SKPTEMBER 19, 2024    Tax Rate Hearing  971912004  Comments  Mayor Mitchell- States that City has always chosen the no-new tax rate Mayor Mitchell- States that we can go up or stay the same  Councilman Merendino- States ift the value of the house goes up. that makes the tax rate go Councilman Merendino- States that the City can do the max amount without the citizens voting on it. States that the people he has talked to, don't want their taxes going up. Stephanie Cramer- States that ift the City decides to increase the rates this year, itisaone-time Mayor Mitchell- States that ifthe City decides to increase, it will increase everyone'st tax rate by Councilman Wright- Suggests keeping the tax rate the same. States that if the City chooses to go with the 0.130980 rate, then other things willl have to come out of the budget to even everything Mayor Mitchell- States that the state mandates that iti is an annual thing that must be done. Dru Montgomery- States that the no-new revenue would handcuff the City Councilman Merendino- States that as the vacant homes get occupied, it will bring the City Councilman Clayton- Asks Councilman Merendino to explain how not going with the no new Councilman Merendino- States that 30 years ago, the City didn't collect taxes, it ran off of the Stephanie Cramer- States that due to the inflation that the Country is experiencing, it doesn't Councilman Clayton- States that the normal generator for a City around the world is generated Charley Cramer- States that taxes, water and community development is the revenue for the City. States that it would be good if there is a way to bring a tax break to the citizens that have Stephanie Cramer- Asks how we don'tknow how many vacant houses the City has Heather Steelman- States that there has been movement on some of the vacant homes since the Mayor- States that she has been working on LOMA's for some of the vacant homes to bring Sabrenna Crain- explains that it will only move the structure into X, not the property Councilman Merendino- Makes a motion to choose the no-new revenue tax rate of 0.125141 Roger Mannette- States that we can'tcount on the vacant homes being repaired Councilman Clayton- asks what the fear is of raising the tax rate:  down.  deal. $150/year out.  Resident- Asks why the tax rate is being brought up  more revenue  revenue, what type of revenue it has brought the City in the past?  franchise fee  compare tol how it was even 5: years ago  by taxes  Cathy Crane- asks how long the City has been ina a deficit  been here for 30 +. years  City has started issuing violations. them into zone X.  Councilman Watson seconded    Mr. Godfrey- thât money isn'tspent properly  Councilman Clayton- Asks the residents to give thei new Council a chance tor make: sure that the Mr. Godfrey- asksi ift thet rate is raised, how will that affect the residents. Will they be ablet to Councilman Emmons- States that like thel budget, the tax rate isjust as guesstimate. and not on  funds are used correctly afford thei increase? actual.  mtauDesApent oft tax rate- M/M/2/C- Councilman Merendima/Comelman Watson-1 New tax rate of0.130980  Noticeofal Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF BEVIL OAKS, TEXAS  September 19,2 2024  1. Call to Order 6:30 2. Pledge of Aleglance/nyocation a. Thel United States Flag 3. Roll Call-. Alll Present  b. The' Texas state flag:' "Honor the Texas flag; Ipledge allegiance toi thee, Texas, one  state under God, one andi indivisible."  Conflict ofInterest Statement- None observea a 3-minute time limit  5. Citizen Comments (3 minutes each)- An opportunity for the citizens to address Council on agenda items or concers. not ont the agenda -1 those wishing to speak must complete the comment card, present the comment cardi tot the City Secretary prior tot the beginning oft thei meeting, and Taz- States that he would like to clear the air for the cars show, States that he did the car show for the community, not toj put money in! his pocket. States that any money that was made during the cars show, was tol be donated to the City. States that he is- -$1,200. States that he would be willing to talk to anyone that has any questions about the car show. States that hel hopes int the years to Mrs. Scroggins- States that there] has been a lot ofthings that have been done throughout the within the past few months. States that the car show and the movie thei night before was the best City event that has been done within thej past few months. States that they quit counting: attendance at 80 people for the movie. Thanks, Councilman Clayton, for the screen: for the movie. States that the movie was a $0 cost. States that they received nothing but good reports from the car show.  )  come that he willl be able to donate money tot the City  Presentation  a. Milton Bertolli/Charles. E. Reed &. Associates- 2023. Audit  States thati the audited: financial statements were applicable. States that the City has recovered nicely from the devastation that itl has experience since he started Mayor Mitchell- asks ifthel lease payment. listed int the budget is the printer?  working for the City when Hurricane Rita hit. Councilman Wright- What isz al budgetamendment  Milton Bertolio- Yes  O    O  Milton Bertolio- States that ifthere is money that needs tol bes spent unexpectedly, al budget amendment would need tol be requested. Ifthei itemi is listed int the budget, it doesn't! have tol bel brought back to the Council foravote  7. Review/Approve Consent Items-M/MI2/C- Councilman Emmons/Connclman  Merendino-. Approved- Unanimous a. Financiall Reports City of] Bevil Oaks b. Financial Report Public' Works Utility Innovations Report d. Previons Meeting Minutes e. Previonsly presented: 2023. Audit Review/Action Items  a. CasmtaossApent lof2024-2025 General Operating Budget MM2C-Coumeiman Wrigat/Counciman Emmons-Approved with revisions- Councilman Wright- States that there are: 2 ways to correct the deficit. We can cut costs ori increaset ther revenue. Suggests cuts that could be made tot the Councilman Emmons- States that there are contractors that are working int the City, but they are not] pulling permits. Thisi is costing the City revenue. Councilman Merendino- States that hel has al bid from the! lawn maintenance contractor for landscaping at the entrance of Sweetgum ofs500, landscapinga at the office for $1,000, $1,500: for the landscaping at the Civic Center. Mayor Mitchell- States thati ifCouncilman Thibodeaux: needs al larger budget fora an event, he can come to Council with his budget for the event and ask for Councilman Thibodeaux- States that the event budget has been set in place fora al long time. The! $20,000 budget thati is inj place, was suggested by Councilman Merendino ai few years ago. States that he did buy an abundance ofshirts. Goes over plant to1 recoup the City's funds for the shirts that didn't Councilman Watson- Suggests that he brings the events to the Council for approval and so that Council can critic the events withl him. Councilman Thibodeaux- States that he doesn'tmind doing that. States that Councilman Wright- States that het thinks that the car show was great for the Mr. Godfrey- States that he agrees that the car show was al big hit. States that het thinks that the car show will continue to grow over the years.  Unanimous  budget.  O  approval.  sale.  he: appreciates thei idea. City  Discussion over budget discuss lateri in ther meeting since there were  b. CamttabAprea of2024-2025 Public Works Budget- moved to GmsamtapasusApret of Grant Administrator for thel RCP grant based offther recommendation of the review committee! MMZ/C- Counciiman  C    Merendhmo/Commeiman Emmons- Approved-. Payne Enpovmemgerdyigant Heather Steelman- States that the committee went over all the proposals d. - GmapstAyt of Grant. Administrator for the TxCDBG-: TDA grant based offt the recommendation ofther review committee- Payne empowerment grant admin. M/M/2/C- Councilman Meremdimo/Comme.liman Emmons-Approved- Camtspent of Engineer for the' TxCDBG-TDA grant based offt the recommendation oft the review committee. M/M/2/C- Councilman Meremdimo/Commclman Emmons-Approved- Unanimous CammaDstwAyent ofrescinding resolution: for City spending policy Council- M/M/2/C- Councilman Merendine/Comme.lman Thibodeaux-. Approved with revisions oftaking out #5 on the resolution- Unanimous Mayor Mitchell- States that the resolution is rescinding the spending for spending Iimits for the Council. This does noti include budgeted items. Conncilman Merendino- Suggest taking out number 51 because it contradicts GimtmdunsuslAypens of2024 tax rate after consideration of comments, ifany. Received at previous hearing on proposed tax rate. M/M/2/C- Councilman Merendima/Comneiman Watson- New tax rate of0.130980- (B.) CmMwDsApeNt of2024-2025 Public Works Budget- Councilman Ciaylon/Counclman Wright-. Approved- Unanimous  administrator) for the RCP grant  All but Councilman Wright votedj yes.  the other item oftaking expenditures to Council,  Approved- Unanimous  O  Councilman Wright- States that therei is at typo on the copy of the budget that  isi in the packet.  9. Discussion  a. Discussion ofr repair on the roof @ the Event Center.  Councilman Thibodeaux- States that hei isn'tsurei ifthe companies that he received bid from are listed in the Smart buy program. States that he wasn't aware that they had to be listed in the program to work for the City.E Bid from American roofing- $24,183.17, Bid.from M&M Roofing- $25,878, Bid from Councilman Merendino- asks ifit can be done in house Councilman Thibodeaux- There isn'ta warranty ift the maintenance Councilman Thibodeaux- Goes over the budget for the car show. States that there was a donation from Coastal Roofing for the trophies. States that Kirksey's has been great with the donation ofthings as well, States that the City bought the shirts for $3,200. With the donations that were received, the City's cost for the event was $2,275.25. States that the: sales for the shirts were  Coastal Roofing- $39,846.83 department does it  b. Discussion of Community! Development spending recap.  all cashless.  Councilman Merendino- asks how the 50/50: raffle went  O    Councilman Thibodeaux- there was $350 made and split between camp iron Councilman Merendino- states that the resolution for the City spending policy states that a Council member may not spend more than $2.500 without Councilman Thibodeaux- States that he did bring it to Council. Mayor Mitchell- States that Councilman Thibodeaux did have the expenses for the car show in his report, but it was not brought to Council for a vote. Councilman Wright- states that there were some mistakes that were made, but there was a lot of positives that came from the car show, Councilman Merendino- states that he spoke with Taz: after the car show and suggested that for the next car show it be rented out by Taz. Mayor Mitchell- States that she has spoken to Taz about doing a car show for Christmas and instead of a fee, they bring: a toy and deliver it tot the kids in the City. States that the kids in Bevil Oaks haven't been given anything in a few Councilman Thibodeaux- states that he has been contacted about doing a chef Discussion of designating a Councilman over the roads and drainage. No discussion  bluff and the winner of the raffle. Council approval.  years  choice cook off as well.  10. Adjourn Meeting @ 9:00 pm Councilman Clayton/Councilman Emmons  <S   Attest:  Mayor Cheri Mitchell  Oughlgec City Secretary, JeffThibodeaux