[Minutes: Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion, and Take Action on Approving the Minutes from the Board Meeting Held on February 25, 2026 (Sharla Allison, Administration)]

IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE MINUTES.

RECEIVE A REPORT, HOLD A DISCUSSION AND TAKE ACTION ON IMPROVING THE MINUTES FROM THE BOARD MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 25TH. I BELIEVE EACH MEMBER HAS A COPY OF THOSE MINUTES IN THEIR PACKET THAT WAS SO THOUGHTFULLY PUT TOGETHER FOR US. DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON

THIS >> YES, MR. CHAIRMAN.

JUST A GENERAL QUESTION TO STAFF.

I NOTICE THAT THE VOTES WERE BASICALLY FOUR PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH FIVE WERE ON THE DIAS AT THE TIME OF THIS MEETING.

I'M NOT SURE WHY CAN MR. BUSH WAS LOOKED OFF ON THE VOTES.

ALL THE VOTES ARE 4-0 EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE FIVE PEOPLE

PRESENT. >> THAT'S JUST HOW I'VE ALWAYS

DONE THAT. >> ON ITEM NUMBER 4 AND ALSO ON THE LAST ITEM WHICH WAS THE JOURNT.

IF YOU COULD JUST CHANGE THE VOTE TO INCLUDE MR. PUSH BECAUSE HE WAS PRESENT AND ACTIVE. ALSO UNDER ADJOURNMENT, ONE CLERICAL ERROR. IF YOU READ THAT SENTENCE, IT SAYS THAT THE LAST ONE, BOARD MEMBER SECONDED THIS MOMENT.

I THINK THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THIS MOTION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A

MOTION SAYING THAT TISSUE. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES WITH THE REVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN VOICED.

>> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED?

[BIM26-04 - Informational Memorandum: Review of NG911/ESINet Project Progress - Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion, and Acknowledge Overview of NG911/ESINet Project Progress (Sharla Allison, Administration)]

MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. ALL RIGHT.

THE NEXT THING OURN AGENDA, BIM26-04, INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM. THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE NG911 PROGRESS AND WE'LL RECEIVE A REPORT, AND ACKNOWLEDGE OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT AND SHARLA ALISON IS GOING TO HELP US WITH THAT.

>> YES, WE ARE FULLY TRANSITIONED.

TAYLOR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS ON APRIL THE 22ND AND ABILENE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ON JUNE THE 1ST.

AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY IN A TESTING AND A VERIFICATION PERIOD WHICH IS WHERE THEY'RE TESTING ROUTING.

I'VE HAD TO GO OUT TO THE COUNTY INTO THE CITY AND WITH CONSISTENTER PHONES, AT & T ANDER IS VIESON, AND MAKE TEXT CALLS TO MAKE SURE ALL VIABLE INFORMATION WAS COMING IN AND IT WAS REGISTERING CORRECTLY. THEN STEVE WAS ACTUALLY THERE.

REALLY IT WASN'T THAT BAD, WAS IT THEY WEREN'T DOWN AT ALL.

THERE WAS NO DOWN TIME. IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE PROBABLY. IT'S BEEN UP AND GOOD FOR A

WHILE. >> FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE RECORDING, DO YOU MIND SPEAKING INTO THE MICROPHONE?

THAT ONE'S YOURS. >> SHE FAVE ME A SEPARATE ONE OVER THERE. OKAY.

ONCE VERIFICATION IS COMPLETE, WE CAN BEGIN THE DISCONNECTION OF THE LEGACY SERVICES SO I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY -- WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE OF THE SERVICES DISCONNECTED.

DURING THE SOAK PERIOD THEY DO NOT REMEDIES CONNECTING ANY SERVICES JUST YET. WE ARE PAYING DUPLICATED SERVICES. I SAY BY THE END OF THE YEAR, LEGACY SERVICES WILL BE COMPLETELY REMOVED.

IT WILL BE PRIOR TO THAT, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE THE EXTENSION THAT ALL BILLING HAD BEEN COMPLETELY REMOVED AND WE HAVE AN ACTUAL -- WE CAN ACTUALLY GET A TRUE EXPENSE ANALYSIS AND SEE

[00:05:06]

EXACTLY WHAT THE SAVINGS ARE FROM JUST HAVING THE LEGACY --

THE COPPER SERVICES REMOVED. >> QUESTIONS FOR MS. ALISON? ALL RIGHT. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WITH A VOTE.

>> NO. IT'S JUST INFORMATIONAL.

>> YOU TAKE IT FROM THE CHAIR THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS UPDATE.

[BIM26-05 – Informational Memorandum: Review and Discussion of Board Vacancies of VFD Representative and Municipal Representative]

ALL RIGHT. BIM-26-05, INFORMATION ON MEMORANDUM. WE HAVE SOME BOARD VACANCIES.

AS YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU WORK FOR THE CITY, THAT VINCENT, TOMORROW IS HIS LAST DAY. WE'RE ALL GOING TO MISS HIM.

HEATS GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

HE'S MOVING ONTO BERNIE. YOU KNOW YOU SPELL THAT WEIRD.

>> I DO. >> BORNE, I THINK.

>> I LEARNED THAT RIGHT BEFORE THE INTERVIEW.

>> AND WE JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK VINCENT

FOR HIS -- >> MANY YEARS OF SERVICE.

>> I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOU ALL. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

WELL DONE.

>> IS I'VE BEEN HERE LONGER THAN YOU.

TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BOARD MEMBER PHILIP KING SERVED IN THE SEAT DESIGNATED FOR JOINT DEPLOYMENT BY THE DISTRICT'S VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, PHILIP PASSED WAY IN LATE JUNE, CREATED A VACANCY IN THIS SEAT. OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH HIS FAMILY.

HISTORICALLY, THIS SEAT HAS BEEN FILLED THROUGH INFORMAL APPOINTMENT BY A SINGLE FIRE DEPARTMENT RATHER THAN A JOINT IS WITHIN THE FIFTEEN FIREFIGHTERS AS THE STATUTE CONTEMPLATES. THE TAYLOR COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL POSITION DESIGNATED COORDINATING ROLE FOR THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS IS CURRENTLY VACANT WITH NO SUCCESSOR APPOINTED.

SO I DID TALK GARRY YOUNG, WHO IS VOLUNTEER VERY INVOLVED WITH THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND HE GAVE ME A NAME AND I THINK THAT NAME HAS MADE CONTACT WITH SHARLA AND SHE'S GOING TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT REQUIRES FOR WHATEVER NEEDS TO

HAPPEN WITH THAT, CORRECT? >> YES.

I HAVE SPOKE WITH OTHER COMMUNICATION DISTRICTS WITHIN THE TEXAS 9-1-1 ALLIANCE AND THEY DO NOT HAVE FIRE MARSHALS APPOINTED AND SO THEY HAVE THEIR RURAL FIRE ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE, WHICHEVER THEY CALL IT, COORDINATE THE WHOLE PROCESS FOR IT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.

WE DON'T DO ANY PART OF IT. THE CITY OR THE COUNTY OR L ADMINISTRATION. THEY WILL MAKE IT A FORMAL PROCESS AND GET IT IN WRITING AND AS LONG AS I CAN VERIFY IT CAME FROM A MAJORITIED OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE WITHIN THAT ASSOCIATION -- CALLED COMMITTEE. THEN WE CAN JUST MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT AND BY THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE HIM

AND HAVE HIM SWORN IN. >> THAT PROCESS IS IN PROGRESS?

>> YES. >> ALL RIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS ON ANYTHING WE JUST TALKED ABOUT?

>> FOR VINCENT'S VACANCY, THAT WILL ACTUALLY GO THROUGH CITY COUNCIL AND THEY'RE ALREADY, I GUESS, IN THE PROCESS OF APPOINTMENT AND THEY'LL NOTIFY ME AS WELL AND THEN HOPEFULLY AT THE NEXT MEETING, WE CAN ALSO HAVE THAT ONE THIS MORNING AS WELL. SO WE SHOULD HAVE HOPEFULLY BOTH

OF THEM. >> ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THIS. THE NEXT ONE IS BR261 RESOLUTION 20, PHYSICAL YEAR 2027 PROPOSED BUDGET.

SO WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE A REPORT, HOLD A DISCUSSION, TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE THE FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET CONTINGENT UPON FORMAL APPROVAL OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BY COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND CITY COUNCIL.

TROY SWANSON. >> IF I MAY, MAY I SUGGEST THAT

[00:10:01]

WE GO TO THE NEXT ITEM FIRST BECAUSE WHATEVER DECISION IS MADE IN THERE WILL THE DIRECT IMPACT UP ON THE BUDGET AND I HATE TO HAVE TO COME BACK AND APPROVE THE BUDGET, MAKE A CHANGE AND HAVE TO GO BACK AND AMEND IT.

[BR26-02 - Resolution: FY2027 Proposed Rate Reduction - Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion, and Take Action to Approve the new District Rates (Troy Swanson, Administration)]

AT THE REQUEST OF MR. RICE, WE'LL GO BR26-02, PROPOSED RATE REDUCTION. AND I THINK MR. SWANSON IS ALSO GOING TO BE IN THAT. SO DO THE RATE REDUCTION TALK

FIRST. >> THAT'S THE MAJOR SHIFT THERE.

[*A portion of this meeting has no audio*]

IT'S WORTH NOTING UP ABOVE IN THE GREEN BAND WE CONTINUE TO AUGMENT THE GIS SERVICES THAT SERVES THE 9-1-1 DISTRICT THROUGH OUTSIDE RESOURCES, THAT'S CURRENTLY FORECASTED AT $430 THU. THAT'S HIGHER THAN WE HAVE

[00:15:02]

BEFORE. WE HAVE A LOT OF CLEANUP TO DO WITH REGARD TO THE DATA AND ADDRESSING ACROSS THE ENTIRE TAYLOR COUNTY LANDSCAPE. SO THOSE REPRESENT THE FORECASTED OF THE EZENET ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S RELATIVELY NET NEUTRAL. YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES THROUGH THIS FORECASTED BUDGET, THIS IS THE OTHER COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM, IS APPROXIMATELY ALMOST $3 MILLION THERE. 2.961.

THE TWO ROWS BELOW THAT, THE REVENUE TOTALS, IS A RESULT OF THE REVENUE ESTIMATES AND IF YOU COULD SCROLL UP A BIT, IT WAS WORTH NOTING UP ABOVE IN THE REVENUE.

WIRELESS WAS ORIGINALLY BUDGETED FOR THE LAST HANDFUL OF YEARS AT 1.1 MILLION. WE'RE COMING IN RIGHT NEAR 900,000 ON WIRELESS TODAY. SO THAT'S ABOUT A $200,000 REDUCTION IN WIRELESS REVENUE THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING IN THIS MODEL. WE HAVE BEEN AS HIGH IN THE LAST HANDFUL OF YEARS AS 2.2 MILLION IN OUR WIRE LINE REVENUE.

IT BRINGS IT DOWN TO 800,000. OUR INTEREST REMAINS ABOUT 165.

THAT'S REALLY CLOSE TO THE ACTUALS.

WE SCROLL BACK DOWN BELOW AND WE CAN SHOW THE IMPACT OF REVENUE AGAINST EXPENSES. REVENUE IS 1.8, 1.9 MILLION FORECASTED THROUGH THIS EXPENSE MODEL AND THE REDUCTION OF DISPATCH ALLOCATIONS BEFORE BRING DOWN EXPENSES TO 2.9, ALMOST 3 MILLION. THAT WOULD REQUIRE A DISBURSEMENT OF FUND BALANCE OR DIPPING INTO THE FUND BALANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 1.1 MILLION AND RIGHT NOW, BELOW, YOU CAN SEE OUR FORECAST FUND BALANCE FOR THE BEGINNING OF FISCAL YEAR '27 WHICH WOULD BE OCTOBER 1ST IS ABOUT 3.9 MILLION AND THAT REDUCTION BY 1.1 MILLION BRINGS US DOWN TO THAT 2.8 NUMBER.

THE NEXT TAB ON OUR SPREADSHEET IS THE PIECE OF PAPER.

I'LL HEAVY REFERENCE THAT IN A SECOND.

THAT PROPOSED BUDGET THERE 2Z THE DOCUMENT THAT WE USE TO PROPOSE THIS RESOLUTION AND ADOPT A BUDGET.

WE'LL GET BACK TO THAT ON THE OTHER AGENDA ITEM.

THE NEXT TAB OVER STARTS SHOWING THE EXTENSION OF THAT $1 AND $3 RATE CHANGE AND THE NEXT TAB FISCAL YEAR '28, SO BEYOND THE NEXT GUESS TALL YEAR, INTO THE FOLLOWING YEAR, HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN SEE ADDITIONAL EFFECT OF THAT REVENUE COMING DOWN TO 433,000. THAT'S BECAUSE WE'VE FOR THE A FULL YEAR THERE AND YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THE DIMINISHING OF THOSE LINE COUNTS AGAIN IN THE WIRE LINE COUNT.

YOU CAN SEE THE CONTINUED EXPENSE IN THE GREEN AND DOWN BELOW WE'VE REDUCED NOW THAT DISPATCH ALLOCATION BY TWO-THIRDS SO THERE'S ONLY ONE-THIRD REMAINING OF THAT ALLOCATION THERE. AND OUR TOTAL EXPENSE -- TOTAL REVENUE BECOMES UP ABOVE THAT 1.5 MILLION AND EXPENSE TOTAL OF ABOUT 2.2. THAT AGAIN FURTHER REDUCES THE FUND BALANCE BY ABOUT 724,000. IF YOU SCROLL DOWN MORE, WE CAN SEE THAT PREVIOUS SLIDE OF 2.8 MILLION THEN GETS REDUCED DOWN TO 2.1. WE, AT THAT POINT, ARE STARTING TO REACH AN OPTIMAL POINT FOR THE CURRENT FUND BALANCE PLANNING AND IF I WAS US A LITTLE BIT MORE OPTIONS IN THE FUTURE, ALTERNATIVES IN THE FUTURE, TO CONSIDER THAT FUND BALANCE OF 2.1 VERSUS THE IN EXCESS OF 4 MILLION THAT WE HAVE TODAY. IF WE GO TO THE NEXT TAB ON FISCAL YEAR '29, WE CAN CONTINUE THIS MODEL ON AND CONTINUING THAT $1 AND $3 RATE AT THE TOP THERE, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'RE STARTING TO PLATEAU OUT ON OUR REVENUE ON WIRE LINE AT $432.

THE OTHER TWO NUMBERS HAVE STAYED THE SAME IN OUR FORECAST.

AND WE SCROLLED TOWN. YOU CAN SEE IN THIS YEAR, WE HAVE FINALLY ZEROED OUT THAT ALLOCATION TO DISPATCH.

THIS IS WHERE WE START TO HIT A STABILIZATION POINT THAT'S IDEAL WHERE THE RATES MATCH EXPENSES AND YOU CAN SEE WE'RE ABOUT 1.5 IN REVENUE AND ABOUT 1.5 IN EXPENSES.

RELATIVELY NET NEUTRAL SPEND AND REVENUE BOTTLE AND YOU CAN SEE WE'VE NOW STABILIZED THAT FUND BALANCE AT ABOUT 2.1 MILLION.

AND GUESS CAL YEAR 30, A VERY SIMILAR STORY THAT STABILIZATION CONTINUES AND WE JUST SCROLL DOWN QUICKLY TO REVIEW AND WE HAVE 1.5 IN REVENUE. WE HAVE ZEROED OUT THE DISPATCH

[00:20:01]

ALLOCATIONS AND OUR IMPACT TO THE FUND BALANCE IS ABOUT THE SAME AS THE PRIOR YEAR. NOW, I WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN THE EXPENSES WE'LL LIKELY SEE FLUCTUATIONS DUE TO INFLATION OR OTHERWISE AND THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT POSSIBLY COULD BE HAPPENING TO THE WIRELESS REVENUE, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THAT MANY YEARS OUT, I WOULD PROPOSE WE HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN NOW AND THEN TO ADJUST AND OVERCOME MANY DIFFERENCES AND THE NUMBERS IN FEETER FORECAST THAT WE FINANCIALLY EXPERIENCE IN THAT PERIOD.

IF WE SCROLL BACK TO THE FISCAL YEAR '27, RIGHT THERE.

THAT PROPOSED BUDGET SO HERE'S WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RATE CHANGE. I SEE AN ANOMALY IN OUR RESOLUTION PACKAGE. WE ARE PROPOSING IN THIS MATHEMATICAL MODEL THAT THAT RATE CHANGE OCCUR IN JANUARY, BUT I BELIEVE THE RESOLUTION SAYS OCTOBER.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO -- WE WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO MAKE THAT JANUARY TO MAKE OR MODEL WORK.

BUT THIS HERE IS A SUSTAINABLE ONE-TIME RATE CHANGE THAT WE BELIEVE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS AT THE VERY LEAST WOULD BRING US TO A MUCH BETTER OR OPTIMAL FUND BALANCE AS WELL AS PROVIDE A $1 AND A $3 BUSINESS RATE THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW.

AND IN THIS FIRST YEAR, WE WILL SEE APPROXIMATELY 1.1 MILLION DOLLAR REDUCTION IN THE FUND BALANCE BUT SITTING AT 4 MILLION, I BELIEVE THAT'S VERY EASILY ACHIEVED.

SO IF WE SKIP ONE TAB FORWARD TO THE PROPOSED SUBMITTAL, THAT IS SUBMITTAL BEFORE YOU. HERE WE'RE TRYING TO RECOGNIZE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THIS TRANSITIONS IN THE TOP WE'RELESS THERE. YOU CAN SEE WE WERE AT 1.1 MILLION, EVEN BACK IN '25, WE REALIZED ONLY 881,000 IN WIRELESS REVENUE. WE'RE ON TARGET FOR SOMETHING SIMILAR. WE'RE PROPOSING 900,000 BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME SLIDE UPWARD IN THAT JUST BECAUSE OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE COUNTY.

WIRE LINE, YOU CAN SEE, WE WERE, THROUGH OUR HIGH RATES, BRINGING IN 2.244 MILLION IN '25 AND WE'RE SOMEWHERE OVER 2.1 MILLION IN '26 PROJECTED, BUT THROUGH THE RATE MODEL AND THE FIRST THREE MONTHS BEING ON THE OLD RATES AND JANUARY CUTOVER TO THE $1 AND $3 RATE, WE WOULD BE FORECASTING APPROXIMATELY $800,000 IN REVENUE. THE REST OF IS THESE LINE ITEMS ARE MORE OR LESS STATIC AND FORECASTED TO HAVE THREE-YEAR AND FIVE-YEAR CONTRACTS EXPENSES BEHIND THAT.

I WOULD PROPOSE THE $1 AND $3 BUSINESS RATE ARE VERY REASONABLE. THEY COME OUT MATHEMATICALLY, AND THEY WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT THEY THINK THE GREATER COMMUNITY WOULD ENJOY BRINGING THOSE RATES DOWN.

ANY QUESTIONS? >> TELL ME ABOUT THE VISITS WITH THE CITY OF ABILENE POWERS THAT BE AND THE COUNTY POWERS THAT BE. WHAT WE DID IS WE BROUGHT THE JUDGE AND EMILY, THE CITY MANAGER, TOGETHER, AND WE HAD A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION AND THROUGH THAT DISCUSSION, WHAT WE BASICALLY SETTLED ON WAS THAT A THIRD REDUCTION BY BOTH AGENCIES WOULD APPEAR APPROPRIATE AND SO WE WORKED THE MODEL TO THAT END.

WE HAD OTHER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT DIFFERENT TIMING, DIFFERENT PACE AND GO LEAVING SOME DISPATCH ALLOCATION BUT THE SENTIMENT AT THE TIME WAS IS THAT REDUCE IT BY A THIRD U .

>> ALYSE: >> I DID THAT IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS SPECIFICALLY THE JUDGE SAID ONE-HALF IS TOO MUCH.

AND HE WAS PUSHING FOR A THREE-YEAR DRAW-DOWN SO TO SPEAK

AS OPPOSED TO TWO YEARS. >> YEAH.

I USE THE WORD "OPTIMAL." BASICALLY WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS INCLUDING CURVES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IN THE SEND, SIMPLE THREE-PERIOD PERIOD AND THE LAST THREE YEARS APPEAR TO BE AGREEABLE AND OPTIMAL FOR BOTH AGENCIES.

>> YOU HEARD ABOUT THE OKAY. SO HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS I'VE GOT FOR YOU, TROY. YOU'VE ALREADY ALLUDED TO THAT WE'RE LOSING ACCOUNTS THAT ARE PAYING THIS FEE, CORRECT, WHETHER IT'S WIRELESS OR WHETHER IT'S WIRE LINE.

[00:25:01]

SO THE NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS CONCERNS ME.

I THINK THE SECOND THING IS ALTHOUGH I AM STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF REDUCING THE RATES ON THE COMMERCIAL RATE GOING FROM 16 ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 3, I DON'T SEE A REVENUE DROPPING 80%.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR YOUR COMMERCIALS.

I'M CONCERNED THAT'S TOO AGGRESSIVE FOR THE FIRST YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE PLANNING TO USE FUND BALANCE TO BALANCE THE

BUDGET FOR '27, CORRECT? >> CORRECT.

>> SO IF WE USE A MILLION DOLLARS ROUGHLY TO BALANCE A BUDGET FOR '27, YOU ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF HUNDRED THOUSAND TO

BALANCE IN '28? >> IF WE SKIP BACK TO FISCAL YEAR '27 ON THE BOTTOM, WE SEE THAT LONG LINES OF WHETHER A YOU'RE PROPOSING IS IN THE FIRST YEAR WHERE WE START IN JANUARY OF '27. WE'RE FORECASTING REVENUE TO ONLY COME IN AT 1.8 MILLION. IT WAS POTENTIALLY HIGHER THAN THAT IN PREVIOUS YEARS. AUTO ABOUT 2.1 MILLION.

AND THEN OUR EXPENSES HAVE COME TOWN.

THEY WERE NORMALLY UP WELL ABOVE 3 MILLION.

SO THE ABILITY TO ACHIEVE THAT REDUCTION THERE IS BASED ON THE DISPATCH ALLOCATION REDUCTION BUT AS YOU'VE NOTED, WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THAT AMOUNT. SUBSEQUENTED YEARS, THE CONTINUED REDUCTION OF THE DISPATCH ALLOCATION STARTS TO COVER THAT REDUCTION IN RATES AND THE REVENUE THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THAT SO WE ACTUALLY PAGE FORWARD TO FISCAL YEAR '28. IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT THE REDUCTION IN THIS YEAR'S ONLY 724,000 WITH THOSE SAME $1 AND $3 RATES. AND WHAT IT IS IS THE RYAN LINE COUNT STAYING RELATIVELY STABLE ABOVE AND WE'RE AT 1.5 MILLION THERE IN REVENUE INSTEAD OF 1.8 SOMETHING.

SO WE'VE LOST ABOUT ANOTHER -- BECAUSE OF THE FULL TWELVE MONTHS AND THE CONTINUED CHANGES IN VOIN AND BUSINESS REIMBURSEMENT, WE'RE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT 1.5 MILLION SO IN REVENUE. AND HERE YOU CAN SEE OUR EXPENSES ARE FULLY REDUCED AND THE PREVIOUS SLIDE IS WORTH NOTING IT WAS ABOUT 2.8, ALMOST 2.9.

THE DISPATCH ALLOCATION IS FURTHER REDUCED BY ANOTHER APPROXIMATELY 700 AND SOME THOUSAND DOWN NO THAT 2.2 NUMBER THERE. SO THAT'S WHY IT STARTS TO PLANS OUT. IT'S A RELATIVELY COMPLEX MATHEMATICAL MODEL BUT HERE'S WHERE WE START TO ACHIEVE THAT 2.1 WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER KIND OF A NEW OPTIMAL FOR THE TIME BEING FUND BALANCE. IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WE'RE STARTING TO COMPARE REVENUE VERSUS EXPENSES ALONG -- THAT'S STABILIZED A REVENUE AT ABOUT 1.5 MILLION AND NOW OUR EXPENSES THROUGH THAT FURTHER REDUCTION AND DISPENSE ALLOCATION HAS COUPLE DOWN TO ACTUALLY MATCH THAT APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILLION AND HERE'S WHERE IT BECOMES NET NEUTRAL.

APPROXIMATELY THE SAME CURVE AND THE TIME SAME TIMELINE, SAME STABILIZATION OCCURS. IT WOULD COME DOWN TO THE BOARD CHOOSING AT WHICH LEVEL THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS THAT STABILIZATION OF THE FUND

BALANCE HAD. >> I FOLLOW THE MATH.

MY CONCERN IS THE NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS SEEMS TO BE DECLINING IN ALL YOUR ASSUMPTIONS ARE BASED UPON THE ACCOUNT

STATEMENTS. >> YEAH.

THAT'S WORTH NOTING AS WELL ON THE WIRELESS, WE'RE DEFINITELY SEEING A REDUCTION IN WIRELESS REIMBURSEMENT AND HOW THAT WORKS IS THE STATE OF TEXAS IS THE ONE THAT'S ACTUALLY COLLECTING THAT TAX AND THEY ACTUALLY ALLOCATE THAT ON A PRORATED MODEL AND PRORATED BASIS. THE TYPES OF FOLKS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH ON WIRELESS ET CETERA AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS OUR PROPORTION OF THAT DISBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS IS REDUCING AND IT'S LIKELY DUE TO THE RATIOS AND THOSE MATHEMATICAL MODELS TO THE LARGEER COMMUNITIES.

SO LARGER COMMUNITIES, IF THEY START GROWING MORE AGGRESSIVELY THAN OURS, WE START LOSING ON THAT PROPORTION OF REIMBURSEMENT ON WIRELESS SO THAT'S WHAT'S OCCURRING THERE.

ON THE WIRE LINE, WE ARE SEEING A DIMINISHING OF THAT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE DETERMINED IN THE MODEL WAS IS THAT OVER THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS, THAT'S ACTUALLY STABILIZED AND

[00:30:02]

PLATEAUED OUT TO THE POINT WHERE THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS ACTUALLY HAVE A VERY CLEAR AVERAGE OF LINE COUNT AND SO THAT'S BEEN A PROPOSED HYPOTHESIS IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE A DRAMATIC REDUCTION IN LINE COUNT BUT IT'S ACTUALLY SLOWED AND IS CURRENTLY SUPPORTING ON OUR CURRENT RATES ABOUT 160,000 IN REVENUE ON AVERAGE PER MONTH. THE VARIATION AMONGST THOSE TWELVE MONTHS IS ONLY PLUS OR MINUS ABOUT 3 TO 5,000 DOLLARS.

SO IT'S 165 AT A HIGH POINT AND MIGHT BE AT 155 AT A LOW POINT.

SO IT FLUCTUATES. IT DOES GO UP AND DOWN, BUT IT HAS ACTUALLY STARTEDED TO DIMINISH IN ITS CURVE.

MATHEMATICALLY, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IS THAT IT WAS KIND OF EXPONENTIAL AT FIRST AND WE SAW VERY LARGE DECLINE OVER A QUICK AMOUNT OF TIME AND THEN WHAT IT'S DONE IS SLOWED HERE RECENTLY. OVER THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS.

AND THE MODEL HELPS US PREDICT THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT. SO THE NUMBER ONE -- $1 AND $3, THAT WAS PUT IN THERE TO ACHIEVE THE TWO MILLION WHATEVER --

>> 2.1 MILLION APPROXIMATELY. >> WHERE ARE WE GOING TO STAND IN THE STATE WITH THOSE NUMBERS COMPARED TO WHERE WE WERE?

>> SHARLA'S ENTERTAINED THE SURVEYS MORE THAN I.

THERE'S A REALLY GOOD PLACEMENT IN OUR FUTURE IN THAT.

>> YES. IT PUTS US IN ABOUT THE MIDDLE LOWER PART OF THE MIDDLE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE TECHNICALLY, WE'VE BEEN THE TOP 1%. BECAUSE THE NEXT CLOSEST BUSINESS RATE IS $4.47. WAS THE NEXT HIGHEST? HOWEVER, THERE'S ONLY TWO THAT ARE AROUND THAT AND THEN THE REST OF THEM -- THAT'S ESTIMATING ON THE 28ECDS THAT ARE IN TEXAS. WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN THE TOP 1%.

NOW WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE AND A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN SOME BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME THAT ARE -- ANY BIGGER POPULATIONS, I DON'T COUNT ON ANY OF MY ANALYSIS BECAUSE THEY DON'T -- THEY HAVE MILLIONS COMPARED TO OUR -- SO I DO IT WITHIN OUR RANGE AND THERE'S ONLY ABOUT EIGHT IN TEXAS THAT WE COULD VARY ABOUT WITH THE SAME POPULATION PER CAPITA.

PER CAPITA, IF YOU AVERAGED OUT OUR $16, THE CITIZENS WERE PAYING AROUND ABOUT -- LIKE, ALL CITIZENS, IT'S ABOUT $14.50 WE'RE RIGHT ON CUE NOW IN THE LOWER PART OF THE PACK.

>> HAVE WE GOT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BUCK 50?

>> WE DON'T GET MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT RESIDENTIAL.

1.85. THERE IS A FEW THAT ARE WITHIN THE $1 RANGE ON THE RESIDENTIAL STILL HIGHER SIDE OF IT BUT WE DON'T GET MUCH FROM THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE.

>> WHERE IT'S 16 NOW IN THE BUSINESS.

>> CORRECT. >> SO IF WE CUT TO FIVE AND LEAVE THE 1.50 ALONE, IT WILL GIVE US MORE TIME TO SEE THE

EXPENSES AS WE MOVE FORWARD? >> THAT WOULD BE CORRECT.

WE WOULD BE MORE CONSERVATIVE IN OUR REDUCTION OF FUND BALANCE.

>> WHAT'S THE ISSUE WITH THAT? THEY JUST MESS UP YOUR FORMULA?

>> NO, THE MODEL WOULD HELP US SUPPORT THAT AND THE CURRENT RATE IS ACTUALLY $1.85. SO WE COULD REDUCE TO $1.50 AND THEN YOUR PROPOSED $5 FOR BUSINESS AND IT WOULD BE REALLY EASY TO RUN THOSE NUMBERS AND REDO THE SPREAD SHEETS.

>> DO YOU RECKON WE WOULD GET A BUNCH OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE $5? I KNOW WE'VE GOT COMPLAINTS ON

$16. >> RIGHT.

I THINK YOU GET SUB $10 AND OUR COMPLAINTS WOULD START CRYING

UP. >> THE BENEFIT OF THIS YEAR TAKEN THE BIGGEST RATE REDUCTION WOULD BE BECAUSE THE GRANTS WERE IN PLACE AND THEREFORE MANY OF THE ESINET WAS WE INCLUDED THE ANNUAL PAYMENT. THEY DON'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL NEXT MARCH. WE'RE NOT PAYING DUPLICATE SERVICES, ONLY THE GRANT FUNDING.

WE'VE BEEN VOID AND WE'RE SET UP FOR AN ANNUAL PAYMENT.

>> LET ME UNDERSTAND THIS. SO THE RATES WE SET AFFECTS OUR

GRANT. >> WHAT SHE'S ALLUDING TO IS THAT YOUR PROPOSAL AT A MORE CONSERVATIVE REDUCTION WOULD

[00:35:03]

HELP US STABILIZE OUR OWN EXPENSES AND AS THEY COME INTO ACTUAL REALITY PASSED PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION, AND THEY ACTUALLY START BECOMING A KNOWN QUANTITY YEAR TO YEAR, A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH AND REDUCTION OF THE RATES WOULD ALLOW US TO DETERMINE HOW THAT AFFECTS THE MODEL AND HOW WE

AFFECT OUR REVENUE AND EXPENSES. >> I UNDERSTAND.

WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU SAID BECAUSE OF THE GRANTS, WE DON'T HAVE AS MANY BILLS. IS BASICALLY WHAT YOU SAID,

RIGHT? >> BECAUSE WE PAID UP FOR A

YEAR. >> THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTIONS.

>> THE ADMINISTRATION SERVICES WEREN'T ADJUSTED FOR FOUR YEARS FROM '26 TO '30 AS THERE WILL BE SOME --

>> THE NUMBER YOU SAW THERE ON MANY OF THOSE SITES IS 200,000.

AND THAT COVERS OUR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS INSIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE 9-1-1 DISTRICT, PREDOMINANTLY MY TIME AND SHARLA AND 9-1-1 COORDINATOR.

>> WE DON'T PAY FOR EMPTY POSITIONS?

>> WE DON'T PAY FOR LABOR DIRECTLY IS THE RIGHT STATEMENT THERE. WE ACTUALLY GIVE A LABOR

ALLOCATION -- >> I'LL GIVE YOU MORE TO THIS WHEN WE GET TO THE BUDGET. BUT LET'S STAY ON THESE RATES.

WHAT'S THE -- WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK ABOUT THESE RATES?

>> MY PERSONAL THOUGHT SINK THIS IS A LITTLE TOO AGGRESSIVE.

WE ARE BASICALLY REDUCING THE REIMBURSEMENT TO THE COUNTY AND TO THE CITY BY ONE-THIRD. BUT YOU'RE DOING AN 80% REDUCTION IN THE BUSINESS AND A 46% REDUCTION IN THE RESIDENTIAL -- I FULLY SUPPORT A REDUCTION. I JUST THINK IT'S A LITTLE TOO MUCH SPECIFICALLY ON THE COMMERCIAL PIECE.

NOW, WHERE WE LAND, I AM SURELY OPEN TO WHATEVER THE BOARD

DESIRES. >> I AGREE WITH MAYBE NOT REDUCING THEM SO MUCH SO THAT WE PUT OUR ASSISTS -- POTENTIALLY IN A BIND BY 2028 OR 2029. SO -- I THINK, LIKE, THE CHAIRMAN SAID, WHEN WE'RE COMING FROM 16, NOBODY'S GOING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT MUCH OF A REDUCTION PROBABLY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO WHAT YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT, TO THE LOWEST IN THE STATE IF WE POSSIBLY CAN.

>> MY ONLY CONCERN IS I DON'T WANT TO GET CALLED NEXT YEAR AND SAY WE GOT A CRISIS. WE USED TO HAVE TEN -- ALMOST $10 MILLION BUDGET THAT WAS GREAT IN THE 9-1-1 BOARD.

WE HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL. I MEAN, I THINK A DOLLAR-50 AND $5 IS A BIG CUT FOR THIS YEAR IN MY OPINION.

>> I WOULD SUPPORT A CUT IN 50% ON THE COMMERCIAL GOING FROM 16 TO 8. AND THAT'S A PRETTY BIG CUT.

AND THEN I FULLY SUPPORT THE $1.50 FOR THE RESIDENTIAL.

I JUST I'M A LITTLE CONSERVATIVE BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN DECLINING

NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS. >> I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUOUS TREND, THE MODEL IS YEARS AGO.

TO BREAK THIS DOWN AND SLOWLY REIMBURSEMENT.

AND THEN ALSO WE FOUND THE MODEL WAS NOT EXACTLY CORRECT.

AND IF WE ARE OVERCONSERVATIVE, WE CAN DO A HUGE CUT NEXT YEAR.

I THINK IT'S WISE TO GO SLOW AND NOT HAVE TO GO BACK AND POTENTIALLY RAISE YET, THE RATE'S HERE BECAUSE WE'RE

$200,000 SHORT. >> PART OF THE REASONING FOR THE SHARP REDUCTION IN COSTS FOR THE BUSINESS LINES HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ASSUMING THAT BUSINESSES WOULD WANT TO KEEP THEIR LINES?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, YES.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF INPUT ON THE BUSINESS LINE RATES AND IN MANY CASES, THE DEFENDERS ARE REPRESENTING THEMSELVES IS STARTING TO BECOME NOT COMPETITIVE AND THEY'RE LOSING CUSTOMER BASED ON THE 9-1-1 TAX. IT'S A SIGN TO ASSIGNED TO EACH OF THOSE ACCOUNTS. THE VENDORS HAVE BASICALLY ALLEGED IT IS HARMING THEIR BUSINESS MODEL AND THEY LOSE CUSTOMERS AS A RESULT. THE REDUCTION LINE IS IN PART

[00:40:01]

BECAUSE OF THE HIGH TAX. SO THE OTHER POINT THAT ADDRESSED THE DISCUSSION IS THIS BEING KIND OF AGGRESSIVE AIMING AT A 2.1 FUND BALANCE TARGET. ANYTHING THAT IS LESS THAN THIS STEEP REDUCTION, $1.50 AND $8 FOR BUSINESS.

THIS IS ONLY GOING TO -- >> ALLOW US TO NOT AFFECT THE FUND BALANCE AS MUCH. WE WILL COME OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE POSITIVE BALANCE. WE WORKED THAT MODEL AND PUT

THAT REPORT. >> THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PROPOSED ALLOW FOR A FUTURE DECISION POINT IN THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING FOR THE NEXT BUDGET TO REENTERTAIN THIS IN ANY AGREE.

IT IS A GOOD POSITION. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK THE RATES ARE SIGNIFICANT IT IS.

DUE TO OUR HIGH RATES, IT'S AFFECTED LINE COUNTS OUTSIDE OF THE VENDORS. BECAUSE OF THE RATE.

I THINK SIGNIFICANT IS THE WAY TO GO JUST FOR THE MERE FACT THAT WE CAN CREEP BACK UP AND IT'S VERY MILDLY INCREASE IT GOING FROM THREE TO EIGHT OR ELEVEN BUT WITH OUR DISTRICT BEING HISTORICALLY KNOWN FOR OUTRAGEOUS.

I MEAN, FOR THREE FISCAL YEARS AGO, WE HAD AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT. EVERYONE'S STILL -- IN THE BLINK MUCH AN EYE, WE WENT TO 1780. I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE HIT, THIS IS THE BEST YEAR FOR IT.

SOME OF THE LINE COUNTS WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE SLOWLY LOSING

BECAUSE THAT HELPS A LOT. >> THERE'S STILL A VOIP GOING TO GO. WIRE LINE IS MOVING AWAY.

HISTORIC. JUST IN GENERAL.

WITHOUT A RATE. WITHOUT ANYTHING.

HOWEVER, THEY WILL STILL BE THERE.

BUSINESSES WOULD STILL LIKE AN ACTUAL LAND MINE.

>> SO I'M ON BOARD FOR IT. I THINK IT WILL BE A NICE RELIEF FOR LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS. THAT'S MY INPUT.

>> YOU MENTIONED ANYTHING, WE PROBABLY SEE FOLKS COMPLAIN.

>> IS THAT A FEELING FOR YOU OR OPINION?

>> MOSTLY AN OPINION ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT SHARLA'S EX- EX-SPOUSING, WHEN WE TALK WITH VENDORS AND THEY VISIT ME, THEY'RE TYPICALLY SAYING ANYTHING UNDER TEN WOULD BE BETTER THAN THIS. IT'S EMOTIONAL.

IT'S A REACTION TO THE CURRENT SITUATION.

AT THE SAME TIME, NUMBERS AND MARKETING MEAN EVERYTHING GETTING DOWN TO THE SINGLE DIGITS.

AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED AROUND THE TABLE, THREE IS THE AGGRESSIVE POINT. ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT WE CAN USE AS A POINT TO ACTUALLY STILL BE RELATIVELY SAFE IN ALL OF OUR EXPENSES AND REVENUE. THAT GIVES US MORE TIME TO LOOK AT ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS IN THE FUTURE.

AND WE WOULD HAVE MORE FACTS. WIRE LINE COUNT IS DEFINITELY FOR BUSINESSES IS DEFINITELY THE BIG VARIABLE.

AND SO WE COULD LEVERAGE SOMETHING THAT IS A MORE MODERATE REDUCTION TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.

FUTURE FACTS. >> ALL RIGHT.

>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION. YOU GUYS CAN -- WE CAN TALK

ABOUT IT. >> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GO TO 650 FOR BUSINESS, MEET YOU IN THE MIDDLE, AND A BUCK-50 FOR

RESIDENTS ON OUR NEW RATES. >> I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.

>> DISCUSSION. >> DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR SAY

AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED?

[BR26-01 – Resolution: FY2027 Proposed Budget - Receive a Report, Hold a Discussion, and Take Action to Approve the FY27 Proposed Budget (contingent upon formal approval or acknowledgment by County Commissioners Court and City Council) (Troy Swanson, Administration)]

NONE OPPOSED. THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT.

LET'S GO TO OUR BUDGET. THE PROPOSED 2027 BUDGET, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON THIS BUDGET AND I DON'T WANT TO SOUND HATEFUL IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.

I JUST NEED SOME STRAIGHT ANSWERS.

ON ADMIN SERVICES, WE PAY $200,000 A YEAR, CORRECT?

[00:45:06]

>> CORRECT. >> THROUGH THE CITY OF ABILENE.

>> THE CITY OF ABILENE, CORRECT. >> NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THE CITY OF ABILENE GETS $200,000 EVERY YEAR OUT OF THE 9-1-1

BUDGET. >> CORRECT.

IT'S ENTERED INTO THE CITY'S BUDGET AND THEN IT'S MONTHLY

DISTRIBUTED. >> HOW IS THAT BROKE DOWN?

WHAT IS THAT $200,000 PAY? >> IT GOES INTO THE LABOR BUDGET FOR ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT DIVISION IN I.T.'S ALLOCATION

FOR LABOR FOR E9-1-1 SUPPORT. >> LABOR FOR 9-1-1 SUPPORT.