Jul 22, 2024 Special City Council Budget Workshop

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:12]

>> 9:00 A.M. I CALLED THIS MEETING TO

ORDER. >> IF YOU PRAY WITH ME. DEAR, LORD, WE COME TO YOU TODAY WITH OUR HEARTS FULL OF GRATITUDE, THANKFUL MESS AND THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE ONCE AGAIN WITH THE CITY AND THE GOOD PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR THE RAIN THAT YOU HAVE SENT. WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD SENTENCE SOME MORE. WE ASK YOU FOR YOUR BLESSING FOR THESE PROCEEDINGS. PLEASE ALLOW US TO HAVE EARS THAT WOULD HERE ALL THE CITIZENS AND HEARTS TO BE OPEN AND FULL OF PASSION AND ABOUT OUR MINDS TO HAVE WISDOM AND GRACE. WE ASK YOUR PROTECTION ON THIS COUNSEL, ON OUR CITY EMPLOYEES . IN JESUS' NAME, 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 WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW THOSE IN ATTENDANCE ARE EXPECTED SCHEDULED THIS WEEK WEIR'S BUDGET -- WE ARE SCHEDULED TO HAVE BUDGET SESSIONS TODAY , TUESDAY AT 9:00 AND WEDNESDAY AT 9:00 , JULY 23RD AND 24TH IF NEEDED. IF BUSINESS IS

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

THREE MINUTE LIMIT. >> NO CARDS.

>> WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO PARTICIPATE?

>> TAMMY VOGEL, RESIDENT OF ABILENE. I TRUSTED THE PROCESS . I CAME TO THE SPECIAL MEETING IN MARCH AS TO HOW WE, ON THINGS BEFORE WE GET INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE NOT DISCUSSED YET. IT MADE NO SENSE BACK THEN BECAUSE OF HARD TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT STUFF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL BE TALKED ABOUT. TRYING TO CATCH MY BREATH. BUT THEN MAYOR HURT WAS KIND ENOUGH TO COME AND TELL ME, THIS IS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION IF YOU COME BACK IN JULY, YOU CAN GIVE YOUR INPUT THEN . THAT IS WHEN WE WANT YOU TO COME. AND I LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE AND IT IS THE SAME. EVERYTHING IS AFTER THE TIME TO MAKE COMMENT . WE CANNOT ADDRESS THINGS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS UNLESS YOU GIVE US PERMISSION TO, I KNOW THAT IS UP TO YOU ALL. IT IS KIND OF FRUSTRATING . WE DID HAVE THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO LOOK OUT -- LOOK AT. IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THERE IS ROOM AS CITIZENS TO COMMUNICATE MUCH IN THIS PROCESS. WHAT OF THE THINGS THAT IS CONFUSING TO ME, FOR EXAMPLE, IS HOW IN HERE IT HAS $5 MILLION FOR THE FLAT FIELD, WHICH CLAIM FROM THE ARPA OR COVID FUNDS. THAT DOES NOT COST THE CITY BUT I DON'T SEE WHERE THE REST OF THE $5 MILLION CAME FROM AND HOW WE PAY FOR IT . I AM JUST SAYING THERE IS NO WAY TO TRACK MONEY. UNLESS I HAD BEEN AT THE MEETING IN DECEMBER OR WATCH THE MEETING, I WOULD KNOW NOTHING ELSE ABOUT THE $5 MILLION THAT WAS ABLE TO BE FOUND TO PAY FOR THE ADDITIONAL COST THAT THE CITY CONTRIBUTED TO THE FLAT FUNDS. IT BOTHERS ME THAT UNLESS YOU CATCH IT OR WATCH IT AND THE CONSENT AGENDA OR CATCH IT IN THE MEETING PACKET, YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. WHEN MR. HANNA SAID IN JUNE THAT WE HAVE THE CASH ON HAND TO DO THESE PROJECTS, I FELT LIKE -- I MISSPOKE AND HE CORRECTED ME THAT WE DID HAVE THE CASH ON HAND. THE $3 MILLION HAD NEVER BEEN IN THE BUDGET FOR THE HERITAGE SQUARE.

INTERESTING ENOUGH I FOUND THAT WAS DISCUSSED BACK AS EARLY AS 2016 . WE KNEW WE NEEDED A NEW LIBRARY AND IT WOULD BE IN THE SQUARE, MOST LIKELY. AND IT SEEMS WE HAVE DONE NOTHING TO PREPARE FOR THE COST AND I WE HAVE TO TAKE OUT A LOAN. ON TOP

[00:05:02]

>> WOULD ANYONE I'LL LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME?

>> GOOD MORNING. I AM CONNIE HOWARD, CITIZEN OF ABILENE, TEXAS. I'M NOT HERE TODAY TO CRITICIZE THE COUNSEL . LET ME BEGIN BY THANKING YOU FOR SERVING AS COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS A DIFFICULT JOB. I DO NOT LIKE THE DIRECTION THIS COUNSEL IS GOING IN. RAISING TAXES IS NOT THE ANSWER TO MANY OF THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE CITY. WE THE PEOPLE DO NOT WANT HIGHER TAXES. WE NEVER VOTED FOR ALL THE TAXES THAT ARE IMPOSED UPON US. AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS WE DO NOT WANT OUR CHILDREN SUBJECTED TO SEXUALLY ORIENTED BOOKS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES. LGBTQ PROGRAMS ARE UNWANTED BY THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN ABILENE . THE SPENDING IN THE CITY NEEDS TO BE UNDER CONTROL AND ALL BOND ELECTIONS FOR MORE SPENDING ME TO STOP . BONDS ARE NOTHING BUT ATTACKS BY ANOTHER NAME. WE MUST ALL COME TOGETHER AND UNITE . WE ARE STRONGER WHEN WE ARE UNITED AND I AM ASKING YOU TO RETURN THIS WONDERFUL CITY TO GODLY PRINCIPLES AND TO CHANGE THE DIRECTION THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN FOLLOWING. I AM FURTHER REQUESTING THAT YOU DO NOT VOTE ON AN AGENDA ITEM BEFORE THE CITIZENS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS ON WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED. STOP CATERING TO SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS BECAUSE GOD CREATED ALL OF US IN HIS IMAGE SO THAT NO ONE GROUP IS BETTER THAN ANY OTHER GROUP. WE THE PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER GOING TO ALLOW ANYONE TO DIVIDE US.

GOD TELLS US IN HIS SCRIPTURES ABOUT UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL. I DON'T THINK ABILENE IS READY TO FALL. I RESTORING GODLY PRINCIPLES AND UNITING AS A CITY, ABILENE, TEXAS, CAN BE THE SHINING CITY ON A HILL. THANK YOU . PLEASE CONSIDER GODLY PRINCIPLES WHEN YOU MEET. THANK YOU.

>> WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? KNEW IT MY NAME IS MARTA HOLLOWELL. I HAVE LIVED ON WHITE BOULEVARD FOR 31 YEARS. MY HOUSE IS PAID FOR BUT I PAY ALMOST $200 A MONTH IN TAXES JUST TO LIVE THERE. MY STREET HAS NOT BEEN TOUCHED IN THOSE 31 YEARS EXCEPT FOR AN OCCASIONAL POTHOLE FELL , WHICH IS FINE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT REALLY NEED IT . I DO BELIEVE THAT STREETS SHOULD BE A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, ESPECIALLY OVER WITH A DOG PART AND RAIN AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE NOT ESSENTIAL. I WOULD HATE TO HAVE TO BE IN AN AMBULANCE WITH BROKEN BONES GOING DOWN NORTH TAMPA OR NORTH EIGHTH. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHAT OF MY BROTHERS HAS WORKED FOR CITY GOVERNMENT FOR OVER 40 YEARS. WHEN I ASKED HIM ABOUT STREET REPAIRS, HE SAID IT SHOULD BE AN ONGOING BUDGET ITEM . FOR A WHILE THERE, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION IT WAS NOT. I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO AS FAR AS THAT GOES. LET US SEE. IN THIS ECONOMY IT SEEMS FOOLISH TO SPEND MONEY ON EXTRA PROJECTS THAT ARE NONESSENTIAL BERT THIS BRINGS ME TO THE DOG PARK. $1 MILLION SEEMS EXCESSIVE . NICE, NEW HOUSE AND ABILENE COST AROUND $200,000. WHY DOES A DOG PARK NEED A RESTROOM? WHAT OF MY BROTHERS LIVES IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA AND THE EVER LIVED IN THE AUSTIN AREA FOR A WHILE AND I NEVER SAW A HUMAN USE RESTROOM AT A DOG PARK, NOT ONCE. THE HUMANE SOCIETY IS RIGHT THERE. THEY CAN GO TO THE RESTROOM AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY, I GUESS . OTHER THAN WATER, FENCING AND TREES, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THAT EQUALS $1 MILLION.

[00:10:03]

>> WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME?

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS TIA TROPE AND I AM FROM ABILENE, TEXAS. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE AND I CHOSEN TO STAY HERE AND RAISE MY FAMILY BECAUSE IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE BUT RIGHT NOW I COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT YOU ALL ARE MAKING THE BEST DECISIONS, FINANCIALLY SPEAKING. BUT THESE ECONOMIC TIMES WE ARE LIVING IN WITH HIGH INFLATION, I FEEL THE CITY NEEDS TO BE MORE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH THE DEBTS THAT WE ARE INCURRING AS A CITY.

JUST LIKE WE HAD TO DO WITH OUR OWN FAMILY AT HOME , WE HAVE TO CHOOSE IF WE WILL BUY FOOD OR SPENT IT FRIVOLOUSLY ON THINGS THAT WE DO NOT NEED BUT THAT WE WANT. RIGHT NOW , I THINK THAT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THINGS THAT WILL HELP BUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAKE ABILENE A DESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE AND VISIT. RIGHT NOW, I KNOW YOU HAVE THE DOG PARK AND SOME PICKLE BALL COURTS. THOSE ARE GREAT THINGS BUT MAYBE THOSE ARE NOT THE THINGS THAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW WITH INFLATION. YOU KNOW, INTEREST RATES BEING SO HIGH. WHAT WE DO NEED ARE BETTER STREETS. RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE STREETS ARE LIKE NUMBER FIVE ON YOUR PRIORITY LIST. UNDERTHINGS LIKE THE DOG PARK AND THE PICKLE BALL COURT. THOSE THINGS, AGAIN OUR WONDERFUL AND WILL HELP ABILENE BE A MORE FUN PLACE TO BE BUT THOSE ARE THINGS WE JUST DO NOT NEED RIGHT NOW. THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE, LIKE CURRENTLY REDOING CYPRESS STREET AND THAT IS TO HELP REVAMP AND REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN TO DRAW TOURISTS. THAT IS WONDERFUL BUT THE STREET ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN ARE AWFUL. I LIVE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN AND I HAVE LIVED THERE FOR 20 YEARS. I HAVE NEVER ONCE HAD ANYTHING MORE THAN JUST A POTHOLE SO OR FILLING IN OF THE CRACKS. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THEY ARE BACK AND WORSE. I THINK RIGHT NOW OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AS A CITY SHOULD BE TO ADDRESS OUR STREETS. WE ARE PAYING FOR IT AND BEING TAXED IN OUR WATER BILL . RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE CYPRESS IS. THAT IS WHERE YOU'RE RUNNING TO REVAMP AND REVITALIZE AND DRAW MORE TOURISTS THAT IS GREAT BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR STREETS. SO WHEN OUR GUESTS COME AND VISIT, THEY WILL NOT BE OH MY GOSH, WHY DID I COME HERE? I DON'T WANT THEM TO COME BACK. WE WANT THEM TO KEEP INVESTING IN OUR CITY. RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME, AS A CITY, THAT WE TIGHTEN OUR PURSESTRINGS AND WE DO NOT TAKE OUT LOANS WITH HIGH INTEREST RATES. I WOULD ASK THAT AS YOU MOVE FORWARD YOU WOULD RECONSIDER YOUR PRIORITIES ON THINGS THAT THE CITY ACTUALLY NEEDS VERSUS WHAT WE WANT AND THAT YOU WOULD HELP MAKE THOSE PRIORITIES THINGS THAT WILL AFFECT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE LIVELIHOOD OF OUR CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SEEING NO ONE ELSE I

[2. Presentation: Revised FY 2024 and Proposed FY 2025 Budgets and Complete Budget Review]

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT COUNCIL MEETING OF THE YEAR OUTSIDE OF A BUDGET RETREAT. COUNCIL GETS TO EXPRESS WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE BUDGET. WHAT I HAVE DONE IS DONE MY BEST TO PROPOSE

[00:15:09]

[00:20:08]

THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE REDUCTION THAT WE HAVE MADE THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION. AND PROPOSED FOR F5 '25 -- ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE. AND THE FY '24 BUDGET WAS $131.8 MILLION. AND THEN REVISED WAS $138.2 MILLION. THE DIFFERENCE IS THE MINOR IMPROVEMENT FUND AT THE END YEAR WE MOVED FUNDS OVER AND THOSE FUNDS ARE USED TO PAY FOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. AND PROPOSED FOR FY '25 IS $133.3 MILLION. THEN I LAY FUND RESERVE OF $92.6 MILLION. IT FLUCTUATES EVERY YEAR. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TWO -- IF THE WHEELS FALL OFF THE CART AND THE UNTHINKABLE THINGS WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN. THAT GIVES US 90 DAYS OF OPERATING CASH. IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE A DOUBLE PLUS BOND RATING. WE HAVE A HIGH RESERVE. MANY COMMUNITIES DON'T HAVE A 90 DAY PERIOD THEY HAVE SOMETHING LESS THAN THAT. SOMETIMES IT IS 30 OR 45 OR 60. IT IS VERY CONSERVATIVE TO HALF AS FAR AS GENERAL FUND REVISED REVENUE YOU'LL SEE A DECREASE OF $1.5 MILLION. MOST OF THAT IS SALES TAX. THERE IS AN INCREASE IN APPOINTMENTS. IT IS A LARGE BUS THAT THE CITY RECEIVED DUE TO GRANT THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS. WHEN HE GETS DEPLOYED THE CITY OF ABILENE IS PAYING FOR THAT RESOURCE. WE DEPLOYED IT A COUPLE TIMES, MAYBE THREE TIMES THIS YEAR. AND WE RECEIVED ABOUT $424,000 IN REVENUE FOR THAT. WHICH IS GREAT. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO MAKE MONEY BUT WHEN IT IS DEPLOYED IS TYPICALLY DEPLOYED TO ARCHES , MASS CASUALTY EVENTS. IT IS A GIANT BUS WITH A BUNCH OF HOSPITAL BEDS IN IT STACKED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER TO SERVE THOSE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE INJURED DURING A CLOUD CLOTHES EVENT. OR A BAD WEATHER EVENT.

EXPENDITURES ARE DOWN. WE HAVE CUT PERSONNEL COST YOU WILL SEE THE EXCESS FUND BALANCE TRANSFERRED TO THE MIP. WE DID HAVE TO FUND THE AGREEMENT FOR A YC . THOSE MONIES CAME OUT AS WELL. IF YOU ALL RECALL , OUR COMMITMENT TO THAT A YSA WAS LARGER THAN WE HAVE ON CASH ON HAND. THE CHAPTER 380 THAT WE HAVE WITH THEM, WERE PAYING AT $800,000 A YEAR TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE THINK THAT GOES ABOUT FOUR YEARS AFTER THIS. GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BY CATEGORY, THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR COST OF PERSONNEL, WE ARE A SERVICE-BASED ORGANIZATION. WE DO SERVICES THROUGH PEOPLE. 71% OF OUR COST IS PERSONNEL. THE REST OF THAT, AS YOU CAN SEE, ARE MINIMAL COMPOSE TO THAT. BY PROGRAM, 5% OF OUR COST ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION GO TO ADMIN.

17% WOULD BE GENERAL SERVICES FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY MAKES UP THE LARGEST COMPONENT OF THAT, 53%. INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT WOULD BE 10%. TRENTON EIGHT IS 15%. REVENUE CHANGES BETWEEN THE FY '25 BUDGET PROPOSED AND REVISED BUDGET , PROPERTY TAX AND 8% INCREASE IN TAXABLE VALUES. AND ALSO PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. WE WILL GET TO THAT MSI CAN. THAT IS $3.7 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE. WE ALSO HAVE A REDUCTION IN SALES TAX AND THEN THE REC PROGRAM AS WELL. THE MEET AND CONFER PAYROLL INCREASE FOR POLICE AND FIRE IS $3.3 MILLION INCREASE. IN MEETING OUR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICER IS OF $3.3 MILLION INCREASE. STABILITY PAY CHANGES FOR COMPRESSION. I HAVE A SLIDE ON THAT THAT IS $5 MILLION. OTHER CHARTERS AND REDUCES THE SUPPORT WITH $231,000. THESE OTHER ITEMS ARE

[00:25:07]

[00:30:02]

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAD WAS PERSONNEL. WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE ON THE PHONES. WE HAVE RESTRUCTURED MANY CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND PROVIDING FUNDING THAT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MEETING CITIZEN DEMANDS TO PROVIDE GOOD QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE. MANY OF THE STAKES THAT WERE MADE WERE MADE BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE. WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE COST DOWN IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA. I THINK WE WAY TOO MUCH ON THE SIDE OF KEEPING THE COST DOWN AND NOT ENOUGH ON THE SERVICE OBLIGATIONS. WE ARE CHANGING TO ACCOMPLISH AND MEET THESE SERVICE EXPECTATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR CHEMICALS HAVE INCREASED. INFLATION IS A REAL THING. IT IS FOR US AS WELL. SYSTEM MAINTENANCE COST IS GONE. THESE BREAKS THAT WERE NOT PLANNED, WE HAVE TO FIX THOSE. THAT IS WHERE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS. AND THEN LAB EQUIPMENT AND OTHER CHARGES AS WELL. IT IS ABOUT A $3 MILLION INCREASE. CHANGES BETWEEN FI '25 AND FY '24, THE COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED A RATE INCREASE OR IS THAT IS PROBLEMATIC AND INCREASES EVERY YEAR UNLESS COUNCIL SAYS NOT TO. IT IS DONE TO CASH FUND OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. THERE WILL BE DEBT. WE ARE GETTING RID OF DEBT ISSUANCES FOR THE WATERFRONT BUT WE CANNOT DO THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE JUST TOO EXPENSIVE. IT MAYBE 50 OR $60 MILLION. MOST OF OUR MINOR REPAIRS ARE SYSTEM REPAIRS, WE ARE TRYING TO MOVE TO A CASH MODEL. THAT DECISION WAS MADE FIVE YEARS AGO, MAYBE.

IT IS GOING TO SAVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN INTEREST IF WE WILL MANAGE IT PROPERLY AND PULL IT OFF. THAT IS WHY YOU SEE THAT RATE INCREASE THERE. IT CONTINUES ALONG WITH THE PROGRAM. IT WILL COME BACK TO CANCEL MIDYEAR TO FURTHER DISCUSS THAT. INFLATION IS A THING. IF WE WILL MAINTAIN THE PACE THAT WE SET, WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT AUGMENTED RATE INCREASES AND IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE AND IF COUNCIL DID NOT WANT TO RAISE THE RATES WE JUST HAVE TO PULL BACK OUR CAPITAL PLAN. WE HAVE OPTIONS BUT KNOW THAT DISCUSSION WILL BE COMING SOMETIME IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. EXPENDITURE CHANGES VERSUS REVISED BUDGET, $2.5 MILLION DECREASE. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAT WAS CAPITAL TRANSFERS OUT THAT WILL NOT TAKE PLACE. THOSE ARE DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT WERE PROGRAMMED AND PLAN TO BE PRESENT THIS YEAR WHICH IS WHY THE REDUCTION . ABOUT $12.8 MILLION IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT THIS YEAR.

THAT IS THE MAJORITY OF THAT DIFFERENCE. YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THIS CHART HERE. THAT .15 IS $150,000 AND THE 1.5 IS $1.5 MILLION. 12.8 MILLION DOLLARS TOTAL. REDOING 8.48 IN FY '25.

THAT IS THE MAJORITY OF THE DIFFERENCE. MORE ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THERE. WE WILL SEE FUTURE YEARS HAVE MORE DOLLARS.

[00:35:05]

FUND BALANCE LIKE THAT IS IT IS ITS OWN BUSINESS. IT IS OF FUNDING ITS OWN TRUCKS AND CAPITAL COSTS AND OPERATING STAFF. IT NEEDS TO HAVE FUNDS TO DO THAT. THOSE TRUCKS ARE EXPENSIVE. IF YOU HAVE TO BUY FIVE TRUCKS, YOU WOULD PROBABLY BURN THROUGH THAT QUICKLY. STORMWATER FUND , CHARGES FOR SERVICE AND ALL OTHER REVENUES ABOUT $3.7 MILLION FOR FY '25.

EXPENDITURE, SAME AMOUNT. FUND BALANCE DOES NOT CHANGE. WE WILL BE COMING TO COUNCIL AND FY '25 TO DISCUSS THOSE RATES.

IF WE INTENT ON ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING THE CAPITAL PROGRAM THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED FIVE OR SEVEN YEARS AGO NOW, WE NEED TO FUND THAT. WE'VE UPDATED THE PROJECT MEMBERS AND WE HAVE UPDATED SCENARIOS TO COUNCIL. AND IT IS JUST A MATTER -- A FUNCTION OF HOW YOU WANT TO PAY FOR THE STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE ADOPTED IN THE MASTER PLAN. THE FUNDING MECHANISMS THAT WE DID WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE COST. PRIMARILY THE ENGINEERING FIRM THAT WE USED.

IN MY OPINION, THE UNDERVALUED THE COST OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT ASSOCIATE WITH THOSE PROJECT COSTS. WE WILL LOOK AT ALL THAT. WE HAVE A DIFFERENT BERM IDENTIFYING THOSE COSTS WITH THE PROGRAM FUNDING TO FUND THAT. I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THAT IN FY '25. THE SELF-INSURANCE FUND, AGAIN, WE COLLECT FROM THE CITY AND OUR EMPLOYEES. THAT IS WHERE THE REVENUE COMES FROM. WE EXPECT ON SPENDING $17.6 MILLION ON THE FUN WE ARE GOING THROUGH A PLAN SPEND DOWN. WE HAVE A FUND BALANCE OF $7.5 MILLION AT THE END OF FY '25. THIS IS OUR INSURANCE PROGRAM. THIS IS HOW WE FUND HEALTH INSURANCE. IF YOU HAVE A ZERO BALANCE ON THE FUN, YOU HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE. THE DOCTOR WILL SEND THE BILL IN . IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE. YOU WILL SEE SOME CHANGES WE ARE MAKING TO THE PLAN . BEFORE I DO THAT I WANT TO SHAVE THE SLIDE. BACK IN 2016 THE DARK BLUE LINE IS OUR COST. YOU CAN SEE THE COST OF FAR OUT SEATED THE REVENUE WE HAVE BUILT OVER THE LAST NINE YEARS, WE WORKED HARD TO CREATE A STABLE SELF-INSURANCE FUND. THIS IS ANOTHER SUCCESS STORY WE HAVE WORKED HARD OVER THE LAST DECADE TO DEVELOP. WE ARE INTENTIONALLY TRYING TO RESTORE VALUE BACK TO THE PLAN FOR THE EMPLOYEES. SO THEY HAVE A MORE BENEFIT RICH PLAN IN COMPARISON TO WHAT THEY HAVE TODAY. ONE OF THE WAYS WE ARE DOING THAT IS THE CREATION OF A TRENCH IN A PLAN. WE STARTED THAT THIS FISCAL YEAR. PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR IT AND THAT CITY OF ABILENE FUNDED $750 . WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE SAME THING AGAIN NEXT YEAR BUT INCREASING CITY CONTRIBUTION TO $1000. IN ADDITION, WE ARE INCREASING THE COST TALK OF A HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM. COSTS ARE UP THEREFORE, PREMIUMS ARE GOING AT -- GOING UP. THIS IS WHAT EMPLOYEES PAY ON A MONTHLY BASIS. THE ONLY ONE YOU'RE NOT RAISING IS THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN. THIS IS A GREAT INCENTIVE TO GET PEOPLE TO THE HSA AS WELL. ON THE STREET MAINTENANCE FUND, THIS IS WHERE ALL OF OUR STREET MAINTENANCE DOLLARS ARE HELD. YOU HAVE GOT A STREET MEANS BE ABOUT $7.2 MILLION AND THEN YOU HAVE TRANSFERENCE AND KNOW FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND OTHER SOURCES.

[00:40:01]

ANALYSIS I THINK WE HAVE ALL OF OUR FIRE APPARATUS FUNDED YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE FUND BALANCE GETS SPENT DOWN TO ABOUT $192,000. THAT IS PLANNED. IN FY PETIT 26, YOU WILL SEE IT START GROWING AGAIN. THE LARGE REASON WHY IS YOUR SPENDING $1.8 MILLION ON FIRE ENGINES. THOSE ARE ALSO PLANNED EXPENDITURES. ON THE POLICE APPARATUS FUND UNDER CHIEF DEB THESE TENURE, THIS IS SOMETHING HE REQUESTED AND PUSH FOR. THE COUNCIL WAS KIND ENOUGH TO FROM THIS PROGRAM BUT IT ALSO IS INTENDED TO FUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S AND ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY USE. THE COMPUTERS AND RADIOS, ALL THE STUFF THAT THEY DO AS A COST BUT HISTORICALLY IT HAS BEEN CATCH. WHAT WE CANCEL. AND CHIEF DUDLEY PUT INTO PLAY WAS A CAPITAL FUNDING PROGRAM WITH CASH THAT LOOKED AT OUR COST OVER SEVERAL YEARS . AGAIN, WE THINK THIS IS PROBABLY FUNDED FULLY BY 2040 AS LONG AS WE FOLLOW OUR PLAN. ALL THAT WAS HISTORICALLY DONE WITH DEBT. COUNCIL HAS MOVED FROM ED DEBT ISSUANCE STANDPOINT TO A CASH FUND AND STANDPOINT. THE MINOR IMPROVEMENT FUND, AS I SAID, THIS FUND IS FUNDED WITH GENERAL FUND DOLLARS THAT ARE TRANSFERRED AT THE END OF THE YEAR FOR PROGRAM AND SERVICES AND SALARY DOLLARS AND THOSE THINGS IN GENERAL FUND REVENUES THAT WERE NOT SPENT. IN ADDITION DURING THE LAST SEVERAL FISCAL YEARS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DIRECTLY FUNDED LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUBSTANTIALLY. WHICH HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE AND PROBABLY WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. THAT MONEY WENT TO THE MINOR IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR LACK OF A BETTER SPACE AND SPENT IT ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS. YOU WILL SEE THAT IN FY '24, WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT $11 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE WITH TOTAL REVENUES AND INPUT IN FY '25, WERE ONLY SEEN $2 MILLION TODAY. WHEN WE COMPLETE THE AUDIT IN APRIL, ANYTHING THAT IS OVER AND ABOVE WHAT IS NICER FOR THE 90 DAY FUND BALANCE WILL COME HERE. ADDITIONAL DOLLARS WILL BE SHOWN AFTER APRIL AND WE WILL KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS. IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT DONE YET. MAYBE ZERO BUT EVEN IF IS $100,000, IT WILL BE IN THIS BUCKET. YOU WILL NOTICE ALSO THAT I DO NOT HAVE ANY EXPENSES COMING OUT OF THE MINOR IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR FY '25. THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THAT IS I AM TRYING TO CREATE A CASH RESERVE TO WHETHER ANY SORT OF FINANCIAL STORM THAT MAY BE COMING . UNDER THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WE HAD ABOUT $5 MILLION OF A FUND BALANCE AND $7.1 MILLION IN MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE TO WEATHER THE STORM. THAT JUST BUILDS UPON THE FUND BALANCE THAT IS FY '24 REVISED. IT IS AVAILABLE FOR COUNCILS TO SPEND . IF THEY WANTED TO SPEND ON PROJECTS AND

[00:45:02]

THIS WILL CREATE A FIRE RAMP AT THE ABILENE AIRPORT IN WHICH TEXAS FOR SERVICE WILL BASE THEIR OPERATIONS DURING FIRE SEASONS. IS GREAT WIN FOR THE CITY. YOU HAVE TEXT ARE LOOSE AND OTHER FEES THAT IS GOOD FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CITY OF ABILENE. THE RADIO SYSTEM, THIS IS A COST THAT WE HAVE DELAYED TO THE POINT THAT WE CANNOT DELAY IT ANYMORE. IT REPLACES THE MICROWAVE SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES REDUNDANCIES FOR OUR TOWER SYSTEM AND PUBLIC SAFETY RADIOS. THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. YOU CANNOT GET PARTS ANYMORE. THIS WILL GET EVERYONE ELSE TO THE NEXT LEVEL WAS SUSTAINED, SUPPLY AND SUPPORT THAT PORTION OF THE RADIO SYSTEM. WE DO HAVE THE ABILENE HERITAGE SQUARE MAIN LIBRARY FOR $3 MILLION. CITIZENS ARE CORRECT, THE ORIGINAL DEAL THAT WAS DISCUSSED ON THIS LIBRARY PROGRAM WAS THAT IT WAS ALL PRIVATELY FUNDED. CONSTRUCTION COST INCREASED, THAT REALITY CHANGED AND THE ABILENE HERITAGE SQUARE SPOKES ASKED THE CITY TO CONTRIBUTE MORE MONEY FOR MINIATURES AND PICTURES ASSOCIATED. THAT IS $3 MILLION COMING OUT. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS $.5 MILLION THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THE TOURS AND THE BOARD WILL APPROVE THAT. OUR COMMITMENT FOR THAT PROJECT IS REALLY $3.5 MILLION. IN ADDITION TO THE STUFF WE HAVE AGREED FOR, WHICH WAS ROOF MONEY, WHICH YOU RECEIVE THROUGH INSURANCE PROCEEDS BACK IN THE 2014 HAILSTORM. AND THEN THE BUILDING ITSELF. WE GAVE THE BUILDING , LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL . THE OTHER THING THAT IS IN THERE IS THE PICKLE BALL COURT.

WE WENT OUT AND PRICED IT RECENTLY. THIS IS THE COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION THAT PRICE IS ABOUT THREE MONTHS OLD BUT IT IS THE BEST WE HAVE AT THIS PARTICULAR MOMENT IN TIME.

ALBIES OR NONE OF THESE PROJECTS CAN COME OUT OF THE IP, IF THAT IS WHAT COUNCIL CHOSE TO DO. COMPLETE REPLACEMENT FUND, THIS IS ANOTHER FUND THAT WE HAD THAT WE SELL FUND OUR VEHICLE PURCHASES . IT SAVES INTEREST AND THE LIKE. THE GENERAL FUND HAS $2.2 MILLION IN PERSONAGES LINE UP AT THE WATERFRONT HAS $391,000. $52,000 FOR THE AIRPORT. $1.2 MILLION WAS SOLID WASTE. $48,000 JUST FOR FLEET SERVICES. NEW CAN YOU ADVANCE THE SLIDE?

>> YES, I CAN. $4.3 MILLION IN TOTAL. 627 IS A YEAR ONE COST OF LEASES FOR NEW PATROL VEHICLES. YOU WILL RECALL THAT ONE OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAD AT THE COUNCIL WAS TREAT WAS TRYING TO MOVE WITH A ONE FOR ONE MODEL WITH PATROL. A WAY TO DO THAT IN RECOGNIZING THIS IS WHAT TURNS OVER THE MOST IN OUR FLEET. LEASING BATS SEEMS TO BE A ADVANTAGEOUS WAY OF DOING THAT FROM A FINANCING STANDPOINT. WE CAN AFFORD TO DO IT THAT WAY. IT IS A BUILT-IN LEASE. WE SELL IT BACK AND GET A CREDIT AND WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE NEXT RUN OF VEHICLES. I THINK PROBABLY OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD, WE CAN GET THE ONE TO ONE MODEL FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PATROL ONLY.

THIS IS NOT EVERY OFFICER AND ONLY FOR PATROL. THERE ARE ADVANTAGES TO THAT. IT IS GOOD TO SEE A PATROL VEHICLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. COUNCIL HAD CONCERNS ABOUT DRIVING OUR PATROL BEAGLES TO SOMEPLACE OUT OF CITY LIMITS OVERNIGHT. THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED BY REQUIRING THOSE OFFICERS THAT LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS TO PARK INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AT FIRE STATIONS ARE AT THE PD OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES .

IN FACT IN THE FIRE STATION LINE WE HAVE AN ALTERNATE

[00:50:02]

>> WHAT YOU JUST BROUGHT UP, I AM CURIOUS, ARE THERE PLUG-INS OR SOMETHING ? I KNOW THEY USUALLY LEAVE THEM RUNNING WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN THE VEHICLE TO KEEP THE COMPUTERS ACTIVE AND THE AIR CONDITIONER KEEPING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN. WILL THERE BE SHADE STRUCTURES OR TO PROTECT THE VEHICLES TO KEEP THEM WHILE THEY ARE NOT BEING DRIVEN OR USE?

>> ON A ONE TO ONE MODEL, ONE OF THE EVENTS AT THE VEHICLE HAS DOWNTIME. THE OFFICER IS WORKING AND THE ENGINE IS OFF.

THE MTT OR THE COMPUTER CAN COME OUT AND THE OFFICER CHOOSES TO TAKE IT OUT. THAT MAY BE PART OF THE SOP. IT IS NOT 110 DEGREE HEAT IF THEY LEAVE IT OUTSIDE DURING THE SUMMER. THE CHIEF IS OVER THERE TAKING NOTES. PART OF THE PROPOSAL IN STATION NINE IS COVERED PARKING. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WILL BE A HARD SERVICE ON THE ROOF, LIKE A METAL WITH SHEET METAL BUILDING ROOF OR IF IT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE WHAT WE HAVE AT THE AIRPORT BUT WE HAVE THE CANOPIES BUT THERE IS COVERED PARKING AS PART OF THAT COMPONENT OF AN ALTERNATE BID.

WE DO HAVE SOME SPOTS AT OTHER PLACES OVER AT THE AIRPORT FOR EXAMPLE. YOU COULD PARK THERE. PENDING SPACE AVAILABILITY THE INTENT WOULD BE , WHERE WE CAN , TO HAVE THE CARS COVERED FOR

PARKING PURPOSES . >> CAN YOU GO TO PAGE 37 ? ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS RAISED IN THE PUBLIC, WITH WITH REGARD TO FLAT FIELDS. CAN WE CLARIFY THE EXPENDITURES?

>> YES, SIR. MARJORIE, I WILL ASK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE ON THIS. WE HAD EARMARKED $6 MILLION FOR THAT AND YOU ONLY SPEND ABOUT $5 MILLION. AND THAT WAS APPROVED IN ASKED WHY -- FI '24. WE HAVE MADE THAT CONTRIBUTION THAT HAS BEEN FULLY FUNDED. WHICH IS WHY YOU DO NOT SEE ANY PROPOSED COST IN FY '25. THAT MONEY WAS AMERICAN RESCUE ACT MONEY. AND LIMITATIONS ON WHAT WE CAN SPEND FOR AN OUTDOOR RECREATION

WAS ONE OF THEM. >> THE HEALTH CONTRIBUTIONS? ARE THOSE TIE TO A CALENDAR YEAR OR ON THE FISCAL YEAR? IS

IT APPROVED ON OCTOBER 1? >> I BELIEVE IT IS JANUARY 1.

>> ON PAGE 38, MAYBE. THE PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION . YOU HAD MENTIONED -- THIS IS THE TRAGEDY PROGRAM. WE COULD USE MIP FUNDS FOR BOSE. THIS SLIDE TALKS ABOUT -- CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THESE FIT ON A

CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION? >> DURING THE MEETINGS WE HAD IN JUNE ABOUT THE BUDGET, PART OF MY PLAN TO FREE UP OPERATING CASH TO WEATHER A NOSTRUMS IN THE FUTURE WAS NOT FUNDING THESE WITH CASH. THE TXDOT GRANT WHICH WAS PLANNED FOR CASH, THE MICRO RADIO SYSTEM WAS FROM CASH. THE ABILENE HERITAGE SQUARE , WE WOULD START RUNNING IN CASH IN FY '26. A GOT NOTICE SHORTLY BEFORE THE JUNE MEETING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE READY FOR THOSE DOLLARS SOONER THAN FY V.

26. THEY NEEDED TO BE HERE SOONER BUT THAT IS WHY THEY DID NOT SHOW UP. AT THE TIME THAT WAS TWO OR THREE FISCAL YEARS AHEAD OF TIME FOR AND THE ROSE PARK PICKLE BALL COURTS, REALLY THERE WAS $1.5 MILLION, I THINK, MIP FUND FOR THAT. IF COUNCIL CHOSE TO DO THAT IS NOT $2.1 MILLION BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION AND INFLATIONARY COST. IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO IT, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND DOING IT WITH CASH BECAUSE OF THE OPERATING . AFTER THAT MEETING, THERE ARE NUMBER OF COUNCILMEMBERS WHO SAID, WHAT IF WE DID THE LIBRARY EQUIPMENT WITH CASH? YOU CAN DO THAT. THAT IS TOTALLY UP TO YOU ALL.

THE OTHER THING THAT IS NOT HERE THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER

[00:55:02]

ANOTHER ITEM THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THIS MORNING , YOU COULD FIND ABOUT ANOTHER HUNDRED $50,000 IN BUILDING DEMOLITIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN AUTHORIZED FOR DEMOLITION AS PART OF OUR PROGRAM FUNDED FOR FY '25. IT IS A ONE TIME SHOT , THAT CAN COME OUT OF MIP AS WELL. IT WOULD NOT BE THERE IN FY '26.

IT WOULD GET THE COFFER UP BY '25 AND WE CAN FIND AN APPROPRIATE IN FY '26. THOSE ARE TWO OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THIS LIST THAT CAME TO MY ATTENTION IN THE LAST WEEK

OR TWO. >> OBVIOUSLY, SOME OF THESE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO DO THEM NOW. I THINK YOU MENTIONED WITH HERITAGE SQUARE. IF WE WERE TO TAKE DOLLARS , YOU ARE SAYING WE COULD TAKE MIP DOLLARS OUT TO COVER THESE AND THAT WOULD LESSEN THE CUSHION THAT WE HAVE. IS THAT THE WAY I AM

UNDERSTANDING THAT? >> THAT IS CORRECT WE ARE ASSUMING THERE WILL BE SEVEN $1 MILLION -- IT COULD NOT COVER THEM ALL. IF THE COUNCIL CHOSE TO FUND THE HUNDRED $50,000 AND FUND $700,000 FOR STATION SIX AND STATION EIGHT AND THEN FUNDED THE LIBRARY COST WITH CASH , YOU WOULD HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 2.8 TO $3.2 MILLION IN THE MIP FUND LEFT OVER FOR OPERATING CASH . JUST TO ABSORB HITS THAT COMES WITH SALES TAX.

THE GOOD NEWS IS , I THINK, WE HAVE PRODUCED OUR SALES TAX PROJECTIONS TO THE POINT WHERE WE WILL BE WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

MY CRYSTAL BALL IS AS GOOD AS ANYONE ELSE'S IN THIS ROOM.

THAT IS WHAT I WANTED MORE OF A CASH CUSHION.

>> IF THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THE SALES TAX DOES TURN AROUND AND THINGS LOOK LOOKING BETTER, WE CAN ALWAYS REVISIT , FOR EXAMPLE, ROSE PARK PICKLE BALL. IT SIX MONTHS INTO THIS OR NINE MONTHS INTO THIS THINGS TURN AROUND A LITTLE BIT, THERE IS CERTAIN THINGS IN THIS LIST, AS WITH ALL THE MIP ITEMS, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS IF MONEY BECOMES AVAILABLE, IT CAN BE USED BUT THERE ARE, AS YOU MENTIONED SOME THINGS THAT PROBABLY NEED TO BE DONE SOONER THAN LATER.

>> I AM NOT PREPARED TO GIVE YOU A LIST OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE SHOULD SPEND MONEY ON OUTSIDE OF THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECOMMENDED IN THE BUDGET. BUT LET US SAY THERE IS A WINDFALL. NO ONE EXPECTS IT AND THERE'S A $5 MILLION IN SURPLUS REVENUE I WOULD COME BACK TO COUNCIL AND ASK YOU ALL WEAR BEST UPON THAT. WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF CUTS WITH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. YOU MAY WANT TO RESTORE SOME OF THOSE CUTS . THERE IS A BROADER DISCUSSION

THAN JUST CAPITAL PROJECTS. >> THANK YOU.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO BUILD THE PICKLE BALL.

THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION. THAT IS A COMMITMENT THAT WE MADE AND I DON'T KNOW COMFORTABLE ISSUING DEBT FOR THAT OBLIGATION. THE RAMP IN THE MICROWAVE RADIO SYSTEM , I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM ISSUING DEBT WITH THOSE TWO ITEMS. THAT WILL JUST BE $10.40 TO 360. THAT IS JUST MY PERSONAL

[01:00:01]

THAT IS JUST A PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION ON THESE.

>> WE CAN CERTAINLY DO IT THAT WAY THAT IS WHAT COUNCIL WANTS

. >> GO BACK UP A PAGE TO THE BUDGET SUMMARY. BASICALLY, YOU ARE SAYING WE ARE NOT COMMITTING TO ANY OF THESE PROGRAMS YET. WE ARE GOING FOR 5.1 FUND BALANCE TO A 7.1 AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR AS A

PROJECTION. >> YES, SIR.

>> HELP ME UNDERSTAND, IS IT JUST SO THAT WE HAVE MONEY JUST IN CASE KIND OF SCENARIO AS OPPOSED -- THIS MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR MINOR IMPROVEMENTS. THIS IS IN THE LOU OF ISSUING DEBT. THE SWITCH TO ISSUE DEBT SO WE KEEP THE CASH -- I AM NOT QUITE TRACKING WHY WE WANT TO INCREASE. WHY NOT SPEND AT LEAST THE $2 MILLION?

>> I AM TRYING TO CREATE THE CASH CUSHION TO ABSORB THE ELASTICITY OF THE SALES TAX RECEIPTS. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER PLACE TO DO IT. THERE IS NO OTHER POT OF MONEY THAT IS AS FREE AS THE MIP AND WHAT YOU CAN SPEND IT ON. THE BEAUTY OF THE MIP IS THAT IS 100% UNRESTRICTED. IT MEANS CUNCIL CAN SPEND ON ANY PURPOSE THEY CHOOSE TO. IF WE SAW -- THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I AM BEING DRAMATIC FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES. IF WE SAW A 10% DECREASE IN SALES TAX, WE WOULD BE LAYING PEOPLE OFF AND THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE IMPACTING PUBLIC SAFETY. HOW DO YOU ABSORB THE HIT? THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOT TO DO? YESTERDAY POLICE AND FIRE, HOW DO YOU DO THAT? THIS FUND COULD BE USED TO FUND THE ONE TIME GAP. IF THAT IS A STRUCTURAL 10% THE CLIENT , THAT IS A DIFFERENT STORY. WE BOUGHT OURSELVES 6 TO 12 MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THAT DOWN.

>> AND THAT IS A BETTER WAY TO DO IT THEN USING THE $30 MILLION 90 THE OPERATING RESERVE? IF YOU DIP INTO YOUR 90 THE OPERATING RESERVE YOU CREATE CREDIT ISSUE, YOUR CREDIT DISCLOSURE MOMENTS. CITIZENS OF ABILENE HAVE ENJOYED A DOUBLE A PLUS BOND RATING FOR YEARS. IF WE ISSUE DEBT TODAY, YOU MAY BE 4.5% , DEPENDING ON THE ISSUANCE AND WHAT YOU DO WITH IT. STILL THAT IS EXCEPTIONALLY LOW, HISTORICALLY. IT IS HARD THAT IT WAS BEFORE. THERE IS BONDS THAT ARE ISSUED FOR FY '23. UNDER 3.8%, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I DO NOT HOW LONG THE STORM WILL BE. I THINK IT IS FAR BETTER TO SPEND CASH THAT YOU HAVE THAT IS NOT TIED TO YOUR OPERATING RESERVE. RATHER THAN DIPPING INTO YOUR GENERAL FUND RESERVE. THAT IS RESERVED FOR A STOCK MARKET CRASH. 50% OF THE WORKFORCE IS OUT OF A JOB. HOW YOU FUND THESE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES IS WHAT THAT IS RESERVED FOR.

>> FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH, I CONCUR , I'M NOT SAYING WE NEVER NEED TO BILL -- BUILD PICKLE BALL COURTS I'M ELIGIBLE BE MORE IN THE FUTURE AND NOT LESS. IN THIS ENVIRONMENT ISSUING DEBT TO BUILD THAT RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO. THE GRANT, THAT JUST MAKES SENSE.

YOU ARE BUYING A HUGE AMOUNT OF CONCRETE THAT WE ARE PAYING 10% OF THE COST EXACTLY HOW YOU SHOULD DO DEBT. ANALOGOUS TO A MORTGAGE ON A HOUSE. YOU DON'T SAVE MONEY AND THEN PAY CASH FOR THE HOUSE. WE CAN GET IT DOWN AND FIX THE COST AND PAY THAT OUT FOR 15, 20 OR 30 YEARS. THAT MAKES SENSE. THE RADIO SYSTEM IS SIMILAR. I TEND TO THINK THAT THE LIBRARY IS NOT THAT WAY . WE ARE NOT BUYING A DURABLE GOOD. IN A SENSE, WE ARE. WE ARE MATCHING UP A WHOLE BUNCH OF PRIVATE MONEY, WHICH IS A GOOD TO LEVERAGE. THAT SHOULD BE DECAYED -- BEE CAVE

[01:05:14]

>> ANYONE ELSE? >> I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW, HISTORICALLY, AND KIND OF CONNECTED TO THIS PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. WHAT ARE SOME DIFFERENT TO GET PEOPLE WATCHING ARE PEOPLE HERE PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT ARE THE PERFORMANCE ARE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES THAT TRACKS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HOW WE ARE BUDGING AND ALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS. ARE THERE SPECIFIC MEASURES IN PLACE THAT GIVE INSIGHT INTO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HOW BUDGETING HAS BEEN ADVANTAGEOUS?

>> WE DO HAVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES BE TRACKED INTERNALLY.

WE GO OVER THE OPERATIONS IN THE LAST 30 DAY PERIOD . WE ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS DEPARTMENTS . WE LOOK AT THOSE AND WE TRACK UNDERPERFORMANCE, WE TRACK CALL VOLUME AND SATISFACTION . ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT SEE WITH JUST A BUSINESS MODEL. WE DO DO THOSE.

TO SAY THAT IT IS TIED DIRECTLY TO , YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS TARGET , THEN YOU LOSE FUNDING, THAT IS NOT HAPPENING. I THINK IT IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. THE OTHER THING WE DO NOT DO -- AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE HAVE A POLICY DRIVEN BUDGET DOCUMENT TOO. IT IS FUNDED THE WAY THAT COUNCIL IS ASKING ME TO FIND. I MAY MAKE CHANGES WITH BUSINESS REALITIES WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU ALL. SUCH AS THE SLIDE THAT IS HERE NOW FOR COS. THOSE ARE OPPORTUNITIES. IF YOU ALL CHOOSE NOT TO DO THAT, OBVIOUSLY, WE CANNOT DO IT AT ALL. IF YOU CHOSE NOT TO ISSUE DOWN SOME OF THAT, I AM FINE WITH THAT. ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF FUNDING THE MIP THE WAY WE HAVE DONE IT AND THE CONSERVATIVE NATURE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE AVAILABLE CASH PROJECTS IS THAT IT GIVES COUNCIL THE FREEDOM TO MAKE THESE SORTS OF DECISIONS. YOU HAVE OTHER COMMITTEES WHERE THERE IS NOT A LOT OF OPTIONS THE HAS THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT OF OPTIONS. WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO PROVIDE THE ABILITY TO HAVE INFLUENCE IN THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. YOU MAKE ANYONE

ELSE? >> WE HAVE A CONVERSATION BEFORE THE MEETING -- I ASKED YOU A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THE AMOUNT OF CUTS HAVE TO BE TO MAINTAIN THE TAX RATE? I THINK IT WAS 1.3. GOING TO THE STABILITY PAY SLIDE , WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING $2880 . IF MY MATH IS CORRECT, IF THERE WAS A SCENARIO ONE INSTEAD OF SCENARIO TWO, WE ARE STILL INCREASING THE PAYOUT ABOUT 2.8 TIMES WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW IN REDUCING THE MINIMUM SERVICE TIME TO A YEAR. IF MY MATH IS RIGHT, THAT IS THAT OF $319,000 REDUCTION .

>> MORE OR LESS, YES, SIR. IT IS $2000 VERSUS THAT WOULD TAKE THE SAVINGS TO HOLD THE TAX RATE.

>> YES, SIR. >> AS THE REVENUE ENVIRONMENT

[01:10:03]

>> CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR BAD. YOUR ABILITY TO PULL THAT BACK MAY OR MAY NOT BE THERE BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY FIGURE THAT OUT. I CANNOT TELL YOU WHERE IT IS OR NOT.

>> BY CONSISTS OF

HOLD THE TAX RATE WHERE IT IS. >> THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT COUNCILMEMBER BEARD , IS THAT IS ONE TIME MONEY AND IT IS NOT THERE NEXT YEAR. THE SALARY INCREASE OUR YEAR-OVER-YEAR. WE ARE USING ONE TIME MONEY TO ADD MONEY TO A YEAR-OVER-YEAR EXPENSE. IT CAN BE DONE AND IT IS LEGAL. IT IS JUST NOT BEST

PRACTICE. >> I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT THE PICKLE BALL COURTS. I HAVE TO ABSTAIN ON THE TXDOT GRANT PORTION OF THAT. THE MORE CASH WE CAN USE IN THE ENVIRONMENT WE ARE IN IS A GOOD IDEA. WITHOUT BURNING THROUGH IT . YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME CUSHION

>> I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. IT HAS TAKEN A LOT OF SPREADSHEETS AND NUMBERS AND NOT EASILY UNDERSTOOD TO MAKING IT A VERY UNDERSTANDABLE SET OF SLIDES THAT WE CAN ALL HAVE AN INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION ON. I KNOW THAT IS NOT EASY OR FAST, THANK YOU TO THE STAFF AND YOU FOR MAKING THIS WHERE WE CAN HAVE AN INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION BUT WHAT IS A THANK YOU TO THE CITIZENS FOR SHOWING UP. IT IS TOUGH WHEN YOU HAVE A FAMILY AND A FULL-TIME JOB MAKING TIME TO COME IN WORK OF THESE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS AND STANDING UP CAN BE INTIMIDATING. THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR THOUGHTS . THIS IS THAT COUNCIL'S BUDGET. IT IS NOT ROBERTS BUDGET. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE OWN IT. OUR JOB IS TO TAKE FEEDBACK FROM THE CITIZENS AND DO WHAT WE THINK IS BEST. WE HAVE SEEN THIS IN 10 OR 20 YEARS THAT WE ARE STILL PAYING THE PRICE OF COUNCILS MANY YEARS AGO CUTTING OF THE STREET MAINTENANCE . WE ARE STILL REBUILDING FROM THAT.

WE SEE THE DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS OF DECISIONS WE MAKE TODAY COULD HAVE SERIOUS EFFECTS FOR OUR CITY 10 OR 20 YEARS FROM NOW. EVERYONE ON THIS COUNCIL TAKES THESE DISCUSSIONS SERIOUSLY AND WE LOOK AT THE LONG-TERM IMPACT AS WELL. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. YOU MENTIONED ON THE STORMWATER SLOT -- SLIDE , THAT YOU MAY BE COMING BACK TO THE COUNCIL FOR IMPROVEMENT FUNDED THROUGH COS. DID I HEAR THAT CORRECTLY?

>> NOT NECESSARILY CEOS BUT WE HAD A LIST OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WERE ADOPTED IN A FIVE-YEAR CIP WITH STORMWATER FUND. THIS WAS OVER FIVE YEARS AGO NOW. WE GOT A GRANT AWARD FOR ONE OF THEM THE RATE INCREASE THAT WERE PROPOSED WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO GENERATE THE REVENUE TO FUND IT. WE TALKED ABOUT DOING A CASH FINANCING AS WELL. YOU WILL SEE THAT THE RATE STRUCTURE PROPOSED FOR THAT GIVEN THE COST OF INCREASE HAS BEEN RECEIVED OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS. IT MAY BE UNATTAINABLE. WE WILL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

IF WE WANT TO DO THOSE PROJECTS, WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO FUND THEM. IF COUNCIL IS FINE NOT DOING THEM, I NEED THAT DIRECTION TOO. THERE NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSION ON STORM

WATER. >> IS THERE AN IDEA AS WE DISCUSS COS FOR THOSE THREE OR FOUR PROJECTS, IS THERE A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF THESE PROJECTS MAY COME ON OUR BOARD IN THE NEXT 6 TO 9 MONTHS AND THEY WILL BE IN THE $1 MILLION OR $10 MILLION

RANGE? >> I DON'T WANT TO SPEND ANY OF THESE PROJECTS BEING IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. IF WE DID A PROJECT IT WOULD BE AN INTENTIONAL DISCUSSION.

>> OKAY. >> FOR THE $3 MILLION TO HERITAGE SQUARE FOR THE LIBRARY, I THINK YOU MENTIONED $500,000 RISK COMING FROM -- WAS ON TOP OF THE $3 MILLION OR

-- >> $3 MILLION TOTAL.

>> YATES WAS DISCUSSING THE $30 MILLION CUSHION. I WOULD AGREE ON HOW YOU ARE STRUCTURING IT RIGHT NOW WITH KEEPING THE $30 MILLION TO KEEP OUR CREDIT GOOD SO IF WE DO NEED TO FUND PROJECTS THROUGH BONDS OR OTHER ISSUANCE, WE HAVE A GREAT CREDIT HISTORY. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A HIT ON OUR CREDIT HISTORY WHICH HAS LONG-TERM IMPACT. I AGREE WITH

[01:15:04]

>> YES, SIR. >> YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD BUT JUST TO GIVE US AND THE CITIZENS CONTEXT , CITIES OF SIMILAR SIZE , DO YOU NOTICE OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD HOW MUCH THEY ARE SPENDING. YEAR?

>> NOT THIS MUCH WITHOUT DEBT. OUR CASH CONTRIBUTION IS SUBSTANTIAL. IT IS ALL-CASH , WHICH IS GREAT. THERE ARE CITIES THAT MAY BE SPENDING MORE AND CITIES THAT ARE SPENDING LESS BUT THE MAJORITY THAT WILL BE THROUGH DEBT SERVICE. WE CAN DO A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS AND WE CAN LOOK AT OUR OTHER CITIES AND SEE HOW THEY DO STOPPARD IT CAN BE COMPLICATED WITH TRIAGE CASH VERSUS THIS BUT WE CAN

LOOK AT IT. >> I READ , DON'T QUOTE ME ON THE NUMBER, I WANT TO SAY THERE CAN'T LAMENTING A STREET MAINTENANCE FEE. THEY ARE FUNDING IS ABOUT 10 TIMES BIGGER THAN ASPIRIN THEY ARE LOOKING AT INCREASING IT TO AROUND $20 MILLION. AND THE ARE 10 TIMES OUR SIZE. I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH, WE ARE SPENDING A LARGE AMOUNT OF OUR FUNDS TOWARD SPRING CITY STREETS BACKUP AND WE ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY AND IT IS HIGH ON OUR LIST.

>> CONVERSELY, THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, OUR CITY MANAGER BEFORE I CAME TO ABILENE WAS SPENDING ABOUT 1.5 OR $1.6 MILLION ON THE STREETS AND WERE SPENDING 380 SOMETHING . WE HAD GONE THROUGH THAT ALREADY. WE HAD MADE THE DECISIONS WITH THE

ROADS. >> I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR ON THE PICKLE BALL COURTS. I KNOW WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS. I AM AWARE OF TWO BUSINESSES. ONE IS MUCH CLOSER TO DOING PICKLE BALL COURTS ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND ANOTHER ONE IS IN DISCUSSION FOR IT. FOR ME IF THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL DO IT, I AM OKAY WITH THE PUBLIC SECTOR NOT PUTTING THAT BELL. EVEN IF THEY END UP NOT DOING IT FOR WHATEVER REASON, I THINK THE PICKLE BALL COURTS THAT WE SHOULD JUST NOT BE SPENDING BUT WHETHER IT IS TRAVERTINE OR CASH FOR THE PICKLE BALL COURTS WOULD BE OFF THE TABLE .

>> LET ME INTERJECT SOMETHING THERE. I HAVE A LOCAL BULL -- LOCAL PICKLE BALL PLAYERS IN ELLIS OF PLACES WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN PLAY. AS LONG AS I DID NOT USE HIS NAME. I DON'T KNOW IF THE PICKLE BALL CROWD IS VIOLENT MUCH BRING

>> PASSION, SIR. >> TRAVIS, MAYBE YOU KNOW.

>> LESS VIOLENT, MORE PASSIONATE.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF PLACES FOR THE PUBLIC TO PLAY IN TOWN. ON THE STABILITY PAY , I KNOW COUNCILMAN BEARD TOUCHED ON THAT A LITTLE BIT . I THINK IT WAS AT THE RETREAT EARLY THIS YEAR. FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE I'M STRUGGLING TO GET BEHIND THAT PAY AT ALL. WHEN WE CAN, WE SHOULD INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD, THE 94% RATE . SO, IN THE YEARS THAT WE CAN, MY PREFERENCE WILL BE WE RACE THAT. FOR ME THAT IS A BETTER MARKETING . THAT IS A BETTER DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE BOARD.

IT IS ALL JUST A PERCENTAGE. FOR ME, I HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE STABILITY FUND. I'M NOT SAYING I CANNOT BE PERSUADED WITH UNDERSTAND THE PROS AND CONS VERSUS GOOD YEARS WHERE WE INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD RATE FROM 94 AND MIXED YEAR MAKING UP TO 95, WHATEVER THE NUMBERS ARE , VERSUS DOING THIS TYPE OF STABILITY PLAY SCHEME . BUT HOW THAT STRUCTURE, I HAVE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. IF THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME TODAY AS FAR AS A VOTING THING, I WOULD VOTE AGAINST THAT BECAUSE I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY AS FAR AS ALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS.

ESPECIALLY IN THIS BUDGET ENVIRONMENT , THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD PROBABLY BE OPPOSED TO AT THIS POINT OR AGREEABLE TO REMOVING IT. MICHAEL -- MY GOAL IS TO KEEP THE TAX RATE THE SAME. IF WE CAN STRUCTURE THINGS OUT AND

[01:20:05]

HOPEFULLY, WE HAVE WEATHERED THE STORM AND NEXT YEAR EVEN BACK TO MOVING UP, THAT WE CAN FUND THOSE THINGS AT THAT TIME.

THE HERITAGE SQUARE, THE $3 MILLION , YOU KNOW, I AM GOOD WITH DOING THAT AS CASH TOO , ASSUMING WE HAVE THE CASH RESERVES FOR BAD. THE TREND REBAR RAMP AND THE MICROWAVE SYSTEM , IF THROUGH REMOVING OF THE STABILITY PAY AND A FEW OTHER PAYMENT OUT OVER TIME, IF WE CAN FIND THE RAMP AND THE MICROWAVE RADIO SYSTEM WITH CASH, THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE. ON THE MICROSYSTEM, MICROWAVE RADIO SYSTEM, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT OVER TIME OVER THE THREE YEARS

ABOUT 240 EACH YEAR? >> NO, SIR. THAT IS A LUMP SUM?

TWO YES, SIR. >> LET ME TAKE A LOOK HERE REAL QUICK. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE AT THE 94% PAY RATE FOR EMPLOYEES,

CORRECT? >> 94% OF THE MARKET THAT WAS SET THREE YEARS AGO, 2021. IT IS 100% OF MARKET WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE. MY ARGUMENT FOR THE STABILITY PACER IS SIMPLY THAT IT SERVES AS A RETENTION TOOL FOR OUR LOWEST RAGE EARNERS. IT IS A 50% DIFFERENCE IN DOLLAR AMOUNTS.

IT IS THE COST OF PAY THAT SHOULD BE MORE ATTENTION PAID.

IT ENDS UP KEEPING THEM HERE LONGER BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY ARE BUILDING UP A SIZABLE THAT COMES IN A LUMP SUM CHECK IN NOVEMBER. IT IS INTENDED TO BE A RETENTION OPPORTUNITY AS WELL AS CREATE A SEPARATION OF TIME IN..

>> IS THERE CONCERN ON THAT ? I THINK WE DISCUSSED EARLIER AT THE RETREAT. OUR BUDGET AND RESOURCES ARE FINANCED. IF WE PUT $1 MILLION TOWARD STABILITY PAY, THAT MEANS THE TRADE OFF IS $1 MILLION THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE EXTRA TOWARDS HIRING NEW EMPLOYEES TO FILL SPOT . IS THERE A CONCERN THERE?

>> I THINK THE PERSONAL NEEDS WE HAVE FOR FY '25 ARE FULLY IN THE BUDGET. THERE IS FIVE ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS .

THE POINT OF THE STABILITY FUND IS TO SOLVE A PROBLEM WITH OUR PAY PLAN. WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT BUSINESSES. SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE PAY PEOPLE WITH FIREFIGHTER, POLICE OFFICERS, SENIORITY AND WHATEVER. IT IS JUST COMPLEX.

THIS IS A UNIFORM WAY OF DOING IT FOR NON-CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES. IT GIVES THEM SOMETHING , FRANKLY, FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT GIVES THEM SOMETHING THE CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES DON'T HAVE. THEY HAVE LONGEVITY PAY ON THE CIVIL SERVICE SITE. IF YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDES, COMBINED , CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYS ARE GETTING ME $.3 MILLION IN SALARY INCREASES FOR '24 TWO '25. I'M ONLY ASKING FOR $1 MILLION. THERE HALF AN ORGANIZATION GETTING LESS THAN THE OTHER HALF OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THEY DO NOT HAVE COLLECTIVE-BARGAINING RIGHTS. AND WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH OUR PEERS AS WELL. THIS ALLOWS US TO DO THAT IN A MANNER THAT I THINK IS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BOTH FOR CIVIL-SERVICE AND

NON-CIVIL SERVICE. >> IF THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL DIRECTION WAS NO TAX INCREASE I KNOW PICKLE BALL COURT , WHAT MAJOR CHANGE IS IT TO GO, WE ARE NOT INCREASING THE TAX RATE AND THE PICKLE BALL COURT, OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK WHITE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE? CANCEL HAS DIRECTLY ON THE TAX RATE, WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE YOUR

FLEXIBILITY? >> I WOULD LOOK AT TWO THINGS.

ONE, I WOULD LOOK AT NOT HIRING ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS AND I WOULD LOOK AT REDUCING THE STABILITY PLAY -- PAY TO $400

AND A $500. >> THE FIVE ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS WITH INCREASING AUTHORIZED STRENGTH .

>> COUNCIL HAS REQUESTED 19 INCREASED AUTHORIZED STRENGTH .

NONE OF THOSE ARE FUNDING. RUNNING FIVE OF THAT 19.

[01:25:03]

>> 14 SHORT NOW . WE ARE TALKING AUTHORIZING FUNDS FOR AN ADDITIONAL FIVE. WE CANNOT DO THAT NEXT YEAR ANYWAY?

>> CHIEF THINK HE HAS THE CROP RIGHT NOW.

>> EVERY CHIEF THINKS -- >> I KNOW.

>> BUBBLE BECAUSE HE IS NEW. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO ADDING POLICE OFFICERS FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. BUT FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE, ARE WE BUDGING FOR SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT COMPLETE ANYWAY? WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACADEMY OF 19 CADET.

>> I'VE GOT TO START BUDGETING SOMEHOW. IF COUNCIL HAS TOLD ME THEY WANT TO INCREASE AUTHORIZED TRADE , I HAVE TO FROM THAT. HE CANNOT FILL THEM UNTIL IT IS FUNDED. WE DO THINK THAT WE DO HAVE THE POSITIONS FILLED THAT THERE MAY BE THREE OFFICER POTENTIAL? THAT I COULD GO INTO THAT ADDITIONAL FIVE.

TO YOUR POINT, WE ALWAYS THESE PEOPLE. WE NEED TO HAVE MORE ACADEMIES MORE OFTEN TO GET TO THAT NUMBER. THEY NEED THEM. WE NEED MORE OFFICERS. IT WILL BE SERIOUS ABOUT INCREASING OFFICER STRENGTH, WE NEED TO FUND IT. TO YOUR POINT , THERE IS SOME REALITIES OF THAT WITH AN HISTORICAL STANDPOINT. WE DO NOT TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE ARE GUARANTEEING THE SAME

RESULTS. >> I AM NOT OPPOSED TO ADDING MORE OFFICERS. I AM IN TOTAL AGREEMENT WE NEED MORE, I'M TO TALK ABOUT THE REALITY WITH THIS SIX-MONTH PROCESS ALONE IT TAKES TO HIRE A CADET . BY THEN WE ARE HALFWAY INTO THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. FROM A BUDGETING PERSPECTIVE , IF WE CUT THE FIVE ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZED THIS YEAR, ARE WE LURING THAT WERE WE CAN HOLD THE TAX RATE. IN REALITY WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO HIRE TO GET TO OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF AUTHORIZED STRENGTH, WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO HIRE 15?

>> WE HAVE SOME LATERALS THAT ARE COMING. IF WERE GOING TO DO IT, COUNCIL HAS ASKED ME TO DO IT. THIS MAY NOT BE THE YEAR.

YOU CAN SAY, THIS AIN'T THE YEAR TO TRY TO DO THAT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THAT FOR FY '26. WITH 100% COMMITMENT TO GETTING IT DONE. WE MET WHAT WAS THE COST OF THE ADDITIONAL FIVE ?

DO YOU REMEMBER? >> TO TOP YOUR HEAD?

>>

>> WHAT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY THE PERCENTAGE OF THE LAST TWO YEARS OF ATTRITION? THE LAST 39 WAS THE TOUGHEST . WE MET THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO, SIR. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE RECORDS

FOR THAT ANYMORE, SIR. >> THEY WERE MAKING SIX CENTS

AN HOUR. >> MAYBE 50 TO 60%. IT IS PRETTY HIGH. IF YOU COME OUT OF THAT ACADEMY, YOU ARE A HARD CHARGER.

>> WE'RE BACK FOR THE RECESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME. COUNCILMEN REGAN HAD NOT FINISHED HIS QUESTIONS.

>> I JUST HAVE TWO MORE. COUNCILMEN BEARD MENTIONED PULLING BACK THE BATHROOMS ON THE DOG PARK .

>>

>> MY QUESTION ON THE DOG PART WAS TO CANCEL LYNN BEARD'S QUESTION REGARDING CAMPBELL BATHROOMS BE PULLED BACK . IF NOT, THERE IS NO POINT IN DISCUSSING THEM IN THE BUDGET

[01:30:03]

>> AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH IS OUR CUSTOM, I APPROVED THE CONTRACTS AND SIGN AND OBLIGATE THE CITY TO THAT WORK.

JUST BEFORE THE BREAK THEY DID CONFIRM THAT THE VENDOR HAS ORDERED THE RESTROOMS. THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE CITY BEING ABLE TO NOT FUND THEM -- WE ARE OBLIGATED.

>> LAST POINT ON THE M.I.T. PROPOSED PROJECT FOR COS , CAN WE , AND I CANNOT REMEMBER IF IT IS COUNCILMEN THE EIGHTH TO MENTION THIS ONE ABOUT OTHERS, CAN WE FUND, IN CASH, THE HERITAGE SQUARE LIBRARY IS THAT NOT PRACTICAL?

>> WE HAVE $7.1 MILLION IN CASH. YOU HAVE $4.1 MILLION IN CASH RESERVES. YOU COULD CERTAINLY DO THAT.

>> IN YOUR OPINION ON THE CUSHION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE. OBVIOUSLY, WE ALWAYS WANT MORE CUSHION. DOES THAT LEAVE US WITH A GOOD ENOUGH CUSHION THAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH?

>> YOUR CRYSTAL BALL IS AS GOOD AS MINE. THERE IS A REASON WHY I DO NOT HAVE EXPENDITURES AT OF THE M.I.T. THIS YEAR. IF COUNCIL'S DIRECTION WAS TO FUND THAT WOULD CASH OR OTHER PROJECTS WITH CASH , WHATEVER WE HAD LEFT, I WOULD MAKE WORK AT THE END OF FY '25, WE WILL HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET AND I WILL DO WHATEVER I NEED TO DO TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. IF WE HAVE TO SO EXPENSES OR FORGO CAPITAL PROJECTS, WE WILL DO THAT. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. IF COUNCIL WANTS TO SPEND THAT CASH, IT IS YOURS TO SPEND

>> FINALLY, JUST TO MAKE SURE THE RESIDENTS ARE UNDERSTANDING THIS AND THE COUNCIL IS ON THE SAME PAGE. WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THESE PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR COS , IF THEY WERE FUNDED THROUGH CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, THEY WOULD BE OUTSIDE THE REGULAR BUDGET . FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND EARLY IN THE DISCUSSION PRESENTATION , THE PROPOSED TAX INCREASE WAS .7328 2.7738. IF WE DO NOT ISSUE COS , ARE USED TO PROPOSING THE TAX RATE INCREASE OR NO?

>> THE TAX RATE INCREASE IS TIED TO THE FY '23 BOND ISSUANCES THAT WERE DONE BUT THE VOTER APPROVED IT. THAT IS THE ONLY INS RATE IN THE TAX RATE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED.

THE COS WOULD NOT IMPACT US AND TELL FY '26. IT IS A 12 MONTH DELAY. IF COUNCIL CHOSE NOT TO INCREASE THE TAX FROM AN OPERATIONS SIDE BY 1.6 CENTS OR BY ANY AMOUNT , YOU WOULD STILL SEE 2.5% INCREASE BECAUSE OF THE DEBT SERVICE THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN ISSUED AND APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.

>> EVEN IF WE SAID NO TO ALL OF THE PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR COS , WE WOULD STILL, UNDER THE CURRENT PROPOSED PLAN , WE WOULD STILL NEED TO INCREASE TAXES. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> YES, SIR . UNLESS YOU DO EXTRAORDINARY GYMNASTICS.

>> TO COUNCILMEN BEARD'S POINT OF THE STABILITY PLAY -- PAY IN ORDER NOT INCREASE TAXES WE WOULD HAVE TO DECREASE ABOUT

1.5, IS THAT RIGHT? >> WE THINK 1.3 MILLION, YES

SIR. >> JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WAS ON THE SAME PAGE. THAT THE TRAVERTINE PROJECTS DO NOT AFFECT THE TAX RATE. WE HAVE TO GO ABOVE TO PREVENT A

TAX INCREASE., NAMIC -- >> THREE QUICK THINGS.

RETENTION PAY AND YOU SAY STABILITY PAY BUT ONE OF THE CONCERNS WE GET FROM RESIDENTS IS THAT THINGS ARE NOT GETTING THEM. SOMETIMES THINGS DO NOT GET DONE BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THE PEOPLE. I THINK THE STABILITY PAY AND RETENTION PLATE IS A GOOD PLAN TO ECHO YOUR STATEMENT TO KEEP EMPLOYEES HERE SO THAT WE ARE NOT -- I KNOW WE ARE SHORT STAFFED BUT I DO LIKE THE RETENTION PLAN AND STABILITY PLAN TO GET THEM HERE PICKLE BALL COURTS , I THINK, AS SOON AS WE CAN VISIT THOSE IT IS A GOOD IDEA. IT IS VISITING WITH SOME FOLKS . THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING IN

[01:35:01]

GENERAL FUND ARE SEPARATE. >> THANK YOU.

>> I JUST WANT TO ADD ON STABILITY PAY. IT REWARDS THE PEOPLE . IT IS GOOD FOR RETENTION. WE ARE A SERVICE BUSINESS. I KNOW THERE IS A COST INVOLVED. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE THINGS.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT IN PAY AS WELL. ONE THING YOU LOOK AT IS THE COST OF TRAINING A NEW EMPLOYEE. YOU HAVE WORKERS THAT ARE HAPPY TO BE HERE AND WORKING HARD AND ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. IT COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 3 TO 6 MONTHS OF TRAINING RAN WITH THAT FOR $500,000 FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS, IS THAT ALLOWED FOR THE ACADEMY COST?

>> THAT IS THEIR SALARY DOLLAR COST. I DON'T THINK IT HAS A NEED TO THE ACADEMY COST. WE HAVE AN ACADEMY FUNDED THOUGH.

>> I LIKE THE COMMENT THAT COUNCILMEMBER YATES BROUGHT UP WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS . THE NUMBERS THAT YOU PROVIDED TO US FOR STATION EIGHT AND STATION SIX , WOULD THAT INCLUDE ANY PARKING AMENITY PEOPLE WHO LIVE OUT ON THE WEST PART TWO

>> IT DID NOT. I DO NOT KNOW THERE IS SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL PARKING. THE CHIEF IS SHAKING HIS HEAD NO. IT IS A POSTAGE STAMP FOOTPRINT.

>> I STILL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT WITH THE FUNDING FOR THE CO . FOR STATION NINE , THAT IS COVERED WITH GEO-FUNDING. DOES THAT PROVIDE ENOUGH FOR THE CURRENT PARKING ?

>> WE WILL FIND OUT. IT IS AN ALTERNATE. THERE IS HOPE THAT IT MIGHT BUT I THINK THE REALITY IS CONSTRUCTION COST HAS ACCELERATED SINCE THE VOTERS APPROVE THAT . RIGHT NOW, SHE FLOOR AS IS UP TO THE OPINION OF PROBABLE COST MATCHES THE DOLLARS AVAILABLE. WE DO HAVE VALUE ENGINEERING OPPORTUNITIES. AS THE BID COMES IN WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

MY GOAL WILL BE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN DO UNDER THE AMOUNT THAT WAS ORIGINALLY APPROVED. IF I HAD TO COME BACK AND ASK COUNCIL FOR WHAT EVER THE COST OF THE PARKING WAS, THAT IS SOMETHING I WILL DO AND GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY YEA OR NAY. THAT WOULD BE FUNDED WITH CASH THOUGH .

>> WHAT IS THE TIMEFRAME LOOKING AT ACO FOR THAT TXDOT RAMP , THE MICROWAVE SYSTEM -- CLARIFY THAT. THAT IS THE LAST LEG OF A 10 YEAR PROJECT. THIS IS ALREADY BROKEN OUT.

>> WE WOULD END UP COMING TO COUNCIL RELATIVELY QUICKLY TO ISSUE THE COS . ON THE AIRPORT RAMP, SPECIFICALLY . THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BED SOON. DON, YOU MAY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TIMELINE ON THAT. I KNOW YOU ARE INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS. I WILL SAY THE BABY IS CROWDING AND WE ARE

ABOUT TO HAVE LITTLE BABIES. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. DON GREENE, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. WE

[01:40:01]

WE WILL HAVE ABOUT A 30 DAY BID PERIOD AND THEN IT WILL OPEN SOMETIME IN LATE AUGUST OR EARLY SEPTEMBER. THAT IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. THE SAME THING FOR THE MICROWAVE PROJECT. THIS WILL ACTUALLY COMPLETE -- WE DID ONE LEG OF THAT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. WE HAD A STATE GRANT TO HELP SUPPORT THAT THIS WILL COMPLETE THAT AND GIVE US A NEW CONFIGURATION THAT IS THE REDUNDANCY OF THAT SYSTEM. THAT IS IN STAFF REVIEW RIGHT NOW. WE WILL BE ABLE TO GO OUT FOR BID ON THAT WITH IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AS WELL.

>> THE ISSUANCE WOULD COME IN AFTER THE BIDS WERE RECEIVED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. WE WOULD ISSUE THE DOLLARS. WHEN OTHER THINGS THAT MIP ALLOWS US TO DO IS A CONTRACT WITH SOMETHING YOU DO NOT HAVE FUNDS FOR. THE CAST BALANCE ISSUES A CONTRACT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE FUNDS FOR IT WE GO BACK AND REIMBURSE OURSELVES, WHICH IS LINE BY LINE. HAVING THE CASH ON HAND GIVES US SOME FLEXIBILITY TOO . THAT WOULD BE ISSUED BEFORE THE NEW YEAR, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

>> WITH REGARD TO THE OTHER TWO ITEMS, I AM IN SUPPORT OF INAUDIBLE ] FOR THE LIBRARY. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMPUTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT , I'D RATHER NOT BORROW MONEY. BE THE CARTS, THE TABLES, THE SHELLS , THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. WE STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL STUFF IN THE CURRENT LIBRARY. WE ARE MOVING

SOME OF IT OVER. >> THERE WERE EARLIER MEETINGS ABOUT THE PICKLE BALL COURT SO I AM ALSO IN SUPPORT

INAUDIBLE ] . >> WOULD YOU REFRESH YOUR

MEMORY ON THAT GEO- ? >> YES, SIR. THE GENERAL OBLIGATION COVERS STATION NINE AND COVERS TWO REC CENTERS. IT ALSO COVERS THE ZOO IMPROVEMENTS THAT VOTERS IMPROVED AS WELL . YOU ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> DO WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE REACHED A CONSENSUS?

>> THIS IS MY DESK -- MY NEXT HAS TO GO THROUGH WITH YOU WOULD ALLOW ME TO HAVE. WHAT I HEAR CONSENSUS ON IS NOT FUNDING THE PICKLE BALL COURTS IS THAT THE BALANCE OF COUNCIL'S OPINION? I HEAR CONSENSUS ON USING CASH TO PAY FOR THE PAIR TO SQUARE FFE. IS THAT -- OKAY . I HAVE HEARD DISCUSSION -- THERE SEEMS TO BE GENERAL SUPPORT FOR MAINTAINING PARTITION SIX AND EIGHT. I DO NOT KNOW IF I HAVE A CONSENSUS ON DEBT OR CASH. I WOULD LIKE MORE DIRECTION ON THAT . IF WE ADD TO THIS TO THE BUDGET, IT SHOULD BE DONE THROUGH COS OR

CASH? >> THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS AFTER SHANE BROUGHT IT UP. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT RATIONALE FOR

DOING IT WITH CO VERSUS CASH? >> IT IS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT THAT WILL LAST 20 YEARS. IT IS CONCRETE, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SUGGESTING. IT IS LIKE THE AIRPORT RAMP IN SOME WAYS. I BELIEVE THAT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS FOR A 20 YEAR PERIOD , WHICH IS A GOOD USE OF DEBT. YOU WANT THE ASSET TO LIVE PAST THE LIFE OF THE DEBT RATE. HOWEVER, WE HAVE THE CASH TO DO IT ON HAND. IT REALLY GETS TO BECOME A POLICY? IT WILL HAVE A TAX RATE IMPACT. EVERY THAT WE ISSUE HAS A TAX RATE IMPACT. EITHER EVALUATION INCREASES OR A TAX RATE INCREASE. THAT WILL NOT HIT THE BUDGET UNTIL FY '26. IT WILL NOT BE UNTIL CALENDAR YEAR 26 THAT TAXPAYERS SEE THE COST OF THAT. IF COUNCIL WANTED TO ISSUE $1.1 MILLION IN DEBT , IT WOULD BE A LITTLE OVER A DOLLAR, MAYBE $1.20 OR $1.30 ANNUAL COST OF THE TAXPAYER. IT IS A SMALL AMOUNT. HOWEVER, IT ALL ADDS UP THIS NEED TO BE PUT INTO COUNCIL POLICY.

[01:45:01]

>> WE DID CASH FOR THIS PROJECT, WOULD YOU STILL FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE 3 MILLION FOR LIBRARY?

>> I WILL MAKE IT WORK. I WILL MAKE IT WORK. IF YOU'RE ASKED ME IF I'M COMFORTABLE DOING THAT AS A PROFESSIONAL, YES, I

AM. >> THIS WILL BE A BAD PUN, IF WE ARE RAMPING UP TO REDO STATION SIX AND EIGHT , TWO OTHER STATIONS NEED THIS TYPE OF WORK DONE , IF WE PUT IT ALL TOGETHER TO SAY, SIX AND EIGHT NEED IT BUT FIVE ABILITY -- FIVE WILL BE NEEDING IT IN A WHILE. ARE THE ELEMENTS BUT

WITH CONCRETE? >> SOME OF THEM ARE AND SOME DON'T HAVE ISSUES AND SOME DON'T HAVE THE TURNING RADIUS ASSOCIATED WITH SIX AND EIGHT. OF THE STATIONS THAT WE HAVE NOW, THESE ARE THE TWO STATIONS THAT NEED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE.

SHE FLOREZ, IF YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS YOU WANT TO THROW ON THERE, NOW IS YOUR TIME. I THINK SIX AND EIGHT ADDRESSES OUR NEED. THERE IS SOME FENCING AND SECURITY PERSONNEL THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DOING BUT WE HAVE NOT INCLUDED THAT IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE IT IS MORE OF A WANT THAN A NEED.

>> AT TIMES, YES, SIR. ANYTHING THAT IS NOT NEW IS OBVIOUSLY OLD. THE NEWEST STATION AFTER THE TWO OR THREE BELTS IN 2018 IS FROM THE '80S. THAT IS STATION SIX AND EIGHT. EIGHT IS THE NEWEST ONE. THEY HAVE ASPHALT THAT IS NOT LIVING UP TO THE TEST OF TIME. THE CONCRETE AT SIX WAS REDONE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO IN THE BACK BUT THEY DID NOT PUT REBAR BACK INTO THE CONCRETE FOR SOME REASON. THAT CONCRETE IS NOW CRACKING AND FAMILY. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE MAINTENANCE ISSUES UP AND TO KEEP FROM HAVING TO REPLACE SHOCKS EVERY THREE MONTHS, WE NEED TO GET THESE REVISED. OUTSIDE OF THAT, STATION FIVE AND STATION TWO DO HAVE ASPHALT AREAS AND THOSE WOULD BENEFIT FROM CONCRETE. MR. HANNA, JUST TRYING TO MAINTAIN COST, I BROUGHT STATION SIX AND EIGHT TO HIM BECAUSE THEY ARE WHAT I WOULD CALL NEAR CATASTROPHIC AREAS THAT NEED ATTENTION AT THIS TIME.

>> THANK YOU. >> WHAT THEY DID, THIS IS FROM A TIME. I KNOW WHAT THEY DID BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY TWO WAYS OF DOING THAT CONCRETE. THEY PUT THEIR OWN METAL FIBERS IN THE CONCRETE THE THOUGHT PROCESS IS THAT IT PROVIDES THE SAME SUPPORT THAT REBAR DOES. YOU CAN ASK ANY EASIER AND THEY WILL SAY IT DOES NOT WHICH IS WHY WE USE REBAR AND NOT THAT

PRODUCT. >> WAS IT AN EXPENSIVE PRODUCT?

>> IT WAS. >> TO YOUR DISCUSSION , IS YOUR THINKING DO ACO FOR THAT INSTEAD OF DOING IT FOR THE 24 RAMP AND LIKE WAS A SYSTEM OR IN ADDITION TO?

>> I THINK THOSE THREE ARE THE APPROPRIATE THINGS. THE RAMP AND THE RADIO SYSTEM ARE THE KINDS OF PROJECTS THAT HAVE LONG-TERM INFRASTRUCTURE . SINCE WE ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN SOME FLEXIBILITY IN THE BUDGET, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO JUST PAY CASH. IN A GROWTH YEAR AND PREVIOUS YEARS, WE MIGHT BE MORE COMFORTABLE DOING THAT . THIS IS REALLY A CHOICE TO NOT PAY CASH THIS YEAR AND NOT NECESSARILY CHANGING OUR MIND-SET ABOUT PAYING AS WE GO , IN GENERAL BUT THIS YEAR WE NEED TO MAINTAIN SOME CUSHION. THESE ARE APPROPRIATE PROJECTS.

THAT IS A ONE-TIME COST. IT IS NOT REALLY AN ASSET THAT WE ARE ATTACHING TO BAT. ALTHOUGH, IT IS THE HERITAGE SQUARE BUILDING AND PARTICIPATING IN THAT PROJECT WITH PRIVATE FUNDING.

THIS IS A CASH OBLIGATION WE NEED TO MEET NOW.

>> YOU ARE MAKING GOOD POINTS. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND I AM NOT FORM AN OPINION. HERE YOU ARE LOOKING AT LET US DO THE FIRE STATIONS THROUGH SCO TO ADD MORE CUSHION THE DOWNSIDE BEING WE HAVE TO INCREASE TAX RATE.

>> THE VOTER APPROVED RATE IS .025 . THAT WILL HAPPEN NO MATTER WHAT. THE 3.5 CENT INCREASE IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING

[01:50:07]

ACCORDING TO PLAN. >> THIS TAX INCREASE, I THINK YOU SAID, WOULD HIT NEXT YEAR?

>> VOTERS WOULD NOT SEE THE IMPACT ON THAT UNTIL FY '26 BUT IT MAY NOT REQUIRE A TAX RATE INCREASE, THAT IS THE CHALLENGE. IF APPRAISALS INCREASE AND THE VALUE GOES UP , THE VALUATION AND THE APPRAISALS MAY BE ABLE TO ABSORB THAT. PEOPLE ARE STILL PAYING, DO NOT GET ME WRONG.

YOU MAY NOT HAVE TO HAVE A TAX RATE INCREASE BECAUSE THE TAXES GOING UP BECAUSE OF THE VALUATION INCREASE.

>> I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. MY CONCERN IS THAT FIVE DOLLARS IS ON TOP OF WHAT THEY'RE PAYING LESS INCREASE IN THE APPRAISAL VALUABLE WITH FIVE DOLLARS HERE AND $10 HERE.

MORE THAN YOUR FIXED INCOME BECAUSE ABILENE HAS A LOT OF RETIREES HERE. AND THAT FIVE DOLLARS OR $10 QUICKLY ADDS UP.

I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE A STRONG OPINION ON THIS. MY STRONG OPINION IS LET US DO ALL WE CAN TO AVOID THE TAX RATE INCREASE. MINIMIZE IT TO THE MOST. AS LONG AS WE HAVE A CUSHION AND THE CUSHION IS LARGE ENOUGH THAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH IT, MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE WE CAN, WE PAY CASH. AS LONG AS WE HAVE A GOOD CUSHION YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH. YOU ARE DIRECTED BY ASPIRIN IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION WE HAVE ENOUGH CUSHION THERE. MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE WAS BUT MAC -- LET US PAY CASH. WE DO NOT HAVE TO DO POTENTIALLY TAX INCREASE. I KNOW IT WILL NOT BE THIS YEAR OR POSSIBLY NEXT YEAR. WE WILL PAY THE PRICE TODAY OR TOMORROW. MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO PAY

CASH. >> SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL MIGHT CONSIDER ON THE FIRE STATIONS. IF THE BALANCE OF COUNCIL IS INTERESTED IN ISSUING DEBT THAT YOU DELAY THAT INTEL LATER IN THE FISCAL YEAR. PERHAPS WE DO NOT SEE THE CHALLENGES WE ARE ANTICIPATING . THAT WOULD GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY OF TIME AND THEN ISSUED THAT DEBT AS A SINGLE ISSUANCE TOWARDS THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. STILL GET IT DONE IN FY '25 BUT ISSUED DEBT MAY BE AROUND THIS TIME NEXT YEAR VERSUS EARLY IN THE FISCAL YEAR. THAT WOULD BUY YOU ANOTHER SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS OF TIME TO SEE WHAT THE ECONOMY DOES. IF THERE IS CASH AVAILABLE AND COUNCIL WANTS TO USE IT FOR THAT PURPOSE, YOU COULD FORGO THAT INCREASE AND USE THE CASH FOR THAT. JUST TRYING TO FIND THAT COMPROMISE FOR THOSE TWO POSITIONS.

>> MY CONCERN AND SHE FLOREZ MENTIONED IT, THEY ARE VERY CLOSE. HE DID USE THE WORD CATASTROPHIC. IT

>> HE DID USE THAT WORD. >> I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE A BIGGER DEAL. I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN YATES THAT THAT THE COS ARE DESIGNED FOR BIG-TICKET -- MONASTERY BIG-TICKET LONG -- LONG JEVITY PROJECTS THAT WILL LAST A LONG TIME. I THINK THAT

[01:55:07]

EMERGENCIES OR EXPENDITURES. >> I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE SHARING. I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WAITING THE EXTRA SIX MONTHS IN DETERMINING WE NEED TO USE A CO. I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE CUSHION AS MUCH. THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST MIP PROJECT TO CONSIDER, IN MY OPINION. DELAYING THE SIX AND EIGHT INAUDIBLE ] AND LOOKING AT THAT AS A CO SPRING OR SUMMER. KIND OF THE SAME THING WE DID WITH THE AIRPORT RAMP . MAINTAINING

THE FLEXIBILITY. >> IT KEEPS THE CUSHION IN CASE SALES TAX BECOMES AN ISSUE. AND WE STILL HAVE THE NEED WITH STATION SIX AND EIGHT, WE CAN SAY THE CUSHION AND PAY FOR THE PROJECT. NEWELL ACRES TALKING

ABOUT -- >> JUST SIX AND EIGHT.

>> THANK YOU. >> ARE THEY GOING TO LAST THAT

LONG? >> LET ME ASK THE EXPERT, CHIEF

HUMAN >> TRY NOT TO USE THE WORD

CATASTROPHIC. >>

>> IT DID GET YOUR ATTENTION THOUGH, RIGHT?

>> I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE SOME PATCHES IN PLACE. WINTER IS ALWAYS THE ROUGH SPOT. YOU HAVE TORN UP ASPHALT AND CONCRETE AND THEN YOU GET WATER AND WHEEZING THAT WILL MAKE IT WORSE. WE WILL JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW THE WINTER GOES. WE CAN PATCH IT UNTIL WE GET TO THE POINT THAT ONLY THE FIX WILL BE

TERADATA AND REPLACE IT. >> YOU WOULD BE SUPPORT OF THIS

WEIGHT APPROACH? >> WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

>>

IN FY '25. >> IS THAT THE CONSENSUS OF

COUNCIL ON THAT ITEM? >> YES. IT

>> THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE , I THINK, MAY BE THE ONE THAT HAS GARNERED THE MOST DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON IS THE STABILITY PAY QUESTION -- ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE HIT THAT TOPIC. $150,000 THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL -- I THINK YOU COULD TAKE IT OUT OF MIP TO FUND THE DEMOLITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF THROUGH THE BOARD OF BUILDING STANDARD PROCESS, CODE COMPLIANCE, WE NEED ABOUT $150,000 MORE TO FROM THE BACKLOG. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COUNCIL FOR THAT. I THINK IT IS A GOOD MIP USE AND IT COULD BE

PART OF THE FY '25 BUDGET. >>

>> NOT DEBT. >> THE LAST THING , REALLY TWO THINGS BUT THIS IS PART OF THAT. THE TAX RATE AND STABILITY PAY. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TAX RATE AND THE STABILITY PAY COMPONENT IS A PART OF THAT. MAYOR, WHEREVER YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO BUT WE NEED FURTHER

DIRECTION ON THOSE TWO ITEMS. >> I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE IMPACT OF THE TAX RATE WOULD BE BY USING SCENARIO ONE. I IN TOTAL AGREEMENT FOR STABILITY PAY BUT I DO THINK IT IS A RETENTION TOOL. IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS RIGHT , A MAX PAYOUT OF 28 TO A MAX PAYOUT OF 10,000. WE ARE DROPPING THE TRIGGER FOR STABILITY PAY TO KICK IN FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD HERE. IF WE WITNESS SCENARIO ONE, THE MAX PAYOUT STILL INCREASES BY FACTOR OF 2.8. IT IS $319,000 CHEAPER, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING.

[02:00:06]

AND THE SECOND QUESTION WITH REGARDS TO THE TAX RATE IF WE DELAYED THE ADDITIONAL FIVE , I DON'T THINK IT IS FEASIBLE TO FILL BUT NUMBER OF SLOT WITH IN THIS FISCAL YEAR WITH WHAT THE IMPACT OF THE TAX RATE MAY BE.

>> WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS GET MANY OTHER DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT COUNCIL MIGHT WANT TO PAY WITH. AND THEN GIVE MARJORIE AN OPPORTUNITY -- IT WILL NOT TAKE HER LONG -- GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO CALCULATE THAT. WE COULD BREAK FOR LUNCH AND HAVE A DISCUSSION AFTER LUNCH OR IF MARJORIE CAN GET IT DONE IN THE NEXT 10 MINUTES , WE CAN PROBABLY HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND WRAP THIS UP BEFORE LUNCH. WHAT SAY

MARJORIE? >> EVERYONE IS LOOKING AT YOU.

>> NUMBERS RIGHT AND I DO NOT BLAME HER. BEFORE SHE COULD DO THAT HOMEWORK, WHAT OTHER DISCUSSION SCENARIO POINTS ARE

INTERESTING? >> BEFORE WE LEAVE THAT STABILITY PAY DISCUSSION, JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS IN LIEU OF

A COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ? >> YES, SIR.

>> WE ARE NOT GIVING INFLATION ADJUSTED SALARIES THAT ARE NOT CHANGING BUT WE ARE DOING THIS INSTEAD

>> THIS IS LESS EXPENSIVE BUT MORE IMPACT OF DOLLAR VIBE FROM

OVER SALARIED EMPLOYEES. >> MARJORIE, COULD YOU ALSO -- I KNOW THAT COUNCILMAN BEARD WITH FIVE OFFICERS. CAN USE AND ARE NOT WITH THE FIVE OFFICERS OR SCENARIO TWO WITHOUT?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS.

>> I KNOW IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO GET THAT MANY OFFICERS AND I WOULD SURE HATE TO NOT BUDGET FOR THEM.

>> THEN WE WOULD JUST BE AT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF AUTHORIZED STRENGTH AND NOT +5. WE HAVE NOT BEEN AT FAULT AUTHORIZED

STRENGTH IN TWO DECADES. >> WHAT AT THE SKY FELL? THERE IS ALL KINDS OF WHAT IF SCENARIOS. I'M LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE. I AM NOT OPPOSED TO INCREASING THE STRENGTH I JUST WANT TO SEE THE IMPACT ON

BUDGET. >> WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE NUMBERS, BUT IS NOT A PROBLEM.

>> IF WE WENT, JOKING WHATEVER PAGE THIS IS. ON THE STABILITY PAY AND KEPT IT ON THE CURRENT, THAT FIRST COLUMN THERE WAS A MAXIMUM PAY OF 2880, MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS, BUT IS A $50,000 INCREASE VERSUS 750 UNDER SCENARIO ONE. IF WE KEPT THINGS IN THE CURRENT COLUMN AND WE DELAYED OR WORKED OUT WHATEVER IS BEING PROPOSED THERE , UNDER THAT SCENARIO AND KEPT THE HALF MILLION DOLLARS FROM THAT AND WE DID NOT DO THE INCREASE OF ROUGHLY $1 MILLION ON THE STABILITY PAY, THAT IS ROUGHLY $1.5 MILLION. UNDER THAT SCENARIO, WE WOULD NOT NEED TO INCREASE THE TAX RATE I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND

CORRECTLY. >> WHAT I HEAR WHAT DID YOU CUT IF YOU DO NOT INCREASE THE M&O RATE ? CAN YOU STILL DO THINGS -- HOW DO YOU FUND THE BUDGET WITHOUT THAT? WHAT I AM GOING TO DO , AFTER LUNCH, PRESENT TO YOU ALL WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE. WHAT YOU CUT IF YOU WENT WITH NOTHING AND WHAT MIGHT IT BE IF YOU REDUCE SOME OF THE COST AND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT YOU JUST GOT FINISHED TALKING ABOUT WITH STABILITY PAY AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. THERE MAY BE OTHER THINGS WE CAN LOOK AT TOO. I CANNOT THROW IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

>> I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST TWO TIMES THAT I CAN REMEMBER WITH THE MAYOR'S POINT THAT WE HAVE A CLASS THAT WAS OVER THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED THAT WE HAD. THE PD WENT BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND AUTHORIZE THE INCREASE. THAT HAS HAPPENED

A COUPLE TIMES. >> IT HAS BUT WE HAVE TO PAY

FOR THOSE. >>

>> LOOKING AT 4.5% INCREASE JUST DUE TO EVALUATIONS ?

[02:05:04]

>> EVALUATIONS WERE UP 7%, I THINK . IS THAT CORRECT,

MARJORIE? >>

>> COME ON UP TO THE MIC . IT IS COMPLICATED.

>> WHEN WE GOT OUR PRELIMINARY CERTIFIED VALUES WERE BETWEEN SEVEN AND EIGHT. WE DID GET VALUES FROM JONES COUNTY. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PUT TOGETHER WITH TAYLOR YET BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT THOSE, WE DID LOSE ABOUT 2%, WHICH WE DID PLAN FOR. WE ARE PROBABLY CLOSER TO ABOUT A 6% INCREASE RIGHT NOW.

>> I WAS JUST GOING OFF OF THE 8% AND TAXABLE VALUES AN

INCREASE IN TAX RATE. >> YOU MIGHT GET THERE, SIR.

YOU WOULD. THE NO NEW RATES IS EVERYTHING WE HAD THE PREVIOUS YEAR. AND THEN THE 1.6 SENT REPRESENTS A 3.5% GROWTH THAT

WE ARE NOT UNDER STATUTE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE DO HAVE TO TAKE A LUNCH BREAK FOR OUR INTERPRETERS ALSO. IT IS 11:15. CAN WE BE BACK AT 12:30? IS THAT GOOD?

>> YES, THAT WORKS. THAT WORKS GREAT .

>> IT IS NOW 12:30 AND WE RECONVENE FOR LUNCH. WHERE

GOOD? >> THERE IT GOES. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE GETTING SOME INFORMATION TO PRESENT, I WILL GO AHEAD AND LET YOU PRESENT THOSE NUMBERS .

>> YES HER, THE DIRECTION I RECEIVED WAS WHAT MIGHT BE CUT TO FORGO A TAX RATE INCREASE ON THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION SIDE . THE OPERATING SIDE OF THE CITY'S BUDGET, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS GONE THROUGH AND LOOKED AT DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN THE BUDGET TO TRY TO GET THERE, FIRST WAS IN A TECH FUND, THERE IS A CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR CAMERAS, SECURITY CAMERAS CONTINUING TO EXPAND THAT SYSTEM FOR $199, WE WOULD GO THAT AND THAT TRANSLATES INTO 24 THOUSANDTHS OF A PENNY OF A TAX RATE, THEN REDUCING STABILITY PAY TO THE SCENARIO ONE THAT SAVES $319,000, REMOVING THE OFFICERS 500, $434,000 . THAT IS 52,000 . REDUCING CITY MANAGERS CONTINGENT THE FUNDS. IT'S $250,000 TO COVER COST THAT WERE UNANTICIPATED FOR CONTRACTS THAT COME UP THAT WERE NOT BUDGETED, IT'S THE HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THINGS THAT WERE UNACCOUNTED FOR, REDUCING THAT BY $100,000 WOULD SAVE 12 THOUSANDTHS OF A PENNY. REBUILD ABI, REDUCE THE GENERAL FUND, WE HAVE $1 MILLION WHICH WE ARE SPENDING ALL OF THE, WE REDUCE THE -- REBUILD THE ABI FUNDING BY $281,000 . IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN THAT MILLION-DOLLAR FUNDING, WE WOULD TAKE MIP DOLLARS TO OFFSET THAT LOSS. INSTEAD OF HAVING GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, FULLY FUNDING THAT YEAR OVER YEAR, WE CREATE $281,000 FOR THIS YEAR FOR MIP TO COVER THAT. I DO BELIEVE THAT'S BEEN A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, WE'VE USED ALL THE FUNDS, I THINK THAT IS -- A PRIORITY FOR COUNSEL AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE FUNDING FOR IT AT THE CURRENT DOLLAR AMOUNT SO IT REMAINS AT $1 MILLION. THE TAX RATE WILL END UP LOOKING LIKE THIS THEN, THE GENERAL OPERATING RATE WOULD BE .518 THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, 3.661 CREATING A TOTAL TAX RATE OF .7578 . THAT IS A MENU THAT COUNSEL CAN THINK ABOUT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GETS US DOWN TO KNOW OPERATING TAX INCREASE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER, BECAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY IS A PRIORITY FOR COUNSEL. FUNDING THE POLICE OFFICERS. THAT WOULD ADD QUICK MATH, THAT WOULD ADD YOU CAN APPOINT SEVEN OR SIX AT SOME DIFFERENCE, .76 . THE AVERAGE IMPACT ON THAT TO THE HOMEOWNER IS GOING TO BE PRETTY INSIGNIFICANT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS BUT AS I SAID, IT ADDS UP . PUBLIC SAFETY IS A PRIORITY AND WE NEED MORE POLICING, MORE POLICE OFFICERS. THESE WILL BE

[02:10:02]

>> IF WE WERE TO, I WILL MAYBE GO TO LYNN'S EXPERIENCE OR THE CHIEFS. REMOVING THE FUNDING FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND FOR SOME REASON WE DID HAVE THE PROBLEM OF RECRUITS COMING IN, WE HAVE GOT THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME IN, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT THAT ? NO. IF WE DON'T DO IT NOW, WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR. SALARY DOLLARS ARE YEAR OVER YEAR COST, THEY ARE NOT PROJECTS SO WE SHOULD AVOID USING ONE TIME -- THANK YOU FOR GETTING THAT IN THAT POINT IN TIME, IT'S HARD TO CLAW YOUR WAY OUT OF IT. WE ARE NOT IN THAT, WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN THAT IN A LONG TIME, PERSONALLY AS A PROFESSIONAL, I CANNOT RECOMMEND WE DO THAT IF WE LOOK AT HIRING PEOPLE, IT NEEDS TO BE ABSORBED BY ANNUAL REVENUE.

>> I'M SAYING WE CAN ADD THAT COST BACK IN IF WE NEEDED TO.

UNLESS YOU RAISE THE TAX RATE. OKAY. I'M JUST SAYING THAT THAT THERE IS THAT OPTION -- IT'S NOT IF WE DON'T DO IT NOW WE HAVE TO RATE IF WE HAVE TO WAIT THE TAX RATE , WE WOULD HAVE TO RAISE IT WHETHER IT'S NOW OR NEXT YEAR, YEAH. I THINK RIGHT HERE, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. WE CAN DO IT NEXT YEAR, YOU CANNOT COME BACK IN NOVEMBER AND DECIDE TO DO IT.

>> THANK YOU. THAT'S EVEN IF IN THE CASE THAT TAIL -- SALES TAX WE DANCE VERY WELL -- REBOUNDS WELL, AND WE SAY WE CAN FUND IT AT THAT POINT, WAS THAT YOUR QUESTION?

>> WE COULD MAYBE IF SALES TAX REBOUNDS, WE COULD DO THE CAMERAS. THERE'S OTHER THINGS WE CAN ADD IT BACK IN HERE THAT ARE ONE-TIME EXPENSES AS OPPOSED TO THE SALARIES.

>> SALES TAX CERTAINLY IS A RENEWABLE REVENUE BUT IS HIGHLY ELASTIC. IF WE ARE LOOKING AT ADDING POLICE OFFICERS, MY PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATION IS YOU DO THAT THROUGH PROPERTY TAX SIDE . ONCE THEY ARE WITH US, THEY ARE WITH US. THEY

DON'T EVER GO AWAY. >> BUT THE -- SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, REBUILDING ABI FUNDING . THIS WOULD NOT BE A PERMANENT EXPECTATION, IT WOULD BE THE FUND , THE REMAINDER OF THAT 525 WITH AN EXPECTATION THAT IT WILL BE ADDED TO THE BUDGET 26, IT WOULD NOT BE AN ONGOING A

LIP IS >> OF COUNCIL WANTED TO DO IT, YOU COULD . YOU COULD DO IT, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT. WE WILL GO TO A LEGISLATIVE SESSION NEXT YEAR RIGHT? I FULLY ANTICIPATE THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX CHANGES , WHAT WE KNOW ARE THE RULES TODAY, WE SHOULD NOT ASSUME WHAT WILL BE THE RULES NEXT FISCAL YEAR, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL CHANGE ANYTHING BUT THEY ARE CERTAINLY WITHIN THEIR POWER AND AUTHORITY TO DO SO, THEY HAVE NOT LEFT IT ALONE, THEY ARE INTENTIONALLY TRYING TO PROVIDE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR THE CITIZENS OF TEXAS WHICH IS 100% IN THEIR PURVIEW . I JUST DON'T WANT TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, SOME STATES GO TO 0% TAX RATE INCREASES WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL, I DON'T KNOW IF TEXAS IS LOOKING AT THAT BUT THERE'S A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THE LEGISLATURE IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO THAT.

>> THIS IS -- THIS MAY BE OUTSIDE THEIR PURVIEW PER SE, NEXT FISCAL YEAR IN ADDITION TO WHATEVER OTHER CHANGES WE HAVE CONSIDERED. THERE WILL ALSO BE THE FIREFIGHTERS FOR FIRE

STATION NINE. >> WE HAVE THOSE FUNDED, WE HAVE HALF OF THEM ALREADY FUNDED AND ARE ANTICIPATING THEY WILL BE ADDED ON, WE GOT THAT COVERED. IF WE GET A SAFER

GRANT, EVEN BETTER. >> ON THE REBUILD, THE -2 81,000. THAT IS DEDUCTING FROM THE 1 MILLION THAT WE CURRENTLY ADD WITH -- 27,000 MOVING FORWARD, WE DON'T NEED TO GET INTO THE WEEDS OF REBUILDING, THERE IS A LOT OF BIG FANS OF IT. IS THERE A WAY WE CAN TWEAK THAT IF WE DECIDE TO REDUCE IT DOWN TO 720,000? IS THERE A WAY TO TWEAK THAT PROGRAM TO WHERE WE IDENTIFY NOW THAT WE HAVE A YEAR UNDER OUR BELT WHERE WE CAN GO IN AND SAY THESE ARE THE HOUSES THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN OTHERWISE BUILT EXCEPT FOR THIS PROGRAM AND REALLY TAILOR IT TO

[02:15:03]

TO 280. >> YOU ARE SUPPLEMENTING IT WITH MIP. I DID NOT CATCH THE PART, WE ARE SUBTRACTING 280 HERE, BUT PULLING 280 FROM MIP SO AT THE END OF THE DAY IT STAYS AT 1 MILLION EVEN NEXT YEAR, I WOULD LIKE ON THAT POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT ON THE ROAD DISCUSSING HOW WE CAN TWEAK IT TO OPTIMIZE IT, THAT'S ANOTHER TIME.

>> I THINK WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION AND GIVE COUNCIL THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO ANY TWEAKS THEY MIGHT WANT, CERTAINLY SOME CAN BE DONE. BASED ON WHERE THE HOUSES WERE BUILT, I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT THERE IS NOT A SINGLE HOUSE THAT WOULD BE BUILT WITHOUT THE ABI, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT. IT MAY BE WORKING EXACTLY AS PLANNED, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB ON

THAT. >> I'M NOT FOR REMOVING FUNDING. THAT'S JUST ME, PERSONALLY. AND I AGREE, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE? BASICALLY, IF WE ADD BACK IN THE FUNDING, THAT GOES AND THAT'S .5918 THEN YOU ADD. 00 -- .763 WOULD BE THE TOTAL TAX RATE. .763 WOULD BE THE TOTAL RATE IF YOU INCLUDE OFFICER FUNDING.

>> BASICALLY, HALF A PENNY. I HAVE A PENNY.

>> 52 THOUSANDTHS OF A PENNY. PER 100, WE PROBABLY HAVE --

THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO, IN THIS -- HALF 1 MILLION FOR THE BUMPER . IF WE DON'T, LET'S SAY THAT IT'S APPROVED. KEEP THE HALF-MILLION INTO THE FIVE NEW POLICE OFFICERS, AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT RATE CLASS, OR RATE YEAR, WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING TO THE HALF 1 MILLION

QUITE THE >> GOOD QUESTION, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LEVIED AND COLLECTED. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, THAT WOULD BE -- FROM A THEORETICAL STANDPOINT, THAT WOULD THEN FLOW TO THE MIP, WHAT WAS NOT SPENT IN THE FY 25 WOULD BE IN THE FIP FOR FY 26 AND THE ADJUSTMENT THAT WOULD BE DONE AT THE END OF -- THE FISCAL YEAR, IT WILL BE THE BUDGET AMENDMENT WHERE THE MONEY WOULD BE MOVED TO MIP AND WOULD STILL BE AVAILABLE THE FOLLOWING YEAR, BECAUSE ONCE IT IS LEVIED, IT IS A RECURRING REVENUE THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

>> THERE IF WE NEED IT BUT IF NOT, IT GOES TO MIP BILL -- TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THE RIVERS WHERE WE HAVE THE FUNDS AND IF BY CHANCE, WE HAPPEN TO HAVE FIVE EXTRA POLICE OFFICERS WE CAN HIRE, WE SHIFT THE MONEY FROM

MIP. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WILL HAVE THE MONEY NEXT YEAR IF WE HIRE FIVE PEOPLE WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF GETTING RID OF WHICH IS SAFE TO SAY WITH PUBLIC SAFETY ONCE HIRED -- THEN WE SHOULD BE FUNDING THAT WITH A NEW REVENUE SOURCE, PROPERTY TAXES ARE GUARANTEED REVENUE.

>> YOU COULD DO IT THE WAY THAT KYLE SUGGESTED, THERE IS

NOTHING ILLEGAL ABOUT THAT. >> I WAS WALKING THROUGH, THANK

YOU FOR DOING THIS. >> CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE OTHER

SLIDE? >> DID YOU -- QUANTIFY THAT DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THE AVERAGE PRICE? OF THE HOUSE.

>> NO, BUT I CAN. >> DO WE HAVE THE FINAL NUMBERS

? >> WE DON'T HAVE THE CERTIFIED

VALUE YET . >> WE HAVE THOSE BEFORE AUGUST

8TH. >> YES. THE MOTION INCLUDES THE ACTUAL PERCENT INCREASE. BY LAW, WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THAT.

RIGHT HERE >> WHEN DID WE SAY THAT WAS, $5.20? $5.20 ANNUALLY TO THE AVERAGE APPRAISED VALUE OF 157.

[02:20:04]

FOR THOSE POLICE OFFICERS. >> FOR AN AVERAGE HOUSE OF 157,000 GIVE OR TAKE. I -- THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT, THAT'S THE ONE ITEM THAT WE NEED FURTHER DIRECTION ON, I WOULD ASK COUNCIL TO PROVIDE ME DIRECTION ON WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO WITH THE TAX RATE, TO CLARIFY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE TWO ADDITIONS BEING ALREADY APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, THE -- AND THE COST OF ADDING FIVE POLICE OFFICERS, THAT IS

ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE ARE ADDING. >> YES SIR, WHAT COUNCIL WANTS ME TO DO IS TELL YOU NO INCREASE TO TAX RATE ON THE SIDE -- THE SLIDE SHOWS YOU WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

>> THE DEBT SERVICE SIDE OF THE TAX RATE STAYS THE SAME.

>> IT GOES UP. >> TO BOIL IT DOWN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ADDING FIVE DOLLARS TO THE YEARLY TAX BILL FOR A MEDIAN PRICED HOUSE TO ADD FIVE POLICE OFFICERS PICK

>> FOR $150,000 HOME , YOU WERE ADDING $5.20.

>> TO ADD THE POLICE OFFICERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, IT IS NOT

JUST THE FIVE DOLLARS -- >> MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES MY

PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU. YES, SIR. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL? I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS IS -- I DON'T KNOW THE CONSENSUS ABOUT ALL THE SUGGESTIONS OR THE POLICE OFFICERS BEING LEFT IN THERE.

>> I AM IN FAVOR OF LEAVING THE POLICE OFFICERS.

>> OKAY. HOW MUCH OF THE 3 1/2% IS THAT -- DOES THAT REPRESENT?

>> OH GOSH. 32% OF THAT 3 1/2%.

>> I'M IN FAVOR OF LEAVING THE POLICE, IS IT POSSIBLE ME -- FOR ME TO ASK CHIEF A QUESTION?

>> HE'S HERE AS A RESOURCE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW SINCE THIS IS PROPOSED BEFORE US, WHAT INCENTIVES DO YOU FIRST SEE US ACHIEVING THIS AND IS THERE SOMETHING NEW YOU WERE IMPLEMENTING THAT WAS NOT DONE PRIOR TO PREVIOUS CLASSES.

>> OTHER THAN WHAT'S ADDED TO THE MEET AND CONFER, NO, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, I DON'T WANT TO LET QUALIFIED APPLICANTS GO IF WE GET THE GOOD -- LIKE WE ARE DISCUSSING GETTING THEM BACK WOULD BE DIFFICULT. IF I WAS TO LET THEM GO AFTER THE PROCESS, OUR NUMBERS -- RIGHT.

>> ALSO, I'M SORRY MAYOR. IF YOU ARE IN LAMENTING A NEW STRATEGY -- THE ABILITY -- IT'S NOT JUST ONE PLACE AND ONE DAY, THERE IS MORE AND THAT ABILITY FOR APPLICANTS -- CORRECT, SIR, ONLINE CAPABILITIES ON THE TEST AS WELL AS THE PHYSICAL TEST PART OF THAT AS WELL. YES. YES.

ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING THIS, THE CHIEF. OUR TEAM IS LOWERING BARRIERS TO APPLICANTS WHILE MAINTAINING OUR STANDARD. WE ARE ANTICIPATING GETTING MORE APPLICANTS TO THE PROCESS. SOME OF THE BARRIERS ONLY IN TIME AND SPACE, THEY HAVE RESTRICTED THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO ALIGN. A PROGRESSIVE MOVE ON THE PART OF THE CHIEF TO DO THAT, WHY APPRECIATE IS CHIEF LIPS IS CREATIVITY TO GET POLE. THE OTHER THING , HE WON'T TAKE MUCH CREDIT FOR THIS BUT HE'S A LARGE PART OF IT, WE ARE SEEING LATERAL OFFICER APPLICATIONS INCREASING TOO, IF THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS, THEY ARE THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE MEANS OF

[02:25:04]

CAN INCREASE OUR STRENGTH. >> WHEN YOU SPEAK OF BARRIERS, TIME AND SPACE, YOU'RE SAYING WITH AVAILABILITY OF MAKING IT MORE ONLINE FRIENDLY SHOULD INCREASE THE APPLICANT POOL.

THAT'S A DETERRENT FOR MANY WHO WERE APPLYING IN YEARS PREVIOUS FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS , THE POSTING OF THE TEST AT ONE TIME ONLY -- AT THE SPACE AND TIME, THAT WILL

EXPAND NOT QUITE A LOT. >> THANK YOU. ONE MORE

QUESTION, CHIEF? >> THANK YOU.

>> AM GOOD WITH KEEPING THE OFFICERS IN.

>> I APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL DID, DOING GREAT TO GIVE US THE NUMBERS AND ABILITY TO MINIMIZE THE TAX INCREASE, I DO AGREE WE NEED TO FUND THE POLICE OFFICERS WITH SUPPORT, THAT PORTION OF THE -- THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANT TO REACH OUT -- HOW THANKFUL I AM AND I KNOW THIS COUNCIL IS -- STOP THIS IS ALWAYS A TRYING TIME OF YEAR. WHEN THERE IS -- BUDGET DEFICIT , WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS , A LOT OF TIMES IF YOU WOULD HAVE DONE THIS, YOU COULD DO THIS, IF I TURN LEFT, YOU TURN RIGHT, WE ARE ELECTED TO MAKE DECISIONS AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS FUN OR THE EASIEST THINGS TO DO, WE ARE ELECTED TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS. THIS IS THIS COUNCIL'S BUDGET, THIS IS WHAT

[3. Ordinance (Consider on First Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Revised 2023-2024 Budget]

THE RECORD. >> THIS IS YOUR CHANCE.

>> I WAS NOT READY FOR THIS. >> THIS IS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET, NEXT YEAR. THIS YEAR'S REVISED. YOU CAN ACTUALLY SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY, IT'S ABOUT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, THE

ONE THAT WE ARE FINISHING UP. >> I HAVE LOTS OF THINGS TO SAY ADVANTAGE, THE CURRENT YEAR. MY QUESTION IS -- HOW DO WE -- Y'ALL WILL NOT RESPOND TO ME SO IT'S PROBABLY NOT HEALTHY, I NOTICE THERE ARE PRIORITIES THAT HAPPEN IN THE MINOR IMPROVEMENT BUDGET THAT WERE APPROVED AND WERE NOT TAKEN CARE OF, SO IT IS JUST CURIOUS TO ME AS AN AVERAGE CITIZEN WHO IS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, WE APPROVED $2 MILLION FOR THIS, THIS RADIO SYSTEM. WE APPROVED IT AND RAN IMPROVEMENTS IT'S HARD, BECAUSE NOW WE ARE PAYING MORE MONEY ON THIS RAMP IMPROVEMENT WHEN IT'S NOT MAKING REVENUE, WHICH IS WHAT Y'ALL BROUGHT UP LAST YEAR, IT'S HARD FOR ME AS A CITIZEN TO UNDERSTAND WHEN WE ARE TAKING OUT THAT ON THE RAMP, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S HARD DECISIONS BUT WHY ARE WE PAYING MONEY FOR SOMETHING -- I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW THAT WORKS.

WHEN WE TOOK CARE OF $300,000 FOR PARKS AND REC, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WAS ANOTHER MATCHING GRANT SITUATION BUT THAT'S LIKE WE ARE CUTTING THINGS AND PUTTING THE BURDEN, I KNOW IT'S ONLY FIVE DOLLARS AND THAT'S THE FUTURE ONE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COMES OUT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE BEEN IN A BAD PLACE FOR A WHILE AND ARE HAVING TO CATCH UP, I DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING LIKE $1 MILLION ON THE DOWNTOWN HOTEL, I KNOW THERE'S REASONS BUT AS I SAID IS RUNNING, I DON'T UNDERSTAND. IT'S HARD BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, I WANT TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET BEHIND WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND I'VE HEARD GREAT THINGS , THERE'S JUST A LOT OF CONFUSION, I THINK EVERY CITIZEN SHOULD HAVE ONE OF THESE BECAUSE IT WAS HELPFUL TO WATCH AND LISTEN, AND WRITE DOWN NOTES BECAUSE Y'ALL SAY IT, YOU DO LET US KNOW IN PERSON BUT SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY I WISH WE COULD CREATE A SPACE WHERE THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BECOME A PART OF THIS, THERE IS A DOUBLE-ACTION THING GOING WHERE Y'ALL DON'T GET THE ABILITY TO BE TRANSPARENT BEFORE US THAT'S NECESSARY, WE DON'T GET THE CHANCE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT SOUNDS THE SAME BUT I'M VERY

[02:30:01]

YOU. >> I DID SAY MY NAME WAS TAMMY VOGEL.

>> STILL PUBLIC HEARING ON FY 2023-2024 BUDGET, MR. BEANS?

>> MY NAME IS ERIC BANGS, I LIVE IN ABILENE, I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS SO I WILL TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF SOMETHING. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEETINGS AGO, THE DOG PARK WAS BROUGHT UP. I ADDRESSED THAT AND ASKED $1 MILLION FOR A DOG PARK, JUST KIND OF PUT THAT QUESTION NOT THEREOF WHY ARE WE DOING THAT, COUNCILMAN BLAISE REGAN, CAN WE JUST TABLE THIS AND TALK ABOUT IT? THAT WAS -- THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. THAT DAY , THE COUNCIL WENT AHEAD AND APPROVED SPENDING $964,000 ON A DOG PARK, IT'S OVER 1 MILLION NOW I THINK. MY QUESTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN WHY? WHY DO WE NEED TO SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY ON A DOG PARK WITH A RESTROOM FACILITY, I PUT OUT AN IDEA, WHY DON'T WE USE INFRASTRUCTURE WE ALREADY HAVE? I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED THAT, THEY HAD BEEN OUT TO CALLIE ON PARK AGAIN AND DRIVEN AROUND, THERE'S TONS OF SPACE ON THE PART THAT'S NOT BEING USED FOR ANYTHING. EXCEPT THERE IS SOME FRISBEE GOLF, OR WHATEVER THEY CALL IT. THOSE, THAT FACILITY CAN STILL BE BUILT WITHOUT THAT , TODAY I FOUND OUT, IT'S ALREADY BEEN CONTRACTED OUT AND I'M DISAPPOINTED. I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE WILL BE SPENDING THAT MUCH MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT THE FAMILY WANTS TO MOVE TO ABILENE, NOT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A DOG PARK, IF YOU KEEP SOMEBODY FROM MOVING, THEY PROBABLY DID NOT WANT TO COME OUT ANYWAY, $1 MILLION IS $1 MILLION, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOME OTHER THINGS , I'M LOOKING AT THAT AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND. THEY APPROVED A DOG PARK AT THE BOTTOM, I SAID PLEASE ASK ME FOR DETAILS. THEY ASKED ME, THEY ARE SHOCKED, I PUT SOME BLAME ON THEM FOR NOT BEING INFORMED, FOR NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON, I HAVE NOT MET ONE PERSON I TALKED TO.

THAT SAID MAN, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, NOT ONE PERSON, EVERYBODY'S LIKE I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE DOING THAT. I CHALLENGE THEM, GET A HOLD OF YOU GUYS . COME TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT. I AM JUST, I ALMOST FELT LIKE IT WAS BEING RAILROADED THROUGH, WE DID NOT HAVE A GOOD DIALOGUE WITH A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO TELL THEM. I APPRECIATE YOU TRYING TO GET THAT DONE. THANK

YOU. >> STILL ON, PAUL BOYD -- PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD . I ASKED FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM COUNCIL .

>> IT IS STILL MOVED. >> MOTION BY COUNCIL MCALLISTER

. >> YOU CERTAINLY CAN ALTHOUGH

THIS IS THE ADVISED BUDGET . >> THIS IS THE 23-24 REVISE MAN'S, MOTION BY COUNCILMAN KYLE MCALISTER. COUNCILMAN PRICE? IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

>> ALL YESES, MOTION CARRIES.

[4. Ordinance (Consider on First Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Approving the Proposed 2024-2025 Budget]

[02:35:56]

>> THEY ARE IN CATASTROPHIC SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF YEARS OF NEGLECT AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THAT AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE YEAR THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IT. YOU KNOW, I'M SHOCKED. HOW DID WE NOT KNOW THAT OUR FIRE STATION PARKING LOT IS IN BAD SHAPE. BETWEEN TWO WEEKS WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET BEING PRINTED AND THAT'S COMING UP, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. HE WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE KNOW ABOUT AND I THINK THAT IS THE PROBLEM. END OF LIFE ISSUES HAPPEN BECAUSE WE ARE NOT PREPARED FOR THEM, SO WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB AND I KNOW THIS IS A YEAR WHERE WE ARE HANGING ONTO GET ALONG, BUT I HOPE THAT WE START SETTING ASIDE MONEY TO PREPARE THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE WHILE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS ARE MEANT TO BE ABLE TO USE THEM FOR LONG-TERM PROJECTS, AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE THE CAPITAL , IT LOOKS LIKE, WHEN WE ARE IN GOOD YEARS TO BE DOING MORE THAN WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE KNOW THE EFFECT OF NOT TAKING CARE OF OUR STREETS AND THAT IS LIKE WHAT ERIC WAS SAYING.WHEN OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT IN THE STREETS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT $130 MILLION IS CHUMP CHANGE. $10 MILLION IS NOT CHUMP CHANGE, BUT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN COMMUNICATE BETTER ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING SO THAT WE CAN NOW. IT TAKES EVERYTHING IN ME TO GET SOMEONE TO GIVE ANY CARE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE NO VOICE. MONEY MATTERS IN THIS HAS BEEN WHAT OF THE THINGS WE DO CARE ABOUT MORE AND I AM HOPING TO WORK FOR YOU AND HELP PROMOTE THINGS SO THAT YOU ALL CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE AT YOUR JOBS AND THIS BUDGET, I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER READING OF IT IN AUGUST, BUT I HOPE THIS IS IS THE LAST YEAR WE HAD THE END OF YOUR LIFE CATASTROPHIC STUFF GOING ON THAT WE ARE NOT PREPARED BECAUSE INFLATION HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME AND THIS DOES NOT CATCH US BY SURPRISE AND I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW WE JUST GOT DONE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING CASH AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL BE APPROVING ANOTHER $1.3 MILLION FROM THE MIP TO GO TOWARDS COVERING THINGS. IT DOESN'T HAVE A GOOD PR ON THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE ARE IMPORTANT AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT IN ALLOWING PEOPLE TO HAVE MORE ACCESS TO THIS. I'M REPEATING MYSELF, SO I WILL STOP HERE AND I'M JUST SAYING THAT I DON'T WANT TO HEAR CATASTROPHIC END OF YOUR LIFE AGAIN BECAUSE WE SHOULD KNOW THAT THINGS ARE RUNNING OUT AND I DO HAVE THIS MUCH TIME. I DON'T BUY CARS ON LEASES AND LONG-TERM LEASES FOR CARS IS A BAD FINANCIAL INVESTMENT. THAT'S TEMPORARY, SOUNDS GOOD, BUT THIS IS OUR LONG-TERM PLAN AND WE ARE THROWING MONEY OUT OF THE WATER DASH OR WHATEVER. OUT THE WINDOW. THAT IS INEXPENSIVE I THINK IS NOT WELL THOUGHT THROUGH, EVEN ON A POLICE LEVEL. THANK YOU.

>> STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. I WILL ASK FOR EMOTION AND A SECOND FROM

COUNSEL. >> ROBERT, DO YOU HAVE ALL OF THE CLEAR DIRECTION THAT YOU NEED?

>> I DO. I CAN SUMMARIZE WHAT I BELIEVE I HAVE HEARD IS CASH FUND $3 BILLION FOR A LIBRARY. CASHMAN, $150,000 GOING THROUGH MOTION. CASH FUND OFFSET THE BALANCE AND REDUCTION IN THE REBUILD AVI PROGRAM AND IT'S ABOUT $280,000. I DO NOT DO PICKET BALL AT ALL. STABILITY PLAY WILL BE FUNDED AT SCENARIO NUMBER ONE. WE ADD BACK THE FIVE POLICE OFFICERS. I DON'T KNOW WHY I KEEP WANTING TO GIVE YOU MORE OFFICERS, BUT I DO.

THE FIVE POLICE OFFICERS AND FIND WITH DEBT, THE TXDOT LAMP, THE MICROWAVE AND IF SALES TAX DOESN'T MATERIALIZE, THE FIRE STATION IMPROVEMENTS. I WILL ADD , IF I MAY, JUST ON THE

[02:40:04]

THAT'S THE REASON WHY IT WASN'T IN THERE. IT DIDN'T HAVE THE DATA. IT'S NOT THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT, IT'S JUST THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A NUMBER AND I DO HAVE A NUMBER NOW IN THE CHIEF USE THE WORD CATASTROPHIC AND I THINK THAT ADDS MORE TOSS TO IT THAN I THINK IT REALLY IS, BUT IT DOES NEED TO GET DONE. SO I APPRECIATE COUNSEL'S INDULGENT ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS AND SOMETIMES TIMING IS IMPERFECT.

I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION, TAMMY.

>> DOES THAT CLARIFY ? I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

>> SO MOVED. >> I HAVE A MOTION.

>> SECOND. >> I FOR THE DISCUSSION AND WE

ARE READY TO VOTE. >> FOR THE MINUTES, IF YOU WILL NOTE MY INTENTIONS ON THE SELF-ASSURANCE FIND A GRANT

[5. Ordinance (Consider on First Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Setting the Tax Levy]

PROJECT. >> ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES.

>> COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER ON THE FIRST READING, THE ORDINANCE SETTING THE TAX LEVY. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. ROBERT, CAN WE CLARIFY WHAT IT IS?

>> YES, SIR. LET ME GET MY SITE HERE.

>> 7360. >> IT'S A TOTAL RATE AND THEN YOU HAVE A DAY'S THERE IT IS RIGHT THERE. THE .763, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GENERAL OPERATING ACCOUNT WILL GO UP .0052, SO IT WILL BE .005970 AND THEN .1160 FOR A TOTAL RATE

OF .163. >> I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A

SECOND. >> SECOND.

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE ARE READY TO VOTE.

[6. Ordinance (Consider on First Reading): Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion and Public Hearing, and Take Action on Adopting Fees and Charges for FY 2024-2025]

>> ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. >> IN ORDINANCE PROPOSED FOR 2024-2025 CHARGES. AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST? PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION IN A SECOND.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? GET READY TO VOTE.

>> ALL YESES. MOTION CARRIES. >> I DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE TODAY. I APPRECIATE THE CITIZENS WHO DO SHOW UP. I APPRECIATE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. IT'S A GREAT TIME OF YEAR FOR Y'ALL. JUST TRYING TO DO A REGULAR JOB AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. BUSINESS IS CONCLUDED, SO THERE WILL BE NO MORE BUDGET MEETINGS AND IT IS 1:07 P.M. IN THIS MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL IS

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.