGAIN, IT JUST KIND OF GIVES YOU THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS, GIVING US A DIFFERENT LOOK ACROSS THE AS WE TRY TO MAINTAIN THAT HORIZONTAL LINE AT THE TOP, WHICH IS 20%. SO AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE PROPOSED RATE IN THIS BUDGET IS BASED ON IS 69.
5.695. AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL GO OVER THE REASONS FOR THAT NUMBER.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS THIS IS ESSENTIALLY ESSENTIALLY THE CITY'S RAINY DAY FUND.
WE'VE GOT STRUCTURAL ISSUES OF EXPENSES CONTINUING TO EXCEED REVENUES.
BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE CANNOT SOLVE IN A SINGLE YEAR.
AS I MENTIONED, WE'VE GOT NEW DEBT OBLIGATIONS.
A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND INVESTMENTS THAT WE NEED.
AGAIN, THE DESIRES TO MAINTAIN THAT 20% FUND BALANCE.
AND AS MENTIONED THE PROPOSED RATE IS 0.695. AND THAT IS THE SAME RATE THAT WAS IN EFFECT IN 2023.
AS MENTIONED, WE'VE ALREADY CUT MORE THAN $5 MILLION FROM THE BUDGET, WHICH AS MENTIONED, IS NOT SUSTAINABLE FOREVER. IF WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF SERVICES THAT WE WANT TO MAINTAIN AND HAVE BEEN MAINTAINING.
AND I WILL SAY THAT IT WAS, IT WAS ONCE SAID THAT A CITY MANAGER'S LONGEVITY IS IT'S NOT GOOD FOR CITY MANAGERS LONGEVITY TO RECOMMEND RAISING TAXES.
BUT JUST TO BE, TO BE QUITE FAIR, MY JOB IS NOT TO MAINTAIN MY LONGEVITY.
MY JOB IS TO GIVE YOU MY BEST RECOMMENDATION ON WHAT I THINK YOU NEED TO HEAR.
AND WHAT I AND, AND, AND AGAIN, THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE FACTS THAT WE HAVE.
[00:55:05]
WHICH IS TO SET THE PROPOSED TAX RATE. IT'S NOT THE FINAL TAX RATE THAT WILL BE IN SEPTEMBER, BUT IT'S THE PROPOSED TAX RATE THAT THIS BUDGET IS BASED OFF OF.THAT'S THE NUMBER HERE. AGAIN, WE'VE SEEN THIS SLIDE.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT NOT TODAY BUT IN SEPTEMBER.
IF YOU WANT TO GO ANYTHING ABOVE OR TO THE NEW, NO NEW REVENUE, NEW RATE OR ABOVE, IT WILL REQUIRE FIVE AFFIRMATIVE VOTES TO GO ABOVE THAT RATE ON SEPTEMBER 22ND. SO AGAIN, WE'RE ASKING YOU ALL TO APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY RATE TODAY OF 0.695, WHICH IS WHAT THE BUDGET IS BASED OFF OF.
YOU JUST CAN'T GO UP. BUT JUST BE AWARE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINAL VOTE FOR THE SETTING, THE TAX RATE. IF YOU WANT TO GO ABOVE THAT 0.6839, WHICH IS THE NO NEW REVENUE, IT WILL REQUIRE FIVE AFFIRMATIVE VOTES TO DO SO.
WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM? STATE LAW. COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS, ON ONE OF THE PREVIOUS SLIDES, HAD THAT YOU CUT THE 5 MILLION OUT OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND AND YOU SAID THAT THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE.
WHY? WELL, BECAUSE A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH FREEZING POSITIONS, GENERAL FUND POSITIONS.
SO I'M NOT SAYING WE CAN'T POSITION. I'M SORRY TO CUT YOU.
I WOULD SAY THE AVERAGE HAS SAT VACANT FOR. IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE POSITION.
SOME HAVE EXTENDED. I WILL SAY THAT SOME. SOME HAVE EXTENDED OUT MAYBE A YEAR, WHICH.
THOSE ARE THE EASY TO SAY, HEY, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD THIS POSITION FULL IN A YEAR, MAYBE YOU DON'T, YOU KNOW, TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THAT. MOST OF THEM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A MONTH OR 2 OR 3, AND THEN SOME OF THEM, AS YOU KNOW, POLICE FIRE, EMS 911 CDL DRIVERS, THEY'RE JUST HARD TO KEEP AND FILL.
AND SO THAT PLAYS INTO IT AS WELL. YES, YES, MA'AM.
I NOTICED THAT IT SAID SALARY FREEZE. WHO, WHO IS THAT APPLIED TO WHO, WHO IS THAT GOING ACROSS THE BOARD OR WHERE, WHEN, WHEN I SAW THAT I HAD A QUESTION MARK. WHAT'S UP.
SURE, SURE. SO THE SALARY FREEZE ONLY APPLIES TO NON PUBLIC SAFETY POSITIONS.
SO THAT'S CIVILIAN CIVILIAN POSITIONS. AND SO THEY'RE ABOUT 91 POSITIONS ON THE EXCUSE ME CITY MANAGER. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE RECESS. OKAY.
AND SO WE WILL BE AT WILL BE BACK AT 238. TEN MINUTES.
DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL AT THIS POINT? IT'S UP TO YOU.
NO ONE REALLY LEFT THE ROOM. AND WE'RE ALL HERE.
OKAY. WE'LL PROCEED. MR.. I BELIEVE MR. CITY MANAGER, YOU WERE PRESENTING.
SO I'LL GO BACK. ONE SLIDE. OKAY. SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AGAIN.
JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT TODAY WE'LL SET THE PRELIMINARY TAX RATE, WHICH CAN ALWAYS GO DOWN BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER 22ND WHEN THE FINAL IS ADOPTED, BUT IT CAN'T GO UP.
BUT AS MENTIONED, IF ANYTHING ABOVE THE NO NEW TAX RATE DOES REQUIRE THE SUPERMAJORITY VOTE.
AND THEN WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AS A PRACTICAL MATTER? AGAIN, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PROPOSED 695.
AND LET'S SAY WE DID SET IT AT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE WHERE WE WOULD NEED TO.
GO BACK AND TRY TO FIND 1.2 MILLION. SAME THING WITH THE GEO DEBT RATE.
TRY TO FIND $2,096,765. SO AND AGAIN IT ALL GOES BACK TO THIS IS A SIMILAR SIMILAR NUMBERS.
IF YOU WENT HIGHER, WHAT WOULD THAT GET YOU? IF IT WENT LOWER, WHAT WOULD YOU WHAT KIND OF CUTS WOULD WE NEED TO MAKE? AND AGAIN I'VE SEEN THAT SLIDE AND THOSE ARE THE TWO.
SO. OKAY. COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS WHENEVER YOU GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND, AND YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT A TAX INCREASE, DO YOU KIND OF DIVE INTO WHAT IMPACT THAT COULD HAVE ON SALES TAX REVENUE? I MEAN, IF IT'S MORE MONEY COMING OUT OF SOMEBODY'S POCKET, THAT IS LESS MONEY FOR THEM TO SPEND,
[01:00:07]
SO IT HAS TO BE CONNECTED. YEAH. SHORT ANSWER.SO IT IS A GOOD POINT. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT FACTORING THAT IN.
OKAY. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. YES. COUNCILWOMAN.
I SAW A LOT OF EFFICIENCY THINGS AND CUTS, BUT ARE WE LOOKING AT FINDING MONEY OR, YOU KNOW, IS THERE A WAY TO GO AND FIND THIS $2 MILLION OR WAY TO INCREASE BRING SOME MORE MONEY IN IS, IS WHAT ARE WE DOING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET SOME MORE MONEY IN HERE? RIGHT. SO WE DID, WE ARE PROPOSING TO RAISE FEES BECAUSE THOSE ARE MORE DIRECT THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OVER.
WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, OUR INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENTS IN THE FUTURE TO SEE IF MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME BETTER TERMS. WE OF COURSE ARE ALWAYS PURSUING BUSINESS. I KNOW THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS AUTHORIZED SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR LIKE OFF OF NORTHWEST PARKWAY, WHERE WE HAVE SOME NEW HOMES GOING IN, SOME NEW BUSINESSES GOING IN.
SO THOSE THINGS LIKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TAKE MORE TIME.
WHEREAS FEES, WE CAN, WE CAN FIND THOSE REVENUES RELATIVELY IN SHORT ORDER.
IT WAS MIGHT HAVE BEEN BEFORE THIS ONE WHERE YOU, IT HAD NO.
YEAH. PERFECT. THIS ONE. OKAY. SO UNDER THE. IF WE ELECT THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE GEO DEBT RATE IT'S ABOUT A $2.1 MILLION ADDITIONAL DEFICIT TO THE $600,000 DEFICIT IN THE BINDER ON PAGE 29.
CORRECT? CORRECT. AND DOES THAT INCLUDE A 2% COST OF LIVING INCREASE? YES. OKAY. AND SO YOU HAD EARLIER SAID THAT 2% COST OF LIVING INCREASE WAS ABOUT 816,000.
YES, SIR. OKAY. ALSO, IF WE DID NOT DO REQUIRE THE ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION THAT EMPLOYEES HAVE TO PAY IF WE DID NOT REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO PAY THAT ADDITIONAL, DID WE INCREASE IT 9% OR ITS INCREASED TO 9% INCREASE TO 9% INCREASED AT 9%.
SO THEN THAT WOULD BE ABOUT A NET REDUCTION OF ABOUT A HALF A MILLION.
CORRECT. BECAUSE WHILE I IF WE DID NOT GIVE THE COLA.
I ALSO THINK IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO NOT ASK EMPLOYEES TO PAY MORE ON THE THE CONTRIBUTIONS.
SO IT WOULD BE ABOUT 500,000 LESS OF THAT 2.1 MILLION.
RIGHT. SO IT WOULD BE ABOUT 1.5. I THINK IT'S 300,000.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND. LET ME LOOK. YEAH. AM I RIGHT? LAURA. FOR THE FOR THE ADDITIONAL THE ADDITIONAL THE ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS SHOULD YIELD US ONE SECOND.
I THOUGHT A PREVIOUS SLIDE SAID 300,000. I THINK IT'S THREE 300.
YES. 300. OKAY. AND SO AGAIN, I'M JUST I'M RUNNING NUMBERS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THAT 2.1 MILLION DOWN TO, TO SOMETHING MAYBE A BIT MORE ACCEPTABLE.
TELL ME WHERE WE'RE AT ON TRAVEL. I KNOW YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE REDUCING TRAVEL COSTS 60%.
SO WE WERE JUST UNDER IF YOU LOOK AT THE ENTIRE TRAVEL BUDGET, WE WERE JUST UNDER A MILLION.
AND SO BY REDUCING 60%, THAT REDUCES THAT BASICALLY YIELDS A SAVING OF ABOUT 555,000.
OKAY. FAIR TO SAY, THAT PROBABLY CAN'T BE CUT ANY MORE.
AND THAT IS ALSO TRAINING TOO. SO NOT ALL OF IT IS TRAVEL THERE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAVEL INCLUDES MANDATORY TRAINING FOR LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIREMEN.
YES. WHY WOULD WE INCLUDE THAT IN TRAVEL? TRAVELING, TRAVEL AND TRAINING.
CHRIS, IF I MAY. YES, PLEASE. THE $308,000 THAT THE 9% INCREASE IN THE PREMIUMS AMOUNTS TO THAT ACTUALLY GOES TO THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FUND. SO THAT DOESN'T HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE GENERAL FUND.
[01:05:01]
SO IT DOES HELP WITH A POTENTIAL TRANSFER. IT DOES HELP THAT WAY.SO IF I SAID THAT, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A GOOD IDEA AND WE HAD THE VOTES NOT TO INCREASE THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE TO THAT, THAT WOULD NOT BE A NET SAVINGS ON THE ON THE CURRENT DEFICIT PROJECTION FOR 2027.
THAT'S CORRECT. BUT THE POTENTIAL TRANSFER WOULD GO UP.
BUT THE 2% DOES ABSOLUTELY IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND.
YES, SIR. OKAY. AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IF LET'S SAY THE 2% WAS APPROVED ON THE THE 2 MILLION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL DEFICIT. HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED WHAT EACH DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE TO I'VE HEARD THIS HAPPENING BEFORE WITH ORGANIZATIONS, YOU KNOW, EACH DEPARTMENT IS ASKED TO LOOK AT ITS DISCRETIONARY BUDGET AND CUT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE IN ORDER TO TO GET US TO THE NUMBERS THAT WE NEED.
IF LET'S. AND I'M NOT IN ANY WAY TRYING TO SAY, I THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
BUT IF THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THE CURRENT RATE WITH THE VOTER APPROVED NOVEMBER BOND ELECTION DEBT AMOUNT WHAT WOULD EACH DEPARTMENT HAVE TO CUT OUT OF THEIR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING IN ORDER TO MAKE UP FOR THAT $2.1 MILLION GAP? AND I DON'T NEED AN EXACT NUMBER, BUT I'M JUST ARE WE TALKING ABOUT 10%? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT 5%? SO I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT ACTUALLY EACH DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE TO CUT BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, EXPENDITURE WISE, AS, AS FAR AS OPERATIONS GO, WHICH WOULD BE WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF, WE'VE CUT EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN CUT.
BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT OUR EXPENDITURES FROM 26 TO 27, IT'S $2 MILLION.
THAT'S CONTRACTUAL WAGE INCREASE RIGHT THERE.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT. WELL, WE WANT TO SAY.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE TO CUT. IT WOULD BE VERY, VERY HARD. IT WOULD HAVE TO DIP INTO SERVICES OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, BECAUSE AS FAR AS OPERATIONS, EVERYONE'S LOOKED AT OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET FINE, LINED IT.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY'S CUT IT. I'M NOT SAYING THERE CAN'T BE. I'M SURE THERE COULD BE. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT JUST EXPENDITURE INCREASE ALONE, THAT $2 MILLION IS YOUR FIRE. POLICE AND COLA.
OKAY. MAINLY FIRE AND POLICE. AND THEN FINALLY, WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH IS THE CITY'S PORTION.
SO I KNOW THE RATE YOU'RE RECOMMENDING IS GOING FROM BASICALLY $0.65 TO $0.69, WHICH IS ABOUT $0.04.
WHAT DOES THAT $0.04 REPRESENT OVERALL IN AN INCREASE IN SOMEONE'S PROPERTY TAX BILL AT THE END OF THE YEAR? SO THAT'S WHY I ASKED YOU ABOUT IT EARLIER. LET ME LET ME SEE IF I CAN.
I MAY HAVE TO. AND I KNOW IN THE FIGURES ABOUT IF YOU HAD A $150,000 HOUSE, WHAT'S THE.
THE YEARLY INCREASE, DOLLAR WISE, IS AROUND 80 OR 100 BUCKS OR WHATEVER.
YEAH. ONE. YEAH, ONE AND A HALF. I MEAN, $150,000 WITH A $0.01 INCREASE IS $15 A YEAR.
OKAY. SO IF YOU DO. YEAH. SO SO COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS JUST SAID 6%.
IS THAT ACCURATE? WE'RE BASICALLY 65. SO THIS SLIDE THIS SLIDE SHOWS AGAIN $150,000.
IF YOU WENT UP TO THE 2023 PROPOSED, IT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $4.42 A MONTH OR $53 A YEAR EXTRA. OKAY. AND SO WE STILL DON'T HAVE A PERCENTAGE THAT WE CAN TIE TO THAT, THAT WE'RE BASICALLY ASKING TO INCREASE TAXES. I'M NOT FOLLOWING YOU. YEAH. SO WE'RE TODAY STAFF IS PROPOSING A, A RATE INCREASE. WHAT IS THAT PERCENTAGE WISE TO THE CURRENT CITY ADOPTED RATE.
WHAT IS WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE RATE THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING INCREASING IT.
WELL FROM 0.695 FROM 0.659. SO IF YOU NEED TO KNOW A PERCENTAGE CHANGE BETWEEN THOSE TWO RATES.
YES, 5% 5%. SO THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TODAY TO THIS COUNCIL IS THAT WE ADOPT A RATE THAT INCREASES PROPERTY TAXES THAT YOU PAY TO THE CITY 5%.
AND NOW WE'RE PROPOSING 69.5, WHICH IS THE 2023 ADOPTED RATE.
IT'D BE EASIER IF WE COULD JUST SAY WE'RE RECOMMENDING A 5% INCREASE TO YOUR PROPERTY, OR EVEN SO, THAT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE INCREASE IN VALUES.
[01:10:02]
OH, AND I GET THAT. OH, I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THAT THE VALUES ARE INCREASING.SO EVEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WE DIDN'T INCREASE YOUR TAXES, YOUR TAXES STILL WENT UP.
BUT THAT'S A TAXING ENTITY. AND WE HAVE THERE'S NOTHING WE AS THIS COUNCIL CAN DO TO CONTROL THAT.
I'M JUST LOOKING AT THAT 5% NUMBER AND THANK YOU FOR.
YEAH. AND AGAIN, THIS 100. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE 150,000, WHICH AGAIN THAT'S KIND OF A MEDIAN VALUE, BUT IT SHOWS PER RATE WHAT THAT INCREASE WOULD BE PER YEAR OR PER MONTH.
SO I GUESS IF WE BROKE IT DOWN EVEN FURTHER, WE COULD SAY $53 FOR THE YEAR, RIGHT? I MEAN, IF WE JUST WANT TO MAKE IT PLAIN, WE COULD SAY $8,000 HOUSE WOULD BE INCREASED $53 FOR THE YEAR. OKAY. NOW I WANT TO GET TO MY QUESTION, WHICH WAS WITH PROPOSITION AYE.
HOW MUCH OF WHAT PROJECTS ARE BEING DONE NOW? COULD THAT NUMBER, PERHAPS INSTEAD OF ASSUMING ALL THE DEBT.
RIGHT. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING.
PROPOSITION A ALL DEBT WOULD BE. MAYBE WE COULD INCREASE IT INCREMENTALLY.
RIGHT. SO WHAT CAN THAT HAPPEN? OR IS THAT NOT ALLOWED TO HAPPEN? WELL, YES. SO WE ARE YOU KNOW, THE PROPOSITION A AUTHORIZED $58 MILLION IN NEW DEBT.
WE HAVE ONLY ISSUED 38,750,000. BUT HOW MUCH OF THAT IS NEEDED NOW FOR IT TO BE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
ARE WE DOING $38 MILLION WORTH OF WORK IN 27.
NO, BUT IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO ISSUE DEBT. OKAY, OKAY.
THAT'S WHAT I'M. WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT INTEREST COST.
OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I'M WONDERING. CAN WE BREAK DOWN WHAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO REDUCE WHAT WE'RE SAYING? WE NEED, YOU KNOW. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YES.
AND WE'LL SEE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CAPITAL PROGRAM AND THE AND THE BASICALLY THE PROJECTS, CIP PROJECTS PER YEAR, WE TRY TO SPREAD IT OUT OVER THE YEARS. SO THAT WE'RE NOT BORROWING MONEY JUST SO IT SITS IN ACCOUNT, WE'RE NOT USING IT. SO THAT'S PART OF THE STRATEGY.
IT DIDN'T DIDN'T AT AN EARLIER MEETING, YOU TOLD US THAT AS Y'ALL, AS WE NEED THAT MONEY, THAT'S WHEN YOU ISSUE THE DEBT. YOU DON'T GET THE WHOLE 58 MILLION TODAY.
CORRECT. SPREAD THAT OUT OVER LATER YEARS. CORRECT.
CORRECT. WE'RE WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THOSE PROJECTS AND SEEING WHERE WE ARE SEEING THE CASH FLOW, AND THEN WHEN WE NEED MONEY INJECTED ON THE INCREASE IN THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, THAT 9%.
IS THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE CHARGING 9% MORE, OR IS THAT JUST BECAUSE TO BRING IN MORE REVENUE? IS THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID THE PRICE GO UP ON IT 9%? SO IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO COVER OUR COST, OUR HEALTH CARE COSTS, WHICH ARE.
EXTREME. I THINK IT'S A WAY TO PUT IT. I'LL GO AHEAD.
BRIDGET. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY BECAUSE WE ARE SELF-FUNDED.
SO IT'S NOT IT'S NOT THE SAME AS YOU GO AND BUY AN INSURANCE POLICY.
THIS IS YOUR COST. BUT WE STILL HAVE TO PAY SOMEONE TO RUN IT, RIGHT? YEAH WE DO, BUT THOSE COSTS ARE JUST GOING UP LIKE AS A WHOLE, OUR CLAIMS AND I GUESS AS A WHOLE HEALTH COSTS ARE CRAZY OR THEY JUST, THEY, THEY JUST THEY'VE INCREASED IT. IT'S ACROSS THE BOARD. WE'RE NOT UNIQUE. WE'RE NOT THIS ISN'T SPECIALIZED TO BEAUMONT.
YEAH. YOU MAY RECALL HOLMES MURPHY GAVE US THEIR CONSULTANT GAVE US THAT THAT PRESENTATION AT THE LAST WORKSHOP SESSION I BELIEVE IT WAS SO JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, TOTAL MEDICAL PHARMACY CLAIMS IN 2021 WAS 22.6 MILLION.
IT WENT UP TO 31,000,000 IN 2025. ONE OF THE THINGS THEY TALKED ABOUT WAS THAT'S REALLY HURTING.
OUR PLAN IS THESE HIGH COST CLAIMANTS. AND AGAIN, WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THAT.
BUT LOOKING BACK OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAD 29 HIGH COST CLAIMANTS AT ABOUT $5.6 MILLION IN PAID OUT, AND IT WAS 12.8 MILLION THIS LAST YEAR.
SO YOU. SO THAT'S WHAT'S HITTING AGAIN. WE'RE SELF-INSURED.
WE HAVE A STOP LOSS POLICY, BUT THAT AFFECTS THAT AS WELL.
BUT THAT'S THE REASON IS WE'RE HAVING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ADDRESS THAT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE AND WE'RE TRYING TO ATTACK THAT ON SEVERAL LEVELS.
[01:15:08]
I KNOW IT'S CONFUSING FOR FOLKS WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THESE EMERGENCY CENTERS AND IS IT AN EMERGENCY ROOM OR IS IT AN URGENT CARE AND ALL THIS? SO WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING WITH TRACY AND COMMUNICATIONS ON A CAMPAIGN TO HELP WITH THAT, TO HELP TO GET THOSE COSTS DOWN.WE TALKED ABOUT DOING A HIRING REFREEZE, WHICH WE ALREADY SHORTHANDED.
AND IF YOU SAY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE THEM A 2% COLA, BASICALLY THAT'S A CUT IN PAY.
HAVE Y'ALL LOOKED AT WHEN YOU WAS TALKING ABOUT YOUR FLEET AND EVERYTHING, WHAT YOU HAD TO SPEND ON VEHICLES AND STUFF? HAVE YOU LOOKED AT LEASING THEM? WE HAVE AND DO RELEASE.
YES, MA'AM. WITH THAT AND THAT HIRING FREEZE IS NOT GOING TO HELP WITH RETENTION EITHER.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU GET A GUY DOING MORE WORK AND GETTING LESS MONEY.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP WITH RETENTION AT ALL.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER. YES, SIR.
THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN TURNER. MR. BOONE, WHEN YOU SAY WE DO LEASE AND I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT FINANCING VEHICLES EARLIER.
IS THERE A REASON WE DO MIXED USE? AND WITH OUR CURRENT SITUATION, WOULD YOU SAY LEASING IS MORE COST EFFICIENT THAN FINANCING? IT DEPENDS ON THE VEHICLE. I CAN SAY HISTORICALLY WE'VE WE'VE LEANED AWAY FROM LEASING.
WE'VE TRIED TO BUY, YOU KNOW, OUR OUR VEHICLES.
IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION. BUT HISTORICALLY, I THINK WE'VE NOT LEAST.
BUT OVER THE LAST, YOU KNOW, DECADE OR SO, WE'VE GONE TO THAT AS AN OPTION.
YOU SPREAD YOUR COST OUT OVER THAT TIME PERIOD.
SO THERE ARE PROS AND CONS JUST LIKE FOR US WHEN WE LOOK AT SHOULD YOU BUY OR LEASE, THERE ARE JUST DIFFERENT FACTORS, BUT THEY PLAY INTO THIS AS WELL. BUT. WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WHERE YOU CAN SAVE THE MOST MONEY? DO YOU DO IT LEASING OR DO YOU DO IT BUYING IT? WELL, IT'S COMPLICATED AND I CAN ASK JEFF HARVILLE TO COME UP AND COMMENT.
BUT AGAIN, LIKE AT YOUR OWN HOME, THERE'S FACTORS OF IF YOU LEASE A VEHICLE TENDS TO BE CHEAPER BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST FINANCING REALLY THE, THE, THE INTEREST. WHEREAS IF YOU BUY IT, THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS ARE HIGHER.
BUT BUT IF YOU KEEP THE VEHICLE FOR TEN YEARS, THEN OBVIOUSLY YOUR PER ANNUAL IS MAKES MORE SENSE.
AND THEY HAVE A PRETTY SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM OF HOW MUCH DOES THE VEHICLE COST NEW.
HOW MUCH IS IT? HOW MUCH IS IT TO LEASE? WHAT, HOW MUCH HAVE WE INVESTED IN REPAIRS? AND THEN WHAT IS THAT PERCENTAGE? AND AGAIN, DEPENDING ON THE EQUIPMENT YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE TENDS TO BE A BREAK EVEN TO SAY, LOOK, WE'RE PUTTING MORE INTO THIS VEHICLE FOR IN REPAIRS THAN WE COULD BUY IT NEW.
AND SO THEN IT'S LIKE, OKAY, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT BUYING OR LEASING.
BUT AGAIN, I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION, I THINK THE REQUEST WAS 12 MILLION.
AND THAT NUMBER IS NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST ONCE.
I WASN'T YOU'RE NOT DONE. IT'S JUST ENOUGH FOR ME TO MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION.
YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO COST COMPARISON ON BOTH. I KNOW WE KIND OF THROWING IT BACK AND FORTH, BUT JUST FOR ME TO HAVE A BE ABLE TO MAKE A CONCRETE DECISION, I LIKE TO ACTUALLY SEE IT.
[01:20:07]
ARE WE AT THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE ASKING FOR OUR OPINION ON WHERE WE'RE AT ON EVERYTHING OR WHAT? WELL, WE CAN DO IT AS WE GO. SO AGAIN, TODAY IS YOU ALL ARE RECEIVING THE PROPOSED BUDGET.AFTER THIS, WE'LL ASK YOU TO SET THE PRELIMINARY TAX RATE.
WITH THE IDEA THAT SEPTEMBER 8TH WILL ASK YOU TO ADOPT THE FINAL BUDGET.
SO THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME TIME TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, BUT WE THIS BUDGET IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TAKEN IT, WE'VE TAKEN FEEDBACK YOU KNOW, FROM THE PRIOR WORKSHOPS AND AGAIN, WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH SOME OF THESE ISSUES, BUT THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING. SO WE'RE ASKING YOU TO PRELIMINARILY ACCEPT IT TODAY, SET THE RATE PRELIMINARILY TODAY, BUT THERE'S STILL TIME TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.
YES, SIR. AND THERE'S JUST SOME THINGS IN LIMBO THAT I KIND OF STRUGGLE WITH BECAUSE EVEN WITH, YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN SHERWOOD ASKED EARLIER ABOUT MORE REVENUE COMING IN.
AND WE WE'RE KIND OF SAYING WE'RE WORKING ON IT, BUT I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THESE INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENTS FOR QUITE SOME TIME, LIKE I UNDERSTAND WORKING ON IT, BUT THE PART WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, WE KIND OF NEED TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT BEFORE WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
BECAUSE ONE THING THAT I'VE LEARNED SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, I'M JUST NO LONGER COMFORTABLE MAKING DECISIONS WITHOUT KNOWING ALL THE FACTS AND SEEING FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF. BEFORE I GIVE THIS INCREASE, HOW WILL THIS IMPACT US? AND FOUR MORE YEARS. I'VE ASKED THAT MULTIPLE TIMES AND I'M STANDING.
I'M SAYING, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD WE CAN AFFORD IT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE GOTTA KIND OF, I CAN'T JUST SAY, OKAY AND SUPPORT IT. I NEED TO SEE FOR A FACT.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S FAIR. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DO IT MUCH HERE.
I KNOW SOME CITIES THEY WILL HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING BIG, YOU KNOW, YOU ALWAYS SEE IN OUR AGENDA ITEMS THAT IT'S FUNDED ACCORDINGLY AND IT'S IN AN APPROVED BUDGET. BUT SOME THINGS EXTEND OUT MULTIPLE YEARS.
AND SO YOU KNOW, THEY DO IT IN AUSTIN AT THE LEGISLATURE.
WHAT'S THE FISCAL IMPACT OF DOING THIS? AND SO WE COULD DEFINITELY LOOK TO THAT GOING BACK TO THE, YOU KNOW, THE ABATEMENTS AND IN IDAS, THAT'S IT.
IS ANY ANY EXPECTED REVENUES FROM THOSE ARE INCLUDED.
IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT AS WE GET CLOSER TO RENEGOTIATING A LOT OF THESE INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENTS IN FY 29, WE CAN'T DO WE CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING UNTIL FY 29 BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY LOCKED IN.
YOU KNOW, IF I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME RECENT ABATEMENT AGREEMENTS WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN SOME REVENUES.
AND SO AS THOSE COME ALONG, WE CERTAINLY WILL, WILL OPERATE IN THAT MANNER.
AND ESPECIALLY UNDER THE NEW ABATEMENT POLICY THAT WE LOOK TO PRESENT HERE PRETTY SOON, BUT UNTIL WE, UNTIL THOSE THINGS ARE ACTUALLY IN WRITING AND WE CAN COUNT ON THEM, WE CAN'T INCLUDE THEM IN THE BUDGET.
HAVE WE DID AN ANALYSIS TO SEE IF IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR US TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION VERSUS CONTINUE TO SEE THESE COSTS RISING BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, OF IF AN EMPLOYEE SAYS THEY'RE SICK, THEY DON'T GO SEE OUR DOCTOR FIRST. THEY GO STRAIGHT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR WHERE THEY MAY CHOOSE. YEAH, I DIDN'T MENTION THAT EARLIER WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO GET THAT UNDER CONTROL. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING AT IS KIND OF AN IN-HOUSE CLINIC. WHETHER WE CONTRACT WITH SOMEBODY, SOME JURISDICTIONS HAVE A TURNKEY, THEY JUST RUN A CLINIC. THAT IS A POTENTIAL SAVINGS.
THE ISSUE IS IT'S A BIG UPFRONT COST. AND THEN YOU REALIZE THE SAVINGS OVER THE COMING YEARS, BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT YOUR EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATE IN IT.
AND AGAIN, HOLMES MURPHY HAS JUST LET US KNOW THAT THERE, THERE ARE POTENTIAL SAVINGS THERE, BUT OUR BIG HITS FOR THESE HIGH, HIGH CLAIM INDIVIDUALS.
SO IT'S NOT GOING TO HELP. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A SILVER BULLET.
SO I HAVE TO SPEAK TO THAT. YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO EXPLAIN EMPLOYERS ALL THE TIME WHEN WE GIVE INCREASES ONE WAY, AND I GOT TO LOOK THEM IN THE FACE AND SPEAK TO WHY IT'S NOT THE SAME FOR THEM.
SO FOR ME, I JUST CAN'T IN GOOD FAITH, NOT DO NOTHING FOR THE EMPLOYEES KNOWING WE'RE DOING A HIRING FREEZE AND A AND AN INCREASE IN THE PREMIUM COST FOR THE INSURANCE. ALSO, I'M NOT GOING TO SUGARCOAT IT.
I'M NOT BIG ON JUST RAISING IT JUST TO GET TO 20%.
[01:25:02]
I'VE RAN INTO SEVERAL PEOPLE, AND I FEEL THEM WHEN THEY TELL IT TO ME.MY SECOND THING IS I JUST GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE HAD BUDGET RESTRAINTS AND ISSUES AND IT WASN'T EASY, BUT WE TOLD THE MANAGER, YOU NEED TO GO CUT IT THIS MUCH MORE. SO THAT MIGHT BE THE POINT WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE TO JUST HAVE SOME UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS AND DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
BUT JUST ME PERSONALLY, I CAN'T. I CAN'T HIT THE EMPLOYEES THREE DIFFERENT WAYS.
I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT IF I, IF I MAY. SO OUR 20%, YEAH, IT MIGHT BE LOWER THAN THAT.
I MEAN, HIGHER THAN THE 16% THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, BUT WE ARE ALSO IN A VERY UNIQUE CLIMATE, RIGHT? WE ARE WE ARE SUBJECT TO HURRICANES, WE ARE SUBJECT TO NATURAL DISASTERS.
AND KIND OF LIKE MISS AMY SCHMIDT HAD JUST TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THE AREAS THAT WE'VE CUT.
WE'VE KIND OF, WE'VE KIND OF ALREADY LOOKED, WE'RE AT WE'RE WE'VE PRETTY MUCH ALREADY ASKED DEPARTMENTS TO CUT TO THE BARE MINIMUM AND WHAT WE HAVE LEFT. AND THIS IS WHY I ASKED EARLIER, AND I'VE ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES, WHY BRING INCREASES TO US THAT CLEARLY WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FINANCIALLY AFFORD IF WE'RE A PART OF A FINANCIAL NEGOTIATING TEAM AND IT'S PRESENTED TO COUNCIL, WE'RE NOT IN DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS NOW.
THE DECISIONS ON THE BACKS OF US, BUT WE'RE NOT IN DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS.
SO THAT'S WHAT MY ISSUE IS BY SAYING YES AGAIN, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT FALLS BACK ON US.
SIMILARLY, WHEN A DECISION IS MADE, IT'S BLOWN OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE COUNCIL SAID YES, BUT THE RECOMMENDATION DIDN'T COME FROM THE COUNCIL.
SO I CAN'T OPERATE IN GOOD FAITH THAT WAY ANYMORE.
AND I'D LIKE TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE BASICALLY SAYING IS POLICE AND FIRE, WE NEGOTIATED THESE CONTRACTS THAT BASICALLY WE CAN'T AFFORD, AND NOW EVERYTHING ELSE NEEDS TO BE CUT AND NOBODY'S GOING TO SAY IT, BUT I WILL. RIGHT. WE HAVE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS FOR OVER 60% OF THE BUDGET GOING TO A PER A PARTICULAR SECT OF PEOPLE. RIGHT. AND NOW CAN WE GO BACK TO THEM AND SAY, HEY WILL YOU NOT TAKE A RAISE THIS YEAR? CAN WE GO BACK TO THEM AND SAY, HEY, CAN WE NOT CONTRACTUALLY DO THIS THREE, FIVE, SEVEN, SIX, 8%? NO WE CAN'T. RIGHT. THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE CITIES HAVE BEEN ON THE BRINK OF BANKRUPTCY BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET AN OPTION TO SAY THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
YOU GOT TO FIND IT WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
WELL, WE ALSO NEED TO FIND IT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH HOW I FEEL. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW AND COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS WELL, I THINK MR. WILLIAMS WANTED TO GO NEXT. MAYOR.
AND THAT'S FINE. AND I HEARD IT AT SEVERAL MEETINGS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOW MUCH WE SPEND.
AND AND IT'S TOUGH FOR ME TO CONTINUE TO LET THEM BE THE, YOU KNOW, THE WHIPPING CHILD OF, OF, OF OUR BUDGETARY ISSUES. I JUST THINK THAT IS SO UNFAIR.
I MEAN, WE CAN POINT TO, YOU KNOW, SOME OF US WEREN'T HERE, BUT WE'VE SPENT $5 MILLION ON THE AT&T BUILDING FOR A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S NOW VACANT, THAT'S SITTING THERE THAT'S NOT COLLECTING ANY TAX MONEY.
WE'VE SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON HOTEL STUDIES, ON BOND STUDIES, AND TO SIT UP HERE EVERY SINGLE MEETING AND SAY, PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC SAFETY IS PRETTY IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY.
PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THAT. THEY WANT TO FEEL SAFE.
AND THAT'S WHERE OUR, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL ISSUES COMING FROM.
AND I THINK IT'S PRETTY UNFAIR. AND I THINK SOME OF THE PAST DECISIONS OF PRIOR COUNCILS, WHENEVER THE MONEY WAS GOOD, WHENEVER THERE WAS MONEY IN THE BANK AND MONEY WAS SPENT, IT'S COMING HOME.
IT'S OUR DOING, NOT THEIRS. COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW.
AND JUST TO ECHO ON THAT, I MEAN, YES, WE WE SPEND MAYBE HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE IN PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE ONE OF THE HIGHEST CRIME RATES IN THE STATE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOUR CRIME RATE IS HIGH, YOU GOT TO SPEND MORE ON PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND AND WHEN YOU ASK PEOPLE WHAT ISSUES ARE IMPACTING BEAUMONT AND KEEPING OUR GROWTH DOWN,
[01:30:04]
IT'S CRIME IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THAT.OKAY, SO HERE'S WHAT I'VE BEEN WANTING TO SAY FOR THE LAST 15 MINUTES.
IT SAYS, HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST ME? ON PROPOSITION A? TOTAL COST 58.2 MILLION. ESTIMATED TAX IMPACT FOR A $154,000.
BEAUMONT VALUED HOME $3.14 A MONTH. I'M ASSUMING STAFF IS ONLY ASKING US TO INCREASE THE GEO DEBT AMOUNT, WHICH VOTERS APPROVED IN 2025 BY ABOUT $2 BECAUSE WE'VE ONLY BORROWED 38 MILLION OF THE 58 MILLION.
IS THAT ACCURATE? I KNOW THAT SOUNDS ROUGHLY.
YES. NO. YES. THAT'S WHY TO ME, THAT JUST THAT'S ALREADY SETTING US BACK.
IN NOVEMBER OF 2025, VOTERS APPROVED IT. AND WHEN YOU CAME TO US WITH A PROPOSAL ON THE TAX RATE, WE COULD HAVE TAKEN OUR CURRENT RATE AND ADDED THE $3.14 A MONTH.
THAT'S ALREADY HIGHER THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE OF $0.68.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE $0.68 AND THE $0.69.
I COULD HAVE GONE TO PEOPLE AND SAID, LOOK, I DON'T WANT TO RAISE YOUR TAXES.
BUT VOTERS IN NOVEMBER OF 2025 APPROVED RAISING YOUR TAXES $3.14 A MONTH ON $150,000 VALUED HOUSE. THEREFORE, OUR NEW RATE IS GOING TO BE THE CURRENT RATE PLUS WHATEVER IT IS.
SO THAT RIGHT THERE IS JUST A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BEAT UP ON STAFF AT ALL.
WHEN WE SAY, WE'RE NOT RAISING YOUR TAXES ANY MORE THAN WHAT VOTERS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER OF 2025.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE ONLY INCREASING IT INSTEAD OF ALL THESE CRAZY NUMBERS, THE 5%, THAT'S JUST SO MUCH EASIER TO EXPLAIN OR YES, YOUR TAXES ARE GOING TO GO UP ABOUT 3.5%, BUT THAT IS WHAT VOTERS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER OF 2025.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I'LL STOP TALKING. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMAN COUNCILMAN TURNER THEN COUNCILMAN DORIO, WATCH YOUR MICS.
I'M SORRY. YES, SIR. AND AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS ONE BIG THING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE MADE DECISIONS WITH ACCOUNTABILITY AS FAR AS ON THIS COUNCIL WITH SETTLEMENTS AND LAWSUITS, WE MADE DECISIONS WITH, YOU KNOW, SERVICES THAT WE NO LONGER OVERSEE OR TAKE CARE OF.
AND WE MADE THEM DECISIONS TOGETHER AS A COUNCIL.
ALL OF US VOTED ON NOT ONLY THOSE DECISIONS, BUT ALSO WE VOTED ON INCREASES TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
I VOTED FOR IT, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IN THE FUTURE IT WOULD MAKE SENSE.
AND I'VE ACTS PRIOR TO ME VOTING FOR THIS. CAN WE AFFORD IT? AND IF WE CAN, THAT'S GREAT. BUT IF WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, SOME THINGS WE JUST SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD.
I'M JUST NOT OKAY AS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO DO ONE SEGMENT AT THIS PERCENTAGE.
AND I UNDERSTAND PUBLIC SAFETY IS ON THE FRONT LINE, BUT ALSO TO GO OUT.
I JUST CAN'T IN GOOD FAITH SUPPORT THAT. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMAN. THE COUNCILMAN. YEAH. PIGGYBACK ON WHAT COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS SAID.
OF COURSE, YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT THIS ON THE BACK OF A SINGLE SET OF EMPLOYEES, BUT WHAT ABOUT WE KIND OF PUT IT ON THE BACK OF THE REST OF THE EMPLOYEES? THAT'S THAT'S MY THING. I MEAN, THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT.
THOSE GUYS THAT FIX THE THE HOLE OVER THERE, THE ONES THAT FIX THE WATER THING BY THE COURTHOUSE, WE'RE LEAVING ONE AND GOING STRAIGHT OVER THERE.
ALL OUR EMPLOYEES ARE IMPORTANT. WE SHOULDN'T PUT THIS ON THE BACK OF ANY OF THEM AT ALL.
NONE OF THE EMPLOYEE THAT'S THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE SAYING. CAN'T PUT.
[01:35:02]
DON'T PUT IT ON THE BACK OF ANYONE. AND I WANT TO ASK YOU MR. MANAGER, FOR US TO BE IN THIS CURRENT SITUATION, IS IT A COMBINATION OF LOWERING THE TAX RATE? BUT PRICES ARE GOING UP. WOULD YOU SAY THAT GOT US IN THIS SITUATION THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW? IT'S A IT'S A COMBINATION OF FACTORS. IT IS. WOULD YOU SAY IT'S WASTEFUL SPENDING? NO, I WOULDN'T SAY NECESSARILY. I'M JUST SAYING WHEN YOU HAVE AN OPERATION OF THIS SIZE, THERE ARE ALWAYS EFFICIENCIES THAT CAN BE FOUND AND I THINK WE'LL FIND THEM. AND PART OF THIS DISCUSSION IS.SOME OF IT'S GOING TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE SOME ARE EASY, SOME ARE LOW HANGING FRUIT WHERE YOU CAN SAY, LOOK, WE'RE DOING THIS AND WE CAN DO THIS AND SAVE SOME MONEY HERE.
DO WE REALLY NEED TO DO THIS? BUT IT HAS TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING AT THE END OF THROUGH THIS FY 26 AND INTO FY 27.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR IS, IS INSTEAD OF WAITING TILL, YOU KNOW, THE SUMMER TO GET INTO HOW ARE WE DOING? AND NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE MONTHLY REPORTS, WE DO, BUT DO A MID-YEAR MID FISCAL YEAR CHECK IN IN APRIL AND SAY, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THINGS YOU KNOW ARE MORE DIRE, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN BY THAT TIME, WE WILL HAVE FOUND SOME OF THESE SOME OF THESE EFFICIENCIES.
SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF TAXES AND, AND, AND INFLATION AND THE, YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE, THE ISSUE WITH THE INSURANCE AND, AND ON AND ON AND ON.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING THEM TO DO MORE WORK BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY SHORTHANDED.
AND I THINK ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO EFFECT.
YOU KNOW, THEY ALL THEY ALL WORK HARD. PUBLIC SAFETY, WATER DEPARTMENT DRAINAGE, EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW. SO AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT IT ON THE BACK OF JUST ONE SET OF PEOPLE, BUT WE GOT TO TAKE INTO EFFECT, THESE PEOPLE HAVE FAMILIES TO SUPPORT. THEY EVIDENTLY THEY MUST LIKE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, BECAUSE THEY COULD HAVE LEFT HERE A LONG TIME AGO AND MADE MORE MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE. BUT THEY STAY HERE, THEY SUPPORT US, SO WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM. WE HAVE TO HAVE THEIR BACK TOO, AND CAN'T PUT ALL THIS ON JUST THEIR BACK.
I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION. SO BASICALLY WITH ON WHAT COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW WAS JUST SAYING, WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR LIKE ONE PENNY MORE THAN WHAT THE VOTERS APPROVED FOR WITH THE BOND.
OH, OKAY. LESS THAN A YEAR LESS. AND WHAT I'M SAYING WAS I WOULD RATHER STAFF HAD COME TO US WITH THE AMOUNT THAT VOTERS APPROVED AND VOTED ON IN NOVEMBER OF 2025 INSTEAD OF LESS, WHICH I ASSUME WHEN WE BORROW THE OTHER $20 MILLION THAT WE HAVEN'T BORROWED YET, NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER THAT, WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND ASK TO INCREASE OUR DEBT AMOUNT AGAIN.
AND I JUST THINK THAT WE'RE FIGHTING AGAINST OURSELVES.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE EXPECTING, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING THAT WE DO.
AND THE NUMBERS WOULD BE A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT WE'VE GOT RIGHT HERE. AND I SAID THAT SEVERAL TIMES, AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY ARE WE PERFORMING AS IF THIS HADN'T ALREADY BEEN APPROVED? BECAUSE PEOPLE ALREADY KNEW THAT TEXAS WERE GOING TO GO UP.
WE'RE SAYING WE'RE NOT RAISING TEXAS. YES WE ARE, BECAUSE THEY SAID SO.
EITHER YOU'RE GOING TO GO WITH WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SAID, OR ARE YOU GOING TO NOT PERFORM WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY SAID IS NECESSARY TO DO, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN SIMPLER BECAUSE, YES, WE'RE ARGUING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MUST HAPPEN.
THE BALLOT LITERALLY SAID THIS IS A TAX INCREASE.
WHICH STATE LAW REQUIRED. HELLO? YES. COUNCIL COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS. THE TAX RATE PROPOSED TODAY, IT IS ABOVE. RIGHT.
I MEAN I'M NOT FOLLOWING. IT'S ONLY PROPOSED TO GO UP TO 60.6.
THE 65 PLUS THE G.O. DEBT RATE ONLY INCREASES TO 67.
[01:40:04]
AND SO TO ME, THAT SHOULD PROBABLY BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE THE IT'S LESS THAN WHAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING TODAY, BUT IT'S HIGHER THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.IT IS, IT IS, IT IS, IT IS. BUT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS WHAT, 0.683.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THEY DID NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THE BOND MONEY ON THE GEO DEBT RATE THAT THEY PROPOSED TO US, BECAUSE THEY'VE ONLY BORROWED 38 MILLION. OKAY.
BUT TAXPAYERS ALREADY IN NOVEMBER APPROVED. I'LL FOLLOW YOU NOW.
CORRECT. I'M ASSUMING THAT'S WHAT THEY DID. I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS CORRECT.
THE INCREASE IS GOING TOWARDS THE BOND. THAT MONEY CAN'T BE USED ON THE REST OF THE BUDGET.
IT JUST HAS TO BE USED ON THE PROJECTS. THAT GOES WITH WITH THE PROPOSITION EIGHT.
YEAH. THE ADDITIONAL I AND S THE ADDITIONAL DEBT SERVICE IS SEPARATE THAN THE M AND O RATE.
OKAY. OKAY. AND AGAIN, JUST. THE CURRENT BECAUSE IT'S NOT BROKEN DOWN HERE, BUT THE CURRENT DEBT RATE IS 0.181.
AND IN ORDER TO COVER THE DEBT. NEW DEBT IT NEEDS TO GO TO 0.214.
BUT OR IS STAFF GOING TO COME BACK TO US NEXT YEAR WHEN WE BORROW THE OTHER $20 MILLION AND SAY THAT THE WHAT IS IT? THE I AND S HAS GONE UP AGAIN AND WE NEED TO INCREASE AGAIN.
WHY DIDN'T WHY DIDN'T STAFF COME TO US AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT THE RATE NEEDS TO BE? BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WAS APPROVED. I WASN'T HERE THEN, BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS, SO THE TAX RATE IS BROKEN UP BETWEEN THE I AND S AND THE M AND O. THE I N'S RATE IS A CALCULATED RATE THAT COMES FROM THE TAX OFFICE BASED ON YOU TURN IN WHAT YOUR DEBT REQUIREMENTS ARE GOING TO BE FOR THAT COMING YEAR. AND THEN IT CALCULATES THAT DEBT RATE.
AND THEN THE RATE IS WHERE YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM.
AND SO WHILE I'VE BEEN LATE TO THIS BUDGET PROCESS, WHAT I SAW WAS THAT THE DEBT SERVICE OVERALL, IT WAS GOING UP JUST OVER THREE PENNIES. SO THAT WAS THAT $0.18 TO $0.21.
AND THEN THE 0.695 ALLOWS A SMALL INCREASE ON THE M AND O SIDE.
JUST A VERY SMALL INCREASE VERSUS IT STAYING THE SAME.
BUT AT THE VERY LEAST, IF YOU DON'T CHANGE THE OVERALL RATE BECAUSE OF THE SHIFT TO THE $0.03, THEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY TAKING THAT MONEY OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
AND THAT'S FUNDS THAT IT HAD HAD THE PRIOR YEAR AND WOULDN'T HAVE NOW.
SO I THINK THAT IS PART OF, YOU KNOW, THE MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION TO SHIFT THE THREE PENNIES AND HAVE A SMALL INCREMENTAL INCREASE IN THE M AND O, AND THAT MAKES MORE SENSE THEN. SO IN ESSENCE, THE $0.03 REPRESENTS ONLY THE 38 MILLION OUT OF THE 58 MILLION THAT WE BORROWED, AND THAT IF WE WOULD HAVE BORROWED THE FULL 58 MILLION ALREADY, THAT $0.03 WOULD LIKELY BE HIGHER, MAYBE AROUND FOUR AND A HALF CENTS OR WHATEVER.
AND, AND YOU, YOU WOULD HAVE RECOMMENDED THE HIGHER RATE.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT. IT'LL CALCULATE A HIGHER RATE AS MORE DEBT IS ADDED OR DEBT IS ADDED.
AND THEN ALSO THE TAX NOTE THAT WAS APPROVED IN THIS BUDGET, THE 26 BUDGET FOR FLEET PURCHASES.
SO THAT WILL ALSO HAVE DEBT REQUIREMENTS. SO ALL OF THAT GETS FIGURED INTO THE DEBT SERVICE CALCULATION, THE INS CALCULATION. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WHEN WE WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT TO GET THE ADDITIONAL TRANCHE OF MONEY.
YES, WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED MORE.
AND THAT'S WHY I SAID, AND TO ME, IT WOULD HAVE MADE SENSE IF WE DID IT ALL AT ONCE.
BUT NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE SAYING WE'RE HAVING TO BREAK IT UP BECAUSE WE CAN'T INCREASE.
IS IT THE INS OKAY? WE CAN'T INCREASE THE INS OVER WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS.
WELL MR. MOON. AT THE DIFFERENT RATES THAT YOU SHOWED US, HOW WOULD THAT EACH DIFFERENT ONE AFFECT OUR I THINK SHE HAD MENTIONED BEFORE OUR BOND RATING. WELL, WE CAN'T KNOW FOR SURE.
[01:45:04]
HEY, WE'RE SEEING YOU DIPPING INTO YOUR GENERAL FUND.ARE YOU GOING TO STAY AT YOUR 20%? THEY HAVE SPECIFICALLY ASKED THAT.
THEY WANT TO SEE THEY WANT TO SEE A PLAN FOR US TO CLOSE THAT GAP.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, THEY WANT TO SEE IT COME TO FRUITION.
THEY WANT TO SEE US APPROPRIATELY CARRY OUT THAT PLAN.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S DOING. ITS PLAN TO GET THAT? YES, EXACTLY. SO THAT WE DON'T GET OUR BOND RATING DINGED.
AND SO THAT, YOU KNOW, DEBT AS WE'RE ISSUING IT ISN'T MORE EXPENSIVE FOR THE CITY.
OKAY. COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS, WHENEVER YOU'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AND THEY'RE EXPRESSING THE CONCERN AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED, I KNOW THAT YOU WEREN'T IN THAT POSITION AND CHRIS WASN'T IN HIS.
BUT HAVE THEY SAID IF THEY SHARED THE SAME CONCERN WITH THE THE SHRINKING FUND BALANCE OVER THE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS? OR IS THIS THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY'VE SAID WE'RE NOW CONCERNED ABOUT IT? I CAN'T SPEAK. IT'S BEEN CONSISTENT. JUST BECAUSE LIKE WHENEVER WE HAVE TO GO OUT FOR DEBT, WHEN WE'RE ISSUING DEBTS THIS CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY, WE HAVE TO DO A DUE DILIGENCE DOCUMENT.
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ARE THE SAME. PROJECTED EXPENSES.
WHAT ARE WE WHAT ARE WE SPENDING? SO THERE'S NOT A DIRECT QUESTION RELATED TO OUR GENERAL FUND.
BUT THEY DO ASK ABOUT REVENUES. THEY DO ASK ABOUT EXPENSES.
THE DOCUMENTS, THE DUE DILIGENCE DOCUMENTS DON'T CHANGE.
I THINK NOW THE QUESTION IS PROBABLY ARE MORE TARGETED.
BUT IT'S BASED ON OUR OWN FINANCIAL POLICIES.
BUT THE QUESTIONS AND THE DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT ON LIKE, WHAT ARE YOUR REVENUES? WHAT ARE YOUR EXPENSES? WHAT ARE YOUR PROJECTED THINGS? AND THEY BASE THAT ON ESSENTIALLY WHEN YOU ISSUE DEBT AT A CERTAIN RATE, LIKE IT'S YOUR, IT'S YOUR CREDIT SCORE, IT'S YOUR ABILITY TO PAY IT BACK. BUT, BUT SURELY THEY WERE CONCERNED AS THE GENERAL FUND WENT FROM 50 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS TO WHERE IT IS NOW.
I MEAN, THEY'VE RAISED THESE CONCERNS EVERY YEAR, I GUESS, IS MY.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS LIKE WHAT SHE'S PRESENTING AS A CONCERN IS THAT THE DOCUMENT ITSELF, THE QUESTIONNAIRE ITSELF DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE.
SO THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR REVENUES, LIKE WHAT'S IN YOUR WHAT'S IN YOUR GENERAL FUND, WHAT'S IN YOUR THING. SO I'M ASSUMING IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE AND COMPARED TO OUR REVENUE AND SPENDING OR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE WE SUPPLEMENT FROM IT HAS BECOME A QUESTION LIKE WE'RE SUPPLEMENTING MORE, BUT IT HASN'T REALLY BEEN THERE HASN'T BEEN A TARGETED CHANGE IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE THAT WE'VE SEEN.
AND WHEN WOULD LIKE A TRIGGER HAPPEN, I GUESS, TO WHERE IT WOULD IMPACT YOUR YOUR BOND RATING? WHEN DOES THAT HAPPEN? WE WE DON'T KNOW. IT'S, IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A CREDIT SCORE.
IT'S SEEMS TO BE VERY COMPLICATED FORMULA. BUT BUT TO THAT END, AS THE CITY ATTORNEY WAS MENTIONING AND THE CFO, THEY'RE LOOKING AT TRENDS. AND SO THEY SEE THEY SEE WHAT THE TRENDS HAVE BEEN.
AND SO AS, AS MITCH MENTIONED, I MEAN, THEY ARE ASKING US ABOUT IT.
SO AT WHAT POINT IS IT A DEAL WHERE GUESS WHAT? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE OUR INS RATE HIGHER THAN WE WOULD HAVE BECAUSE OUR SCORE JUST CHANGED, I DON'T KNOW. OKAY. BUT THOSE QUESTIONS ARE BEING ASKED.
FOR THEIR CURRENT SIX NINE, FIVE YEAR BOND RATING.
SO WHENEVER WE BRING THIS BACK, WE FINALLY APPROVE EVERYTHING.
YES. AND LET'S DO KEEP IN MIND, BECAUSE WE WANT TO DRAW THIS FORWARD FOR, FOR, I THINK FOR HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS IS OUR GENERAL FUND COMES FROM OUR SALES TAX AND OUR PROPERTY TAX.
LIKE THIS YEAR, WE HAD A PERCENT AND A HALF INCREASE IN OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
IF BEAUMONT WAS GROWING MORE, PERHAPS WE WOULD HAVE HAD A 5%.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND CERTAINLY THAT'S WHAT THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS SEEN.
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SURPLUSES IS LARGER AMOUNTS AND THE SAME WITH SALES TAX.
SO LIKE RIGHT NOW AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY USING BEST PROJECTIONS AND GOOD PRACTICES, WE'RE PROJECTING WHAT THOSE SALES TAX AND PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING TO BE.
AND CERTAINLY IN YEARS PAST, WE'VE DONE THAT.
AND WE AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAD SIGNIFICANT, LIKE, PERSONALLY, I GET CONCERNED ABOUT SALES TAX CONTINUING TO GO UP BECAUSE I SEE MORE AND MORE AMAZON PACKAGES BEING DELIVERED AND THOSE WE DON'T GET THE SALES TAX REVENUE FROM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT FROM.
[01:50:07]
IF I'M CORRECT ON THAT, IT HAS TO IT HAS TO BE FROM THE LAST POINT OF SALE.BUT WE SHOULD PRETTY SOON. I JUST SAW THAT BUILDING YESTERDAY AND I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHEN.
AND THAT COULD THAT COULD END UP HELPING IT. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WHEN I ASKED THAT QUESTION BEFORE, MY UNDERSTANDING IT WAS THE PLACE THAT SHIPS THE PRODUCT IS THE ONE THAT GETS.
NO NO NO. WE SHOULD ONCE OUR DISTRIBUTION. COUNCILMAN TURNER CAN YOU TURN ON YOUR MIC, PLEASE? ON WHAT. WHAT'S BEING SHIPPED FROM BEAUMONT LOCATION ONCE IT'S BUILT.
BUT THAT'S TRUE. UNTIL THEN, WE DON'T GET. YEAH. AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE WE DON'T. BUT SO THAT IS THAT THAT'S ALWAYS THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE PROJECTIONS ON REVENUE AND CERTAINLY ON EXPENDITURES TOO.
SO. AND SO WHAT THEY'RE PRESENTING TO US IS WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE BEST AT THIS POINT.
OKAY. SO AGAIN, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE VARIANCE FROM THE PROPOSED 6.95 RATE AND WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OF. THE ENDING FUND BALANCE.
RIGHT. SO WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE ENDING FUND BALANCE CURVE.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION. IT WAS IT WAS A LITTLE MORE DIRE. BUT WE FEEL LIKE THIS PROPOSAL STARTS TO FLATTEN THAT CURVE WHERE WE MIGHT GET SOME LESS POINTED QUESTIONS FROM THE BOND RATING AGENCIES.
SO AGAIN ACCOMMODATING THE BOND ELECTION DEBT CO DEBT, WE SEEK TO BALANCE DESIRED TAX RATE WITH NEEDED SERVICES. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PROPOSED INCREASES AND CONTRACTUAL ONES.
ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO FIND EFFICIENCIES. AS I MENTIONED THIS IS AN ONGOING PROCESS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FREEZE AND THE IMPACT.
THE LONGER IT GOES ON, THE GREATER IMPACT POTENTIALLY.
AND THEN AGAIN, WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FEDERAL AND STATE MANDATED UNFUNDED MANDATES.
WE HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THIS BUDGET THAT WASN'T REQUIRED LAST LAST YEAR, BUT BECAUSE OF STATE FUNDED STATE UNFUNDED MANDATES, WE'RE HAVING TO COVER THOSE COSTS.
I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MOST OF THESE NUMBERS. WE'VE SEEN THEM IN THE GRAPHS.
BUT THE IDEA IS YOU CAN SEE THE THE DIPPING INTO THE FUND BALANCE IS GREATLY REDUCED.
AND AGAIN, SAME SLIDE, JUST GIVING YOU THE HISTORY OF DIPPING INTO THAT FUND BALANCE.
WITH THAT, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE SOLID WASTE RATE CHANGE, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND? NOT WE'LL JUMP IN. ONE MORE QUESTION. I JUST THOUGHT ABOUT YOU ALL WERE LOOKING AT THIS COLA INCREASE.
DID YOU GET TO 2%. YOU JUST STOP THERE. Y'ALL DIDN'T LOOK AT WHAT 3% WOULD BE LIKE OR 2.5%.
WE DID. WE YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE 3%.
BUT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BALANCE IT WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING.
I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK IN AND SEE IF WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
BUT WE ARE AS DISCUSSED IN PRIOR, PROPOSING AN INCREASE OF $5 PER CUBIC YARD OF TIPPING FEES, COMPACTED AND COMPACTED TO KIND OF GET US TO A MORE STATEWIDE AVERAGE AND EVEN A REGIONAL AVERAGE.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE SOLID WASTE? GO BACK. YES, SIR.
COUNCILMAN TURNER. I KNOW WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THIS.
IS IT STILL ONE LINE OR DID WE LOOK INTO A COMMERCIAL LINE AND A REGULAR LINE? YEAH, I THINK WE STILL HAVE ONE LINE, BUT I'LL I'LL ASK FERNANDO ANY COMMENTS ON THE THE LINE GETTING INTO THE LANDFILL.
[01:55:03]
ARE WE STILL DOWN STILL ON ONE LINE, LIKE QUEUING UP TO GET INTO THE LANDFILL? OH THE LINE. NO, THERE'S NO THERE'S NO WAY. YES.I'M SORRY. THE LINE ON THE LANDFILL IS BASICALLY WHEN IT RAINS IS WHEN WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE MUD, WHICH WE HAVE TO CREATE A ROCK ROAD TO GET UP ON TOP OF LANDFILL.
SO. OKAY. CAN'T DO WITHOUT MONEY. YES, SIR. SO MY QUESTION IS.
WELL, THERE'S MORE THAN ONE. BUT FIRST, WHEN WHEN ARE WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START SELLING OUR METHANE? DO YOU KNOW WHEN THAT LINE IS GOING TO COME ON. AND WE'RE GOING TO START ON THE GAS LINE.
YES. IT SHOULD BE DONE IN OCTOBER. WE SHOULD START SEEING SOME ACTUALLY THE GAS GOING ACROSS.
AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE. DO WE SEE DO WE HAVE ANY ANTICIPATED REVENUES FROM THAT HAVE.
HAVE WE DONE ANY ANYTHING ON THAT? NO, I HAVE HEARD THE QUALITY OF THE GAS IS GOOD.
SO THAT'S I HAVE HEARD THAT, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD THE VOLUME YET UNTIL WE BRING DOWN SOME OF THE WATER IN THE LANDFILL SO THAT WE CAN UP THE GENERATOR, UP THE GAS RATE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PRODUCE.
OKAY. AND MY OTHER QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW HOW MANY CITIES IN TEXAS PROVIDE FREE REFUGE PICKUP WHEN I SAY THE CLAW, BASICALLY THAT COMES IN AND PICKS UP THE MOST SOLID WASTE TREES? YEAH. MOST CITIES THAT I'VE WORKED IN WHEN IT COMES TO HEAVY TRASH, IT'S ONCE A MONTH AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S IT ONCE A MONTH FOR, YOU KNOW, EVERY LOCATION WITHIN THE CITY.
HAVE YOU LOOKED AT WHAT KIND OF SAVINGS THAT WOULD BRING IF WE JUST DID THAT ONCE A MONTH? I HAVE NOT, BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THIS LOCATION IS THE RAIN, THE HEAVY VEGETATION.
UNLESS THE PEOPLE THAT CUT IT DOWN TAKE IT TO THE LANDFILL, IT'S GOING TO BUILD UP.
RIGHT NOW WE WE DO HEAVY TRASH IS CONSISTENT ABOUT 750 TONS A WEEK.
OKAY. THAT IS A WEEK. RIGHT? SO AND WE PICK UP EVERY WEEK, WE ALSO PICK UP ABOUT 700 TO 800 TONS OF REGULAR GARBAGE, RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE EVERY WEEK. THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE THOUSAND 200 TIRES THAT WE PICK UP AND HAVE TO PROCESS AND OR SHIP OUT, WHICH THERE'S NO REVENUE FOR. THAT'S ALL WHAT WE DO FOR THE CITY.
WHAT IS THAT COSTING US? WELL 121,200 TIRES A MONTH IS WHAT WE RECEIVE JUST ON THE TIRES TO DISPOSE ONE TRAILER.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT PROBABLY TWO TRAILERS THAT WE SHIPPED IT ALL 2 TO 3 TRAILERS THAT WE SHIPPED IT ALL. THAT'S ABOUT, LET'S SAY $12,000 JUST TO SHIP THAT TRAILER OUT FULLY LOADED. AND WE DON'T CHARGE AND WE DON'T CHARGE.
SO. SO NOT FOR TODAY, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS.
HAVING SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LEVEL OF SERVICE AND WHAT, WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO SEE MOVING FORWARD AND WHAT IMPACT THAT MIGHT HAVE ON, ON THE BUDGET. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU.
YOU GOT A QUESTION? YES. THE TIRES, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT SHIPPING OUT? ARE THOSE THAT ARE TIRES BROUGHT INTO THE LANDFILL OR IS THAT STUFF Y'ALL PICKING UP ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET? THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE PICK UP. OKAY. AND WE GET CALLS AND WE, WE WE EITHER GET RESIDENTS CALLING US FOR TIRES OR THE DRIVERS AS THEY'RE DRIVING BY, SEES TIRES, THEY CALL THEM IN. SO WE SEGREGATE THOSE AND SEND A TRUCK OUT TO GO PICK THOSE UP WHEN WE HAVE IT AVAILABLE.
IF YOU HAVE TIRES, PEOPLE DROPPING, BRINGING TIRES TO THE LANDFILL, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU CAN CHARGE THEM FOR? OH, WE ARE CHARGING FOR THAT. YES, THOSE DO GET CHARGED FOR, BUT EVERYTHING WE PICK UP, ANYTHING SOLID WASTE TOUCHES.
THE REFUGE ON THE ON THE CURBS, BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF TREE SERVICES WILL GIVE YOU TWO PRICES.
SAME THING GOES WITH REMODELING. THEY'LL SAY, HEY, WE'LL BRING A TRAILER OUT HERE, OR WE'LL JUST DUMP EVERYTHING ON YOUR CURB AND LET THE CITY PICK IT UP. AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHARGES SUPPOSED TO.
WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO PICK UP CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS. THAT'S.
BUT WE DO. WE WE'RE I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT I I'M JUST THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
[02:00:06]
CORRECT. EVERYTHING THAT WE HANDLE. THERE IS NO REVENUE FOR HIM. THANK YOU.THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SURE. SO ON THAT SAME NOTE, YOU KNOW, AS BUSINESS OWNERS AND I KNOW THERE'S A BUNCH OF US UP HERE THAT ARE BUSINESS OWNERS, WHEN A DEPARTMENT OR A COMPANY IS LOSING MONEY, YOU DON'T JUST LOOK AT YOUR ADMINISTRATION STAFF, YOU BEGIN TO LOOK AT THE EFFICIENCY OF EACH DEPARTMENT.
AND A DEPARTMENT HEAD MAY NOT THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE CUT.
A GOOD EXAMPLE IS GOOD SAM. THAT SAVED US $300,000, BUT IT WASN'T ASKED TO BE CUT FROM THE BUDGET.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN EFFICIENCY STUDY. YOU KNOW, WATER DEPARTMENT, DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT.
HOW MANY MEN DO WE ACTUALLY NEED ON A CREW? HOW MANY MEN ARE ACTUALLY WORKING? YOU KNOW, DO AN EFFICIENCY STUDY. YOU KNOW, LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO, YOU KNOW. IF A DEPARTMENT IS LOSING MONEY OR ONE OF MY RIGS IS LOSING MONEY OR STORES LOSING MONEY.
WE DON'T GO, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO START CUTTING UP OUR STAFF.
WE GO TO THAT STORE AND WE FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. DO WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE, STAFF THERE? YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT'S GOING ON? AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THAT OR IF WE'VE JUST SAID, HEY, EACH DEPARTMENT HEAD, FIND WHAT YOU CAN CUT AND LET'S CUT IT VERSUS SAYING, LET'S, LET'S SEE HOW EFFICIENT EACH DEPARTMENT IS RUNNING AND CAN IT RUN BETTER? SO THAT'S JUST MY THANK YOU. OKAY. NOTHING ELSE ON THE SOLID WASTE, WE'LL MOVE INTO PROPOSED CHANGES TO WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES.
JUST A QUICK HISTORY ON WASTEWATER AND WATER RATE INCREASES.
AS YOU ALL RECALL, WE HAD HDR PRESENT A AN ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AT TWO SEPARATE WORKSHOPS THIS SUMMER ON THE BUDGET. THIS IS A PORTION OF THE OF THE PROPOSAL THAT GRADY REED PRESENTED BACK THEN. AND SO YOU CAN SEE THIS IS YOU SEE THE NEW DEBT BEING ADDED.
SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING AGAIN IS FORECASTING BASED ON REVENUE PROJECTIONS AND NEW DEBT OBLIGATIONS.
AND SO THE PROPOSAL IN THE BUDGET IS NO INCREASE TO WATER RATES.
AND SO THERE WERE SEVERAL PROPOSALS THAT WERE PRESENTED.
AND SO WE WERE RECOMMENDING SCENARIO B, WHICH IS A 5% INCREASE IN THE DEMAND CHARGE, WHICH IS KIND OF YOUR BASE CHARGE FOR ALL NON-SENIOR CUSTOMERS. NO INCREASE TO THE VOLUME RATE FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL.
AND THEN A 17 INCREASE RATE FOR THE OTHERS, WHICH TENDS TO BE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL.
AND THIS IS A BREAKDOWN THAT HDR PROPOSED. AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, THE SENIOR CITIZEN 5/8 METER, NO INCREASE. BUT THAT'S WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
SO THIS IS THE MR. MAYOR IS OKAY IF I. YES. GO AHEAD.
SO THIS IS THIS IS THIS THE SAME GENTLEMAN THAT CAME AND SPOKE TO US? AND I ASKED HIM, I SAID, HOW CAN WE HAVE GOOD NUMBERS WHEN WE HAVEN'T GIVEN THEM GOOD NUMBERS BECAUSE WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW HOW MUCH IS NOT BEING COLLECTED ON OUR.
AND HE ACTUALLY LAST YEAR CAME TO US AND SAID, WE NEED TO DO A WATER RATE INCREASE, AND THEN CAME BACK THIS TIME AND SAID MY NUMBERS WERE WRONG. I DIDN'T NEED TO. WE DIDN'T NEED TO. SO BEFORE WE START RAISING RATES, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE 100% COLLECTION ON THESE.
I MEAN, WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE NOT COLLECTING.
AND THEN WE HAVE GOOD NUMBERS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN CHOOSE FROM.
AND SO THAT'S AGAIN, MY, MY THOUGHTS. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. AND THIS IS JUST A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF THE MANY FUNDS THAT WERE, WELL, SOME OF THE FUNDS WE ACTUALLY HAVE MORE THAN THIS, BUT THESE ARE THE PRIMARY FUNDS THAT THE REVENUES VERSUS EXPENDITURES AND KIND OF WHERE WE END UP.
AND AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FUND, THE MUNICIPAL TRANSIT FUND IS, AS IS TYPICAL,
[02:05:02]
WILL HAVE TO BE SHORED UP. AND WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THE, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. GO AHEAD. ALL RIGHT.SO AND AGAIN YOU'VE SEEN THESE SLIDES BEFORE.
THIS IS JUST THE FY 27 THROUGH 2031 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
YOU'LL SEE THERE THE I GUESS KIND OF SALMON COLORED ON THIS SCREEN.
AT YOUR COE, THE GOLD INDICATES THOSE ARE WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER MORE GEO.
A LOT OF THOSE IN GOLD CAME OFF OF THE THE BOND ELECTION.
I THINK THERE WAS A, THE IDEA WAS TO KEEP THEM IN HERE, BUT SET THEM BEYOND FY 28, WHICH WOULD BE THE EARLIEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF ANY KIND OF DEBT ISSUED OR A NEW NEW BOND ELECTION. BUT AGAIN, THE IDEA IS THIS PLAN IS LOOKED AT EVERY YEAR AS PART OF THE BUDGET AND CAN BE ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY. YOU ALSO SEE A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS ARE PUSHED, PUSHED OUT TO FUTURE CONSIDERATION.
SO THESE ARE THE PARKS COMPONENTS. AGAIN SOME OF THESE ARE UNDERWAY CURRENTLY. THIS IS THE FACILITIES.
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT. AGAIN MOST OF THESE A LOT OF THESE WERE TIED UP IN THE BOND CONSIDERATION.
SO THEY'VE BEEN PUSHED OUT TO FUTURE CONSIDERATION.
AND THEN WE GET INTO THE WATER. AND YOU CAN SEE, I BELIEVE THE GREEN IS REVENUE BONDS.
THE BLUE IS GRANT FUNDING. SO YOU CAN SEE. PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS HERE.
AND THEN THIS IS THE WASTEWATER SIDE. SO LIKE THE 23RD STREET SEWER TRUNK LINE, YOU'LL SEE ALL THE AND AGAIN, YOU ALL HAVE THE CIP IN FRONT OF YOU. YES, SIR.
CHRIS. JUST A QUICK QUESTION ON THAT SLIDE WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 9 MILLION NEXT YEAR IN WATER IMPROVEMENTS. I THINK IT WAS THE NEXT ONE. YES.
SO ANNUAL WATER LINE REPLACEMENT. 9.1 MILLION FOR 2027.
WHAT DOES THAT 9.1 MILLION INCLUDE? IS THAT JUST THE COST OF GOING OUT AND ACTUALLY REPLACING THE LINE AND THE MATERIALS? OR DOES THAT 9.1 MILLION INCLUDE THE SALARIES THAT WE PAY WATER PEOPLE TO, TO DO? YEAH. THIS IS PIPE BURSTING. MOLLY VILLAREAL TO SPEAK TO THAT.
SO WAGES AND SALARIES OF WATER UTILITIES EMPLOYEES ARE PAID OUT OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET.
THE $9 MILLION OF ANNUAL WATER LINE REPLACEMENT REPRESENTS THE PART OF THAT IS THE INVENTORY IN THE WATER UTILITIES WAREHOUSE FOR THE WATER LINES, VALVES AND FITTINGS.
IN ADDITION TO THE MINI WATER LINE REPLACEMENT PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, SUCH AS THE PREVIOUSLY THE WATER, THE GLADYS WATER LINE REPLACEMENT. OKAY. HIGHLANDS WATER LINE REPLACEMENT AS PART OF THE HIGHLAND PROJECT IS PAID OUT OF THIS LINE ITEM AND SIMILAR PROJECTS.
THAT'S CORRECT. AND WE ARRIVED AT THAT APPROXIMATE 9 MILLION PER YEAR BECAUSE OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO REPLACE APPROXIMATELY 1 TO 1.4% OF THE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM ANNUALLY. OKAY. AND MAYBE I'M JUST NOT SEEING IT REALLY QUICKLY, BUT WHAT, WHAT'S THE AMOUNT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND NEXT YEAR TO IMPROVE THE SEWER LINES SO THEY DON'T BACK UP IN PEOPLE'S HOUSES.
SO THAT'S COVERED IN A COUPLE OF THEM. SO WE HAVE THE COUNTERPART TO THE WATER ANNUAL WATER LINE.
[02:10:05]
AND ALSO OUR ANNUAL LIFT STATION REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH IS ESTIMATED FOR FY 27 AT $940,000, IN ADDITION TO MULTIPLE INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS THAT HAVE THEIR SEPARATE LINE ITEMS. WHAT'S GOING ON DOWNTOWN? WHY ARE WE SPENDING 4.6 MILLION ON SEWER THERE? THAT SEEMS LIKE A BIG NUMBER, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE CALLS WE GET ABOUT SEWER AREN'T NECESSARILY DOWNTOWN AND THEY'RE IN THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.SO PART OF THAT IS RELATED TO CONVERTING TO EXISTING, DETERIORATING DOWNTOWN LIFT STATIONS, TO A NEW CENTRAL LIFT STATION AND TO REHABILITATE THE EXISTING 30 INCH CONCRETE SANITARY SEWER FORCE MAIN.
AND WILL THAT HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON SEWER ISSUES ACROSS THE CITY, OR IS IT MAINLY JUST FOCUSED ON DOWNTOWN? IT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE AREA NORTH OF DOWNTOWN.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE VICINITY OF JUST NORTH OF DOWNTOWN FROM ABOUT THE I-10, I'M SORRY, MAGNOLIA EAST AND THEN UP NORTH PAST EAST. LUCAS.
I HEAR YOU. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I GENERALLY TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CAN'T FLUSH THEIR TOILETS.
I SAY WE SPEND 6 MILLION A YEAR TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT OUT OF OUR ENTERPRISE FUND.
WHAT IS AND I DON'T NEED AN EXACT AMOUNT, BUT JUST A BALLPARK FIGURE.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SPEND TO IMPROVE THAT FOR FISCAL YEAR 27? COULD YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION? SO GENERALLY, I TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FLUSH THEIR TOILETS, I SAY THE CITY SPENDS ABOUT $6 MILLION A YEAR IMPROVING OUR SEWER LINES SO THAT YOU CAN FLUSH YOUR TOILET WHEN IT RAINS.
IT LOOKS LIKE IN 2027, WE'RE SPENDING A LOT MORE THAN 6 MILLION, 26, 6 MILLION.
YES. OKAY. SO THAT'S WHAT WE CAN SAY. THAT'S OPERATIONS.
SO WE GET TO SAY 26 MILLION. YES, SIR. OKAY, GREAT.
OKAY. IF NO OTHER QUESTIONS, LET'S SEE.
THESE ARE MORE CO STREET, STREET AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS.
AND IN CONCLUSION. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, WHILE WE CAN'T CORRECT COURSE IN A SINGLE BUDGET YEAR, WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE ON THE RIGHT COURSE. I WILL SAY THAT CITY STAFF IS DOING AMAZING JOB, AMAZING JOB, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO SERVE THE CITIZENS THE STAFF, THE DIRECTORS, THE DIVISION MANAGERS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROCESS AS WE GO INTO 2027 TO TRY TO FIND SOME EFFICIENCIES.
SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE AND ARE DOING.
AND THEN FINALLY SPECIAL THANKS TO LAURA CLARK, OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, BRIDGET EVICK, OUR CFO, AMANDA HILL, OUR ASSISTANT CFO, AND AMY SCHMIDT, OUR BUDGET OFFICER, WHO HAS SPENT TIRELESS HOURS WORKING ON GETTING US TO THIS POINT.
BUT WITH THAT ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN TURNER, THIS KIND OF CAME UP BRIEFLY EARLIER, BUT, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, I KNOW THE CITY WANTED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF REVENUE IN CASE OF A STORM, THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO GET EVERYTHING BACK GOING.
BUT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG OR TO MY UNDERSTANDING, IF IT'S A STORM, DON'T WE NOW PAY A DEDUCTIBLE VERSUS HAVING TO PAY EVERYTHING OUT OF POCKET UP FRONT? WELL, I THINK THE THE BIGGER CONCERN IS OPERATING EXPENSES IMMEDIATELY DURING AND AFTER BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL EXPENSES.
SO THAT'S THE BIG CONCERN. YOU KNOW, TRADITIONALLY WE'VE GOTTEN FEMA FUNDING FOR CERTAIN THINGS, BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE HARDER AND HARDER PROPOSITION SIMILAR TO THE COVID SITUATION.
[02:15:04]
YES. AND SO I THINK YOU GO BACK TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS A COMFORTABLE FUND BALANCE.AGAIN, THE POLICY IS 20%. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE GFOA, THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING.
SO. IT'S JUST IT'S ALL TOGETHER. I MEAN, EVERY CITY FACES CHALLENGES.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR HISTORY AND EXPERIENCE WITH STORMS, WE KNOW THAT THEY CAN THEY CAN BE EXPENSIVE PROPOSITIONS, AND THEY CAN TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY TO RECOVER FROM.
BUT BUT THE QUESTION I JUST WANT TO KNOW IN CASE OF A STORM, DO WE PAY A DEDUCTIBLE NOW? OR IS IT THE WAY IT WAS STRUCTURED WHEN WE'RE EXPERIENCING THE STORMS WHERE THE CITY HAD TO PUT THE FUNDING UP AND WE HAD TO WAIT TO BE REIMBURSED? I MEAN, THE WAY WE'RE INSURED NOW, WE'RE SELF I MEAN, WE'RE ASSURED THROUGH TIME.
YEAH. YEAH. NOW WE'RE IN THE POOL. SO IT SHOULD BE IT DEPENDS ON THE CLAIM.
BUT ALSO THERE ARE OTHER EXPENSES THAT GO WITH THE STORM.
SO IF YOU'RE ASKING SOLELY ON DAMAGE, A LOT OF OUR A LOT OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD BE COVERED BY CLAIMS. BUT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER INTANGIBLE COSTS, FOR EXAMPLE, DOING A CITY SHUTDOWN.
CONTRACTS FOR POLICE AND FIRE HAVE SHUT DOWN.
PAY WHICH IS SUBSTANTIAL. CALL BACK PAY CALLS INTO QUESTION.
SO THAT'S DIFFERENT AND SEPARATE FROM OUR NORMAL OVERTIME AND NORMAL GENERAL PAYROLL EXPENSES.
THERE ARE ALSO SOME THINGS THAT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE COVERED BY THE STORM ITSELF OR THAT WE WOULD NEED TO REMEDY QUICKLY IN ORDER TO RESUME NORMAL CITY FUNCTIONS. SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE WAS DAMAGE DONE TO THE JEFFERSON THEATER WE COULD POTENTIALLY THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY DISRUPT SOME OF OUR EVENTS FACILITIES, OPERATION AND REVENUES.
BUT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO CITY AS A WHOLE WOULD BE ABLE TO FUNCTION CORRECT.
IF THERE WAS DAMAGE OR SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DONE TO CITY HALL WHERE A PRIMARY FUNCTIONS FOR IT AS WELL AS THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS FOR CITY WATER FUNCTIONS. WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO CONSIDER PAYING THOSE EXPENSES UP FRONT WHILE WE WAITED ON THAT BEFORE WE WAITED ON THAT CLAIM TO BE PROCESSED.
SAME FOR IF THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO OUR WATER FACILITIES THAT HAPPENED DURING HARVEY, WE HAD TO UPFRONT A LOT OF THAT COST JUST BECAUSE THE WATER SYSTEM ITSELF WAS IMPACTED.
AT THAT TIME, THE CITY WOULD HAVE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION TO WHETHER OR NOT WE WAITED FOR OUR CLAIM TO BE PROCESSED BEFORE RESTORING CLEAN WATER AND POTABLE WATER TO OUR CITIZENS, OR WHETHER OR NOT WE WANTED TO UPFRONT THE COST TO PERFORM THIS, THE REPAIRS OURSELVES IN ORDER TO GET THE CITY BACK OPERATIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL.
SO THOSE ARE SOME SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER AND SEE.
AND THE THING ABOUT THAT IS, AND I KNOW THAT'S AT A LEVEL OF FEDERAL LEVEL, WE CAN'T CONTROL.
AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, THAT HASN'T HAPPENED. AND THAT'S WHAT SCARES ME IN THESE SITUATIONS.
WHEN YOU SPEND THESE FUNDS UPFRONT WITH THE EXPECTATION OF GETTING THEM BACK IN RETURN.
SO IN THOSE REGARDS, LIKE EVEN WHEN WE'RE SPENDING FOR THOSE THINGS, WE DOCUMENT FOR THE ABILITY TO BE REIMBURSED BY FEMA, BUT IT'S NEVER WITH THE INTENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET A FULL REIMBURSEMENT.
WE OPERATE UNDER THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN NORMAL OPERATIONS.
LIKE WHAT DO WE, WHAT'S THE BARE MINIMUM THAT WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO GET THE CITY BACK TO A FUNCTIONAL POINT TO WHERE WE'RE NO LONGER ON YOU KNOW, A CITY CLOSURE BECAUSE A CITY CLOSURE IS EXPENSIVE, RIGHT? WE'RE PAYING EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ON SALARY WHO ARE NOT HERE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE OUR EMS AND, AND FIRE OUR PUBLIC SERVICE GUYS WHO ARE WORKING ESSENTIALLY AROUND THE CLOCK TO MAINTAIN THE CITY, BUT ALSO TO DO ADDITIONAL DUTIES TO MAKE SURE THE CITY STAYS SAFE AND FUNCTIONAL.
SO PER THEIR CONTRACT, THEY'RE PAID AT A DIFFERENT RATE UNDER THE CITY CLOSURE PAYMENTS.
BUT WE'RE NOT JUST DOING IT BECAUSE, OH, WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR MONEY BACK. WE'RE, WE'RE DOING IT BECAUSE THAT'S THE BARE MINIMUM WE HAVE TO DO TO MAINTAIN A FUNCTIONAL AND OPERATIONAL CITY. SO WHILE EVERYBODY ELSE IS STAYCATIONING AND BUNKERED UP AT HOME, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL OUT WORKING TO GET THE CITY BACK TO A FUNCTIONAL STATE.
SO DURING COVID, OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY ELSE WAS IS AT HOME AND THEY WERE SOCIALLY DISTANCING, BUT WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE THE CITY OPERATE, RIGHT.
[02:20:02]
PEOPLE STILL WANTED TO BUILD, PEOPLE STILL NEEDED TO PAY THEIR WATER BILLS AND PEOPLE THE CITY GOVERNMENT STILL NEEDED TO BE.TO DO SO. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY. HOW CAN WE MAINTAIN CITY OPERATIONS AND STILL PROTECT THE CITIZENS, BUT ALSO THE EMPLOYEES? A LOT OF OUR COVID EXPENSES WEREN'T COVERED IS BECAUSE FEMA SAID THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD HAVE NORMALLY DID ANYWAY.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF LIKE MECHANICS THAT GO INTO PLACE WITH THAT. BUT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING FORWARD, IF WE HAD ANOTHER COVID, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE MORE TECHNOLOGY IN PLACE TO ADDRESS IT.
I'M KNOCK ON WOOD WHEN I SAY THAT, BUT IF WE HAD A HURRICANE NEXT MONTH, I SUPPOSED TO SAY IT AT ALL? SORRY, MAYOR. BUT IF YOU HAD A HURRICANE NEXT MONTH THE THING WE KNOW THAT FEMA HAS IS TRADITIONALLY BECOMING HARDER TO GET REIMBURSED, RIGHT? BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT IT TAKES YEARS FOR THAT MONEY TO COME BACK IF THERE'S A DAMAGE TO OUR BUILDING, LIKE ANY OTHER CLAIM, IT WOULD BE PROCESSED THROUGH OUR INSURANCE.
RIGHT. HOW LONG DO YOU WANT TO THE FIRST CITY OPERATIONS BEFORE WE PROCESSED THAT.
HOW LONG DO YOU WANT TO WAIT BEFORE WE RESTORE SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS? SO HAVING THE MONEY UP FRONT AND THEN GETTING THE MONEY BACK FROM OUR INSURER, WE JUST SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE SPENT. WE KNOW THIS WILL COME AS OPPOSED TO FIGHTING WITH THEM ON WHAT A VALUABLE WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO REPAIR IT AND GETTING THE QUOTES.
THIS IS WHAT IT COSTS, RIGHT? WE HAVE EMERGENCY CONTRACTS IN PLACE. THIS IS WHAT IT COSTS. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO RESTORE SERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS TO GET IT BACK ON TRACK, AS OPPOSED TO SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO SUBMIT THE CLAIM TO OUR INSURANCE, GO TO THE ADJUSTER PROCESS, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, THEN GO OUT FOR BID, THEN HAVE THE PEOPLE COME IN RFP AND THEN DO THE WORK.
WE GET TO USE THE EMERGENCY CONTRACTS WE HAD IN PLACE AFTER THE DISASTER IS SETTLED AND THE DOES ITS THING AND THERE'S NO LONGER AN EMERGENCY BECAUSE AT SOME POINT YOU'RE SAYING YOUR CITIZENS HAVE BEEN WITHOUT SERVICE FOR 30 DAYS VERSUS YOUR CITIZENS IN THE SERVICE FOR THREE MONTHS, WHEREAS THE EXIGENCY. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT KIND OF COME INTO PLAY WHEN WE'RE WHEN WE'RE WEIGHING ON THAT.
AND EVEN THOUGH WE, WE DEFINITELY HAVE GOOD INSURANCE COVERAGE AND CLAIMS THROUGH TML WE ARE ALSO HAVING TO WEIGH WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S AN EXPENSE THAT WE BETTER SERVE PAYING CASH VERSUS PAYING THE DEDUCTIBLE IN, IN HAVING THOSE CLAIMS INCREASE OUR COVERAGE, OUR PREMIUM COSTS DOWN THE LINE. AND I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF A TOUGH SITUATION TO BE IN DUE TO, DUE TO WE DO ARE NOW SET UP THROUGH THE RISK POOL, BUT WE HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED IT.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY ON STAFF HAS EXPERIENCED IT.
THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT IS THE.
TML DOES COME IN VERY QUICKLY AND THEY DO ASSIST VERY WELL IN HELPING TO RESTORE.
BUT THE ABILITY FOR YOU TO INFLUX CASH TO, TO SET UP TEMPORARY AND POTENTIAL SERVICES IS ALWAYS A BENEFIT AS OPPOSED TO WAITING FOR YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO CUT A CHECK. IT'S NOT LIKE THEY WAIT WHEN, WHEN IT'S BEEN, WHEN IT'S A TOTAL LOSS AND IT'S VERY DEVASTATING.
THEY DO COME IN QUICKLY. THEY DO DO A GOOD JOB.
AND SO I'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND HOW THEY WORK FOR CITIES.
HOWEVER THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER CITIES AROUND US THAT ARE ALSO A PART OF THE RISK POOL WHEN THAT HAPPENED AND THAT THAT AREA WAS VERY ISOLATED TO THAT, THAT ONE CITY IN THOSE FEW COUNTIES. BUT BEAUMONT, PORT ARTHUR, ORANGE GROVES, TYPICALLY WHEN WE GET HIT, THEY ALL GET HIT. THEY'RE ALSO PART OF THE RISK POOL AS WELL.
SO THEN I'M JUST, IT ALSO HAS TO SPREAD THOSE RESOURCES ACROSS.
THEY WOULD ALL WANT THEIR SERVICES RESTORED. SO THEN IT THEN IT BECOMES A QUEUING SITUATION, RIGHT? HOW HOW QUICKLY CAN THEY PROCESS THE CLAIMS? AND THEY'RE THEY'RE AN ORGANIZATION JUST LIKE US WHERE THEY HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF STAFF AND RESOURCES AS WELL.
OKAY. THANK YOU. I WOULD SAY ALSO, IN ADDITION TO THE INSURANCE PIECE I KNOW I WASN'T HERE FOR THE LAST COUPLE STORMS, BUT DEBRIS, THE DEBRIS CONTRACT IS A REALLY BIG UPFRONT COST AND WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY CONTRACT.
[02:25:05]
SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING TO CONSIDER. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT NOT KNOWING IF IT'LL EVEN BE RECOVERED BACK.THAT PUTS US IN A VERY TOUGH SITUATION. THAT'S CORRECT.
OKAY. NOTHING ELSE. THAT'S ALL WE HAVE. OKAY.
SO AT THIS POINT, IT'S TIME TO FOR A MOTION TO FOR RESOLUTION RECEIVING THE PROPOSED FY 27 BUDGET AND SCHEDULING A PUBLIC HEARING.
THERE WE GO. IS THERE A MOTION? THIS IS ITEM TWO.
ITEM TWO. YES, SIR. SO MOVED. SECOND. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND.
FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. NOW, MR.
[1. Council to consider establishing and taking a record vote on the Proposed 2026 tax rate and schedule a public hearing.]
CITY MANAGER, WOULD YOU TAKE US INTO THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER ONE? YES, SIR. ITEM NUMBER ONE IS TO CONSIDER ESTABLISHING AND TAKING A RECORD VOTE ON THE PROPOSED 2026 TAX RATE AND SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING.CHAPTER 26 OF THE PROPERTY TAX CODE REQUIRES TAXING UNITS TO COMPLY WITH TRUTH AND TAXATION LAWS IN ADOPTING THEIR TAX RATE, AND REQUIRES THE GOVERNING BODY TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING WHEN THE PROPOSED TAX RATE EXCEEDS THE LOWER OF THE NO NEW REVENUE OR VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS COUNCIL ESTABLISHING A PROPOSED TAX RATE REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET, EQUAL TO A TAX OF 0.69500 PER $100 OF VALUATION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 26 OF THE PROPERTY TAX CODE. IF THE PROPOSED RATE EXCEEDS THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE OF 0.683976 PER $100, OR THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE OF 0.764867 PER $100. CITY COUNCIL MUST TAKE A RECORD VOTE TO PLACE THE PROPOSAL TO ADOPT A RATE NOT HIGHER THAN THE PROPOSED RATE ON THE AGENDA OF THE FUTURE MEETING.
IF IT APPLIED TO THE SAME PROPERTIES TAXED IN BOTH YEARS, THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.695000 PER $100 OF VALUATION EXCEEDS THE NO NEW TAX REVENUE TAX RATE OF 0.683976 PER $100 BY 0.1.
EXCUSE ME, 0.011024 PER $100 VALUATION, OR 1.61% IF THE MOTION PASSES, A PUBLIC HEARING MUST BE SCHEDULED. ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS THAT A PUBLIC HEARING BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 8TH AT 1:30 P.M.
IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS. CITY CLERK WILL PUBLISH THE NOTICE OF THIS MEETING.
THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. ALL RIGHT.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE? THERE IS A MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER ONE? YES.
IN SEPTEMBER? YES. NOT TODAY, BUT IN SEPTEMBER.
WE'RE NOT SETTING THE TAX RATE. THIS IS WE COULD GO UP TO THAT AMOUNT.
BUT WHATEVER ENDS UP GETTING SET, WE CAN GO DOWN.
THIS IS THE PRELIMINARY TAX RATE. IF WE VOTED THIS PASS AND WE TAKE YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS, YOU LOST YOUR MIND AT 69.5. AND AND WE DO THAT IN ORDER FOR THIS TO PASS AT THE SEPTEMBER 8TH HEARING, IT'S GOING TO TAKE FIVE VOTES.
SEPTEMBER 22ND. YES, SIR. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT.
FIVE AFFIRMATIVE VOTES TO TO APPROVE THAT RATE.
OKAY. SO BUT WE COULD APPROVE IT TODAY WITH ONLY FOUR.
YES, SIR. IT MAKES NO SENSE, BUT OKAY. JUST STATE LAW.
I'M I'M AGAINST IT. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.
SO THIS WILL BE A RECORD VOTE. SO THAT JUST MEANS THAT WHEN I SAY WHO'S FART WE'RE GOING TO, WE'LL JUST GO DOWN THAT. SHE'LL CALL. SHE'LL CALL MAYOR WEST FOR MAYOR PRO TEM CRENSHAW AGAINST COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER, COUNCILMEMBER DARIO, COUNCILMEMBER HILLIARD AGAINST, COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS
[02:30:06]
AGAINST. AND COUNCILMEMBER SHERWOOD, THANK YOU.OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER MOTION BECAUSE WE DO NEED A.
IF WE GO TO THE .683976, WILL WE. WE STILL SET A PUBLIC HEARING, CORRECT? AND I'M JUST CLARIFYING THE THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE OF POINT.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY 0.683. THAT WOULD REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING.
BUT WHO'S ANSWERING THAT? OH. AND ALSO FOR CLARIFICATION, IT CAN BE LET'S JUST SAY IT DOES REQUIRE A HEARING IN SEPTEMBER.
IT ONLY REQUIRES FOUR VOTES BECAUSE IT'S THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
RIGHT. CORRECT. IF YOU DON'T GO ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE.
YES. IT'S A SIMPLE MAJORITY. YES. IF YOU GO TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THEN NO.
NO HEARING IS REQUIRED. SO WE COULD EFFECTIVELY DO THIS TODAY.
BUT AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS BECAUSE THAT WAS AS MUCH FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, AM I? AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. YOU STILL HAVE TO SET YOUR PROPOSED RATE AND YOU WILL STILL HAVE TO ADOPT THAT RATE IN SEPTEMBER.
WE'RE ONLY GETTING AWAY FROM THE HEARING COMPONENT OF THAT.
GOTCHA. SO WITHOUT A HEARING AND IN ORDER TO APPROVE THIS RATE IN SEPTEMBER, WHEN WE OFFICIALLY ADOPT IT, IT WOULD ONLY REQUIRE A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF FOUR VOTES.
CORRECT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL NEED A NEW MOTION.
I'LL MAKE ONE. OKAY. I MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE PROPOSED TAX RATE TO THE .675963. SECOND. THERE IS A MOTION TO. AND WHERE IS THAT AMOUNT? OKAY. WHAT YOU'RE WHAT YOU'RE GOING WITH IS THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE GEO PLUS WHAT THE VOTERS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER. CAN YOU JUST SAY THAT JUST JUST IN CASE YOUR NUMBERS ARE OFF? CAN YOU JUST MAKE YOUR MOTIONS? THE CURRENT RATE. PLUS I MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE THE TAX RATE TO THE CURRENT RATE, PLUS THE ADDITION OF THE VOTER APPROVED GEO DEBT.
WHICH WOULD BE 0.67695. YOU'RE EFFECTIVELY ASKING US TO REDUCE THE GENERAL FUND EXPENSES JUST FOR CLARITY.
AND I THINK WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO EXPLAIN IS THAT WHATEVER YOU PROPOSE TODAY IS THE AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE CAPPED AT, YOU CAN ALWAYS LOWER IT AFTER YOUR SEPTEMBER 8TH MEETING, BUT YOU CAN NEVER GO NO HIGHER THAN WHAT YOU SAID.
YEAH. THIS IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE WERE GIVEN IN OUR LITTLE OPTION CHART.
AND IT'S THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE G O DEBT, WHICH THE VOTERS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER OF 2025.
AND THAT IS 0.67695. YES. BUT THAT AND THAT IS NOT THE ONLY DEBT THAT WE HAVE THOUGH.
THERE'S ADDITIONAL DEBT. SO ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE $0.03 THAT IS GOING TO THE FUND.
THAT FUND CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON DEBT THAT WE'VE ALREADY ISSUED.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE $0.02 FROM OUR GENERAL FUND, M AND O OPERATING EXPENSES.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE THAT TO DEBT SERVICE, WHICH MEANS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LESS REVENUE IN THE COMING YEAR THAN WE DO IN THIS YEAR, WHICH MEANS UNDERSTOOD NOW THAT THE GRAPH THAT WE SAW, SAW WHERE WE SAW THAT NUMBER WITH THE PROPOSED DEBT, WAS THAT CORRECT? SO THE $0.03 THAT WE WERE REFERRING TO WITH THE INS INCLUDES THE GEO, WHICH IS THE VOTERS APPROVED INCLUDES THE ADDITIONAL CO THAT WE'VE ALREADY YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY APPROVED. AND THE TAX NOTE THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. SO THAT THAT WILL COVER, WHICH IS THAT THE RATE OF 0.692 WILL COVER. IT'LL KEEP THE CURRENT RATE THE SAME AND IT'LL INCREASE THAT 3% FOR THAT ADDITIONAL DEBT.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT HIS MOTION IS.
[02:35:07]
SO WHICH MEANS IT WILL STILL HAVE TO WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE SOME M AND O TO COVER THE OTHER ADDITIONAL DEBT, BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE THE CO AND THE TAX NOTE THAT HAS TO BE IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED. IT HAS TO BE DONE. IT'S IN THE PROCESS, WHICH GOES TO MY EARLIER POINT, THAT I WOULD WISH THAT WE WOULD HAVE MADE A PROPOSAL ON THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE GEO DEBT, TO INCLUDE WHAT VOTERS WERE TOLD IN NOVEMBER OF 2025, WHEN WE SAID THAT IT WAS THE EFFECTIVE OF $3.14 A MONTH FOR A HOUSE OF VALUE OF 150,000. WELL, THAT WAS ONLY RELATED TO THE PROPOSITION.THE PROPOSITION, I KNOW, BUT THAT'S PEOPLE VOTED TO INCREASE THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILLS $3.14 A MONTH ON $150,000 HOUSE. TO ME, IT MAKES SENSE IF STAFF WOULD HAVE RECOMMENDED A RATE THAT REFLECTED WHAT THE VOTERS ALREADY APPROVED.
SO AND WE AND WHAT WE RECOMMENDED FROM THE LAST WORK SESSION WAS THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE ADDITIONAL DEBT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED, WHICH IS G, O, C, O AND TAX. NOT COMPLETELY UNDERSTOOD, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S HIS MOTION.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THAT NOW. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR THAT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE BEEN APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL OR PRIOR, CAN WE BRING UP THE, DOES THE SLIDE THAT HAS THAT AMOUNT HAVE THE CORRECT REDUCTION ON IT? YEAH. I MEAN, THE THE SLIDE I THINK, TINA, IF WE CAN GO BACK TO THE I BELIEVE IT'S 02,000,096, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PROPOSED RATE OF 6.95.
AND THEN I THINK WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED NOW, WHICH IS THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE GEO DEBT.
THE DIFFERENCE IS $2,000,096 765. BUT THAT'S DEBT THAT'S ALREADY GOT TO BE PAID.
WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? CORRECT. IT'LL COME OUT OF OUR M0.
M0 THE GENERAL. IT'LL HAVE TO BE. IT'LL HAVE TO BE CARVED OUT OF THE M AND M IF THAT LOOKS LIKE REDUCED SERVICES, IF THAT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING ELSE. I MEAN, THAT MONEY'S GOT TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. THEY JUST SAY IT, RIGHT? SO IT'LL IT'LL COME. IT'LL COME. IT'LL BE LESS THAN OUR M AND O PORTION OF OUR TAX RATE.
IT'LL HAVE TO BE MOVED OVER TO THE INS TO COVER THAT ADDITIONAL DEBT.
GETTING THERE. THAT WAS IT I THINK. MOTION AND A SECOND. THERE IT IS. SO IT'S THE .67695 WHICH IS THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE G.O. DEBT RATE. G.O. DEBT CORRECT. AND THEN THE SIX THE 0.692 IS THE CURRENT RATE PLUS TO COVER ALL OF OUR ADDITIONAL DEBT, WHICH IS THE COGO AND THE TAX NOTE. AND THAT'S THE NO NEW REVENUE.
THAT'S THE 0.692. OKAY. GOTCHA. ALL RIGHT. BUT CURRENTLY WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE G O DEBT RATHER THAN SAYING THE 0.67.
I'M GOING ON THE SECOND COLUMN. IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.
WE'RE GOING TO DO A RECORD VOTE ON THAT. WE WILL NEED TO. YEAH.
GREAT. IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, BEFORE I, I KNOW I HAVE A PERSPECTIVE AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BEING SAID.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ALSO REDUCING OUR GENERAL FUND TO OUR OPERATIONS TO M AND O, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING SOME FOR CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS THAT WE'VE ALREADY SPENT THE MONEY ON.
UNDERSTOOD. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. RECORD RECORD VOTE.
MAYOR WEST, I'M AGAINST THAT. COUNCILMAN MAYOR PRO TEM CRENSHAW.
APPROVE. COUNCILMEMBER TURNER AGAINST. COUNCILMEMBER DARIO AGAINST.
COUNCILMEMBER HILLIARD. APPROVE. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS FOR.
AND COUNCILMEMBER SHERWOOD. YES. THANK YOU. OKAY.
SO NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO ANOTHER. WE'RE GOING TO NEED ANOTHER.
AN EMOTION BECAUSE THAT ONE WAS. WE'VE HAD TWO DECLINES.
DON'T LOOK AT ME. I'M ASSUMING SOMEONE NEEDS TO MOVE FOR THE NO NEW REVENUE.
[02:40:01]
THAT WOULD BE MY ASSUMPTION. YES. IT WON'T BE ME.COME ON. COME ON. GREAT. WOULD BE ALL DEAD. IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO? I DON'T KNOW WHAT Y'ALL TRYING TO DO. OH, THE. NO NEW REVENUE.
WHAT WAS PROPOSED WAS THE 23 ADOPTED AS IT'S WRITTEN THERE, CORRECT? YES. SO WE'VE GOT WE'VE GOT TWO IN THERE NOW.
WE'VE GOT OF THE FOUR THE NO NEW REVENUE NUMBER AND THE CURRENT RATE PLUS ALL DEBT NUMBER.
SO THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE DEBT AND THE 2023 ADOPTED WHICH WAS PROPOSED HAVE BOTH BEEN DENIED.
YEAH. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CUT THE CUT THE.
SO THAT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT THEY'LL GO BACK TO AND HAVE TO BRING US.
THAT'S RIGHT. THEY WOULD BE IN THIS CASE THE NO.
NEW REVENUE TRIMMING 1.1 MILLION $214,200. WELL, WHAT IS THAT? BUT IT ISN'T CUTTING THE 2%. IT IT WOULD BE BASICALLY DIPPING DEEPER INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND.
AND SO OR OUR RESERVE. SO INSTEAD OF US BEING WHERE I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT AT 20%, THERE'S A GRAPH FOR THAT, RIGHT? WHAT, WHAT, WHAT PERCENTAGE ARE WE AT ON THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE? ARE WE AT 19.1? OKAY. AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.
IF WE DO APPROVE THAT, DO WE THEN LATER HAVE TO VOTE TO CHANGE THE ORDINANCE TO WHERE WE DON'T GO BELOW THE 20%? NO. SO IT'S NOT AN ORDINANCE. IT'S A FINANCIAL POLICY. SO IT'S YOUR POLICY THAT WAS ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION.
SO WE CAN JUST VIOLATE THE POLICY AND MOVE ON.
COUNCIL DOES A LOT. YOU YOU CAN AMEND THE POLICY AS PART OF THE ADOPTED BUDGET.
I LIKE THAT. ALL RIGHT. SO YOU SAID WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET THIS MONEY OUT THE RAINY DAY FUND.
I THOUGHT THIS WHOLE PLAN WAS FOR US TO STOP TAKING MONEY OUT THE RAINY DAY FUND TO PAY OUR BILLS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO ADOPT SOMETHING THAT MAKES US GO INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND TO PAY THE BILLS.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS TO ONLY GO INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND $600,000 INSTEAD OF 5 MILLION THIS YEAR.
SO. BUT IF WE GO TO THIS RATE, WE CAN WE'LL SHARPEN OUR PENCILS AND GO BACK AND TRY TO FIND SOME ADDITIONAL SAVINGS. BUT POTENTIALLY YOU MIGHT HAVE YOU, YOU CERTAINLY COULD GO FURTHER INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND.
AND THIS MIGHT ALSO, IF THIS MEANS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO SHARPEN OUR PENCILS, WHICH COULD EQUATE TO DEFERRING MAINTENANCE OR, OR, YOU KNOW, NOT BUYING NEW FLEET, THINGS CAN BREAK DOWN.
THINGS HAPPEN. RIGHT. UNDERSTOOD. YEAH. SO THAT COULD END UP OPENING DOORS TO OTHER REPAIR EXPENSES THAT WE AREN'T PLANNING ON. UNDERSTOOD.
AT THIS POINT, I'M WAITING FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE KEEPING TRACK, THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE HAVE NOT BEEN PROPOSED ARE THE CURRENT ADOPTED, THE NO NEW REVENUE, THE CURRENT PLUS ALL DEBT, THE ADOPTED IN 2018 AND THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
SO THE PROPOSED IN THE CURRENT PLUS GEO HAVE BOTH BEEN ADOPTED DOESN'T INCLUDE THE.
WHAT THE BOND ELECTION. SO THE CURRENT ADOPTED DOESN'T INCLUDE.
BUT I'M JUST SAYING WHAT HASN'T. A MOTION HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE AND FAILED.
OF OTHER TWO. WE'VE REJECTED THOSE TWO. THOSE TWO? I'VE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THE TWO BETWEEN THERE.
WELL, ALL OF THEM ARE STILL AT PLAY. THAT IS TRUE.
THAT IS TRUE. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, THESE ARE THE SCENARIOS WE HAVE GIVEN YOU.
[02:45:02]
YOU'RE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO DO THAT. BUT A FLAT SIX NINE WOULD ALSO REQUIRE A FIVE VOTES.YES, SIR. IT WOULD. ANYTHING ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE. I MEAN, LET'S JUST BE REALISTIC, RIGHT? I'M JUST I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING TO GET TO FOUR VOTES AND.
YOU MADE THE MOTION AND GET IT GET PASSED. WHY DON'T YOU MAKE A MOTION FOR THE NEW REVENUE? WHY DON'T YOU, Y'ALL? Y'ALL CAN MUTE YOUR MIC.
I WANT TO KNOW WHY WOULD YOU VOTE AGAINST THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE GEO DEBT? WE GOT TO PAY THAT. THAT'S THAT'S RIGHT THERE.
THAT 0.6950. YOU JUST VOTED AGAINST THAT. WE JUST MADE A OH NO I DIDN'T.
I JUST MADE A MOTION FOR IT. YOU MADE A MOTION AND YOU VOTED AGAINST IT.
AND SO DID THIS ONE. NOW OTHERS OR WE CAN GO IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO.
WE GET IT DONE. THAT'S RIGHT, I JUST VOTED. COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS'S MOTION WAS FOR THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE GEO DEBT, WHICH WAS 0.6769. THE OTHER WHICH WAS LOWER THAN THE WHICH WAS LOWER.
AND THEN THAT THE CONCERN WAS IT DIDN'T COVER THE OTHER INS WHICH WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT PLUS ALL DEBT, WHICH TRYING NOT TO DO THE GEO DEBT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE OTHER THE DEBTS AND TAX, NO DEBT.
BUT THE ALL DEBT RATE DOES WHAT THE CURRENT RATE PLUS ALL DEBT INCLUDES ALL OUTSTANDING DEBT.
THE DEBT DOESN'T INCLUDE ALL DEBT. IT ONLY INCLUDES THE THE RATE APPROVED BY THE PENCILS.
THAT MUCH? WE'LL TRY. IT WASN'T. I JUST DON'T LIKE THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED.
HONESTLY, IT'S CONFUSING AND IT KIND OF SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CRENSHAW SAID EARLIER.
IT'S JUST THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED. I JUST DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE.
TODAY JUST SETS IT. YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE ABILITY TO RAISE IT.
YOU JUST CAN'T ABILITY TO LOWER IT. YOU JUST CAN'T RAISE IT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT. I JUST THINK FOR THE RECORD I'M SORRY.
YES. I'M HERE. COUNCILWOMAN. I JUST THINK FOR THE RECORD, WE.
THE LANGUAGE DIDN'T START OUT RIGHT AND IT CREATED US SOME THEATER AND DIVISION DRAMA, ALL THE THINGS THAT BEAUMONT IS KNOWN FOR. BUT NOW THAT WE'RE HERE I THINK WE NEED TO WE'VE GOT TO DO THIS. THERE'S WORK THAT MUST BE DONE. BUT WE DIDN'T START OUT ON A GOOD FOOT WITH THE LANGUAGE.
WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD? I DON'T KNOW, CAN THIS BE TABLED? IS THAT, IS THAT AN OPTION? IT TAKES YOU OFF YOUR SCHEDULE.
SO IF YOU WANTED TO TABLE IT WHEN THAT WILL PUT YOU BEHIND ON ADOPTING YOUR BUDGET.
AND TO BE CLEAR, IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ADOPTED BUDGET IN PLACE BEFORE OCTOBER 1ST, LIKE MANY THINGS, YOU SHUT DOWN BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SPEND MONEY IF IT'S NOT APPROVED.
YEAH, YEAH. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS POINT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE A TEN MINUTE RECESS.
YEAH. WE WILL WE WILL RESUME AND WE HAVE A NEW SLIDE. MR. CITY MANAGER. SO YEAH, THIS IS AN AMENDMENT OF THE EARLIER SLIDE. LET'S SEE. THE EARLIER WAS BASICALLY THE BASE RATE PLUS THE VOTER APPROVED PROP A RATE, BUT THAT ONLY COVERED A PORTION OF THE G.O.
DEBT THAT'S BEING ISSUED. CURRENTLY THIS IS AMENDED TO A DIFFERENT RATE WHICH IS THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE ENTIRE VOTER APPROVED PROP A RATE.
SO THAT'S REFLECTED HERE. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A NEW OPTION ON THE TABLE FOR A A MOTION. I'M GOING TO ALLOW SOME TIME TO REVIEW THAT. AND THEN I'LL BE LISTENING FOR A MOTION.
AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION THE APPROXIMATE 1 MILLION IS -1 MILLION.
[02:50:05]
THAT'S CORRECT. SO AGAIN THE PURPOSE OF THIS SLIDE WAS TO SHOW THE VARIANCE BETWEEN WHAT WAS PROPOSED AND WHAT WOULD BE THE DIFFERENT RATES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. BUT YES TO YOUR POINT IT IS $1 MILLION VARIANCE PLUS OR MINUS.IS THAT THE WHOLE THING OR JUST FINISHED? THAT'S THE WHOLE.
THAT NEW 1.686043. DOES THAT INCLUDE THE COLA? YES. DOES THAT INCLUDE GOING UP ON THEIR INSURANCE RATES? YES. BUT AGAIN THIS IS THIS SLIDE IS JUST SHOWING THE VARIANCE FROM THE PROPOSED.
SO HOW THAT SO HOW THAT'S LET'S ASSUME THIS RATE WERE APPROVED.
AS MENTIONED WE STILL HAVE $1 MILLION TO FIND IN ORDER TO GET US TO THE POINT WHERE ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, WE WOULD ONLY BE DIPPING INTO THE FUND BALANCE 616,000 673,141. SO THE QUESTION OF HOW TO DO THAT WOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE FINAL BUDGET THAT'S SUBMITTED. AND NOT TO BE DISAGREEABLE, CHRIS, BUT ACTUALLY IT'S GOING TO BE 1.6 MILLION BECAUSE YOUR CHART HERE COUNTED THE 0.695, 2023 ADOPTED RATE WOULD ONLY BE A $600,000 DEFICIT IN 27.
SO WHILE IT'S BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD, IT'S STILL A $1.6 MILLION DEFICIT.
AND AGAIN, I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LONG DAY AND I HATE TO KEEP PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT.
WHAT IS OUR GENERAL FUND GOING TO BE ABOUT IF THIS PASSED? I KNOW. AT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, IT WAS AT 19%.
WOULD THIS GET US AT OUR 20%? NO, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE AT 19.
STILL BE AT 19. EVEN AT THE 0.695, WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE AT 20.
WE WERE GOING TO BE AT 19.8, 5.85. YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO BE CLOSE.
AND WHILE WE'RE I MEAN, I GUESS ARE WE DISCUSSING? YES. YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S UN IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER OF 25 APPROVED A TAX INCREASE. THE BALLOT WAS VERY CLEAR. IT SAYS THIS IS A TAX INCREASE IN BIG, BOLD LETTERS, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW FOR GOOD REASON.
BUT IN REALITY, IT DIDN'T INCREASE TAXES UP UNTIL CITY COUNCIL CAME ALONG AND ADOPTED THE NEW RATE. AND THAT'S THAT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT'S PUTTING US IN THIS POSITION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, VOTERS APPROVED IT. AND BUT IT IS CONFUSING. THIS IS ALSO THE FIRST TIME, YOU KNOW, NOVEMBER OF 25 IS THE FIRST TIME THE CITY OF BEAUMONT HAD
[02:55:09]
A BOND ELECTION IN, WHAT, 40 YEARS? AND YOU KNOW, I WAS SEVEN.I KNOW THAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE. BUT ANYWAY, WE'RE WE'RE IN THIS POSITION.
VOTERS APPROVE PROP A I THINK IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST UNFAIR TO THEN COME ALONG AND HAVE VOTERS APPROVE THAT AND THEN US HAVE TO CUT SERVICES BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO INCREASE THE RATE.
YOU KNOW, AND I HATE THAT WE ONLY REACH THIS OPTION TODAY.
BUT IN REALITY, THIS IS A MORE ACCURATE REFLECTION OF WHAT HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER OF 2025.
CAN I TAKE THAT AS A MOTION? NO. I MEAN, I WANT TO, BUT I AM HUNGRY.
COUNCILMAN. I MEAN, WE HAD A AT OUR LAST MEETING WE OR THE BUDGET WORKED WHENEVER THAT WAS.
I MEAN, YOU ASKED FOR OUR DIRECTION AND YOU ASKED FOR WHERE WE STAND, WHAT RATE WE WANT TO GIVE YOU.
AND THERE WERE THOSE OF US UP HERE THAT SAID, WE DON'T WANT TO MOVE.
AND THERE WERE OTHERS THAT SAID THEY DID. SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE MADE A MOTION.
WE VOTED ON IT. I WOULD IMPLORE THOSE THAT THAT INSTRUCTED THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF TO MOVE IN A DIRECTION TO TO MAKE A MOTION TO REFLECT WHAT YOU INSTRUCTED THEM TO DO TWO WEEKS AGO. I MADE A MOTION BASED OFF OF WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AND RIGHT, WHICH WAS THE PROPOSED BUDGET, BECAUSE WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER AND STAFF THAT MADE A RECOMMENDATION BASED OFF THE DEBT THAT VOTERS APPROVED AND THE BONDS AND THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION THAT WE HAVE. AND THIS IS WHY I PROPOSED THAT WE GO WITH WHAT HAD BEEN PROPOSED.
AND IT DIDN'T PASS. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, IN AN EFFORT OF COMPROMISE, I'D BE HAPPY TO SUPPORT ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT CAN COME UP TO THE NUMBERS THAT COVER OUR DEBTS.
I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY GROWLING STOMACHS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE EATING NEXT DOOR.
THEY'RE JUST NOW LETTING THEM IN.
SO WHY DON'T WE DO THAT? YOU'RE CORRECT. THANK YOU.
SO WE'LL COME BACK TO ITEM NUMBER ONE AND WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER THREE RIGHT NOW.
IF WE COULD HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER THREE, MR. CITY MANAGER. YES, SIR.
[3. Council to consider a resolution receiving the proposed 2027 Capital Program and scheduling a public hearing.]
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION RECEIVING THE PROPOSED 2027 CAPITAL PROGRAM AND SCHEDULING A PUBLIC HEARING.EXCUSE ME. MAY 14TH, 2026. ARTICLE SIX, SECTION 20.
THE CHARTER REQUIRES COUNCIL TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED CAPITAL PROGRAM, AND YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY IN FRONT OF YOU, AND THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS THAT A PUBLIC HEARING BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026 AT 130 IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. ALL RIGHT.
[03:00:04]
IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER THREE? MOTION TO APPROVE.THERE IS A MOTION SECOND, AND THERE IS A SECOND FOR ITEM NUMBER THREE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I HAVE SOME DISCUSSION.
THIS IS THE CAPITAL PROGRAM, WHICH IS A FIVE YEAR BASICALLY A PLAN TO INVEST IN FACILITIES, STREETS AND DRAINAGE, WATER AND SEWER PARKS. AND IT IS A FIVE YEAR PLAN BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THESE PROJECTS TAKE TIME TO COME TO A CONCEPT DESIGN FUNDING AND THEN CONSTRUCTION.
AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE DO EVERY YEAR, AS MENTIONED SOME OF THESE PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY NOW.
BUT YES, IT IS TIED ULTIMATELY TO FUNDING. ALL RIGHT.
WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? IF NOT, I WILL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER THREE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR?
[4. Council to consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept maintenance and authorize final payment to Eastex Utility Construction, for the Phelps Road Drainage Improvements Project.]
YES, SIR. ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT MAINTENANCE AND AUTHORIZE FINAL PAYMENTS TO EAST TEXAS UTILITY CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PHELPS ROAD DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. ON NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025, THE CITY COUNCIL AWARDED A CONTRACT TO EAST TEXAS UTILITY CONSTRUCTION OF BEAUMONT IN THE AMOUNT OF AND $89 FOR THE PHELPS ROAD DRAINAGE PROJECT.PREVIOUS CHANGE ORDERS NUMBER ONE AND TWO IN THE AMOUNT OF -$51,063.70 RESULTED IN A FINAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $1,029,225.30. THE PROJECT HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY THE ENGINEERING DIVISION AND FOUND TO BE COMPLETE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS AND TERMS SET FORTH IN THE CONTRACT. ACCEPTANCE OF MAINTENANCE AND THE FINAL PAYMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $51,461.27 IS RECOMMENDED.
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS AS WELL AS CDBG FUNDS.
UNDER THE 2019 HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF 905,000.
THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR? MOVE TO APPROVE.
THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. ITEM FIVE HAS BEEN PULLED FROM TODAY'S AGENDA.
SO WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM SIX. AND WE MAY HAVE THE READING.
[6. Council to consider a resolution authorizing the City Manager to allocate additional local funds to the City's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-DR) Disaster Relief Program, Contract No. 24-067-018-E205.]
ITEM NUMBER SIX IS TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL LOCAL FUNDS TO THE CITY'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM CONTRACT NUMBER 2000 4067018-E205 ON JULY 26TH, 2022, BY RESOLUTION OF NUMBER 22-182, CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED INTERIM CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE FOR CONTRACT FOR THE CONTRACT, THE PHELPS ROAD DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACT UNDER THE CDBG DR.THE TOTAL APPROVED PROJECT BUDGET WAS $1,055,479.65, CONSISTING OF $1 MILLION IN CDBG DR., THE DISASTER RECOVERY GRANT, FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION, ACQUISITION AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AND A REQUIRED CITY CASH MATCH OF $55,479.65 FOR CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES.
FINAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AMOUNT, INCLUDING APPROVED CHANGE ORDERS TOTALED $1,029,225.30, COMBINED WITH A $95,000 IN GRANT FUNDING ADMINISTRATION FOR ADMINISTRATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.
THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS $1,124,225.30. ACCORDINGLY, THE CITY MUST ALLOCATE AN ADDITIONAL 68,000 745,060 $0.05 IN LOCAL FUNDS TO COVER THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
[03:05:06]
FUNDING WAS AVAILABLE THROUGH COS IN THE AMOUNT OF $124,225.30, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS UNDER THE 2019 HAZARD MITIGATION PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $1 MILLION.THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION.
OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX? APPROVED.
IT'S A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. IS THERE A SECOND? THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER SIX.
[7. Council to consider granting a new solid waste franchise agreement to Nexus Disposal, LLC.]
SIR? ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS COUNCIL TO CONSIDER GRANTING A NEW SOLID WASTE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT TO NEXUS DISPOSAL, LLC. NEXUS DISPOSAL, LLC IS REQUESTED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GRANT THE COMPANY A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.FOUNDED IN 2002, NEXUS DISPOSAL LLC IS A FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
THE REQUESTED FRANCHISE IS GENERALLY THE SAME AS THOSE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND AS MENTIONED, THEY'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A 7% PAYMENT OF GROSS FEES TO THE CITY.
THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE FRANCHISE.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER SEVEN? DOES IT NEED TO BE REREAD OR THERE IS NO MOTION? CAN WE ASK A QUESTION? YEAH. NO, WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.
YEAH. HOW MANY HOW MANY OTHER HAULING GARBAGE FRANCHISEES DO WE HAVE? I KNOW WE HAVE REPUBLIC. I KNOW WE HAVE. I'M ASSUMING WASTE MANAGEMENT.
WE HAVE 12 RIGHT NOW. 12? ON THE MOST CURRENT LIST.
AND DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT WHAT THOSE 12 GENERATE FOR US A YEAR IN GROSS RECEIPTS? $937,000 WAS LAST YEAR. AND SO FAR THIS YEAR $905,000 $487.51.
WELL, GOOD JOB HAVING THOSE NUMBERS.
WHAT IS NEXT IS HERE BY CHANCE. THEY ARE IS IT APPROPRIATE TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS? YEAH. IF YOU'D PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
THANK YOU. YES, SIR. HELLO? WE'RE. WHAT? OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS DO YOU ALL OPERATE IN OTHER THAN HOUSTON? HOUSTON IN THIS AREA. THAT'S ALL WE OPERATE. WE'RE A FAMILY BUSINESS.
THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR 25 YEARS. OKAY. AND DO YOU PLAN ON BRINGING YOUR WASTE TO OUR CITY LANDFILL? YES. WE'RE ALREADY IN THE AREA, AND WE ALREADY BRING WASTE TO LANDFILL. OKAY. IF YOU'RE ALREADY IN THE AREA HOW ARE YOU OPERATING IF YOU DON'T HAVE A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT? WE'RE OUTSIDE OF THE AREA. OH, OKAY. SO YOU'RE IN THE COUNTY, I GUESS? YES, SIR. OKAY. LIKE IN HARDIN COUNTY. ORANGE COUNTY.
OKAY. AND SO THE CITIES THEN THAT YOU SERVICE IN ADDITION TO HOUSTON IS, I GUESS, ORANGE AND.
[03:10:05]
YES, SIR. LIKE NEDERLAND GROVES, I MEAN, WHEREVER.SO WE'RE YOUR SECOND FRANCHISE AGREEMENT OTHER THAN THE CITY OF HOUSTON? YES. DO THEY HAVE, LIKE, AN APPLICATION FOR THIS WITH LIKE REFERENCES? AND YES, THEIR APPLICATION PACKAGE IS IN YOUR PACKAGE.
OKAY. MY APOLOGIES. I'VE BEEN IN THIS INDUSTRY IN THIS AREA FOR 42 YEARS.
AND WHAT IS YOUR TITLE WITH THEM? I'M A MANAGER.
OKAY. AND WILL YOU BE THE MANAGER FOR BEAUMONT? YES. I ACTUALLY WORKED FOR THEM 42 YEARS AGO.
AND DO YOU LIKE IT BACK AROUND? YES, I KNOW HIM VERY WELL.
WHAT? HOW MANY TRUCKS ARE Y'ALL PLANNING ON OPERATING? RIGHT NOW, WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE, AND WE'RE JUST DOING OUR THING.
WE DO ROLL OFF AND WE DO COMMERCIAL DUMPSTERS.
IS IT APPROPRIATE UNDER THESE TYPES OF AGREEMENTS TO HAVE ANY KIND OF UPFRONT PAYMENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? IS THAT I DON'T RECALL THAT EVER HAPPENING? IS THAT DO YOU KNOW IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE PART OF HOW IT'S SET UP CURRENTLY? IT'S JUST THE THAT'S NOT ACCORDING. YOUR ORDINANCE DOESN'T ALLOW FOR THIS.
A FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS ARE AUTHORIZED BY ORDINANCE.
YOUR CURRENT ORDINANCE IS AN AUTHORIZED FOR THAT.
UNDERSTOOD. JUST LOOKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL WAY TO GENERATE REVENUE SINCE THAT'S SUCH A HOT TOPIC.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR CURRENT USE OF OUR LANDFILL IS DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA JUST IN GENERAL, WHAT YOU'RE SPENDING WITH OUR LANDFILL? WELL, WE LIKE, YOU KNOW, JUST STARTED.
SO, I MEAN, I WOULD THINK WE GO THERE PROBABLY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY CALL IN, THEN YOU PICK THEM UP AND YOU TAKE THEM TO THE LANDFILL. IT'S NOT EVERY DAY. AND DO YOU HAVE A CERTAIN CUSTOMER OR YOU JUST HAVE BROAD CUSTOMERS? OR IS THERE A CERTAIN PLANT HERE THAT YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND CALL ON THEM? AS SOON AS Y'ALL SAY IT'S OKAY, THEN I'LL GO AND WORK IN BEAUMONT AND DO MY THING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING UP.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER EIGHT?
[8. Council to consider granting a new solid waste franchise agreement to Local Solution Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a Local Sanitation.]
YES. ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS TO CONSIDER GRANTING A NEW SOLID WASTE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT TO LOCAL SOLUTIONS ENTERPRISES, INC.. DOING BUSINESS AS LOCAL SANITATION PURSUANT TO CITY ORDINANCE 22.05.101.NO PERSON SHALL ENGAGE IN THE BUSINESS OF COLLECTING, HAULING OR TRANSPORTING IN THE CITY ANY GARBAGE, WASTE, OR REFUSE WITHOUT FIRST HAVING OBTAINED A FRANCHISE FROM THE CITY.
LOCAL SOLUTIONS, INC. IS A PRIVATELY HELD WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY HEADQUARTERED IN TEXAS.
ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY'S VALUATION SUMMARY, THEY ARE PRIVATELY HELD, FIRM, INCORPORATED, PRIVATELY HELD FIRM, INCORPORATED ON OCTOBER 22ND, 2018.
REQUESTED FRANCHISE IS GENERALLY THE SAME AS THOSE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, IT PROVIDES FOR A TERM OF ONE YEAR FROM ITS EFFECTIVE DATE AND A FRANCHISE FEE OF 7% OF GROSS REVENUES RECEIVED FOR THE SERVICE.
IT ALSO REQUIRES THE ENTITY TO INDEMNIFY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AND PROVIDE INSURANCE WITH NAMES, WHICH NAMES THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AS A NAMED INSURED.
THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER EIGHT? SECOND. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I'M SORRY I MISSED THE SECOND COUNCILMAN HILLIARD.
THANK YOU. I HAVE ONE QUESTION. YES, SIR. THAT'S SEVERAL PERCENT OF GROSS REVENUES IS HOW MUCH IS THAT IN DOLLARS? IT DEPENDS. DEPENDS ON DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH BUSINESS THEY DO.
[03:15:02]
BUT LIKE, HOW MUCH WAS IT LAST LAST YEAR. I THINK WE HAD NINE.JUST UNDER. JUST UNDER 100,000. $937,000. 120 983.
OKAY. THIS YEAR SO FAR WE'RE A LITTLE OVER 905.
THAT'S FOR ALL 12 OF THOSE OTHER. OH, THAT'S FOR ALL OF THEM, NOT JUST THIS ONE COMPANY.
SO IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON HOW MUCH BUSINESS THEY DO. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE US INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING,
[ Council to conduct a Public Hearing finding and ratifying the determination of the Public Health Director that public health nuisances exist on the property owned by Leduc Partnership LTD at 180 E Virginia St., with a legal description of EISENTRAUT L19 B1 and order the owner to abate public health nuisances within 10 days, staff is requesting City Council to abate said property without further notification to the property owner of City Council action.]
MR. CITY MANAGER? YES, SIR. WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.COUNCIL TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING, FINDING AND RATIFYING THE DETERMINATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR THAT PUBLIC HEALTH NUISANCES EXIST ON THE PROPERTY OWNED BY THE DUKE PARTNERSHIP LIMITED AT 180 EAST VIRGINIA STREET, WITH A LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF EISENTRAUT LOT 19, BLOCK ONE, AND ORDER THE OWNER TO ABATE PUBLIC HEALTH NUISANCES WITHIN TEN DAYS.
AND WE HAVE. KENNETH COLEMAN IS OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR, PRESENTING.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.
YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, TINA, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY.
THIS PROPERTY WAS DECLARED A PUBLIC HEALTH NUISANCE ON OCTOBER THE 21ST OF 2025.
NEXT SLIDE. AND WHAT WE INITIALLY FOUND WHEN WE VISITED THE PROPERTY WAS STAGNANT OR OFFENSIVE WATER ON THE PROPERTY, SEWAGE OVERFLOW CONDITIONS CONDUCIVE TO MOSQUITO BREEDING AND RAT PROOFING STRUCTURE.
NOW, SINCE THAT TIME AND NOW THE SEWAGE HAS BEEN CORRECTED, THAT PART HAS BEEN FIXED.
NEXT SLIDE. BUT WE STILL, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE STILL DEALING WITH A RODENT INFESTATION.
NEXT SLIDE. AND AS WELL AS YOU CAN SEE, SOME MOLD IS BUILDING UP AND, YOU KNOW, MOLD CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE EXPOSED TO A PHOTO A PERIOD OF TIME. AND THAT AGAIN, THAT PART HAS BEEN CORRECTED.
SO FAR AS THE SEWAGE OVERFLOW QUESTIONS. WELL, YOU DID WELL ENOUGH THAT NOBODY'S ASKING ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU SIR. YES, SIR.
SO ANY ANYBODY ELSE HERE TO TALK ON PUBLIC HEARING? YES, SIR. DID YOU OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
YOU DID? OKAY. I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. I WAS JUST MAKING SURE I'M TIRED.
MICHAEL LEDOUX, 4635 LITTLEFIELD STREET, BEAUMONT, TEXAS.
HELLO, MICHAEL. IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY, BUT I'M HERE FOR 180 EAST VIRGINIA.
YES, SIR. SO WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? THE SEWER PROBLEM THAT HE BROUGHT UP.
RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE WERE TALKING INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO THE CITY I WENT BY YESTERDAY, THE CITY IS BACKED UP.
SO A LOT OF TIMES WHEN IT BACKS UP, THE CITY BACKS UP.
SO THAT'S. AND I'M SPENDING MONEY ALL THE TIME WITH THE PLUMBER TO COME CLEAN OUT.
AND THEY SAID, WELL, CALL THE CITY BECAUSE THEY WERE BACKED UP RIGHT NOW. SO I THINK RIGHT NOW Y'ALL DOING HIGHLAND, Y'ALL DOING ON HIGHLAND AVENUE, Y'ALL DOING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE. HOPEFULLY WE HAVE VIRGINIA STREET SOMEWHERE WHERE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN VIRGINIA WITH THE SEWER LINE IS BEING DONE, BECAUSE I HAD TO SPEND MONEY ON REDOING THE SEWER.
SO THAT'S AN OLDER, OLDER PHOTO FROM LAST YEAR.
YEAH, THAT'S. DO WE HAVE A DATE ON THAT PICTURE? GIVE ME ONE SECOND. OKAY. AND WE ALREADY HAD CRITTER CONTROL OUT THERE.
WE HAVE PALMER PEST CONTROL. YEAH. I THINK THAT WAS LAST YEAR.
THERE WAS A PALMER SIX WAS LEAKING. WHAT WAS OKAY.
WOW. OKAY. I'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT RIGHT NOW. THE TENANTS MOVED OUT.
THEY'VE BEEN EVICTED. I DON'T BLAME THEM. YEAH.
YEAH, I DON'T BLAME THEM EITHER. I DIDN'T EITHER.
SO THEY WOULD HAVE TEN DAYS IF I CAN HAVE THAT FIXED QUICKLY.
SO COUNCIL WANTS COUNCIL. IF COUNCIL AUTHORIZES THIS OR DECLARES THIS AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE, THEY HAVE TEN DAYS TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE OR BEGIN THE WORK TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE.
[03:20:01]
AND AFTER THAT, IT BECOMES THE HEALTH DIRECTOR'S DISCRETION WHETHER OR NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ADDITIONAL CIVIL ACTION.OKAY. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? ANY ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
SO AT THIS POINT, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER NINE, PLEASE. YES, SIR.
[9. Council to consider an ordinance finding and ratifying the determination of the Public Health Director that public health nuisances exist on the property owned by Leduc Partnership LTD at 180 E Virginia St., with a legal description of EISENTRAUT L19 B1 and order the owner to abate public health nuisances within 10 days, staff is requesting City Council to abate said property without further notification to the property owner of City Council action.]
ITEM NUMBER NINE IS TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE FINDING AND RATIFYING THE DETERMINATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR.THAT PUBLIC HEALTH NUISANCES EXIST ON THE PROPERTY OWNED BY THE DUKE PARTNERSHIP LIMITED AT 180 EAST VIRGINIA STREET, WITH A LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF EISENTRAUT LOT 19, BLOCK ONE, AND ORDER THE OWNER TO ABATE PUBLIC HEALTH NUISANCES WITHIN TEN DAYS.
OWNER OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION AND THE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER NINE? MOVE TO APPROVE.
SECOND. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER NINE.
[ Council to review and discuss planning funding for the Beaumont Botanical Garden.]
YES. SO THIS WORK SESSION IS YOU MAY RECALL, IN THE FY 26 BUDGET, COUNCIL HAD AUTHORIZED THE EXPENSE EXPENDITURE OF $25,000 TO HELP FUND A MASTER PLAN FOR THE BOTANICAL GARDEN, BEAUMONT BOTANICAL GARDEN. AND SINCE THAT TIME, BEAUMONT BOTANICAL GARDEN HAS APPROACHED US AND REQUESTED THAT WE AMEND THAT REQUEST TO NOT ESSENTIALLY NOT BE A MASTER PLAN, WHICH SHOWS THE POTENTIAL DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF THE GARDEN, BUT RATHER THEY FEEL IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION.AND SO, GIVEN THE DEGREE OF CHANGE, I THOUGHT IT BEST THAT WE BRING THIS ITEM BACK FOR COUNSEL AND GUIDANCE TO SEE IF INDEED, WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH EXPENDING THE $25,000 FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE BEAUMONT BOTANICAL GARDEN.
AND SO I DO THINK WE DO HAVE SOME REPRESENTATIVES HERE FROM THE GARDEN BEAUMONT BOTANICAL.
I THINK COLLEEN. COLLEEN MARTEL, PLEASE. YES.
COME ON UP. HI. HOW ARE YOU ALL? GOOD. GOOD. OKAY, SO A BIT OF AN EXPLANATION WOULD BE GREAT.
YEAH. SOUNDS GREAT. OKAY, WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY GOOD AFTERNOON, BUT GOOD EVENING AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A FEW MINUTES TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE BEAUMONT BOTANICAL GARDENS.
ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE CITY SET ASIDE $25,000 FOR THE GARDENS TO DEVELOP A MASTER PLAN.
AND WE'RE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT INVESTMENT.
AND WE HAVE TAKEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF USING THOSE TAXPAYER DOLLARS VERY SERIOUSLY.
AS WE BEGAN TO LOOK FOR A FIRM, WE LEARNED SOMETHING IMPORTANT A MEANINGFUL MASTER PLAN FOR A PROPERTY OF OUR SIZE AND COMPLEXITY, AND ONE THAT SPECIALIZES IN BOTANIC GARDENS, WOULD REALISTICALLY COST CLOSER TO 80 TO $100,000.
I HAVE NOW SERVED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GARDENS FOR THREE YEARS, AND I CAN TELL YOU FIRSTHAND THAT OUR GREATEST NEED IS NOT A PRETTY DRAWING OF WHAT THE PROPERTY COULD LOOK LIKE SOMEDAY. WE NEED DIRECTION, ALIGNMENT, A CLEAR IDENTITY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, A SUSTAINABLE FUNDRAISING STRATEGY. A MASTER PLAN TELLS US WHAT WE COULD BUILD.
A STRATEGIC PLAN TELLS US HOW WE GET THERE AND HOW WE SUSTAIN IT.
BOTANIC GARDENS ARE A TOURISM MARKET. A STUDY OF THE FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDEN ESTIMATED THAT ITS VISITORS GENERATED MORE THAN $10 MILLION IN ANNUAL VISITOR SPENDING FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY, AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY I WANT BEAUMONT TO BE THINKING ABOUT.
WE WANT TO OFFER OUR CITIZENS MORE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, MORE EVENTS, MORE BEAUTIFUL SPACES, AND MORE REASONS TO VISIT AND CONNECT WITH NATURE.
WE LATER LEARNED THAT ALTHOUGH WE HAD DISCUSSED AND PURSUED THE CHANGE FROM A MASTER PLAN TO A STRATEGIC PLAN, THAT THE CHANGE HAD NEVER BEEN FORMALLY APPROVED.
[03:25:02]
WE ARE DOING THE ABSOLUTE BEST WE CAN WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES WE HAVE, BUT WE NEED A ROADMAP.SO MY QUESTION TO COUNCIL IS WHAT DO YOU WANT THE BOTANIC GARDENS TO BECOME FOR THE CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT? BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THIS PLACE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE MORE THAN A BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC SPACE.
IT CAN BE AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE, A COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE, A STRONGER NONPROFIT, AND A TOURISM ASSET THAT BRINGS PEOPLE AND THEIR DOLLARS TO BEAUMONT. WE BELIEVE THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS THE RESPONSIBLE FIRST STEP TOWARD MAKING THAT HAPPEN, AND WE ARE ASKING YOU TO ALLOW US TO USE THE $25,000 ALREADY ALLOCATED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN DURYEA. YES. I DON'T KNOW IF ASK YOU OR HER.
WHAT? CAN YOU EXPLAIN EXACTLY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BOTANICAL GARDENS AND THE CITY OF BEAUMONT? SURE. GO AHEAD. CARLENE. SO THE BUILDINGS IN THE GROUNDS ARE OWNED BY THE CITY OF BEAUMONT.
AND WE HAVE A MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF BEAUMONT.
AND SO, I MEAN, WE PAY OUR STAFF, WE PAY FOR EVERY FLOWER THAT GOES IN THE GROUNDS, ALL THE SOILS, FERTILIZERS, EVERYTHING. WE GET A SMALL STIPEND FROM THE CITY MONTHLY.
AND I WANT THE CITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS WITH US.
SO HOW MUCH IS THE SMALL STIPEND THAT Y'ALL GET FROM THE CITY? $1,500 A MONTH. YOU PAY SALARIES WITH THAT. IT JUST GOES TOWARDS OUR OPERATING FUNDS.
SO YES. OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. UNLESS Y'ALL GOT SOMETHING ELSE.
COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW. Y'ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION.
YOU DO A GREAT JOB. THE BEAUMONT BOTANICAL GARDENS ARE BEAUTIFUL.
I'VE BEEN TO EVENTS THERE. AND YOU DO A GREAT JOB, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE VOTING ON ANYTHING TODAY.
RIGHT. AND BUT I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT TO DO.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THERE MORE? I JUST WANTED TO CALL UP MR. RAGGETT AND GET HIM HIS IDEAS ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE BOTANICAL GARDEN.
OR HIS VIEWS? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ELABORATE ON YOUR IDEAS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BOTANICAL GARDENS AND THE CITY OF BEAUMONT? I MEAN, YOU WITH THEM? WELL, I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP NOW WITH FACILITIES BEING PART OF PARKS.
LIKE SHE SAID, WE MAINTAIN THE BUILDINGS AND EVERYTHING THAT'S OUT THERE. PARKS. WE GO OUT PROBABLY ONCE A MONTH AT LEAST AND HELP OUT WITH MAINTENANCE INSIDE OF THE PARK, AND WE TRY TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THE GARDENS IN THE BEST SHAPE THAT THEY CAN BE.
YOU HAVE AN INPUT ON THAT STRATEGIC PLAN. I THINK WE'LL WORK TOGETHER, COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER.
I'LL BE INVOLVED IN SOME TYPE OF WAY, BUT OF COURSE THAT'S.
COLLEEN RUNS THE BOTANICAL GARDEN. WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT HER.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I'VE BEEN OUT THERE, AND WE DID THE FLOWER GARDENS BEFORE.
THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU. KENNETH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. NO OBJECTIONS. WE'LL MOVE FORWARD. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.
ALL RIGHT. AND WITH THAT, NOW, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE BACK TO ITEM NUMBER ONE.
ON DISCUSSION ON THIS. I'M JUST GOING TO ASK COUNCIL.
WE'RE WAITING ON A, WE NEED TO WE NEED TO APPROVE A NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT.
SO THAT IS THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
[03:30:05]
WE CAN GO DOWN ON IT. WE JUST CAN'T GO UP. THAT'S CORRECT.REDUCE IT. SO AT THIS POINT, AS A RECAP, WE THERE WAS A, THERE WAS A MOTION FOR THE CURRENT ADOPTED RATE, WHICH IS THE 0.65 THAT WAS DID NOT PASS. AND IT, THERE WAS ALSO A MOTION FOR THE 0.692.
THE CURRENT RATE PLUS ALL KNOW, EXCUSE ME, THE 23 ADOPTED RATE, WHICH IS THE 0.695, WHICH WAS ALSO NOT APPROVED. SO THERE IS WHERE WE ARE. WHAT WAS ADDED WAS THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE VOTER APPROVED PROP A IN ITS ENTIRETY, WHICH WOULD BE THE 0.686.
WHICH DOES EXCEED THE NO NEW REVENUE NUMBER.
WHAT'S THE THE DIFFERENCE, MR. BOON, IN THE PRICE IN DOLLARS FOR $150,000.
HOUSE BETWEEN THE 0.686043 AND 0.683976.
SO WE HAVE THE CALCULATIONS IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT NOT FOR THIS NEW RATE.
SO WE'D HAVE TO CALCULATE THAT. I CAN DO THAT BUT WE CAN DO THAT 150 000 YOU SAID.
YEAH. EVERY CENT IS $1.25 A MONTH. YEAH. BUT THAT OKAY.
WELL THAT'S. LESS THAN A HALF A CENT. RIGHT.
IS THAT A 100TH OF A CENT? SO IT'LL BE $0.10? NO. SO IT'S 0.26. NO NEW REVENUE. AND THE CURRENT RATE PLUS VOTER APPROVED PROP EIGHT, THAT WOULD BE WHAT I'M CALCULATING WOULD BE $3.38 IS WHAT MY IPHONE CALCULATOR TELLS ME.
WOULD THAT BE THE DIFFERENCE OR THAT WOULD BE THE PRICE PER MONTH, OR IT WOULD BE THE PRICE PER MONTH INCREASED $3 AND 31, $154,000 HOUSE. IF WE WENT TO THE 6.86 OVER OUR CURRENT ADOPTED, IT WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF $3 AND 38.5 CENTS TECHNICALLY, IF MY CALCULATIONS ARE CORRECT.
WELL, AND ALTHOUGH I AM NOT A MATHEMATICIAN, I DO PLAY ONE.
IS THE DIFFERENCE. IT'S VERY LITTLE BECAUSE THE RATES ARE SO VERY CLOSE.
OKAY. AND I'M SORRY TO DO THAT. ASSUMING YOUR MATH IS RIGHT, MR. MAYOR, IF WE IF WE APPROVE THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE VOTER APPROVED PROP A, YOU'RE SAYING THAT WOULD BE THE INCREASE WOULD BE $3.38, $0.38 PER MONTH ON $154,000 HOUSE. THE ISSUE I HAVE WITH THAT IS THAT WE TOLD VOTERS IN NOVEMBER OF 25 THAT IT WAS ONLY GOING TO GO UP $3.14. THE THE APP ACTUALLY SAID IT APPROXIMATE.
IT WAS A CALCULATION. SO IT WAS IT WASN'T IT WASN'T DIRECT.
AND WE ACTUALLY, IF YOU REMEMBER, WE HAD A BOND CALCULATOR WHERE PEOPLE CAN PLAY AND TO DETERMINE IT WAS BASED ON WHAT THE PROPERTY VALUES WERE AT THE TIME FOR HOUSES AND OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS IN FLUX IN.
YES. THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT WE PAID FOR THAT BOND CALCULATOR FROM THE CONSULTANT.
AND NO, I DO, I DO AGREE WITH THAT. I'M JUST SAYING NOW I'VE GOT A BIT MORE OF AN ISSUE WITH THAT RATE BECAUSE IT'S HIGHER THAN WHAT WE HAD TOLD PEOPLE. SO I'M LET'S CONFIRM MY MATH CALCULATION.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD.
I THINK ORIGINALLY WE HAD THE PORTION OF THE DEBT THAT WE WERE GOING OUT FOR.
SO IS IT ADVISABLE TO TAKE ON TO INCUR TO TO KIND OF TAKE THAT MONEY? AND NOW FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT NOT WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THESE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.
SEEMS LIKE A BAD IDEA. I MEAN, JUST TALKING IT OUT LOUD, I'M JUST NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT.
WELL, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
AREN'T WE GOING TO GO OUT ON THE ADDITIONAL 20 MILLION THAT WE HAVEN'T TAKEN OUT NEXT YEAR.
[03:35:06]
ISN'T THAT WHAT THE PLAN IS? I THINK WE'RE PLANNING ON GOING OUT FOR IT IN 29.SEVEN. EIGHT. SEVEN. 28. EIGHT. 8 OR 9, DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT.
YEAH. WE REALLY CAN'T SAY THAT. OH, OKAY. SO I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING OUT ON THIS, ON THIS ADDITIONAL 20 MILLION NEXT YEAR, WHICH MADE ME THINK THAT IT WAS MORE APPROPRIATE TO DO THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE FULL VOTER APPROVED PROP A, BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS RATE THAT WE'RE SETTING IS FOR TAXABLE VALUES NEXT YEAR.
BUT IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT UNTIL 28, THEN MAYBE THAT'S THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA.
I MEAN COULDN'T RIGHT. SUBSTANTIALLY GO UP. CORRECT.
OBVIOUSLY WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, WITH PERSONNEL AND STUFF.
AND THEN THAT WAY WE CAN DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT WHAT MONEY WE NEED.
BUT YOU'D BE, YOU'D BE PAYING INTEREST AS IT SAT THERE AS IT.
RIGHT. SO THAT'S WHY WE EVALUATE IT EVERY YEAR TO SEE WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROJECTS, WHAT, WHAT WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. AND THEN THAT WAY WE GET WE GET DEBT, WE GET THE MONEY JUST FOR WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR.
SO YOU SHOULD REALLY GO FOR IT WHENEVER YOU ACTUALLY ARE IN NEED OF IT.
IT'S A VERY LONG PROCESS AND IT'S A BALANCING ACT BECAUSE IT IS NOT FREE TO ISSUE DEBT.
THERE'S MORE THAN JUST THE INTEREST EXPENSE. WELL, AND AGAIN, I KNOW I'VE GONE OVER THIS BEFORE AND I HATE TO HARP ON IT, BUT THIS IS VERY UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE NOW IT PUTS US IN THE POSITION OF WHEN Y'ALL GO OUT ON THE ADDITIONAL DEBT IN 28, WE'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK IN THE SAME BOAT WHERE Y'ALL ARE GOING TO SAY OUR INS IS INCREASING BECAUSE WE'VE DONE THE ADDITIONAL $20 MILLION IN DEBT.
AND SO THEN THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE TO INCREASE THE TAX RATE, TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADDITIONAL INS WHEN THIS WAS ALL APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER OF 25. AND NOW I WISH, KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW NOW, THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING IN 2025 AFTER THE BOND ELECTION PASSED, TO TAKE A VOTE RIGHT THEN TO HAVE SAID, WE'RE GOING TO ADD $0.03 OR WHATEVER IT IS, ONTO THE ONTO THE VALUATION. RIGHT. AND THEN AGAIN, YOU KNOW, EACH YEAR, IF WE CONTINUE TO TAKE OUT ADDITIONAL CEO CERTIFICATE OBLIGATION, THAT THAT AGAIN WILL HAVE TO ARE HONEST WILL INCREASE AS WELL.
SO ALL AROUND, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THAT TAX RATE OF THE CURRENT RATE PLUS ALL DEBT.
SO THAT WAY IT COVERS EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE COMMITTED TO THUS FAR FOR FISCAL YEAR 27.
ONLY RAISING THE INS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND JUST FOR A POINT OF REFERENCE, I THINK ONE THING THAT'S BEING POINTED OUT TO THE LISTENERS OUT THERE IS BECAUSE THEY VOTED FOR IT, DOESN'T MEAN THE TAXES GO UP BY THAT.
BUT A CITY WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO UP THAT AMOUNT.
THEY COULD GO UP HALF THAT AMOUNT. IF THEY CHOSE.
IT WOULD JUST THEY WOULD BE GETTING INTO THEIR THEIR PORTION.
CORRECT? THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. TO YOUR POINT, COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW, I ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT JUST ON THE 38 MILLION THAT WE DID TAKE OUT THIS YEAR, THE PAYMENT ON THAT WILL BE ABOUT 700,000 HIGHER NEXT YEAR THAN IT IS THIS YEAR.
SO THAT WILL BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN NEXT YEAR'S INS RATE.
SO IT'S GOING TO GO UP A LITTLE BIT IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER 20 MILLION THAT WE'LL TAKE OUT.
THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL INCREASES. OKAY. WELL, I DON'T WANT TO BE MISLEADING EITHER.
SO LET ME ASK YOU THIS AT WHAT IS THE WHAT WOULD THE RATE BE AT THE .67695, WHICH WAS THE RATE THAT YOU HAD ORIGINALLY PROPOSED, PLUS THE $700,000 THAT WE'RE GOING TO INCUR IN COST AND ADDITIONAL COST NEXT YEAR? WHAT'S THAT $700,000 EQUAL ON THE TAX RATE? I'LL HAVE TO DO SOME MATH, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HUGE.
I GET IT, I GET IT, BUT IF YOU COULD GIVE US THAT NEW RATE AND I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THAT RATE BECAUSE THAT IS LEGIT WHAT WE'VE BORROWED PLUS WHAT OUR ADDITIONAL PAYMENT IS NEXT YEAR. JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT THAT THAT ADDITIONAL, THAT MONEY THAT YOU, WHATEVER NUMBER YOU COME UP WITH WILL ALL GO TO M AND O THIS YEAR.
[03:40:02]
THAT WILL NOT GO TOWARDS YOUR DEBT PAYMENT. SO NEXT YEAR'S DEBT RATE WILL BE HIGHER NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO.I UNDERSTAND AND WANT THAT TO BE BECAUSE VOTERS APPROVE.
YES. BASICALLY HOW IT WORKS IS THE TAXING JURISDICTION LOOKS AT WHAT DEBT PAYMENTS WE HAVE COMING DUE IN THE NEXT YEAR, AND THEY USE THAT BASED ON THE TAXABLE VALUATIONS TO SET THAT INS RATE EVERY YEAR I GOT YOU.
AND SO I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU TELLING ME ABOUT THE $700,000.
DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT THAT IS INCREASED TO THE 67, 695? WE MIGHT WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE SLIDE TOO. TINA, ONCE WE GET THE NUMBERS SO THAT WE CAN PUT IT UP ON THE BOARD.
OH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. YEAH.
I'M SORRY. HALF A CENTURY. SO INCREASE IT BY. SO. SO THAT 0.686695 PLUS 668695. IF THAT'S A HALF CENTURY.
AM I DOING THAT RIGHT. I THINK YOUR SIX IS YOU'RE GOING TO ADD A FIVE TO THE SIX.
SO 691043. OH NO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE 69. THE WHOLE THING WAS 60.
60. YEP. THAT WOULD BE ADDING HALF A CENT ON TO. OKAY. IS THAT IT? WELL, AND WHAT'S YOU CAME UP WITH? 680. A HALF A CENT TO THE THE CURRENT RATE. YEAH.
THE RATE THE O TO THE 0.67. I DON'T KNOW WHAT NUMBER THAT IS.
YES. ADD ADD A HALF A CENT ONTO THE 67, 695, WHICH IS WHAT YOU ALREADY TOLD US WAS THE CURRENT COST OF PROP A. CURRENT RATE PLUS. YES. THAT WOULD BE 0.68195 WHICH IS 68195, WHICH IS LESS THAN YOUR NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
IT'S THE CURRENT RATE PLUS THE G O DEBT FROM THE THAT VOTERS APPROVED IN NOVEMBER OF 2025 THAT WE HAVE INCURRED ALREADY, WITH BORROWING 38 MILLION, PLUS THE ADDITIONAL 700,000 THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY NEXT YEAR IN 2027.
I KNOW, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TODAY.
31147 AS LONG AS WELL IT SOUNDS LIKE IT DOESN'T EXCEED THE NO NEW REVENUE NUMBER.
8311479 IS WHAT? WE'VE GOT. OKAY, SO THAT WAS 681.683. 115 IS WHAT IT WOULD ROUND TO.
[03:45:07]
SO THAT'S LESS THAN THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.CORRECT. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DIP OUT OF THAT.
SO THE GENERAL FUND WILL HAVE LESS REVENUE IN 27.
I UNDERSTAND AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE AND ALL THAT.
BUT THERE'S SOME PEOPLE UP HERE THAT THINK THAT WE CAN MAKE THOSE NUMBERS WORK WITH CUTS.
BUT THE .683115 AGAIN REFLECTS OUR CURRENT RATE PLUS THE MONEY WE'VE ALREADY BORROWED FROM THE NOVEMBER 2025 PROP A VOTER APPROVED BOND ELECTION, PLUS THE ADDITIONAL $700,000 IN REVENUE NEXT YEAR.
MAYOR FOR JUST FOR CLARITY AS OUR CFO IS PRESENTED LIKE THIS IS VERY COMPLICATED MATH AND ON THE FLY, IT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WHEN A MOTION IS MADE, THAT IT'S ROUNDED UP TO A HIGHER NUMBER TO GIVE STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK WITH SOLID NUMBERS AFTER THEY'VE HAD A CHANCE TO DO THE MATH, BECAUSE YOU CAN ALWAYS LOWER IT.
I'M HERE. I GOT YOU. YOU ARE CORRECT. SO WE'RE STILL WAITING ON A MOTION.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, IF THE MATH IS WRONG AND THE NUMBER IS ACTUALLY LOWER, YOU CAN'T RAISE IT AFTER TODAY, RIGHT? BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS LOWER IT, RIGHT? SO IF WE WENT WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE.
SO IF YOU WENT WITH A HIGHER NUMBER, EVEN IF EVEN IF THEY'RE SAYING LIKE IT'S 0.68, IF YOU WENT WITH A 0.69 OR 0 POINT WHAT, OR 0.6, WHATEVER, IF YOU WENT WITH A HIGHER NUMBER JUST TO ALLOW THEM TO GIVE YOU WITH A DIRECTION TO GIVE YOU ACCURATE NUMBERS, THE INTENT IS CLEAR. YOU WANT THE CURRENT PLUS GEO PLUS THE AMOUNT OF DEBT SERVICE THAT'S GOING TO BE PAID.
THE INTENT IS CLEAR. SO IF YOU GIVE A MOTION THAT SAYS THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT, AND RECOGNIZING THAT THE NUMBER MAY BE HIGHER OR OFF, AS LONG AS IT'S CLEAR TO STAFF THAT YOU WANT AN EXACT NUMBER, WHAT THAT IS ON THE EIGHTH, AND THAT IS WHAT COUNSEL'S APPROVING. THAT DIRECTIVE IS CLEAR.
HOWEVER, COMMA, YOU HAVE TO DO A NUMBER TODAY.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT SAID, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADOPT A RATE OF 0.6832, WHICH REPRESENTS WHAT WE THINK. OH, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
DON'T USE THE WORD ADOPT. OH. CAN WE SAY SET A PROPOSED RATE.
ALL RIGHT. I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SET A PROPOSED RATE OF 0.6832 WHICH REPRESENTS OUR CURRENT RATE PLUS WHAT VOTERS APPROVED IN PROP A FROM NOVEMBER OF 2025.
THAT COVERS ALL OF OUR DEBT SERVICE COSTS THROUGH 2027.
OKAY. IT'S. COULD YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON, PLEASE? COULD YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON? YES, YES. I ROUNDED UP 683116.
IT WAS 683115. AND I WENT TO 6832 PERIOD. SO IT WAS IT IS THAT MUCH HIGHER.
I AM CURIOUS ARE WE ABLE TO DO A CALCULATION ON WHAT THE DEBT DIFFERENCE IS.
I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING ON THE NO NEW REVENUE AT A MILLION.
214 IS THE PROJECTED RIGHT. SO THAT GOING TO THE 682 IS IS THAT AN EASY CALCULATION OR WOULD THAT BE A DIFFICULT CALCULATION. IT'S ALL A DIFFERENT. AND I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR THEM, BUT MAYOR APPRECIATE THAT.
I KNOW THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING. THIS IS STUFF THAT TOOK THEM WEEKS AND MONTHS TO GET TO.
SO LIKE, THEY'RE REALLY GIVING YOU THE BEST THAT THEY GOT IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
I FEEL BAD WITH THEM ANSWERING BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ACCURATE.
AND COUNCIL WILL BE LOCKED INTO THAT NUMBER. WELL, AND THEN THE VOTE WILL BE THAT WE RELIED ON THE NUMBERS THAT WERE PROVIDED, WHICH, IN FAIRNESS, WERE DONE DURING A MEETING ON IPHONES IN A VERY TIGHT FRAME.
GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. DO WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE .682323232.
[03:50:07]
AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION. WELL I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT AT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IN CASE IT ENDED UP BEING 6.8321. I'LL MAKE A MOTION. WELL WE I'M JUST I'M EXPLAINING THAT.SO WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET YOU TO VOTE YES ON THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE? WELL, IF SOMEONE WOULD PROPOSE THAT, THEN WE CAN VOTE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND NOT THE PROP.
WELL WHAT WHAT'S WELL, HE WHAT HE'S PROPOSING IS LESS THAN NO NEW REVENUE.
NEW RATE, IF YOU DON'T MIND. APPROVED. CAN WE CAN WE CALL FOR THE VOTE? OKAY, WE'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AT THE 6.832.
IS EVERYBODY CLEAR OR 0.6832? I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WANT TO BUT THE MOTION.
BUT THE THAT'S NOT THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR. SO UNLESS THE MAYOR WANTS TO MAKE AN AMENDED MOTION, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR. UNLESS THE MAYOR IS MAKING AN AMENDED MOTION FOR THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
I'LL MAKE AN AMENDED MOTION FOR THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
DO I HAVE TO AGREE TO THAT? NO, THERE'S NO SECOND.
SO, PER YOUR RULES, THE MAYOR CAN MAKE AN AMENDED MOTION, OR ANYBODY CAN MAKE THE.
WELL, ANYONE CAN MAKE AN AMENDED MOTION. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE A SECOND.
YOU HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT MOTION, AND THEN WE'LL.
IF THAT MOTION FAILS, THEN YOU GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
IF THAT MOTION PASSES, THAT BECOMES THE MOTION.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS ONLY REQUIRES FOUR VOTES IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE ADOPT IT.
YES. THE. NO NO NO. NEW REVENUE. YES. WANT TO BE CLEAR.
BUT ALSO COUNCIL CAN LURE IT TO THE REQUESTED OR DESIRED RATE ON THE EIGHTH.
AFTER STAFF HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CALCULATE THOSE NUMBERS FULLY AND ACCURATELY.
SO THE FIRST VOTE WILL BE ON THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
CORRECT. SO YOU ALL CLEAR ON THAT AS LISTED ON THE SLIDE IN FRONT OF YOU.
AND THAT'S THE HIGHER UP TO YES. POTENTIAL. POTENTIALLY.
YES. RECORD. VOTE. YES. VOTE. MAYOR WEST, I VOTE FOR MAYOR PRO TEM CRENSHAW AGAINST COUNCILMEMBER TURNER. COUNCILMEMBER DARIO.
FOR COUNCILMEMBER HILLIARD. AGAINST COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS AND COUNCILMEMBER SHERWOOD AGAINST.
OKAY, NOW WE'RE HAVING ONE ON THE VOTE ON THE.
THAT IS NOT ON THE SLIDE. THE .6832. AND SO WE'LL HAVE A.
SO NOW WE WILL GO AWAY. YEAH, IT'S NOT ON THAT.
IT'S NOT ON THE LIST RIGHT HERE. .6832. HE JUST ROUNDED IT UP.
MY MATH AIN'T METHOD. CALL FOR THE VOTE ON THAT. MAYOR WEST.
I'LL I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THAT. I'M AGAINST IT.
MAYOR PRO TEM CRENSHAW FOR COUNCILMEMBER DARIO.
FOR. I'M READY TO GO. COUNCILMEMBER HILLIARD.
COUNCILMEMBER. TURNER. COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS. AND. COUNCILMEMBER SHERWOOD, I'M SORRY FOR. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, MOTION PASSES. AND WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE INTO COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS.
[COUNCIL COMMENTS]
AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS TIME IT IS COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW.OH, GOODNESS. I'M CONCERNED THIS IS TWO MEETINGS IN A ROW WHERE WE'VE HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT PARATRANSIT, IN PARTICULAR THIS PHONE IN THE MORNING THAT PEOPLE GOT A CALL AND NO ONE'S ANSWERING.
I WOULD LIKE FOR STAFF TO PLEASE CONTACT OUR TRANSIT MANAGEMENT WHO
[03:55:09]
WE PAY OVER $100,000 A YEAR IN MANAGEMENT FEES TO A THIRD PARTY.AND WE ALSO PAY THE TRANSIT MANAGER $200,000 A YEAR AND FIGURE OUT WHY IT IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO CALL EVERY MORNING TO GET A PAIR OF TRANSIT RIDE, AND THEY CAN'T GET PEOPLE ON THE PHONE BECAUSE NO ONE'S ANSWERING THE PHONE.
THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE WITH US SPENDING $6 MILLION GENERALLY A YEAR IN TRANSIT.
AND THIS YEAR. DRUM ROLL, 10 MILLION IN TRANSIT.
THE LADY WITH THAT HAD CANCER WITH HER PROPERTY ISSUE AND WANTED MORE TIME.
CAN WE COUNCIL HAS ALREADY TAKEN ACTION ON THAT.
SO THERE'S A LEGAL PROCESS THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
OKAY. WELL, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO YOU KNOW, WE TYPICALLY HELP THAT SITUATION.
IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE HAS A GOOD REASON WHY SHE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO HER PROPERTY.
AND I'D CERTAINLY IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN AT THE TIME THAT WE VOTED TO CONDEMN THAT PROPERTY OR THAT BUILDING THAT THAT SHE HAD PANCREATIC CANCER. YOU KNOW, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE VOTED FOR THAT IN CASE IF I DID.
SO I'D LIKE TO REVISIT THAT. THE THE GENTLEMAN IN THE WHEELCHAIR WHOSE SIDEWALK IS MESSED UP.
CAN WE PLEASE GET THAT FIXED AND, AND REACH OUT TO HIM? AND IF STAFF COULD PLEASE EMAIL ME THAT ADDRESS.
I'D LIKE TO TO GO BY THAT HOUSE. AND I'VE GOT OTHER THINGS, BUT AFTER THE LONG DAY, THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN. I'D LIKE TO ECHO COUNCILMAN CRENSHAW OF THE LADY WITH PANCREAS CANCER.
PANCREATIC CANCER? I'M NOT. I KNOW WE VOTED ON IT, AND IT'S ON A DEMOLITION LIST, BUT IF WE CAN HELP, THAT'S A BIG DEAL. I HAVE THE SIDEWALK FOR THE GENTLEMAN WHERE THE SIDEWALKS CAVED IN AT.
I'VE ALSO BEEN GETTING SEVERAL CALLS ABOUT THESE WATER BILLS THAT ARE ASTRONOMICAL, MISSING NUMBERS OR DIFFERENT NEW EQUIPMENT THAT'S BEING READ IMPROPERLY AFTER PEOPLE HAVE GONE OUT AND HIRED PLUMBERS.
THERE'S A CHURCH THAT RECENTLY REACHED OUT TO ME.
I'VE SENT A FEW EMAILS OUT, BUT I WANT TO ADDRESS THIS OPENLY ON THE MIC THAT I'M CONCERNED.
THERE'S A CHURCH WITH A $12,000 WATER BILL THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE PAID.
WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
IT'S THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
I ALSO GOT A QUESTION ABOUT THE TASK FORCE THAT'S PERUSING PARKING LOTS.
NOW, I'D LIKE TO KNOW, ARE WE PAYING FOR THAT? IS THAT BEING PAID FOR BY THE PROPERTY OWNER? IS THIS IN ADDITION TO THE TASK FORCE THAT WAS CONVENED IN MARCH? HOW AND WHEN? I'D LIKE SOME INFORMATION ON THE PARKING LOT.
I'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT COULDN'T GET THEIR PARKING LOT HELPED.
SO I'D LIKE SOME INFORMATION ON HOW, WHEN, WHY, WHERE, WHO'S PAYING AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT.
THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW. THANK YOU.
COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN TURNER.
YES. JUST A COMMENT IN REFERENCE TO MR. ALEXANDER AND MR. ALBERT HARRISON ABOUT THE GAS PIPES THAT ARE EXPOSED.
IF WE CAN REALLY LOOK INTO IT IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.
LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS NOT LOOK INTO A SAFETY CONCERN THAT'S BROUGHT TO US ON THE MIC, AND AS WELL AS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT OTHER CITIZENS BROUGHT US EARLIER.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN HILLIARD. YEAH.
I'LL I'LL KIND OF ADDRESS THAT. COUNCILWOMAN LADONNA.
I MET WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS ON PROBABLY 5 OR 6 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BROUGHT THE CITY MANAGER IN AND ALSO THE POLICE FORCE TO TRY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AT THE PARKING LOT, THE PROPERTY OWNERS SPENT $45,000 ON EXTRA SECURITY THROUGH THE BEAUMONT PD.
THEY HAVE ALSO ADDED 2 OR 3 CAMERAS TO LINK THEM IN WITH THE REAL TIME CRIME CENTER.
SO THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY POSSIBLY CAN TO MITIGATE THIS.
[04:00:06]
THE ISSUE THAT'S GOING ON IN THESE PARKING LOTS.AND SO THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND IT HAS BEEN, IT'S BEEN GOING ON. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS OFF AND ON ALL YEAR.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO TRYING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND MAKE A SAFE PLACE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SEE IT HAPPEN ALL OVER THE CITY.
AND I'M NOT I MEAN, I'LL HELP ANYWHERE I CAN, BUT A LOT OF THE WARDS, I, I DON'T, I DON'T WORK CLOSELY WITH, BUT WILL, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT ALL OVER THE CITY WHERE WE STOP THESE PARKING LOT PARTIES, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THEY END UP IN SOMEONE GETTING HURT OR SOMEONE GETTING KILLED.
AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN. AND SO I, I, I, I STEPPED UP FOR THE, THE SHOPPING CENTER THERE AND THE PROPERTY OWNERS WERE, WERE WONDERFUL AND WORKING AND WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.
I THINK CHIEF CAN ATTEST TO THAT. HE'S NOT LISTENING TO ME, BUT I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THAT.
IT'S, IT'S BEEN SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND TRYING TO GET IT TO A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENED IS WHEN ALL THE BUSINESSES CLOSE AT TWO, THE PARTIES START.
AND SO THEY HAVE ALSO AGREED TO ACTUALLY PAY FOR MORE OFFICERS THE ADDITIONAL TWO HOURS AFTER TO STAY IN THE PARKING LOT, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CLEAR THE PARKING LOT AND THAT NOTHING HAPPENS. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
AND SO THAT BEING SAID, I HOPE THAT KIND OF GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A DEAL.
TREATMENT, AND THEY'RE HAVING TO WAIT IN LINE WITH PEOPLE THAT NEED TO GO TO HEB.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO REACH OUT AND SEND MY PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY.
AND IT'S A GREAT LOSS TO US. AND SO HE WAS A GOOD MAN.
SO THAT BEING SAID, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN.
COUNCILMAN. YES. I WANT Y'ALL TO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND SPEAKING WITH MR. SINCLAIR. HE HAS SOME CONCERNS ABOUT SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES AND WALKWAYS THAT HE LIVES OVER THERE BEHIND CHILI'S.
THOSE APARTMENTS OVER THERE. SOMEBODY COULD GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM. I SURE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. ALSO GOOD FRIEND OF MINE REGGIE WILLIAMS, RETIRED FIREFIGHTER. HIS HIS WIFE PASSED THIS WEEK, SO IF Y'ALL COULD KEEP HIM IN HIS PRAYERS.
HE WAS JUST 51 YEARS OLD, YOUNG LADY. AND ALSO ON THIS BUDGET STUFF, MAN.
WE JUST THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ELECTED TO DO TO COMPROMISE, WORK TOGETHER AND COME OUT WITH WHAT WE CAN ALL AGREE IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT. THAT'S WHAT WE THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
WE GOTTA. WE GOTTA GET OUR FEET WET AND GET IN THERE AND TAKE CARE OF THAT AND AND THEN TAKE THE HEAT FOR THE DECISION WE MADE, BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE HEAT FOR ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, BUT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO ALL BE ABLE TO BE ON THE SAME SIDE AND WORK IT OUT.
THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY.
YES, SIR. I JUST WANT TO REMIND COUNCIL I DID SEND OUT AN EMAIL REGARDING OUR CHARTER COMMITTEE TO REITERATE SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WE WERE DISCUSSING AND TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF COUNCIL'S PROPOSED CHANGES WERE BEING DISCUSSED.
TINA GOT MARRIED AND SO WE'RE SUPER EXCITED AND PROUD OF HER.
SHE'S A BEAUTIFUL BRIDE. SO CONGRATULATIONS, TINA.
WISHING YOU AND YOUR NEW HUBBY A LIFE OF HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, TINA. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DIDN'T WANT US ALL THERE.
WE WOULD HAVE NEVER CUT THE CAKE. ANOTHER VOTE.
NOBODY WOULD HAVE MADE A SECOND WHEN THEY SAID, DOES ANYBODY OBJECT? MISS VILLARREAL. THANK YOU. SO FIRST UPDATE IS ON THE TRAIN HORNS.
ALL OF THE WORK IS COMPLETE. WE HAVE SUBMITTED THE REQUEST TO THE FRA.
WE CALLED THEM FOR AN UPDATE YESTERDAY. WE WERE TOLD TO SUBMIT.
THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE US ANYTHING UNLESS WE SUBMITTED IT IN WRITING.
WE SUBMITTED IT IN WRITING YESTERDAY. WE'RE STILL WAITING ON A RESPONSE.
SO THAT'S WHERE IT'S AT. IT'S IN THE PHRASE HANDS NOW.
WE INVESTIGATED THE RAMP ISSUE AT THE ADDRESS IS 4105 QISHAN, AND IT HAS BEEN SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED ASAP. OH, GREAT. AND THE EAST LUCAS SIDEWALK.
[04:05:07]
THAT WAS A CONCERN THAT WAS BROUGHT UP AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. AND I'D MENTIONED THAT THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE WAS AN EASEMENT.WE FINALLY GOT A SIGNATURE, I BELIEVE, THIS AFTERNOON FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER.
SO NOW WE'RE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH FINALIZING OUR PERMITS AND GOING TO CONSTRUCTION FOR THE SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS ON EAST LUCAS BETWEEN PINE, BURR AND HELBIG. I DON'T HAVE A DEFINED TIMELINE ON THAT YET, BUT WE GOT THE LAST PIECE OF THE PUZZLE PUT TOGETHER.
AS FAR AS THE EXPOSED GAS SERVICES THE GAS COMPANY SEEMS TO BE GIVING CONFLICTING INFORMATION, OR MAYBE THE ADMIN OFFICE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT FIELD STAFF IS COMMUNICATING.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REACH BACK OUT TO THEM BECAUSE THE GAS, THE COMMUNICATION I'VE RECEIVED FROM THE GAS COMPANY HAS INDICATED THAT THOSE LINES THAT ARE EXPOSED ARE NO LONGER IN SERVICE. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S MORE CONVERSATION TO BE HAD THERE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO TINA. THAT'S WONDERFUL NEWS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND THE LOVED ONES OF THE IMHOFF FAMILY.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'LL JUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO MISS TINA.
THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, TINA, AND THANK YOU TO OUR STAFFERS.
PUT ALL THE BUDGET WORK HOURS IN. CONGRATULATIONS, TINA.
THANK YOU. THANKS. SAY SOMETHING TODAY. JUST REALLY QUICK.
THANK EVERYONE FOR THE WISHES. WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME.
IT WAS GREAT. THANK YOU. OH, AND BY THE WAY, IT TOOK ME LONG ENOUGH.
IT WAS JUST 11 YEARS WE'VE BEEN DATING, SO IT TOOK ME LONG ENOUGH.
WHAT MAKES YOU. YEAH. MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN EXTEND MY APPRECIATION, ESPECIALLY TO OUR FINANCE STAFF WHO'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO, TO GET US TO THIS POINT.
THANKS TO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND NOT FOR THE WORK THEY'VE DONE SO FAR JUST FOR THAT WORK.
BUT A LOT OF THE WORK THAT'S COMING IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR TO TRY TO GET US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE, APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S EFFORTS AS WELL. AND CONGRATULATIONS.
BEST WISHES TO, TO TINA. AND WITH THAT, I ALSO WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.
AND I EXPECT TO SEE A NEW NAMEPLATE THERE, I GUESS.
YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND CERTAINLY.
OKAY. I WANT TO THANK THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE DIRECTORS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND CONTINUED HARD WORK AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AND AND AGAIN, THE SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND CERTAINLY THE PARA TRANSPORT, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON STANDARD DIALYSIS, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT BECAUSE I THINK GROCERIES ARE NECESSARY.
SO I THINK PEOPLE DO HAVE TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY COULD EVALUATE THAT SYSTEM SO THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT TILL EIGHT AND BE ONLINE. IT IT CERTAINLY LIKE AN EXPLANATION ON WHAT.
GOT TURNED OFF. I GUESS WE NEED TO CONCLUDE THE MEETING AT THIS POINT.
SO AT THIS POINT THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.