[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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>> SPEAKER: GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IT IS MONDAY SEPTEMBER 205:30 PM.
WE ARE AT CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE THIS MEETING MAYBE CONVENED IN CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF SEEKING CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL ADVICE ON ANY AGENDA ITEMS. AT CITY OF ROWLETT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CALL EXECUTIVE SESSION. TO PROVIDE, FOR THE MEETING IF YOU ARE NOT ATTENDING IN PERSON YOU CAN SEND AN E-MAIL BY 3:30 PM THE DAY OF THE MEETING. YOU MUST STATE WHETHER YOUR COMMENTS REGARDING A SPECIFIC CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEM OR A GENERAL COMMENT TO CITY COUNCIL. THERE, WILL BE READ INTO RECORD DURING THE MEETING WITH A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT. FOR IN PERSON COMMENTS WE HAVE REGISTRATION FORMS. INSTRCTIONS ARE AVALABLE INSIDE THE DOOR AT THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
I WILL CALL TO MEETING TO ORDER AND I WILL READ BOTH ITEMS INTO THE RECORD AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A COMBINED PRESENTATION AND THEN I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR BOTH ITEMS AND WE
[2A. Conduct a public hearing on the ad valorem tax rate for Fiscal Year 2022.]
[2B. Conduct a public hearing on the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2022.]
WILL TAKE CITIZEN COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL. ITEM TO A CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING ON THE AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022. ADAM TO MAKE THE CONDUCT PUBLICHEARING ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022. >> SPEAKER: GOOD EVENING COUNSEL, MADAME MAYER, I'M ROBERT KATE COHEN CITY BUDGET OFFICER.
I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE TWO ITEMS. REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE OTHER CARING FOR THE PROPOSED TAX RATE.
TO COMPLY WITH STATE STATUTE THESE ARE REQUIRED TO BE TWO SEPARATE HEARINGS AND ITEMS. HOWEVER THIS PRESENTATION WILL COVER BOTH OF THE ITEMS. FOLLOWING THIS PRESENTATION WILL HAVE BOTH PUBLIC HEARINGS, THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET AND FOLLOWING THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED TAX RATE. THE THEME OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET IS HOMETOWN VALUE. THAT IS WHAT THE CITY OF ROWLETT BRINGS FROM OUR COMMUNITY, LOW-COST PUBLIC EVENTS WITH SERVICE TO A SMILE. WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE VALUE TO OUR RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND GUESTS. ROWLETT CONTINUES TO TELL HIS STORY REMARKABLE WAYS. FROM ONE OF THE TOP 25 BEST PLACES TO LIVE TO THE NUMBER ONE BEST SMALL CITY TO MOVE TO IN AMERICA, TO ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN TEXAS, TO THE EIGHTH THE FASTEST GROWING CITY IN THE COUNTRY TO THE SEVENTH -RANKED MIDSIZE CITY WITH THE BEST RATIO OF MEDIAN HOME ROUTE VALUE TO INCOME. PEOPLE ARE TAKING NOTES AND INVESTING IN ROWLETT. HIGH QUALITY PROJECTS DRIVEN BY THE COMMUNITY'S VISION, ACCESS TO REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION, A STRATEGIC PORTAL BETWEEN DFW AND EAST TEXAS AND EXTRAORDINARY MARKET TIMING ARE DRIVING DEVELOPERS TO ROWLETT. MANY OF THE BUSINESSES ATTRACTED TO THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS WILL BE UNIQUE TO ROWLETT AND IN SOME CASES UNIQUE TO TEXAS.
THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT. ROWLETT HAS THE RIGHT VISION FOR THE RIGHT TIME.
THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF HAS BEEN VERY CHALLENGING. TWO YEARS AGO WE WERE DISCUSSING HOW ROWLETT WAS NAMED THE EIGHTH FASTEST GROWING CITY IN THE COUNTRY BY THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND THE MOST SEVERE WINTER STORM IN RECENT MEMORY. THESE CHALLENGES HAVE AFFECTED EVERY ASPECT OF OUR GOVERNMENT, BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS AND IT HAS CERTAINLY AFFECTED OUR FISCAL CAPACITY TO BE FLEXIBLE AND ADDRESS ARE OUR MOST CRITICAL NEEDS.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, STAFF IS CONSERVATIVE WITH ITS REVENUE PROJCTIONS, PARTICULARLY PROPERTY AND SALES TAX ESTIMATES. AS A RESULT, WE PREPARED PROPERTY TAX ESTIMATES BASED ON PRELIMINARY MAY VALUES. AFTER THE FINAL PROPERTY TAX -- DECISION-MAKING WAS DONE AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET WAS PUT TOGETHER, WE RECEIVED THE FINAL CERTIFIED VALUES BASED ON THE FINAL DETAILS WE ESTIMATED ABOUT 250,000 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUES ON TOP OF THE 100,000 WE HAD SET ASIDE. AS A RESULT, WE HAD ABOUT 350,000 IN ONGOING REVENUE AND 25,000 IN ONE-TIME FUNDS TO DISCUSS DURING OUR WORK SESSIONS FOR FURTHER ALLOCATION. GOING FORWARD, DUE TO REQUIRED TIMELINES PROPOSED BUDGETS WILL BE BASED SOLELY ON THE MAY PRELIMINARY VALUES REPORTED BY THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS.
THESE VALUES ARE SUBJECT TO PROTEST REDUCTIONS AND SUBSTANTIAL SWINGS AND REVENUE LAWS DUE TO CEILING VALUES. THIS SCHEDULE ALSO MEANS THAT AS OF THE TIME OF THE ADOPTION OF FUTURE BUDGETS AND TAX RATES, THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE UNKNOWN FACTOR RELATED TO OUR LARGEST SINGLE REVENUE SOURCE, THE PROPERTY TAXES. IN SUCH CASE, FUTURE BUDGETS ARE LIKELY TO BE AMENDED BY COUNSEL SUBSEQUENT TO THEIR ADOPTION. FOR STRATEGIC PLAN TO BE EFFECTIVE, IT NEEDS TO PERMEATE EVERY ASPECT OF OUR OPERATION. THEREFORE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PRESENTATION, WE WILL FOCUS ON OUR SEVEN STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.
OUR FIRST STRATEGIC PRIORITY IS TO GOVERN TRANSPARENTLY AND INCLUSIVELY.
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THIS MEANS GOVERNING IN A POLICY FOCUSED AND RESPONSIVE MANNER THAT EMPHASIZES ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF OUR CITIZENS AND REMOVING BARRIERS TO INFORMATION.THE GOOD NEWS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 IS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO REDUCE THE SEWER BILL BY 5 PERCENT FOR THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER OR $3.24 PER MONTH.
THIS MEANS STRATEGIC GOALS 1.5 MAINTAIN EQUITABLE AND COMPETITIVE TAX RATES, FEES AND SERVICE CHARGES. THIS IS THE THIRD STRAIGHT REDUCTION IN THE MONTHLY WATER AND SEWER BILL. OTHER ITEMS INCLUDE ADDING ONE FULL TIME DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST AND EQUIPMENT TO HELP WITH PRINT AND DIGITAL MEDIA CONTENT AND SOCIAL MEDIA MONITORING. ADDING SUPPORT FUNDING FOR VARIOUS CITY BOARDS INCLUDING 1500 FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, $1000 FOR THE ANNUAL SERVICE ADVISORY BOARD AND 7300 FOR THE YOUTH SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD. OUR SECOND STRATEGIC PRIORITY IS TO ENSURE A SAFE COMMUNITY. ROWLETT PROVIDES PROACTIVE CITIZEN ORIENTED PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES THAT ALLOW RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND GUESTS TO FEEL SAFE AND BE SAFE.
BEING SAFE AND FEELING SAFE OR IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO ENSURING A SAFE COMMUNITY.
2019 WE ADDED NINE FIREFIGHTERS TO FULLY STAFF FIRE STATION NUMBER FOUR THAT WAS BUILT IN 2005. IN 2020 WE ADDED EIGHT NEW POLICE OFFICERS TO ADDRESS AN INCREASING RESPONSE TIME ON PRIORITY ONE CALLS. TO BUILD ON THIS WE ARE ADDING FOR ADDITIONAL PATROL OFFICERS TO HELP IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES AND PREPARE FOR THE OPENING OF THE SAPPHIRE BAY. WE ARE ALSO ADDING ONE TRAINING OFFICER TO SYNCHRONIZE FIRE TRAINING EFFORTS WITH THE NEW FIRE TRAINING POWER. STRENGTHENING NEIGHBORHOOD LIVABILITY IS OUR THIRD PRIORITY. WE WANT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE SAFE, WALKABLE, WELCOMING AND OFFER A RANGE OF HOUSING CHOICES THAT ADD LASTING VALUE.
NEIGHBORHOOD LIVABILITY TOUCHES THE LIVES OF ROWLETT RESIDENTS WHERE THEY SEE IT MOST, THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. FROM LAND USE DECISIONS TO CODE ENFORCEMENT TO LOOSE DOGS, OUR RESIDENTS TO IMPACT. TO BOOST THE STRATEGIC PRIORITY WE ARE ADDING ONE H2O INSPECTOR TO ENHANCE INSPECTIONS AND IMPROVE COMPLIANCE IMPACTING OUR SEWER SYSTEM.
WE ARE ALSO REORGANIZING OUR ENGINEERING DIVISION IN PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT INTO A SEPARATE DISTINCT DEPARTMENT TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES AND GAIN ECONOMIES OF SCALE.
ANOTHER PRIORITY IS ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE. WE WANT TO BE A LAKESIDE DESTINATION SURROUNDED BY NATURAL BEAUTY AND RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT OPPORTUNITIES. ROWLETT OFFERS MANY AMENITIES TO OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
MAINTAINING THESE AMENITIES REQUIRE RESOURCES. THEREFORE WE ARE PROPOSING TO REPAIR THE SURFACE OF KIDS KINGDOM PLAYGROUND, PERMANENTLY, ADD ONGOING DOLLARS TO THE WATERVIEW GOLF COURSE TO IMPROVE VISITOR EXPERIENCE, AND ADD FUNDS TO PURCHASE NEEDED EQUIPMENT. FOSTERING ECONOMIC VITALITY IS OUR FIFTH PRIORITY WITH A FOCUS ON EFFECTIVELY INTEGRATING COMMERCIAL, RETAIL AND LAKE ORIENTED DEVELOPMENTS WITH RICH EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND A SUSTAINABLE AND DIVERSIFIED TAX BASE.
ROWLETT HAS A VIBRANT GROWING ECONOMY. THE PAST FOUR YEARS THE CITY HAS ADDED 762.2 MILLION IN NEW CONSTRUCTION AND IS ADDED OVER 2300 JOBS SINCE 2014.
THAT ALONE IS A REMARKABLE STORY. HOWEVER SAPPHIRE BAY WILL ADD A NEW NARRATIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY. IT WOULD BE A HUGE ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION AND ADD WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES, SHOPPING VENUES AND RECREATIONAL AMENITIES. THIS WILL HELP ROWLETT ACHIEVE TWO IMPORTANT GOALS, 5.1, CREATE AND PROMOTE A POSITIVE BRAND IDENTITY AND 5.3, CULTIVATE SAPPHIRE BAY IS A PREMIER DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT. IT WILL ALSO HELP THE CITY WITH 5.2, ACHIEVE REGIONAL, STATE AND NATIONAL RECOGNITION. ANOTHER PRIORITY IS INVESTING IN TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE. MEANING WE WILL BE WELL CONNECTED TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS AND PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY ROADS AND UTILITY SYSTEMS. TO PROTECT OUR STREETS AND ALLEYS WE ARE PROPOSING TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL PATCH TRUCK AND CREW. IN ADDITION WE WILL CONTACT TO HAVE ALL STREETS AND ALLEYS MEASURED FOR PAVEMENT CONDITION IN ORDER TO HAVE ACCURATE DATA FOR THE ENTIRE CITY VERSUS THE CURRENT FOR YOUR CYCLE OF PROCESS.
THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL PROVIDE A MUCH BETTER VIEW OF OUR PAVEMENT AND PROVIDE THE ABILITY TO FOCUS RESOURCES ON THE WORST PAVEMENT CONDITIONS. FINALLY, THE BUDGET INCLUDES REPLACING OUR OBSOLETE FLEET FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. PLANNING FOR THE 2021 BOND ELECTION BEGAN IN 2019 AND WAS THROWN A CURVE DURING THE 2020 COVID PANDEMIC.
IT WAS ANTICIPATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 36.7 MILLION IN BONDING CAPACITY WOULD BE AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHANGING THE TAX CODE. HOWEVER THE CITY'S NEEDS FAR EXCEEDED THAT AMOUNT WITH 230 MILLION IN PROJECTS. AFTER MUCH CONSIDERATION, COUNTER RECOMMENDED THREE PROPOSITIONS TO BE TAKEN TO THE VOTERS FOR COMBINED AMOUNT OF 29.15 MILLION. VOTERS APPROVED PROPOSITION A AND PRE-POSITION C FOR A TOTAL OF 21.875 MILLION. OUR SEVENTH AND FINAL STRATEGIC PRIORITY IS TO PROMOTE OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE. THIS MEANS WE ARE A HIGH PERFORMING ORGANIZATION DELIVERS
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EXEMPLARY SERVICE THROUGH A WELL-TRAINED AND RESPONSIVE WORKFORCE.FOR 2022, WE ARE PROPOSING TO CREATE A PERMANENT INNOVATION FUND WITH A START UP FUNDING OF $140,000 AND A TWO-YEAR GOAL TO REACH 190,000 ANNUALLY IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE REPLACING HARDWARE DOESN'T TAKE A BACKSEAT TO OTHER PRIORITIES. IN ADDITION, WE WOULD LIKE TO USE $715,000 OF ONE-TIME MONEY TO REPLACE TEN OBSOLETE NETWORK SWITCHES.
WE'RE ALSO ADDING A UTILITY BILLING ANALYST TO HELP BOOST CUSTOMER SERVICE.
I'M NOW GOING TO MOVE TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED TAX RATE AND WALKED THROUGH THAT PART OF THE PRESENTATION FOR TONIGHT. TRUTH IN TAXATION AS A CONCEPT EMBODIED IN THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION. THE TEXAS CODE THAT REQUIRES LOCAL TAXING UNITS TO MAKE TAXPAYERS AWARE OF TAX RATE PROPOSALS. WHEN HE PROPOSED TAX RATE EXCEEDS THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE OR THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WHICHEVER IS LOWER, THE TAXING UNITS GOVERNING BODY MUST VOTE TO PLACE PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE RATE ON THE AGENDA OF A FUTURE MEETING AS AN ACTION ITEM. THIS VOTE MUST BE RECORDED. THE PROPOSAL MUST SPECIFY THE DESIRED RATE. A TAXING UNIT CANNOT VOTE TO ADOPT A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE TAXES BY AN UNSPECIFIED AMOUNT. IF THE MOTION PASSES, THE GOVERNING BODY MUST SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE. THERE ARE FOUR PRINCIPLES TO TRUTH IN TAXATION. PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT INCREASES IN THEIR PROPERTIES APPRAISED VALUE AND TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE ESTIMATES OF TAXES THAT COULD RESULT FROM THE NEW VALUE. A TAXING UNIT MUST PUBLISH ITS NO NEW REVENUE AND VOTER APPROVAL RATES BEFORE ADOPTING AN ACTUAL TAX RATE. A TAXING UNIT MUST PUBLISH SPECIAL NOTICES AND HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE ADOPTING A TAX RATE THAT EXCEEDS THE LOWER OF THE NO NEW REVENUE OR THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE. IF A TAXING UNIT ADOPTS A RATE THAT EXCEEDS THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, THE REGISTERED VOTERS OF THE TAXING UNITS HELP HOLD AN ELECTION FOR THAT PURPOSE AND MUST DETERMINE WHETHER TO APPROVE THE ADOPTED TAX RATE.
THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS A CALCULATED RATE THAT WILL PROVIDE THE TAXING UNIT WITH APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE RECEIVED IN THE YEAR BEFORE ON PROPERTIES TAXED IN BOTH YEARS. IF PROPERTIES DO YOU RISE, THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE WILL GO DOWN AND VICE-VERSA. THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE PROVIDES THE TAXING UNIT WITH APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE IT SPENT THE PREVIOUS YEAR FOR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS PLUS A THREE AND ONE HALF PERCENT INCREASE OR EIGHT IF THE DISASTER IS IN FACT.
IN ADDITION TO SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PAY DEBT SERVICE IN THE COMING YEAR.
THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE ALSO REPRESENTS THE MAXIMUM RATE THE COUNCIL CAN ADOPT WITHOUT BEING SUBJECT TO AN AUTOMATIC ELECTION AT THE NOVEMBER UNIFORM ELECTION DAY.
THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE WHICH SHOWS THE RELATION BETWEEN THE PRIOR YEAR'S REVENUE AT THE CURRENT YEAR'S VALUE HAS BEEN CALCULATED TO BE 0.741816. THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM RATE THAT MAYBE APPLIED IF NOT SUBJECT TO AN AUTOMATIC ELECTION HAS BEEN CALCULATED TO BE 0.792537. ON AUGUST 17, COUNCIL VOTED TO PUBLISH THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AS AS A PROPOSED RATE AND SET THAT RATE AS THE TAX CEILING. THE TAX RATE PROPOSED IS PART OF TONIGHT'S HEARING AND FOR ADOPTION AT TOMORROW'S MEETING OF 0.745000 WHICH IS THE SAME AS THE CURRENT TAX RATE. SO WHAT ARE ROWLETT CITIZENS GETTING ARC IN 2022 ROWLETT CITIZENS WILL PAY $1863 IN CITY TAXES ON A HOME WITH A TAX VALUE OF $250,000.
THAT IS $5.10 PER DAY. ROWLETT CITIZENS ARE GETTING A GREAT VALUE FOR THEIR INVESTMENT AND THEY DESERVE IT. THIS CHART INDICATES SOME OF THE COMMON DAILY HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES AND WHERE THEY COMPARE RELATIVE TO THE PROPERTY TAXES. GOING TO A MOVIE OR THE AVERAGE ELECTRIC BILL WILL COST TO RESIDENTS MORE PER DAY THAN OUR CITY SERVICES.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO DISCUSS THE BIG TAKEAWAY FROM BOTH THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE BUDGET AS REVISED FOR CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION. IN TERMS OF GENERAL FUND REVENUE, THE KEY TAKE AWAY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 IS THAT WHILE PROPERTY VALUES INCREASED, THEY GREW AT A SIGNIFICANT LOWER RATE THAN IN RECENT YEARS. INCREASES IN SALES TAX AND OTHER
REVENUE SOURCES PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN OUR OVERALL INCREASE. >> SPEAKER: RAIL THAT WAS AN EXTREMELY GOOD SHAPE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC PROVIDING MORE OPTIONS THAN WE HAD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT RECESSION AND EVEN WITH THE CHALLENGES WE FACE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO REDUCE THE SEWER RATES, INCREASE WAGES, HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF AND FACED TOMORROW WITH A SENSE OF PURPOSE. THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDED A SIGNIFICANT RAISE TO BRING OUR POLICE, FIRE AND OPEN RANGE EMPLOYEES TO WITHIN A .92 PERCENT OF THE MARKET AND ADDED 11 NEW EMPLOYEES OVERALL. FOLLOWING THE SPECIAL BUDGET
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WORK SESSION, CITY COUNCIL DECIDED ON UPDATES TO THE ORIGINAL BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT LEVERAGED INCREASED PROPERTY TAX ESTIMATES AND UTILIZED FISCAL YEAR 21 SURPLUS TO CREATE A PACKAGE THAT WAS ABLE TO RETAIN THE CURRENT PROPERTY TAX RATE AND STILL ADD ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO INCREASE SERVICES TO ROWLETT RESIDENTS. THE CHANGES FROM THE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED BUDGET ARE AS FOLLOWS. ACCELERATED REPAIRS OF KIDS KINGDOM A PLAY AREA OF TURF AS A FISCALLY 2021 EXPENSE. ADDED ONE FIRE INSPECTION WHICH ELIMINATED THE NEED TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT. ADDED ONE ADDITIONAL DETENTION OFFICER TO START MIDYEAR 2022.INCREASED AN EXISTING PART-TIME CUSTODIAN TO FULL-TIME. ADDED ONE INTERNAL AUDITOR POSITION AND ADDED FUNDING FOR AN INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN. CITY COUNCIL ALSO INCREASED THE FUNDING FOR EMPLOYEE PAY PLAN TO MOVE COMPENSATION WITHIN .5 OF THE MARKET.
THESE NEXT TWO SLIDES SHOW REVIEW IN DETAIL THE CHANGE MADE TO THE ADOPTED FUNDS FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET ON AUGUST 4. THE BUDGET AS WE ARE PRESENTING FOR ADOPTION FOLLOWING THE BUDGET SESSION. ALL FUNDS COMBINED, REVENUES INCREASED FROM 144.9 TO 145 MILLION. EXPENSES INCREASED FROM 147.6 TO 148 MILLION. GENERAL FUND REVENUES INCREASED FROM 51.7 TO 52 MILLION.
EXPENSES INCREASED FROM 52.1 TO 52.5 MILLION. ECONOMIC TO THE ELEMENT FUND REVENUES REMAINED THE SAME AT 938,000. EXPENSES INCREASED FROM 783,000 TO 785,000. DEBT SERVICE FUND REVENUES INCREASED FROM 11.4 TO 11.9 MILLION AND EXPENSES REMAINED THE SAME AT 11.7 MILLION.
THE UTILITY FUND WAS UNCHANGED. FOR A COMPLETION'S SAKE THERE WERE NO CHANGES MADE TO THE REST OF THE CITY'S ADOPTED FUNDS EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS AND CAPITAL FUNDS REMAINED AS PROPOSED. OUR CITIZENS HAVE HAD SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE CITY COUNCIL WITH REGARD TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND TAX RATE. FIRST THERE WAS THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION ON AUGUST 17 TO GET FEEDBACK ON THE CITY MANAGER PROPOSED BUDGET.
THEN THERE WAS THE WORK SESSION ON AUGUST 19 WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL POURED OVER THE DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND AGAIN TODAY AT THE FORMAL PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 20.
FINALLY, CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULED TO ADOPT THE BUDGET AND TAX RATE TOMORROW SEPTEMBER 21.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 (INDISCERNIBLE) I WANT TO KNOW THAT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING IN COMPLIANCE WITH TEXTILE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 102 OFFICIAL ACTION BY COUNSEL IS REQUIRED TO POSTPONE THE VOTE TO ADOPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET UNTIL TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2021.
THANK YOU. >> SPEAKER: THANK YOU, ROBERT. THERE IS SO MUCH CONFUSION IN SOME OF THOSE LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GOING THROUGH ALL OF THAT.
ONE OF THE MOST CONFUSING THINGS IS THE ADOPTED TAX RATE THAT WE APPROVED SEVERAL WEEKS, MONTHS AGO OR WHATEVER WORK A MONTH AGO. VERSUS THE RATE THAT IS IN THE FINAL BUDGET. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS JUST A PROCESS WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE STATE PUTS OUT FOR US. IT IS CONFUSING TO US, IT'S CONFUSING TO OUR RESIDENTS. I APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION.
COUNSEL, BEFORE I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS BUDGET SEVERAL TIMES SO NOT SURPRISED THERE'S NO QUESTIONS.
I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 2A. ITEM 2A IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
IF ANYONE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER THEY CAN PRESENT ONE OF THE CARDS TO LAURA.
I HAVE -- I WILL READ THE WRITTEN IN COMMON QUICKLY. THIS IS FROM PAUL DANIEL.
WITH THE RAPID RISE IN VALUATIONS AT WHAT POINT IS COUNSEL GOING TO LOWER THE RATE? IT SEEMS LIKE DOUBLE DIPPING. AND THEN I HAVE ONE CARD FROM MS. DEBORAH SCHINDLER FOR ITEM
2A. >> SPEAKER: JEB BUSH UNDER THREE ZERO ZERO NINE SUNRISE DRIVE. FIRST I AM HAPPY THAT THE CITY DID NOT GO WITH THE MAXIMUM PROPOSED RATE WHICH WAS THE SOURCE OF SOME OF THE CONFUSION THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.
INSTEAD ELECTED TO GO AT THE SAME RATE OF 0.745000 AS LAST YEAR.
WITH THE EVER-INCREASING VALUATIONS AS I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW, AND AS SOME PEOPLE HAVE PROBABLY TOLD YOU, MANY ARE BEING TAXED OUT OF THEIR HOMES. THE MEDIAN HOME PRICE IN TEXAS
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WAS UP OVER 19 PERCENT YEAR OVER YEAR THROUGH JUNE TO 298,000 -- $298,013, ACCORDING TO TEXAS AND AM. LOOKING AT A RANDOM HOME OF APPROXIMATELY THAT VALUE IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, THE TOTAL ESTIMATED PROPERTY TAX BURDEN IS MORE THAN $7100 A YEAR.WITH A STANDARD HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. I KNOW ROBERT SAID THE CITY TAX ON $250,000 HOMES IS ONLY 1863 AND THAT SOUNDS REALLY, REALLY LOW, BUT I THINK YOU ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT THE TOTAL BURDEN IS ON SOME OF THESE PEOPLE.
THAT PARTICULAR HOME VALUATION 2013 WAS ONLY 179,00 $530 AND NOW IT IS 298,000.
SO THAT IS INCREASE OF ALMOST 120,000 IN JUST EIGHT YEARS. WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES AND PRESENTED AS A POSITIVE THING, WHICH IT IS IF YOU WANT TO SELL YOUR HOUSE.
BUT FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES, IT IS NOT. AND MEANS HIGHER TAXES, IT MEANS HIGHER INSURANCE RATES. IT IS AN OVERALL HIT ON FAMILIES ' BUDGET AND THIS IMPACT IS PARTICULARLY BURDENSOME FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE OF JOB LOSS, BUSINESS SHUTDOWNS OR INCOME CUTS THAT WOULD DO TO COVID -- CORPORATE AND GOVERNMENT TO THE PANDEMIC.
CITIES THAT RELY ON PROPERTY TAXES PLACE A BIGGER HARDSHIP NECESSARILY ON THOSE FAMILIES THEN DO THE CITIES THAT HAVE OTHER MAJOR SOURCES OF REVENUES SUCH AS SALES TAXES, MAKES BEVERAGES TAXES, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES, AUTHORIZED INVESTMENTS AND SO FORTH TO A LARGE DEGREE.
WHETHER PAID DIRECTLY TO THE TAX ASSESSOR BY SINGLE-FAMILY HOMEOWNERS OR BY RENTERS TO THE RENT PAYMENTS, RENT PAYERS ARE PAYING THE BRUNT OF FINANCING THE CITY'S PROGRAMS AND I HOPE TO SEE OUR CITY COUNCIL PLAN FOR A STRATEGY THAT ATTRACTS MORE BUSINESSES, WHICH I THINK YOU ARE TRYING TO DO. THAT WILL SHIFT THAT BURDEN FROM INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL ENTITIES AND THEIR END-USERS. THERE ARE POSSIBILITIES AS I KNOW YOU KNOW FOR INCREASED REVENUES SUCH AS INCREASED SALES TAXES ON INTERNET SALES, IF THE COMPTROLLER'S NEW SOURCING RULES ARE UNDER CHALLENGE ARE ALLOWED TO STAND.
IT IS CLEAR SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. MANY TEXAS CITIZENS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THEIR HUGE PROPERTY TAX BILLS AND SOME POLITICIANS ARE RUNNING FOR STATE OFFICES ON A PLATFORM OF REDUCING, REFORMING OR EVEN DOING AWAY WITH PROPERTY TAXES ALTOGETHER.
>> SPEAKER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK ON ITEM 2A? SEEING NONE I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 2A AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM 2B. MS. SCHINDLER IS THE ONLY CARD I HAVE SO FAR.
>> SPEAKER: I KNOW THERE IS ALWAYS AT LEAST SOME DISCONNECT. THIS ONE IS ABOUT THE BUDGET.
SOME DISCONNECT BETWEEN CITIZEN PRIORITIES, STAFF PRIORITIES AND COUNSEL PRIORITIES.
AND IN ALL THREE CASES, THOSE ARE ALSO DIVIDED WITHIN EACH OF THOSE GROUPS.
I ALSO KNOW THAT COMING UP WITH A COMPROMISE THAT EVERYONE CAN CONSIDER A WIN IS A DELICATE BALANCING ACT AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE PUT INTO ALL OF THIS.
MY FOCUS IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE ON FIRST FUNDING THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT.
I LIKE TO USE MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AS A MODEL FOR MY OWN HIERARCHY OF COMMUNITY NEEDS THAT I FIRST PRESENTED TO A DIFFERENT COUNSEL BACK WHEN I WAS ON THE BOND COMMITTEE. IN THIS PYRAMID -SHAPED MODEL, THE BASE OF THE PYRAMID INCLUDES THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES TO SOCIETAL LIFE SUCH AS PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICE, FIRE, EMT PERSONNEL, FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT, WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES, ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT NOT THINK OF BEING IN THAT CATEGORY BUT REALLY SHOULD BE, IT SECURITY. THIS LATTER HAS BEEN MY FIELD OF EXPERTISE FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS AND WITH GOVERNMENTS BEING TARGETED AS VICTIMS OF DATA BREACHES, DENIAL SERVICE AND RANSOM WERE ATTACKS AT AN EVER INCREASING DEGREE, AND THE AVERAGE CYBER SECURITY BREACH COSTING FROM 600,000 TO $40 MILLION, SECURING IT RECORDS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS SOMETHING CITIES REALLY NEED TO MOVE INTO THAT TOP PRIORITY CATEGORY. I WAS SURPRISED AND TROUBLED TO SEE THAT ITEM NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE ORIGINAL COUNSEL PRIORITY LIST THAT WAS IN THE AUGUST 4 AGENDA PACKET. I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE TEXAS -- THE COUNCIL IS ADDING A NEW POLICE OFFICERS, A DETENTION OFFICER, FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING OFFICER AND SO FORTH, ALTHOUGH I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT IS CLOSE TO ENOUGH. I'M HAPPY THAT THE COUNCIL IS TRYING TO BRING POLICE SALARIES MORE IN LINE WITH OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY AND I THINK ACCOUNTS
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FOR ALL IT IS DOING TO MAKE THAT BASE OF THE PYRAMID, THE FOUNDATION ON WHICH EVERYTHING ELSE IS BUILT STRONGER AND MORE SOLID. WHEN I WAS ON THE AFOREMENTIONED BOND COMMITTEE BACK IN 2009, I WAS CHAIR OF THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE.WE PULLED THE CITIES THEN AND FOUND THEIR TOP TWO PRIORITIES WERE NEW POLICE STATION, AND A NEW FIRE STATION NUMBER TWO. WE FINALLY HAVE THAT FIRE STATION WHICH JUST OPENED BUT WE STILL DON'T HAVE A NEW POLICE FACILITY. THE DEPARTMENT WAS OPERATING IN VERY CRAMPED QUARTERS BACK THEN AND NOW MORE THAN A DECADE LATER WE HAVE ADDED PERSONNEL AND PROGRAMS BUT WE STILL HAVEN'T PROVIDED THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SACRIFICED SO MUCH TO DO THIS JOB AND PROTECT OUR CITIZENS WITH ADEQUATE SPACE IN WHICH TO WORK.
I HOPE WE CAN SEE THAT COME TO FRUITION IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THANK YOU.
>> SPEAKER: IF ANYONE ELSE YOU LIKE TO SPEAK OF THE PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AT THIS TIME. SEEING NONE I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT CITIZEN COMMENTS. DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE IT PRIORITIES AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR LIST WAS PROBABLY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE ADEQUATELY FUNDING AND FOCUSING ON THAT ITEM AND HAVE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. THE IT DIRECTOR, JOEY BROCK, WHENEVER HE TALKS TO US ABOUT IT SECURITY, IT IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. WE HAVE FORWARDED AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF ATTEMPTED ATTACKS ON US AND IF YOU THAT AS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY AND HAVE FUNDED IT SUFFICIENTLY AND TO THE EXTENT THAT IT HAS ASKED US TO FUND IT. BRIAN, DO YOU WANT TO ADD
ANYTHING ON THAT? >> SPEAKER: ONE THING, MAYOR, I'M REALLY PROUD OF IS ABOUT A YEAR AGO COUNSEL AUTHORIZED ADDITIONAL FUNDING SPECIFICALLY FOR CYBERSECURITY.
WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IN SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT HAVE ALSO HELPED AND THESE ARE CONSULTANT RESOURCES WHERE THEY ARE CONSTANTLY REVIEWING EVERYTHING THAT IS COMING THROUGH THE SYSTEM, AND WE HAVE ALSO IMPROVED OUR BACKUP STORAGE ONLINE WHICH ALSO HAS PROVIDED IN THE ABILITY TO RESTORE QUICKLY IF WE DID GET HIT. THAT IS WORKING VERY WELL.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> SPEAKER: YOU CAN NEVER SAY NEVER, BUT WE FEEL PRETTY GOOD WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN DO IN THE IT SECURITY WORLD.
I THINK THAT IS FAIR TO SAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ROBERT, WE NEED A MOTION -- DID YOU GIVE ANYBODY THAT MOTION? TELL US WHAT TO DO, ROBERT. TELL MATT WHAT TO DO, ROBERT.
>> SPEAKER: WE NEED COUNSEL TO TAKE ACTION TO POSTPONE THE VOTE TO ADOPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET UNTIL TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2021. (INDISCERNIBLE).
>> SPEAKER: THERE WAS AN ERROR IN THE PACKAGE IN REGARDS TO THE TIME OR DATE OF THE MOTION.
SO THE CORRECTION -- (INDISCERNIBLE). >> SPEAKER: I'M JUST MAKING AN ANNOUNCEMENT. I THINK YOU JUST SAID IT BUT WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON
SEPTEMBER 212021 AT 7:30 PM. >> SPEAKER: AT ROWLETT CITY HALL.
MATT, ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A MOTION? I PUSHED YOUR BUTTON BUT IT'S
GONE. >> SPEAKER: I MAKE A MOTION TO POSTPONE THE ADOPTION OF THE 2022 BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF ROWLETT TO SEPTEMBER 21, 2021, AT 7:30 PM.
>> SPEAKER: COUNCILMAN BROWNE? >> SPEAKER: SECOND. >> SPEAKER: MOTION AND SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THAT MOTION? CALL THE VOTE. THAT PASSES 6-0 WITH 1 ACCENT COUNSEL PERSON.
IS THAT IT? THANK YOU, COUNSEL THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
WE APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THANK
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.