Minutes  City Council - Special Session Meeting - Budget Workshop #4  CITY OF SIMONTON September3,2024  This is a true and correct copy of the Minutes of the City Council - Special Session Meeting - Budget  Workshop #4 held on September 3, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.  1. Call to Order at 6:10 p.m.  A quorum was present with the following City Council Members in attendance:  Laurie Boudreaux, Kelli Matula, Courtney Cox, Faith Haley, Justin Boudreau, and Burns Turner  City Staff present: City Secretary Nanci Mohr Public Present: Dan McJunkin 2. Invocation and Pledge  Kristi Smith (late arrival and early departure)  Mayor Boudreaux gavet thei invocation.  Mayor Boudreaux led the assembly ini the Pledge of Allegiance.  3. Public Comments  Inc accordance with Texas Open Meetings Act and Texas Government Code 551.007, City Council may not discuss or take action on any item NOT listed on the Agenda. Each member of the public  wishing to. speak must, sign-up prior to the meeting and is limitedto. 3 minutes.  There were no speakers to address the City Council. 4. New Business- - Review of 2024-2025 Proposed Budget  Mayor Boudreaux provided a detailed explanation of the financial reports illustrating the budget at $0.21,$0.24, $0.29 and $0.30, as well as thel Memorandum ofLaw as prepared by the City Attorney. Al lengthy discussion ensued: regarding revenue and expense as well as the allocation of encumbered Mayor Boudreaux stated. that she is aware that zoning is a priority. She asked City Council what monetary amount they would be willing toi remove from reserves to fund projects and stated that the Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox stated that she is willing to amend the tax rate at a later date. Mayor Boudreaux responded that she is not sure what changes will occur in the legislature Council Member Justin Boudreau stated that he is not comfortable dropping the tax rate down to $0.21 as the roads are going to be expensive, the City's contract with Twinwood Development will be due in thei future, and the uncertainty ofemergencies such as. hurricanes. He would like toi remain  expenses.  lower the tax rate, the more funds will need to be found for said projects.  regarding amending tax rates.  at a $0.30 tax rate.    Council Member Kelli Matula agreed with Council Member Justin Boudreau. She stated that lowering thet taxi rate is "setting the City up for failure," that a decision on thet tax rate cannot be based Council Member Burns Turner stated that the Council is not going to agree on a tax rate, and that they do not have to vote. Mayor Boudreaux explained that ift the council does not adopt a tax rate by September 30, the tax rate for that year is the lower oft the no-new-revenue tax rate or the tax rate adopted in the preceding year. A discussion was then held as to a super: majority carrying the vote. Council Member Faith Haley stated that she wants to belt tighten, adopt a $0.21 tax rate, use the reserves in the bank, and that the City is not going to repair sixteen (16) miles of road at one time. Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox believes that a $0.21 tax rate will work based on franchise Council Member Burns Turner stated that he would like a $0.21 tax rate. He stated the there is money in thel bank and why not spend it? Council Member Burns Turner questioned how we get Fort Bend County to perform the roadwork. Mayor Boudreaux stated that Council should pick a project and Mayor Boudreaux asked Council is there is anything else she can provide, for example, additional reports illustrating the different breakdowns. of the funds ini reserves. Council Member/Pro Tem Cox reiterated that projected income could fund future projects. Mayor Boudreaux stated that it is wiser Mayor Boudreaux asked Council ifanother budget workshop should be held on September 10, 2024. Council Member Faith Haley stated that she believes the budget is not balanced; Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox stated she prefers not to meet again ift they are: not voting. 5. The next City Council Special Session Meeting - Budget Workshop #5 is on September 16, 2024 at  on "ifs,"and that change and growth are coming sooner rather than later.  fees, CDARS interest revenue and the like.  put the money to work.  to examine future projects using actual income figures.  6:00 p.m. 6. Adjournment  Mayor Boudreaux adjourned the City Council Meeting at 7:28 p.m. without objection.  Respectfully submitted, Gawr  Slo  bauhuy  Nandi  AL  iMohr, City oecly  TE OF