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WOODLANDS >>> 21ST, 2025 AT 8:30 A.M.
BOW YOUR HEADS. HEAVENLY FATHER WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, AGAIN, BE HERE THI MORNING AND DISCUSS THESE EVER- IMPORTANT ISSUES AND TIMELY ITEMS, LORD, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.
WE ASK THAT YOU BE HERE WITH US IN THIS ROOM THIS MORNINGAND TODAY, GUIDE US, PROTECT US AND EVERYTHING WE THINK, SAY AND DO, GLORIFY YOU IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY. AMEN.
>> PLEDGE OF I LEE GANS. 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.
♪÷÷ GOD BLESS AMERICA LAND THAT I LOVE ♪ ♪÷÷ STAND BESIDE HER
>> HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
[2. Call meeting to order;]
I CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. I DECLARE IN ACCORDANCE OF STATE LAW A NOTICE OF THIS MEETING WAS POSTED 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE, POSTED INSIDE THE WOODLANDS DIRECTOR SNYDER.
[3. Receive, consider and act upon adoption of the meeting agenda;]
>> HERE. >> BY THE ROLL CALL I DETERMINE A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF MEMBERS ARE PRESENT AND WE HAVE A QUORUM.
RECEIVING AND CONSIDER AND ACT AUPON THE MEETING AGENDA ONE THROUGH TWO. I CALL A MOTION AND SECOND.
>> SECOND. >> SECOND BY DIRECTOR EISSLER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RESPOND BY SAYING YEA.
>> MOTION C.A.R.E.S. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC
[6. Receive, consider and act upon Budget Initiatives related to the 2026 Preliminary Budget and Five-Year Plan;]
OFFICIALS OR PUBLIC COMMENT. MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM SIX, CONSIDER UPON THE BUDGET INITIATIVES RELATED TO THE 2026 FIVE- YEAR PLAN.REFER TO PAGE THREE IN YOUR PACTS AND I CALL ON MONIQUE SHARP TO PRESENT. THANK YOU, MONIQUE.
>> I WANT TO START OFF WITH TODAY WHERE WE STARTED ON MONDAY, AND THE DECISIONS OR THE FEEDBACK THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE BOARD IN TERMS OF SOME BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND THEN WHERE THAT LEAVES US TODAY. SO LET'S START OFF WITH THAT.
SO WHERE WE STARTED WITH THE BASE BUDGET, I'M GOING TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WHAT THE BASE BUDGET DOES, IS IT IS -- INCLUDES ALL OF THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, THE DEBT SERVICE, THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, AND THE RESERVES, THAT ARE TIED TO THE CURRENT SERVICE DELIVERY, AND THE CURRENT PLANS AND OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES THAT THE BOARD HAS SET. THAT IS HOW THE BASE BUDGET IS ADJUSTED. WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THINGS FOR INFLATION, OUR CONTRACTS ARE BUILT ON CERTAIN CPIS SO WE MAKE SURE WE DO THAT, AN ITEM, FOR INSTANCE, FORESTRY MANAGEMENT EXPENSES IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR AT A MILLION, WE INCREASED THAT BY 10%, HIGHER THAN CPI BUT THAT'S WHAT WE FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO CONTINUE THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICES. SO ME AND THE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM AND ENTIRE MANAGEMENT TEAM SPEND MONTHS BEFORE WE GET TO THESE BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETINGS GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET LINE ITEM BY LINE ITEM TO ANALYZE ALL OF THAT AND MAKE SURE WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD SOMETHING THAT STAYS WITHIN EXISTING POLICIES, AGAIN, EXISTING OBJECTIVES, AND PROVIDES THE CURRENT SERVICE LEVEL.
THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED OUT THIS WEEK. WHEN WE DID THAT, AND MAINTAINING THE CURRENT TAX RATE, THE UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE FOR 2025, WHICH -- WHAT THAT IS, IS BASICALLY THE SAVINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DATE THAT AREN'T ALLOCATED TO RESERVES OR BEING USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE, WE'RE AT $2. 3 MILLION. THAT IS WHAT WE CAN USE,
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THAT'S SORT OF THE PIGGYBANK I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WE CAN USE TO FUND ONE- TIME PURCHASES SUCH AS CAPITAL. IN THE 2026 BUDGET, AGAIN MAINTAINING THE CURRENT RATE, WE HAD A BALANCE OF $655,000 THAT CAN BE USED FOR ONGOING OPERATING EXPENSES.THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED IN OUR BUDGET MODEL BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS INCLUDE THIS. WE REMOVED A PARK VEHICLE FROM THE CAPITAL BUDGET. I THINK I MENTIONED ON THE FIRST DAY, WE STILL HAD TWO VEHICLES IN THERE FOR NEW POSITIONS. WE ONLY PROPOSED ONE POSITION, AND, SO I NEEDED TO REMOVE THE OTHER VEHICLE.
WE HAD A -- A LINE ITEM IN THE FIRE DEPARTMET FOR $36,000 THAT WE HAD IDENTIFIED THAT WE DID NOT NEED. THAT DID NOT GET TAKEN OUT BEFORE WE PREPARED THE BASE BUDGET, SO I TOOK IT OUT IN THIS AMENDED BUDGET.
THE REST OF THE AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN -- ARE RELATED TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, AND THESE ARE THE ONES THAT WERE DISCUSSED IN PRETTY MUCH DETAIL YESTERDAY. SO WE HAVE ADDED TWO DEPUTIES TO THE HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE BUDGET LINE FOR 251, WE ADDED FUNDS TO SWAP OUT WHERE THE -- WHERE THE COUNTY WOULD PICK UP THE FUNDING FOR EIGHT DETECTIVES THAT WE CURRENTLY FUND AND THE TOWNSHIP WOULD PICK UP EIGHT SERGEANTS THAT THE COUNTY CURRENTLY FUNDS AND THATTEST A COST DIFFERENTIAL OF THAT TO THE TOWNSHIP OF $94,080.
WE ADDED FUNDS BECAUSE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WANTS TO FORM A CRIME REDUCTION UNIT OUT OF USING SOME OF OUR CURRENT DEPUTIES SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A MORE TARGETED PURPOSE AND THE RECLASSIFICATION COSTS FOR THAT ARE TOTAL 85,907.
WE ADDED FUNDS FOR 30 FLOCK CAMERAS AT 109,500.
WE ADDED FUNDS FOR THE LIDAR RADAR SYSTEM OF 21,215 AND ADDED FUNDS FOR THE POLARIS RANGER OF 60,724. THOSE ARE THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO DATE.
WHEN WE TAKE ALL OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, AGAIN, LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE KNEW GOING INTO THIS WAS GOING TO BE OUR LARGEST INCREASE THIS YEAR, AND THAT WAS DUE TO PRIMARILY TO PAY PARODY, SO THAT WE WERE BEING COMPETITIVE SO THAT -- THE -- THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL THAT WE FUND THROUGH OUR CONTRACT WITH THEM, WE WANT THEM AND ALL OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY TO -- AND HARRIS COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO BE AT PARODY AND COMPETE WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON PRIMARILY, WHICH IS ONE OF THEIR PRIMARY MARKETS.
SO THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THERE. THE EXPENSED -- WE HAD A LARGE EXPENSE FOR THEIR SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT KIND OF VEHICLE BODY CAMERA.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING -- WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT THAT FOR ALMOST A YEAR. THAT IS INCLUDED IN HERE.
AND THEN THOSE CHANGES THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
SO IN TOTAL, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET IS INCREASING BY ABOUT $2. 8 MILLION OR 15%.
WHEN WE FACTOR ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN THERE.
SO THIS IS WHERE WE ARE TODAY. SO NOW WE HAVE A DESIGNATED FUND BALANCE IN 2025 FOR ONE- TIME PURCHASES OF 2, 0166 AND UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE OF 219,700 FOR ONGOING EXPENSES.
ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE ON?
>> DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL CUTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE TO
THE BUDGET? >> I'LL JUST REITERATE AND EVERYBODY HERE HAS HEARD ME, BUT AGAIN FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY BE NEW IN THE AUDIENCE OR AT HOME LISTENING, THAT WE HAVE A -- AN EXPENSE OF $1. 5 MILLION EVERY YEAR THAT IS ONGOING, HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND THEY HAVE -- IT'S FOR ALPHA AND OMEGA, A MOUNTED PATROL, NOTHING MORE THAN A CELL PHONE ON A PONY. IT IS A LEGACY ITEM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON -- AND IT IS -- THE PONIES THAT ARE AROUND MARKET STREET AND IN THE MALL AREA, AND THEY DO NOT ARREST, THEY DO NOT INTERDICT, AND THEY CANNOT PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL. ALL THEY CAN DO IS TAKE PICTURES WITH CHILDREN AND IT'S CALLED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
IT'S NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT. HERE WE ARE, WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPENSES FOR REAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, REAL PEACE OFFICERS THAT CAN ACTUALLY PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL WHO ARE CRIMINALS AND I SAY LET'S SHIFT THAT MONEY THAT $1. 5 MILLION, PLUS THEY'VE ASKED FOR ANOTHER ALMOST OR SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE, SHIFT IT OVER TO
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REAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.IF WE DO THAT, WE CAN SAVE $1. 5 MILLION THAT WILL REDUCE THIS AND THAT WILL GET US CLOSER TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
I THINK OUR GOAL SHOULD BE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
WE MAY NOT ACHIEVE IT, BUT IT SHOULD BE OUR GOAL.
WENT SHOE -- SHOULDN'T BE SATISFIED WITH THE RATE THAT INCREASES TAXES FOR OUR HOMEOWNERS AND OUR PROPERTY OWNERS. SO THAT'S MY POSITION. I'VE SAID IT BEFORE.
AND THIS MAY BE THE YEAR. I'M NOT SAYING THEY HAVE TO GO AWAY. I'M SAYING IN THE MAJORITY OF COMMUNITIES, SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT'S A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ITEM IS FUNDED BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS. IT WOULD BE FUNDED BY THE MALL, FUNDED BY MARKET STREET. THE TAXPAYERS DON'T PAY FOR IT.
WE'RE UNIQUE IN THAT. IT'S TIME FOR US TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND LET THAT LEGACY ITEM GO AND PAY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, NOT PAY FOR CELL PHONE OR PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES.
>> OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY ADDITION, SUBTRACTIONS? SO WE PUT THEM FORWARD AND THEN WE VOTE. I DO THINK WE SHOULD CUT -- ROLL THE IN THE TOWNSHIP EVENTS THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY, THE SEMI CENTENNIAL -- I FORGET HOW YOU SAY IT. I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT A SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY ON THAT.
AND TAKE THAT BUDGET ITEM DOWN TO 100,000.
AND TRY TO RAISE 133, 750 FOR THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICA.
>> SO, BRAD, ARE YOU SAYING THEN TO BRING THAT DOWN, AND SHOULD WE NOT RAISE THAT MONEY, WE STAY AT THAT LEVEL? BECAUSE IT WON'T BE BUDGETED
ANYMORE. >> WELL AN AMENDMENT COULD BE MADE.
>> WELL, THE BOARD AS -- AS EXPLAINED YESTERDAY, THE BOARD WILL HEAR WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER YOU WANT DRONE SHOW TO BE PART OF THAT ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. IF YOU DO, WE THESE NEED TO SIGN THE CONTRACT VERY SOON TO DO THAT AND NEED THE MONEY TO DO THAT. THAT IS THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, LIKE 180,000.
>> RIGHT. >> IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO
THAT, THEN -- >> I DON'T WANT -- WE WANT TO DO THAT. I HAD TWO CONVERSATIONS WITH TWO COMPANIES THAT ARE INTERESTED IN SPONSORING, SO I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A SAVINGS WE CAN GET. I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO MAKE SEVERAL CUTS TO THIS.
>> MAYBE ANN SNYDER WITH ME TO MAKE SOME CALLS, BUT I THINK ASKING FOR A BIG CELEBRATION LIKE THAT.
WE HAVE SPONSORS ALL THE TIME FOR A LOT OF OUR
EVENTS. >> IT'S ALWAYS OUR INTENTION TO GO AFTER SPONSORS.
EXPECTATION. >> I DON'T WANT TO CURTAIL, YOU KNOW, BOOKING THE CONTRACT BUT MAYBE WE CAN SUPPLEMENT IT LATER.
I DON'T KNOW. YOU FIGURE THAT OUT.
I REALLY THINK WE CAN RAISE THE 133 AND LEAVE IT OFF THE TAXPAYERS' BACKS.
>> WE WOULD DESIGNATE 185,000, THE COST OF THE DRONE SHOW?
>> YEAH. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT?
>> WELL, I SUPPORTED IT AND I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE IT'S A BIG DEAL, HAVING A 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR COUNTRY, BUT, AGAIN F WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT SUBJECTING THE TAXPAYERS TO THE BILL, WE SHOULD DO THAT.
SO BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU, DR. SNYDER AND CHAIRMAN BAILEY, I THINK YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT
PATH. >> I DO THINK THE DRONE SHOW WAS SO SUCCESSFUL ON THE FOURTH OF JULY THERE WOULD BE COMPANIES THAT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEIR NAMES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
OUR INTENT. >> WE NEED A MOTION.
>> SO WITH THAT, QUESTION, SINCE IT'S ALREADY IDENTIFIED THAT THE DRONE WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 185, IF WE APPROVE 100, AND IT'S NOT BUNLTSDS, CAN WE -- IF IT'S PRESENTED IN NOVEMBER OR WHENEVER THE DUE DATE IS, OR OBJECT, CAN WE THEN GO AHEAD AND IF WE HAVE NOT SECURED THE OTHER 85, GO AHEAD AND AMEND THE BUDGET AT THAT TIME?
>> YES, MA'AM WE CAN. SO THIS IS BEING FUNDED AS I POINTED OUT ON MONDAY THROUGH THE HOTEL
YES. >> THIS IS ALREADY NOT HAVING ANY IMPACT ON THE TAX RATE.
>> YEAH. >> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO RESTORE THE HOTEL TAX BALANCE
>> IT'S SYMBOLIC OF TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING HERE. IT MAY NOT EXACTLY EFFECT
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THE TAX RATE AND THAT'S YOUR GOAL AND MINE TOO, BUT IT'S SYMBOLIC WE'RE TRYING TO CUT AND IT'S IMPORTANT IT BE TO BE OPENED MINDED WHERE YOU CUT.>> SO IN OCTOBER WHENEVER YOU BRING IT TO THE BOARD, SINCE IT IS -- I THINK, WHAT, TEN MONTHS PRIOR TO THE EVENT, THEN AT THAT TIME IF WE HAVE NOT SECURED 85,000 FOR THE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WE CAN MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO PULL ANOTHER 85 OUT OF THE HOTEL TAX.
>> YEAH. >> ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS LIKE THAT THAT WE COULD GET SPONSORSHIPS FOR? I'M SORT OF BRAINSTORMING NOW. COULD A COMPANY SPONSOR, SAY, THE FOUNTAIN? THE REPAIR OF THE FOUNTAIN IF THEY WISHED?
YES. THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.
FOR MOST OF OUR EVENTS, WE DO SEEK SPONSORSHIPS FOR THOSE.
WE TRY TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF OUR
SPECIAL EVENTS. >> I KNOW ONE OF THE FOUNTAINS HAS OWNERSHIP.
>> RIGHT. >> AS WE DISCUSSED BY A PRIVATE COMPANY, SO --
>> RIGHT. >> I WONDER IF COMPANIES MIGHT BE WILLING TO PUT THEIR NAME ON THE FOUNTAIN, A $5 MILLION
FOUNTAIN. >> WE CAN START EXPLORING THAT AND SEE.
>> ACTUALLY, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
THAT. >> EVERYBODY IS A DOCTOR AT THIS TABLE.
>> AND FINALLY, I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY NOT -- WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THIS, WE'VE GOT A -- WE HAVE A HUGE HIT THROUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT THIS YEAR, BUT HAVING A SAFE COMMUNITY I THINK IS ALL OF OUR PRIORITY, BUT A MASSIVE HIT THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SAW COMING, HIT US AT THE LAST MINUTE. SINCE 2022, WE'VE ADDED 85 FULL- TIME POSITIONS TO THE TOWNSHIP.
85. SINCE 2022. A LOT OF THEM ARE NEEDED.
I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE NOT NEEDED.
BUT IN A YEAR LIKE THIS, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE'VE GOT THE RESOURCES TO KEEP AIDING ADDITIONAL STAFF. WE -- IT WAS PRESENTED TO THIS BOARD THAT WE'RE ADDING TWO JOBS AND WE'RE TAKING TWO JOBS AWAY. WE FOUND OUT THAT THOSE TWO JOBS WERE NEVER REAL JOBS. THEY WERE JUST -- THEY CALLED THEM --
AUTHORIZED POSITIONS. >> PURSUING THE PROGRAMS.
>> YEAH. BUT IT'S NOT A JOB FOR JOB.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT WE KEEP ZERO AND ZERO, WE DON'T HIRE ANYBODY THIS YEAR AND LOOK AT NEXT YEAR HOW WE CAN MOVE SOME THINGS AROUND AND DO IT RESPONSIBLY, AND I OPEN THAT FOR
YOU KNOW -- >> CLARIFICATION FOR NEXT YEAR OR THIS YEAR?
WE HAVE $104,000 FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT MECHANIC AND I FORGET THE OTHER ONE.
>> RADIO AN ANALYST AND STREET SCAPE SPECIALIST
POSITION. >> SO A TOTAL OF THREE.
>> THREE. HOW MUCH IS THAT? DOLLAR WISE?
>> WHILE THEY'RE LOOKING I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE EARLY BUDGET MEET, STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETINGS, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
>> RIGHT. >> WHICH IS WHAT I SUGGESTED AND I GOT NO SECOND, BUT MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE'LL DO IT, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, DOGE THE BUDGET, LOOK AT THE BUDGET WITH A FINE- TOOTH COMB, MAKE SURE THAT THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE -- BECAUSE THIS ISN'T JUST THE POSITIONS GOING FORWARD. WE SHOULD BE CUTTING POSITIONS THAT AREN'T NECESSARY, THAT AREN'T PRODUCTIVE. PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY PROGRAMS, NOT POSITIONS PER SE, BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING WORK. THEY'RE NOT SITTING THERE, YOU KNOW, DOODLING. THEY'RE WORKING ON OUR BEHALF BECAUSE WE HAVE GREAT IDEAS, WE THROW THE GREAT IDEAS OUT, AND THEY TRY TO IMPLEMENT THOSE IDEAS.
BUT IT'S SO EASY TO GROW GOVERNMENT. IT'S MUCH HARDER TO REIN IT IN.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION SHOULD BE ABOUT LOOKING AT EVERY PROGRAM WE HAVE AND SAYING, IS THIS NECESSARY? IS IT GROWING TOO BIG? CAN WE CUT IT BACK? CAN WE ELIMINATE IT?
>> I TOTALLY HEAR YOU. I THINK, MONIQUE, WHEN WE'RE DOING OUR STRATEGIC SESSION, THIS MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE OFFICER, SHERIFF'S OFFICE PAY WAS NOT FULLY BAKED.
>> CORRECT. WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE --
>> IT WAS A MASSIVE SURPRISE TO OUR BOTTOM LINE.
BUT I UNDERSTAND. LOOK, I HEAR YOU. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE. I THINK THIS BOARD HAS BEEN VERY GENEROUS OVER THE LAST -- SINCE THE TIME I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD AND ADDED 85 POSITIONS.
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>> SEVERAL QUESTIONS. ONE, OF THOSE 85, I WOULD LIKE A BREAKDOWN HOW MANY ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH WAS A PRIORITY WHEN WE ALL --
>> LAW ENFORCEMENT. THESE ARE FULL- TIME EMPLOYEES.
>> LET ME FINISH. LET ME FINISH, PLEASE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT. HOW MANY ALSO WERE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AND THEN BREAK DOWN WHAT THE OTHER ONES ARE. IN REGARD TO THOSE THREE, THIS WHOLE PAST YEAR WE'VE REALLY FOCUSED, AS IN OTHER YEARS, ON FORESTRY AND THE STREETSCAPE THAT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY IN JANUARY, WE CAN GO THROUGH HOW MUCH WE MADE AMENDMENTS TO MAKE SURE -- I'VE HAD MORE COMPLIMENTS, I APPLAUD BOTH OUR CHAIRMAN AND I THANK DR. GIBBS WHO SUPPORTED THAT SO VOCALLY, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE TOWNSHIP STAFF, LEADERSHIP, IT'S ALL -- AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT HAS IDENTIFIED THAT THEY NEED.
I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO WHERE WE WERE.
THE OTHER IS THE I.T. WE HAVE CHALLENGES -- SEVERAL INSTANCES THAT I WOULD -- I WOULD LIKE THE RATIONALE REVISITED WHY WE NEED THIS, AND IT'S IMPORTANT, AND THEN THE -- MAINTENANCE WE TALKED ABOUT I THINK DR. GIBBS AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHERS, THE RESPONSE TIME AND THAT IT'S MUCH QUICKER IF YOU CAN DO IT IN- HOUSE TO MAINTAIN THE VEHICLES THAT WE
HAVE. >> IT'S QUICKER AND CHEAPER.
>> I DON'T THINK ANY OF THOSE THREE -- I THINK EACH ONE OF THEM IS VALUED AND SIMPLY TO CUT SOMETHING BECAUSE WE'VE DONE 85 WOULD LIKE SOME BREAKDOWN WHAT THOSE 85 ARE.
>> I'M NOT -- LOOK, I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND SOMETHING HERE.
THE 85 POSITIONS WE'VE ADDED SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD HAVE BEEN NEEDED AND THE STREETSCAPE WAS SOMETHING I MADE THE MOTION TO ADD TO.
>> I'M NOT ASKING THE STREET SCAPE TO GO AWAY.
I BELIEVE IN THAT. I BELIEVE IN THE NEEDS WE HAVE. BUT IN A YEAR LIKE THIS, WHERE WE'VE BEEN GIVEN A MASSIVE HIT BY THE COUNTY WITH -- AND THEY PAID THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT'S FINE, WE HAVE TO AD HERE THAT, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TIGHTEN
>> IT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN EVERYDAY LIFE. AND I THINK RIGHT NOW ADDING MORE AND MORE POSITIONS AND SEEING RETIREMENTS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT GO WITH THOSE FULL- TIME POSITIONS, ADD TO THE BOTTOM LINE OF HOW MUCH IT COST US. I MEAN, WE SPENT $20 MILLION BUILDING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR.
$20 MILLION. AND WE ADDED A NEW STATION AND ADDED A MASSIVE -- TO THE TRAINING CENTER WHICH IS GREAT. I THINK WE HAVE SHOWN A LOT OF EFFORT WITH THIS THE FIRE
>> WHATEVER YOU ALL WANT TO DO IS FINE.
MY JOB IS TO TELL YOU THERE WILL BE A SERVICE- LEVEL IMPACT.
THERE'S A SERVICE LEVEL IMPACT TO NOT ADD
POSITIONS WE NEED. >> HOW MANY POSITIONS WERE REQUESTED? I THINK YOU HAD A SLIDE.
>> 23 WERE REQUESTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS AND WE HAVE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THREE.
>> CAN YOU TELL US BY THE END OF TODAY WHICH PROGRAMS MIGHT BE NOT IMPACTFUL IN THE SERVICE LEVEL LIKE A RADIO ANALYST THAT'S A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF PRIORITY VERSUS A FUN RUN. I'M INTERESTED IN THE MORE SOCIAL ACTIVITY, NOT THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
I DON'T -- I'M NOT LOOKING TO CUT INFRASTRUCTURE.
I'M LOOKING TO CUT THINGS THAT ARE MORE PERIPHERAL ALONG THE EDGES OF WHAT WE DO AS A
TOWNSHIP. >> OUR TOTAL CURRENT STAFF
SORRY. >> FROM OUR TOTAL CURRENT STAFF WHAT POSITIONS?
PROGRAMS. >> MA'AM, I CANNOT TELL YOU BY THE END OF TODAY.
>> I KNOW. YOU NEEDED SIX MONTHS TO DO THAT, WHICH WE HAD IT.
NEXT YEAR. >> THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
FOR THINGS -- IF OUR GOAL FOR BUDGETING IS TO GET TO THE NEGATIVE REVENUE RATE WE WOULD LOVE TO DO WE NEED TO TELL MONIQUE THAT TODAY FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGETING IF WE WANT TO KEEP ON THAT PACE SO THAT SHE CAN MAKE -- THE REASON I SAY THIS, BECAUSE MY HUSBAND FOR 30 YEARS WAS IN MANAGEMENT, ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL. IT TAKES A WHILE FOR HER TO ADJUST HER RESPONSIBILITIES AND TO MAKE THOSE -- AND WE HIRE HER TO MAKE THOSE HIRES. THAT'S WHAT MONIQUE DOES.
IT'S IN HER RESPONSIBILITIES, SO I'M NOT SAYING WE CAN'T DO
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IT, BUT FOR NEXT YEAR, I THINK WE AS A BOARD OWE IT TO MONIQUE TO TELL HER WHAT OUR GOALS ARE SO THAT -- TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR US.IN A WEEK IT'S HARD TO DETERMINE -- THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES TO EVERY
CORRECT. >> LET'S REALLY THINK THROUGH AND HEAR WHAT IMPACT THAT WOULD HAVE TO NOT HIRE STREET SCAPE
SPECIALISTS. >> I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO A NEXT SLIDE. IT'S UP TO Y'ALL.
IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE THIS DISCUSSION. THE NEXT SLIDES ARE GOING TO SHOW THE IMPACT TO OUR FIVE- YEAR
PLAN. >> BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS, LAST YEAR WE ADDED A SERVICE WE HAD NEVER DONE THAT THE COUNTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR AND THAT WAS PAINTING BRIDGES. WE DO NOT OWN ANY BRIDGES EXCEPT FOR, PERHAPS, SOME ON THE PATHWAYS MAYBE.
CORRECT. >> WHAT WOULD WE SAVE ON AN ONGOING BASIS TO STOP THAT SERVICE?
>> ARE WE PAINTING EVERY BRIDGE IF WHAT IS THE PAINTING BRIDGES
STUFF? >> THAT'S THE ENHANCED COMMUNITY MAINTENANCE.
>> NO. THE BOARD AUTHORIZED LAST YEAR TO HIRE A STAFF OF SIX.
>> YOU AND I MADE THE MO EGGS.
>> AND THE AGREEMENT AND THE VEHICLES THAT WE WENT THAT AND THERE'S A COMMUNITY MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. IT'S NOT JUST PAINTING BRIDGES.
>> THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING.
>> THE BRIDGES, IT'S GUARDRAILS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, WE CAN'T GET TO EVERYTHING IN ONE YEAR. SO IT'S -- WE HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE WE ROTATE THROUGH THREE OR FOUR YEARS TO BE ABLE TO GET TO EACH ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
>> AND WE HIRED SIX PEOPLE FOR THAT?
>> BUT THEY'RE -- BACK UP. BACK UP.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE ONE THING THAT YOU DIDN'T LIKE, WHICH WAS THE PAINTING OF THE RAILS BY THE
PRETTY. >> THERE'S BARE BRANCH BRIDGE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE WE OWN CONNECTED THAT MASSIVE WORK WAS DONE TO IT THIS YEAR, PAINTING NEW BOARDS, THAT WAS DONE, THAT IS A HIGHLIGHT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S NOT JUST PAINTING THINGS THAT WE DON'T OWN.
THAT'S NOT A FACTUAL STATEMENT.
>> BUT THAT'S SIX EMPLOYEES WE DIDN'T HAVE OUT OF THE 85 THAT YOU WERE TARGETING.
>> I'M NOT TARGETING 85 EMPLOYEES.
>> I'M NOT ASKING 85 EMPLOYEES GET RECUSED.
WE HAVE 85 PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO STAY HERE.
THIS YEAR IN THIS BUDGET, THE NEW POSITIONS THAT WE'RE ADDING, I THINK WE'VE ADDED ANOTHER ONE TIGHTEN THE BELT.
I'M NOT ASKING TO TAKE AWAY THE STREET SCAPE CREW.
THEY DO MORE THAN PAINTING A BRIDGE.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IT'S A PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM ACTIVE VERSUS REACTIVE NOT JUST FOR BRIDGES BUT ALL TOWN FACILITIES AND THE VILLAGES AND SOMETHING WE ALL AGREED ON AND THE FACT IS I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE VILLAGE PRESIDENTS ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT PROGRAM BECAUSE, IN FACT, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH PAVILIONS AND SIDEWALKS AND PATHWAYS THAT WE'VE ONLY BEEN REACTIVE TO.
THE CEILING IS FALLING IN ON OUR PAVILION. WE'LL COME AND GET IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO ALL THOSE THINGS. WE'RE BEING PROACTIVE, MAINTAINING THOSE FACILITIES AND SAVING MATCH- UP IN THE LONG RUN NOT HAVING TO MAKE MASSIVE REPLACEMENTS OF THEGS BECAUSE TAKEN CARE OF.
50 YEARS OLD AND WE HAVE A LOT OF FACILITIES 50 YEARS OLD AND NEED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.
IT'S NOT JUST BRIDGE PAINTING.
MONIQUE? >> I'M GOING TO REMIND EVERYBODY WHAT WE LOOKED AT ON MONDAY, WHICH IS OUR CURRENT PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 17.14.
WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OF HOW THE BOARD HAS MANAGED THE TAX RATE FROM 2012 TO 2026, ALMOST 25 YEARS OVER HERE.
IN 2012, AN AVERAGE VALUE HOME WAS AT 312,000.
AND PAID A TAX RATE OF -- TAX RATE WAS AT 32. 5 CENTS PAID $1,014.
TODAY THE SAME HOME VALUED AT 595.
IF YOU THINK OF ALL THE SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED OVER THE ALMOST 15 YEARS, IT'S INCREDIBLE. THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE CAREFUL TAX MANAGEMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD AND EXPENSE MANAGEMENT OF THE BOARD AND THE STAFF IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
ALSO WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT AT THE LAST SURVEY THAT WE DID JUST EARLIER THIS YEAR, 95% OF RESIDENTS FEEL LIKE THEY GET A GOOD OR VERY GOOD VALUE FOR THEIR MONEY FOR THE TOWNSHIP SERVICES. AS THE CONSULTANT POINTED OUT THAT'S ALMOST UNHEARD OF IN OTHER CITIES TO GET 95% SATISFIED WITH YOUR TAX RATE.
HERE IS A LOOK -- WE LOOKED AT THIS THE FIRST DAY OF OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE.
THE CURRENT RATE 17.14. THOSE ARE THE ADJUSTMENTS IN A QUARTER PENNY INCREMENT THAT WOULD GET US DOWN TO THE NEW REVENUE RATE AND WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD BE TO THE TOWNSHIP IN TERMS OF LOSS IN TAX REVENUE AND WHAT THAT TAX REDUCTION WOULD MEAN FOR A PROPERTY TAX
[00:30:04]
OWNER ON A $500,000 HOME.SO GETTING TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE WOULD REDUCE TOWNSHIP REVENUES BY $3. 3 MILLION AND EQUAL A SAVINGS TO A HOMEOWNER OF A $500,000 HOME AROUND $53.80. THIS CHART HAS A LOT OF NUMBERS ON IT, BUT LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT THE MAJOR IMPACT IS.
AT THE CURRENT RATE AND AT THE CURRENT BUDGET THAT WE LOOKED AT WITH THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS WE ARE BALANCED AT $219,702 FOR 2026. IN 2026, AS YOU GO DOWN IN THOSE INCREMENTS OF PENNIES, AGAIN LOSING ABOUT $750,000 FOR EACH QUARTER OF A PENNY THAT THE TAX RATE IS LOWERED, THAT IS HOW MUCH MONEY WE WOULD NEED TO FIND EITHER THROUGH CUTS IN EXPENSES OR AS DIRECTOR EISSLER SUGGESTED YESTERDAY, LOOKING AT HOW WE FUND OUR RESERVE BALANCES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THOSE AMOUNTS. BUT WHAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT IS THE FIVE- YEAR PLAN BECAUSE ANY DECISION YOU MAKE TODAY IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOUR FIVE- YEAR PLAN.
SO AT THE CURRENT RATE, AT THE TOP ONE, YOU CAN SEE THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN, THIS IS ADDING ZERO NEW POSITIONS IN THE FIVE- YEAR PLAN, THAT'S THE ASSUMPTION WE ALWAYS MAKE, IF WE ADD ONE, THESE NUMBERS WILL BE HIGHER, WE HAVE TRIED TO ACCOUNT FOR WHAT WE KNOW FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, THIS WAS ONLY THE FIRST OF FOUR YEARS OF A VERY HEFTY INCREASE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, SO WE HAVE TRIED TO FACTOR THOSE IN, BUT YOU CAN SEE THERE, WE GROW. NEXT YEAR WE'RE ALREADY OUT OF BALANCE AT 1.5. WE KNOW WE HAVE A CHALLENGE FOR NEXT YEAR. AND THEN YOU CAN SEE IT GROW.
AS WE GET TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY WE CAN CUT OUT OF RESERVES IN ORDER TO FIX OUR PROBLEM IN THE OUT YEARS. IF WE DO THAT, WE ARE ABSOLUTELY LOOKING AT CUTS IN EXPENSES. I CAN OVERCOME A $3 MILLION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW BECAUSE WE BUDGETED IT CONSERVATIVELY, OVERCOMING $7. 2 MILLION, WHAT YOU SEE IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT- HAND CHART IN FIVE YEARS OVER THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN, THAT WILL RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN SERVICE LEVELS.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN IF ANY OF THESE DIFFERENT TAX RATES ARE THE UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE EFFECTS ARE RATING OUR DOUBLE A PLUS BOND
ABSOLUTELY. >> I THINK THAT'S IMPERATIVE AND SOMETHING THAT WE, AS A TOWNSHIP BOARD, SINCE ITS VERY INCEPTION, HAS STROVE TO BE DOUBLE A.
>> SO EVERY YEAR WE HAVE RATINGS, STAFF, ME, AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE CALLS WITH OUR RATING AGENCIES, AND WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR BUDGET. WE HAVE TO FILE ALL OF THESE THINGS SO THEY KNOW WHAT OUR BUDGET IS.
THEY SEE WHAT OUR AUDIT REPORTS ARE AND WE TALK ABOUT THAT. WHAT CREDIT AGENCIES LIKE IS STABLE RESOURCES, STABLE REVENUE SOURCES COMING OUT.
THESE STABLE RESOURCE CREDIT AGENCIES ARE PROPERTY TAXES, NOT SALES TAXES. WE ALREADY LEAN ON OUR SALES TAXES A LOT, WHICH IS APPROPRIATE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO FUND SERVICES, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF CITIES THAT ARE OUR SIZE, SUGARLAND COMES TO EXAMPLE, THEY WILL ONLY ALLOW 50% OF THEIR SALES TAX REVENUES TO FUND ONGOING OPERATIONS BECAUSE OF THE VOLATILITY.
WE DON'T DO THAT. WE USE 100%.
AND THAT'S A QUESTION WE GET ASKED BY OUR CREDIT RATING AGENCIES. YOU USE 100%.
YOU DON'T PUT ANY OF THOSE IN RESERVES? NO. THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
IN SPITE OF THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THE DOUBLE A PLUS.
WE'VE WORKED OUR WAY AROUND THAT. AS WE CONTINUE TO LOWER THE RATE OF PROPERTY TAX SOURCES, THAT WILL BE SOMETHING FOR THE CREDIT AGENCIES.
IS IT THE END OF THE WORLD? NO.
IF WE GO FROM DOUBLE A PLUS TO DOUBLE A, I'M NOT SAYING WE WILL, IF WE DID, THAT'S OKAY. BUT IT DOES, TO YOUR POINT, DIRECTOR SNYDER, HAVE AN IMPACT ON CREDIT RATINGS AND WHAT WE DO WHEN I STARTED THE IS PRESENTATION WHAT WE DO WHEN WE PREPARE THESE BUDGETS IS WE KEEP IN MIND THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES, WE KEEP IN MIND THE ISO RATING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WE LOOK AT WHAT BEST PRACTICES ARE FROM THE GFOA, GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICE
ASSOCIATION. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN GREAT PRIDE IN PRIOR TO SERVING ON THIS BOARD IS THE RATING THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE BEST RANKING PLACES TO LIVE. AND WE'VE BEEN NUMBER ONE AND IT'S SOME OF THE FACTORS ARE NOT THAT WE CONTROL SUCH A -- OUR WONDERFUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, BUT IT'S OUR ISO- 1 RATING, OUR AA PLUS CREDIT.
[00:35:05]
THOSE ALL PLAY INTO WHY WE'VE BEEN DESIGNATED IN THE TOP FIVE FOR HOW MANY YEARS.>> SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN, MONIQUE, IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND ONE IS THAT WE'RE PAYING OFF THE CONVENTION CENTER AND THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO US. THE OTHER THING THAT WILL HAPPEN IS THAT WE WILL BE RENEGOTIATING OUR CONTRACT WITH THE CYNTHIA WOODS PAVILION.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE GIVING CYNTHIA WOODS MITCHELL PAVILION $2 MILLION A YEAR AND THAT GROWS TYPICALLY FOR REFUNDING TICKET TAX OR GIVING BACK TICKET TAX TO THE PAVILION. WE DON'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. WE CAN REDIRECT, SAVE THAT MONEY, AND THAT WILL BE A VERY BIG BENEFIT TO US.
THOSE TWO ELEMENTS MATTER. AND I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE THEM CALCULATED IN HERE.
>> THEY ARE CALCULATED IN HERE. THEY JUST DON'T IMPACT THE TAX
RATE. >> THEY DO NOT DIRECTLY.
IT'S ALL INDIRECT, BUT IT'S STILL FUNDABLE.
MONEY IS FUNGIBLE. WE CAN USE IT FOR VARIOUS THINGS LIKE CAPITAL PROJECTS, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK WE ARE SHORTCHANGING OURSELVES ONLY LOOKING AT THIS MONEY AND REALIZING THERE ARE OTHER ASSETS COMING OUR WAY IN THE FUTURE SHOULD WE CHOOSE TO USE THEM. JUST LIKE ALPHA AND OMEGA.
IT'S A CHOICE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. IT'S A CHOICE. HOW DO YOU WANT TO USE THE ASSETS THAT YOU HAVE. AND I SAY DON'T FORGET ABOUT IT AND LET THE PEOPLE KNOW IN ADVANCE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS SO THAT --
>> MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ACCORDINGLY THESE ENTITIES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THIS THAN JUST WHAT'S ON THE SCREEN HERE.
>> I'M JUST SAYING THAT BOTH OF THE THINGS THAT YOU POINTED OUT ARE REFLECTED IN HERE, YES,
MA'AM. >> THEY ARE REFLECTED IN THESE NUMBERS.
THEY DON'T IMPACT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE NUMBERS.
ONE OF THEM IS HOTEL TAX AND THE EVENTS TAXES, CULTURAL EDUCATION FUNDS, RESTRICED BY LAW.
SKP WE WE CAN'T USE THEM FOR GENERAL
FOR CAPITAL. >> IF IT RELATES FOR A CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM, NOT FOR CAPITAL.
>> I GUESS -- AND I'M HOPE FOR DISCUSSION ON THIS, ALL RIGHT. THIS IS WHAT -- THIS IS THE THING THAT CONCERNS ME. AND MONIQUE, YOU HAVE THESE NUMBERS AT THE TIP YOUR FINGERS, I'M SURE.
OUR SALES TAX, OUR SALES TAX INCREASED LAST YEAR, COLLECTION, CORRECT?
>>. >> LAST YEAR WE CAME IN UNDER BUDGET. THIS YEAR WE ARE OVER BUDGET.
LAST YEAR WE DID NOT MEET OUR SALES TAX PROJECTIONS.
>> I THOUGHT WE HAD A 3% GROWTH.
>> WE DID NOT MEET OUR BUDGET PRODUCTIONS.
>> WE HAD GROWTH. WE'RE COLLECTING MORE IN SALES TAX THAN WE DID PRIOR?
>> WE'RE COLLECTING MORE -- 3% SALES TAX -- MORE IN PROPERTY TAXES THAN WE DID THE YEAR BEFORE? CORRECT?
>> I'M TRYING TO -- HOTEL TAXES WE'RE GOING TO HIT THE $10 MILLION MARK AGAIN, WHICH WAS A COLLECTION THAT'S BEEN -- STILL IT'S $10 MILLION ALL- TIME HIGH FROM WHAT WE HAD LAST YEAR. MIXED BEVERAGE TAX.
WE'RE AT $1. 6 MILLION AND SOME CHANGE. THAT WAS A REVENUE WE NEVER HAD THREE YEARS AGO. NEVER HAD THAT REVENUE.
SO WE'RE BRINGING IN MORE MONEY IN ALL THE THEMAJOR BUCKETS. YET, WE HAVE THIS ONE- TIME HIT TO US. WE STILL HAVE NO -- WE CAN'T -- I'M LOOKING AT THE REVENUE SLIDES.
I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME. I'M LOOKING AT
ME. >> IT'S THE PACKET IN THE BUDGET --
YET, IT SEEMS TO BECOME MORE AND MORE TIGHT EVERY YEAR ON US, AND I'M ASKING, LIKE, IF WE'RE DOING BETTER THAN WE DID BEFORE AND WE HAVE A LOW TAX -- WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST TAX RATES IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS AND THAT'S A TRIBUTE TO THIS BOARD AND BOARDS BEFORE US. IF WE'RE COLLECTING MORE MONEY AND DOING BETTER, ONE THING IS, IT HAS TO BE OUR COSTS IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY TO DO ANYTHING. I UNDERSTAND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CONTROL.
>> GREAT. >> BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO. PUBLIC SAFETY IS EVERYTHING.
I LOOK AT 85 EMPLOYEES WE'VE GROWN.
MOST OF -- EVERY ONE IS VERY, VERY WELL WORTH IT, AND I'M NOT ASKING TO CUT THAT, BUT IN A YEAR WHERE THINGS ARE TIGHT,
[00:40:03]
SHOULD WE TIGHTEN THE BELT A LITTLE BIT AND LOOK AT -- OR LOOK FOR -- IF YOU WANT TO ADD POSITIONS OKAY, WE'LL ADD TO POSITIONS.WHERE CAN WE CUT OTHER AREAS? WHERE ARE SAVINGS WE CAN GET IN OTHER AREAS? I JUST FEEL LIKE WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE SAVINGS ASPECT OF THIS ENOUGH.
>> ONE THING THAT MAY HAVE OFFSET CHAIRMAN BAILEY IS THAT THREE YEARS AGO, WE DID NOT HAVE THE HOME STEAD EXEMPTION AND CREDIT THAT TO YOURS, SO THAT HAS REDUCED OUR PROPERTY TAX, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
CORRECT. >> FROM 20,000 TO 50 OR WHATEVER SO BOTH OF THOSE HAVE OFFSET WHAT WE ARE
>> YOU'RE GIVING MONEY BACK TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS.
>> YOU ASKED WHY IT'S SO TIGHT. I WANTED MONIQUE -- DID THAT AFFECT OUR BOTTOM LINE?
>> IT DID. IF WE GO -- IF YOU GO TO THE SLIDE ON WHY THINGS ARE GETTING TIGHTER, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT ON MONDAY, IT'S OUR INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S THE TRANSPORTATION CREDITS OR GRANT FUNDS HAVE BEEN REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY, AND SO WE HAD TO GO WITH THAT, AND FOREST STREET AND STREET SCAPE MAINTENANCE. THAT IS THE
REASON. >> LET'S TAKE ONE OF THEM.
>> HOW DOES THE BOARD FEEL ABOUT -- I CAN TELL YOU EVERYTHING I HAVE HAS GONE UP.
WE HAVE A COST OF LIVING INCREASE GOING UP FOR STAFF AND RIGHTFULLY
>> SHOULD WE REVISIT THE BUS FARES AND COLLECT MORE MONEY ON THOSE BECAUSE THE COSTS ARE
HIGHER? >> IN THE PLAN THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU LAST YEAR ON THE PUS -- BUS FARES, WE DID SAY PART OF OUR PLAN WAS TO COME BACK IN THE YEAR 2026 AND TALK ABOUT ANOTHER 1. 50 INCREASE ON A ROUND TRIP BUS FARE.
>> BECAUSE WE INCREASED THEM IN '23 OR '24? THE BUS FARES? WE HAD A PUBLIC
'24. >> WE INCREASED THEM BECAUSE -- TO OFFSET EXACTLY THAT, CHAIRMAN BAILEY, AND THAT WOULD BRING IN, YOU KNOW --
>> I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY
HEAD. >> IT'S NOT AS MATERIAL AS WHAT THE COSTS HAVE GONE UP BECAUSE GRANTS WERE PAYING 100% OF EVERYTHING.
>> WITH THE -- THE CARE FUNDING WHAT THAT DID JUST A QUICK REVIEW, WHAT THAT DID IN -- UP UNTIL NOW WITH REGARD TO TRANSPORTATION. THAT WE HAD THAT AND YOU HAD A SLIDE THAT SHOWED WHAT IT WAS AND WHAT IT WAS --
>> WITH THE RELEASE OF THE GRANT FUNDS.
IT SPIKED TO $1. 9 MILLION LAST YEAR OR THIS YEAR AND THEN -- BECAUSE OF THE AWESOME JOB TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT CREDITS HAVE LOWERED IT TO $1.
1 MILLION. THE ADDITIONAL 420, IS THAT WHAT WE THINK IN BUS FARES? OKAY.
WE'LL GET THAT TO YOU IN JUST A SECOND.
>> YOU MAKE A GREAT POINT, CHAIRMAN BAILEY. JOHN AND PAMELA KNOW WHEN WE WERE IN A PARKS AND REC MEETING, HOW CAN WE RECOVER REVENUE FOR THESE THINGS.
I PROBABLY DROVE THEM CRAZY WITH THAT.
THAT WAS THE SORT OF THINGS I WAS LOOKING AT.
>> I HOPE IT'S $420,000, BECAUSE $420,000 IN BUS FARES PAYS FOR THE POSITIONS YOU HAVE REQUESTED.
>> THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO DO IT.
>> 440 WAS THE WHOLE -- WHEN WE DID THE FIRST PIECE IN '24 AND NOW WE WOULD DO ANOTHER 220.
>> SO IT'S $220,000 IN REVENUE.
>> BUT YOU MAY THE FIRST YEAR UNFORTUNATELY TAKE A DIP BECAUSE WHEN YOU INCREASE RATES, SOMETIMES THE RIDERSHIP WILL DIP A LITTLE. IT COMES BACK.
IT WILL COME BACK. BUT SOME PEOPLE JUST LOOK AT IT DOLLARS TO DOUGHNUTS AND SAY, WELL, MAYBE I'LL TAKE
MY CAR. >> I HAVE TO THINK THEIR CAR WENT UP IN PRICE TOO.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE RIDING IT ARE NOT RESIDENTS.
THEY COME DOWN NEAR THE PARK AND RIDE AND GO DOWN.
SOMETHING I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF.
>> WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE RAISED BUS FARES?
>> WE'RE RIGHT NOW AT 15 OR 13?
>> WE WENT FROM 13 TO 15. CORRECT?
>> THERE'S THINGS THAT -- I MEAN, OUTSTANDING JOB.
THE RODEO BUSSES, THEY WERE PACKED.
YOU COULDN'T BUY TICKETS TO THEM.
THAT'S ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT'S COMING IN THAT'S
[00:45:03]
HELPING OFFSET. HOW DO WE USE SOME OF THOSE BUCKETS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE OTHER COSTS WE HAVEGOING UP? >> WELL, IT MAKES THE COST OF THAT PROGRAM COST NEUTRAL. WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR REVENUE.
>> SOUNDING LIKE WE JUST GROW IN EXPENSES. WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR REVENUE SOURCES. THAT IS THE REASON WE CHARGE THOSE FEES TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE PROGRAM.
>> SO ANYMORE DISCUSSION ON -- DO WE WANT TO REVISIT IN 20 2U6 OR REVISIT THE BUS FARES NOW? WHAT IS Y'ALL'S RECOMMENDATION?
>> IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO IMPLEMENT, TO HAVE EFFECT IN '26?
>> I WILL NEED TO DOUBLE- CHECK IT'S STILL VALID.
WE HAD GONE THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING WHICH ALLOWED YOU TO RAISE THE FARE FROM 13 TO 15 AND THEN TO 16.50. THE WAY THE LANGUAGE STATED IN THE PUBLIC HEARING WE WOULD RAISE THEM IN JUNE 2025.
NOW THAT THAT'S PASSED, I JUST NEED TO GO BACK AND DOUBLE- CHECK THE LANGUAGE TO SEE IF THAT'S STILL VALID TO RAISE IT AFTER 2025, OR HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING, OPEN IT FOR COMMENT 30 DAYS, HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND GIVE A 30- DAY NOTICE THAT THE RATE IS GOING TO GO UP. IT WOULD TAKE ON THE OUTSIDE ABOUT TWO, TWO AND A HALF MONTHS TO IMPLEMENT THAT.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS NUMBER BUT I'M SURE EVERYONE CAN DIG IN. WE SAW LIABILITY INSURANCE IN THE TOWNSHIP GO UP 27% THIS YEAR. IS THAT INCLUDING LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR BUSSES?
>> THAT'S BAKED INTO OUR CONTRACT RATE WITH FIRST- CLASS TRANSPORTATION, SO WE STARTED A NEW CONTRACT WITH THEM IN MAY 2025, PARTIALLY MONIQUE SHOWN WHERE THE RATE OF THE OVERALL SERVICE HAS GONE UP BECAUSE THAT'S A NEW TEN- YEAR CONTRACT WITH THEM AND IT'S BAKED INTO THAT RAE IS THE INSURNS.
>> I'M SURE IT'S GONE UP BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S INSURANCE IS SKYROCKETING,
CORRECT? >> IT'S PART OF THE HOURLY REVENUE RATE THAT WE PAY.
>> IF WE ENTERED IN A MAY 2025 NEW CONTRACT, A HIGHER CONTRACT BECAUSE OF INCREASED COSTS OF LIABILITY INSURANCE, WHICH IS GOING UP, I THINK THAT MAKES A GOOD CASE TO RAISE THE RATES TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PROFITABLE VENTURE.
YEAR. >> WE CAN ADVANCE THAT TO HELP OFFSET AND BRING IN MORE REVENUE.
>> DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT OR ADD THAT IN?
>> WE'VE ALREADY ADD THAT IN TO OUR STAFF.
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. MONIQUE? IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO DO? WHAT'S NEXT?
>> AT SOME POINT TODAY UNLESS YOU ALL WANT TO HAVE OTHER THINGS AND WANT TO COME BACK TOMORROW, WE NEED TO SET A PROPOSED TAX RATE, WHICH IS NOT YOUR ADOPTED TAX RATE, IT IS PROPOSED TAX RATE. SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS KNOW WHAT RATE, FOR INSTANCE, THESE RATES THAT ARE LISTED UP HERE OR SOME OTHER RATE THAT YOU WANT TO SETTLE IN ON SO WE CAN DETERMINE WHAT WE NEED TO GET TO THAT RATE.
>> AND WHAT ABOUT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. HAVE WE LOOKED AT THOSE NUMBERS AT ALL? THE IMPACT THAT HAS ON THE TOWNSHIP IF THAT WERE TO BE --
>> THOSE HOMESTEAD TAX DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE BY JULY 1ST OF EVERY YEAR.
>> YOU CAN CHANGE IT FOR NEXT YEAR.
THAT'S PART OF THE -- YEAH, OUR ONGOING PROCESS IS FOR THE BOARD TO LOOK AT THAT, NO CHANGES WERE MADE THIS YEAR.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK AT ANY TIME BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE OF NEXT YEAR?
>> YOU CAN. IT HELPS TO WAIT UNTIL MAY OF NEXT YEAR BECAUSE WE GET THE PRELIMINARY TAX ROLLS AND WE CAN BETTER ESTIMATE WHAT THE IMPACT OF INCREASING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WOULD BE.
THAT'S TYPICALLY WHEN WE WOULD DO IT.
>> CHAIRMAN BAILEY, I ECHO YOUR FRUSTRATION. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, LIKE YOU SAID, PEN AND PAPER, TAX UP, 7% SALES TAX UP, HOTEL, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND LOOKS LIKE WE'RE DOING -- BUT THEN THE BOTTOM LINE, DOESN'T LOOK AS PRETTY.
AND WE -- WE'VE -- BEAT THE DEAD HORSE OVER AND OVER ABOUT WHY THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF THAT -- DR. SHELLY, I AGREE IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE TO TAKE A FINE- TOOTH COMB. WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT TIME
[00:50:01]
RIGHT NOW, UNFORTUNATELY. AND I WOULD LOVE NOTHING ELSE THAN TO REDUCE TAXES AND REDUCE THE BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS. IT'S JUST IT'S A DIFFICULT YEAR.THE NUMBERS SHOW THAT. WE HAVE ENHANCED SERVICES WE WANT TO MAINTAIN, HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE IS WHAT OUR RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO PRAISE US ON.
ADDING THREE ADDITIONAL FULL- TIME EMPLOYEES, I MEAN IF -- YOU KNOW -- HEARING FROM WHAT WE'VE HEARD, I FULLY BELIEVE THE FIRE TECHNICIAN IS NEEDED. I KNOW WE PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO REFORESTATION. I FORGET THE PURPOSE OF THE FORESTRY POSITION AND THE RADIO ANALYST POSITION, BUT I DO BELIEVE IN THE NEED FOR THE FIRE TECHNICIAN.
IT'S JUST -- THIS IS -- BEING MY FIRST BUDGET WORKSHOP, THIS HAS BEEN DIFFICULT.
YOU KNOW, COMING FROM THE FINANCE SIDE.
SO LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME, I SEE A LOT OF RED. THAT CONCERNS ME.
SO KEEPING THE CURRENT RATE AS IT IS FOR ONE MORE YEAR AND MAKING IT A STATED GOAL TO REDUCE IT FOR NEXT YEAR AND HAVING -- TAKING MORE OF A PROACTIVE APPROACH, GETTING MORE LEAD TIME, TO LOOK AT THINGS, TAKING THE TIME TO REDUCE THE EXPENSES WHERE WE CAN, AND DOGE THINGS, AS YOU SAY, DR.
SHELLY, WOULD BE MY PROPOSED PATH
FORWARD. >> I WOULD AGREE WITH WHAT CRAIG JUST -- EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID. DEFINITELY THE FLEET MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN WE NEED. THE OTHER TWO I'M NOT REALLY CLEAR ON. SO YOU MAY WANT TO TALK TO THOSE AGAIN JUST TO PROVIDE US -- THAT WAS A STREET SCAPE AND --
>> RADIO ANALYST. >> RADIO ANALYST.
>> RADIO ANALYST IS THE ONE THAT TAKES CARE OF OUR EMERGENCY RADIO EQUIPMENT.
>> PRIMARILY USED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE HAD A 186% INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF EQUIPMENT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THAT THE I.T. DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING SINCE THE LAST TIME WE ADDED A RADIO ANALYST. THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING IT WOULD IMPACT SERVICE LEVELS. IT IS OUR DESIRE TO HAVE ALMOST ZERO DOWN TIME ON EMERGENCY RADIOS. WITHOUT THIS POSITION WE WILL HAVE DOWN TIME.
>> WE HAVE REACHED THAT POINT. WE HAVE PUT IT OFF AND PUT IT OFF UNTIL WE GOT TO THIS POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE IT IN ORDER TO KEEP THOSE SERVICE LEVELS.
>> STREET SCAPE POSITION WAS A STREET SCAPE SPECIALIST.
IT WAS TO ALLOW OUR ARBORISTS TO CONCENTRATE FULL TIME ON THE HEALTH OF THE FOREST. INSTEAD OF ALSO RUNNING A STREET SCAPE MAINTENANCE CREW.
>> I'LL MAKE A COMPROMISE. I WILL PULL DOWN MY REQUEST TO CANCEL THE JOBS OR CANCEL THE ADDITIONAL JOBS, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE A FREEZING -- A FREEZE ON ANY HIRING AND THAT IS -- AUTHORIZED POSITIONS, CURRENT POSITIONS, ANYTHING. SOMEONE QUITS AND YOU REPLACE IT THAT'S FINE. BUT ADDING ANY MORE, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WE FREEZE ON IT RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE ADDED 85 SINCE 2022. THAT'S A LOT.
THAT'S FREEZE IT. LET'S WORK ON IT.
LET'S SPEND A YEAR REALLY, REALLY DIGGING IN ON THE BUDGET AND FIGURING OUT IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR US AND IT'S GOING TO BE A 12-MONTH- LONG PROGRAM, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH IT.
I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT AND LOOK AT THAT IN A NEW WAY. ANY FEEDBACK?
COMMENTS? >> HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT, MONIQUE? DOES THAT GIVE YOU AMPLE TIME TO WORK THROUGH --
>> SO A HIRING FREEZE TYPICALLY MEANS AS YOU HAVE VACANCIES YOU DON'T FILL THEM.
>> THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. IF CHRIS HAS A STREET
>> ONE GUY LEAVE, I MEAN, YOU CAN REPLACE THAT GUY BECAUSE HE'S ON THE APPROVED
ADDITIONAL. >> BUT THERE'S AUTHORIZED POSITIONS LIKE THE SAIL BOAT COORDINATOR.
>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ANGST IS ABOUT THAT.
WE HAD TWO POSITIONS TO RUN RECREATION PROGRAMS FOR BATTING KANLS AND A SAIL BOAT PROGRAM THAT STAFF COULD NOT MAKE THE NUMBERS WORK.
WE ANALYZED IT. WE DID NOT THINK IN RECREATION
[00:55:02]
WE ARE REQUIRED TO RECOVER 100% OF OPERATING COSTS WITH REVENUES. WE COULD NOT -- FIRST OF ALL THE BATTING CAGES ARE ON HOLD. SAIL BOAT PROGRAM.GREAT IDEA. WE COULD NOT COME UP WITH A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK. THOSE TWO POSITIONS HAVE. CARRIED IN THE BUDGET THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH A COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
OKAY. THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO THAT WE HAVE. SO THERE ARE NOT A BUNCH OF AUTHORIZED POSITIONS SITTING AROUND IN THE BUDGET THOSE WERE THE TWO THAT WE HAD AND RESPONSIBLY BROUGHT THEM BACK TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SAID WE DON'T NEED THE $70,000 THAT IS TIED TO THESE POSITIONS AND WE TO OFFICIALLY ELIMINATE THEM.
>> I'M JUST SAYING IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER.
>> THERE ARE NOT. >> A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS WERE MADE A LONG TIME AGO AND THEY'RE ADDED -- I WASN'T HERE WHEN THE BATTING CAGES DISCUSSION -- THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO. BUT THEY WERE ADDED ON AS THE YEARS GO ON. I JUST WANT TO SAY RIGHT NOW, LET'S STICK TO WHAT WE HAVE.
HERE'S THE EMPLOYEES WE HAVE. SOMEONE LEAVES YOU CAN REPLACE THAT POSITION. I DON'T WANT A SURPRISE OF OTHER POSITIONS COMING UP. THESE ARE THE ONLY TWO THAT'S
FINE. >> THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO.
I DON'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO ADD POSITIONS.
ONLY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DOES.
THIS HIRING FREEZE I THINK MEANS THAT THEN WE WOULD -- IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET CYCLE YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY, THE BOARD GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE WHETHER WE HIRE STAFF OR NOT. THAT'S -- SO THAT'S FINE.
THAT'S HOW WE WOULD DO IT. NO PROBLEM THERE.
>> LOOKING AT LITTLE POCKETS OF MONEY THAT -- WHERE WE SPEND WE DIDN'T SPEND IN THE PAST, THERE MAY BE SOME SAVINGS THAT WE COULD RECAPTURE -- AND I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO MAKE MR. FRANKS UNHAPPY, DIRECTOR FRANKS, IT'S NOT PERSONAL, THE MONEY THAT WE SPEND ON THE COMMUNITY IMPACT EVERY MONTH, WE HAVE PAGE 6, THAT'S ABOUT $40,000 A YEAR.
WE COULD SAVE THAT IF WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THAT PIECE OF PAPER EVERY MONTH. THAT'S 30, $40,000 A YEAR.
THERE'S ALSO SOME MONEY THAT WE ALLOCATED FOR A MICRO PARK TAT -- INSIDE THE PARKING LOT OF THE KROEGEN'S VILLAGE CENTER. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MONEY IS STILL SITTING THERE. THAT'S MONEY WE COULD PULL
BACK. >> THE BOARD REALLOCATED THOSE FUNDS. IT WAS JUST -- THERE'S NO FUNDS THERE. WE SPENT MONEY ON A
>> WE SPENT MONEY ON A STUDY TO STUDY THAT, BUT THOSE FUNDS HAVE EXPIRED AND THERE'S NO MONEY.
>> OKAY. SO THE MONEY HAS BEEN PULLED BACK ALREADY.
>> THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DID THAT WERE PROGRAMMATIC LIKE THAT, THOUGH, THAT LIKE THE $40,000, THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT, LIKE SOME OF THE AUDIO VISUAL, THE MARKETING, THE THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT MARKETING, BUT MAYBE THERE'S WAYS TO SAVE SOME MONEY BECAUSE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS BUSINESSES DO, THEY CUT ADVERTISING WHENEVER THE BUDGET IS TIGHT. THEY PULL BACK ON ADVERTISING.
I CERTAINLY DID IN MY PRACTICE. JUST FOR A YEAR.
JUST FOR A TOUGH YEAR. AND THEN YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK TO IT. IF THERE'S ANY SAVINGS IN THE ADVERTISING SECTION THAT WE DO, MAYBE WE COULD CUT BACK ON SOME OF OUR ADVERTISING. BECAUSE THAT'S MONEY THAT JUST GOES OUT THE DOOR.
>> WE HAVE VERY LITTLE ADVERTISING.
USUALLY THE ONLY ADVERTISING WE HAVE IS FOR WHEN WE'RE HIRING STAFF IF WE NEED TO DO THAT OR SOME OF OUR SPECIAL EVENTS AND BECAUSE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT LEANNE HAS MADE IN TERMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER PLATFORMS, WE ARE DOWN TO ALMOST NOTHING SPENDING ON ADVERTISING.
BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT WHAT WE DO HAVE
LEFT. >> I TELL YOU WHAT, I'D BE WILLING TO LOOK AT THAT. I THINK OUR -- THE WOMEN'S MAGAZINE LEANNE AND HER TEAM HAVE LED HAS BEEN ELEVATED AT A HIGHER RATE AND I THINK IS GETTING A LOT OF EYES ON IT AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING AND MAYBE IT'S NOT NECESSARY THAT WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY IMPACT AD NOW BECAUSE SO MUCH INFORMATION IS BEING INCLUDED IN THAT. I WOULD BE WILLINGTO DISCUSS
OF DUPLICATING. >> AND THE MAGAZINE, TO YOUR POINT, CHAIRMAN BAILEY, HAS BEEN THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THE WOODLANDS RESIDENTS. CAN YOU PUT UP THAT SLIDE THAT SHOWS THE M AND O AND DEBT SERVICE AND PROPOSED TAX RATE. I'VE.
LOOKING THROUGH THIS AND I COULD NOT FIND IT.
>> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> ANY OTHER FEEDBACK? I PROPOSE WE TAKE A
[01:00:02]
SHORT BREAK AND COME BACK AND REVISIT THIS.>> PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER IN THE BREAK, MONIQUE, WHAT'S NEXT.
[7. Receive, consider and act upon the proposed 2025 debt service tax rate and maintenance and operations tax rate;]
>>> WE'RE BACK IN SESSION. ME NEEK.
>> THANK YOU. SO THE FINAL STEP WE NEED TO TAKE IN ORDER TO CONCLUDE OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETINGS IS FOR THE BOARD TO VOTE ON A PROPOSED TAX RATE.
THE WAY THAT WOULD WORK WE HAVE TO BREAK NIGHT TWO COMPONENTS. ONE VOTE WILL BE FOR THE DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE AND ONE WILL BE FOR THE M AND O, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS RATE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THE SCREEN, ASSUMING THAT THE BOARD IS MAINTAINING THE CURRENT TAX RATE.
AS A REMINDER THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS NOT THE ADOPTED TAX RATE.
THE BOARD WILL NOT ADOPT THE TAX RATE AND YOU HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 4TH.
WHAT THIS DOES DO IS SET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, A PUBLIC KNIT.NOTICE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING TODAY.
>> I'M SURE NOBODY WILL SECOND ME, BUT I WILL MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE FOR 2026 AT 0.1603.
>> OKAY. SO LET ME DO THIS FIRST.
SO WE NEED TO SET THE DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE FIRST BECAUSE THAT DOESN'T CHANGE. THAT'S TIED DIRECTLY TO OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2025 DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE PROPOSED, NOT TO APPROVE, PROPOSE A DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE FOR 2025 BECAUSE THIS IS BASED ON THIS YEAR'S VALUES OF 0.
0102 PER $100 OF TAXABLE VALUE.
>> YEP. >> I MOVE TO SET THE NO NEW RATE OF 0.1603. DEAD SILENCE.
>> WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THERE.
>> YEAH. >> IT'S A GREAT GOAL.
I MOVE TO MAKE THE MAINTAIN THE RATE AT
0.0714. >> THE M AND O RATE I MOVE TO SET THE M AND O RATE TO 0.1612.
>> AND NOT TO SET THE RATE, TO PROPOSE IT, PLEASE TO PROPOSE THE RATE.
>> PROPOSE IT. THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
>> MOTION MADE BY CHAIRMAN OR VICE CHAIRMAN EISSLER, SECONDED BY RICHARD, ANY DISCUSSION? I WOULD LIKE -- I HEAR YOU ON YOUR NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
I THINK WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ON LOWERING THE TAX RATE AND I WAS LOOKING TO LOWER IT. I DON'T THINK WE CAN MAKE IT TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE BUT PRETTY CLOSE TO IT, SO THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO PUT AS A MOTION.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE THIS ONE ON THE FLOOR.
WE HAVE A NEW MOTION BY CRAIG, SECOND BY RICHARD.
>> HOW IS THE ROLL CALL VOTE? NEED TWO PEOPLE TO ROLL CALL VOTE?
[8. Receive, consider and act upon the date and time for a public hearing on the proposed 2025 property tax rate, if necessary;]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR -- 5-2.>> THE NEXT ACTION IS TO SET BECAUSE THE RATE IS SET ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE OR PROPOSED, I'M SORRY PROPOSED ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE WE NEED TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE AND THE CALENDAR THAT YOU ALL HAVE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2025, STARTING AT 5:45 P.M.
SO IF THERE'S A MOTION TO DO THAT, THEN THAT WILL BE THE FINAL ACTION.
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YEA. >> YEA.
IS A PUBLIC HEARING. >> I UNDERSTAND.
[01:05:01]
>> MOTION CARRIES. I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS A TIMING THING YOU CAN'T MAKE
I THINK THE RESIDENTS DESERVE BETTER AND -- THE RESIDENTS CAN
CHANGE MY VOTE. >> YOU'RE FOR THE PUBLIC TALKING ABOUT IT.
>> LET THE RECORD REFLECT SHELLY IS FOR PEOPLE TALKING.
THE LAST THING IF YOU'LL GIVE ME A MOMENT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FINANCE TEAM AND EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM AS I'VE MENTIONED, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS, EVEN THOUGH WE CONDENSED IT INTO A WEEK WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT SINCE REALLY THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF EFFORT POURED INTO IT AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM PUBLICLY VERY MUCH FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND THEIR
PROFESSIONALISM. >> A LOT OF WORK GOES INTO THIS I'M SURE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD.
THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE NOT EASY. THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.
Y'ALL GET A HUGE BOOK A COUPLE DAYS IN ADVANCE.
WE TRY TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT. I THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOT OF THOUGHTFUL, GOOD DISCUSSION DURING THESE THINGS, SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND YOUR DEDICATION TO ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT YOU DO ALL YEAR.
>> DID WE FORGET OR NOT EVER GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE BUDGET?
>> THAT ACTUALLY -- SO WE'LL SEND OUT THE NOTICES.
WHAT YOU DO IS YOU ADOPT THE BUDGET ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, AT 5:00. THERE'S A MEETING, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET SEPARATELY AND BEFORE YOU ADOPT THE TAX RATE.
SO WE WILL HAVE A MEETING AT 5:00 --
>> AND THEN WE'LL -- I'M SORRY I SAID 5.
5:30. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE MEETING TO -- THE PUBLIC HEARING AT
5:45. >> MONIQUE, SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS WE MADE TODAY FOR CUTTING, MOVING FORWARD, ARE YOU GUYS JUST TAKING NOTE OF THAT AND WE'LL DISCUSS THAT AT ANOTHER DATE OR --
>> WE HAVE TAKEN NOTE OF IT AND I WILL EXAMINE BACK WITH A SUGGESTED -- I WILL VISIT WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND CAN BACK WITH A RECOMMENDED PROCESS TO GO THROUGH THOSE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? FEEDBACK.
[11. Consideration of items to be placed on the agenda for next month's meeting;]
WE WILL NOT HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION.AGENDA ITEM 9. ANY FUTURE AGENDA ANNOUNCEMENTS.
WE HAVE A BOARD MEETING TONIGHT.
>> I'VE SPENT MORE TIME WITH YOU SIX THAN MY OWN FAMILY. WE'LL SEE YOU TONIGHT AGAIN.
>> ALL RIGHT. NO BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS.
I MAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN THE
SECOND BY DIRECTOR SNYDER. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.