[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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I APPRECIATE THAT. ALRIGHT. GOOD EVENING. IT IS AUGUST 14TH. WELCOME TO NORTH LAKE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING. ALL COUNCILORS ARE PRESENT. WE WILL START TONIGHT WITH THE INVOCATION. MR. SHEK, ARE YOU. OH, THERE YOU ARE. WE HAVE A PLETHORA OF PASTORS TONIGHT, BUT WE GOT THE BEST ONE UP HERE RIGHT NOW. GAVIN. STILL HERE? GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I'M GOING TO READ THE VERSE OF THE DAY. THIS IS FROM ACTS 2035 SAYS, AND I HAVE BEEN CONSTANT EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU CAN HELP THOSE IN NEED BY WORKING HARD. YOU SHOULD REMEMBER THE WORDS OF THE LORD JESUS. IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE. SO WE'LL REMEMBER THAT TONIGHT IN ALL OF OUR PROCEEDINGS. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GIFT OF THIS DAY, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF NORTH LAKE. LORD, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD JUST GIVE WISDOM AND UNITY AND INTEGRITY TO ALL WHO LEAD AND MAKE DECISIONS HERE TONIGHT.
LORD, GUIDE THEIR WORDS AND ACTIONS SO THAT THEY MAY SEEK THE GOOD OF ALL AND HONOR THE TRUST THAT HAS BEEN PLACED IN THEM. LORD, BLESS OUR COMMUNITY WITH SAFETY, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY. HELP US JUST TO ALL WORK TOGETHER IN A SPIRIT OF COOPERATION AND RESPECT. LORD, WE LIFT THIS EVENING UP TO YOU AND WE PRAY IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR PLEDGES. 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. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE. TEXA. ONE STATE UNDER GOD ONE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A FAIRLY SHORT AGENDA TONIGHT, SO WE'LL SEE HOW WE CAN RUN THIS. DO WE
[2. ANNOUNCEMENTS, PROCLAMATIONS, AND PRESENTATIONS ]
HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE WE START? JUST THAT. WE'LL WE NEED YOU TO COME BACK THE NEXT TWO THURSDAYS AS WELL. AND, AND JOHN WILL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THE LEGISLATURE WANTS US TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AND THEN DO IT AND THEN SAY, WE DID IT. SO ANYWAY, IT IT SEEMED TO OVERCOMPLICATE IT, BUT WE'LL WALK YOU THROUGH IT. BUT. YES, SIR. WE'RE READY. ALL RIGHT[2.A. Briefing - Fiscal Year 2026 Proposed Town & Capital Improvement Program Budgets ]
THEN, WE'LL START TONIGHT WITH MR. THOMPSON AND OUR BRIEFING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE ARE ALMOST AT THE FINISH LINE. SO, JUST AS ALWAYS, JUST WANT TO START WITH A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE CALENDAR. WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THE INITIAL KICKOFFS, ALL ESSENTIALLY ALL THE BRIEFINGS. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE LAST ONE UNLESS WE ARE DIRECTED TO HOLD ANOTHER ONE. AND THIS ONE TONIGHT WILL JUST BE ON THAT PROPOSED BUDGET. AND AFTER THAT, JUST TO KIND OF MENTION WHAT DREW IS ALLUDING TO, THERE IS A TONIGHT IS THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND ALSO THE BUDGET HEARING, WHICH YOU ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO POSTPONE UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING NEXT WEEK WHEN THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED, BUT ALSO THE TAX RATE HEARING OCCURS, AS WELL AS THE TAX RATE ADOPTION. AND PART OF THAT IS JUST HOW THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS IT'S STRUCTURED. THEY, AS DREW MENTIONED, LIKE TO HAVE YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING, THEN ACTUALLY DO IT AND THEN EVEN RATIFY IT, THAT YOU ACTUALLY DID THAT ACTION AS WELL. SO IT'S A COMPLICATED PROCESS A LITTLE BIT PROBABLY OVER COMPLICATED FOR US IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH IT. AND THAT SHOULD ALL BE COMPLETED BY THE 21ST OF AUGUST. NOW DIVING INTO IT JUST ALWAYS LIKE TO REMIND THE COUNCIL AND PUBLIC THAT WE ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND WHEN DOING THE BUDGET, THE STRATEGIC GOALS THAT COUNCIL HAS COME UP WITH. AND THEN OUT OF THOSE STRATEGIC GOALS, WE ALSO HAVE THESE BUDGET FOCUS AREAS OF EFFECTIVELY MANAGING PUBLIC RESOURCES, DIVERSIFYING THE TAX BASE, OPERATING EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, AND THEN RESPONSIBLY MANAGING GROWTH. AND THOSE GOALS, ALONG WITH THESE FOCUS AREAS, ARE WHAT WE USE TO HELP GUIDE THE BUDGET PROCESS.SO WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH JUST A BUDGET. IN BRIEF, WE HAVE THIS AS A SECTION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET. AND SO I'VE PULLED OUT SOME OF THAT HIGH LEVEL INFORMATION ABOUT THE OPERATING BUDGET AND ALSO THE CAPITAL BUDGET. THERE'S TWO BUDGETS OF THE TOWN OPERATES UNDER. THE FIRST IS THE OPERATING. AND SO WITH THE OPERATING BUDGET, THAT'S EVERYTHING GOING TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, STAFF, SUPPLIES, MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS, GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES LIKE POLICE WORK AND UTILITIES. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR OPERATING REVENUES AT 52.1 MILLION AND OPERATING EXPENDITURES AT 52 MILLION. WE'RE EXPECTING ABOUT $132,000 GAP BETWEEN THE TWO, WITH REVENUES EXCEEDING EXPENDITURES BY 132,000. AND THAT SMALL GAP IS BECAUSE THE TOWN PRACTICES A CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING PHILOSOPHY. SO WE TRIED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HAVING REVENUES ALWAYS EXCEEDING EXPENDITURES WHEN WE DO THE
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BUDGET. SO WE TRY NOT TO OVERESTIMATE REVENUES, AND WE DO OVERESTIMATE EXPENDITURES. AND THAT LEADS US TO HAVING THAT SMALLER SURPLUS. TYPICALLY WE COME IN HIGHER AT THE END OF EACH YEAR, BUT WE'D RATHER COME IN HIGHER THAN COME IN BEHIND. SO THAT'S THE GOAL. AND THE TOWN ALSO IS UTILIZING THIS YEAR SOME BUILT UP FUND RESERVE BALANCES FOR ONE TIME PURCHASES OR FOR REPLACEMENT COSTS. THE GENERAL FUND IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FUND. THIS IS THE PRIMARY ONE FOR GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY. WE'RE LOOKING AT 13.86 MILLION REVENUES. THAT INCLUDES SALES TAX, PROPERTY TAX, FRANCHISE FEES AND A NUMBER OF OTHER SOURCES, AND THEN EXPENDITURES OF 13.81 MILLION AND REVENUES EXCEEDING EXPENDITURES BY ABOUT 47,000.PART OF THIS BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND HINGES ON THE STORM DRAINAGE FEE. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE WORKED ON UNDER THE ASSUMPTION IS HAVING THAT FEE AND THAT HAVING THAT FEE WOULD HELP TO REDUCE THE PRESSURE ON THE GENERAL FUND, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE GENERAL FUND IS SUPPORTING STORM DRAINAGE ACTIVITIES USING PROPERTY TAX. NOW THE ENDING FUND BALANCE IS ESTIMATED TO BE 4.8 MILLION. THAT'S 35% OF OPERATING COSTS. THE TOWN'S FUND BALANCE POLICY FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS 33%, SO WE'LL STILL BE ABOVE THAT. THE STATE GUIDELINE IS 30%, SO WE'RE ABOVE THAT AS WELL. SO ABOUT FOUR MONTHS OF RESERVES. AND THEN WE'RE SPENDING DOWN PART OF THAT FUND BALANCE. THIS YEAR. IT'S MUCH HIGHER THAN THE 4.8 CURRENTLY. RIGHT NOW WE'RE SPENDING DOWN PART OF THAT TO IN RELATION TO THE TAX INCREMENT ZONE NUMBER ONE. PERSONNEL COSTS. THOSE CONTINUE TO RISE. RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT 10.1 MILLION. AND YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN THERE BY DEPARTMENT. POLICE AND PUBLIC WORKS DO MAKE UP OUR LARGEST SHARE OF COSTS WHEN IT COMES TO PERSONNEL. WE'RE EXPECTING THAT THE SERVICE AREA POPULATION IS GOING TO GROW BY ABOUT 11%. SO WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT'S HERE IN THE TOWN LIMITS. BUT ADDITIONALLY, SOME AREAS IN THE ETJ, SUCH AS HARVEST THAT WE SERVE AS WELL, SPECIFICALLY THE UTILITIES. AND THEN WITH THE CONTRACT FOR POLICE SERVICES AND THE TOWN'S CONTINUING ADD PERSONNEL. AND THAT IS CAUSING THE RISE IN PERSONNEL COSTS AS WE'RE LOOKING TO MEET SERVICE DEMANDS AND MAINTAIN SERVICES AT THEIR CURRENT LEVELS. INTERNAL SERVICES THESE ARE RELATED TO TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT AND BUILDING SERVICES, AND EACH OF THOSE ARE ABOUT RIGHT AROUND 1 MILLION. AND THE EQUIPMENT SPECIFICALLY THAT'S BROKEN INTO WHAT'S THE AMOUNT FOR REPLACEMENTS AND THE AMOUNT FOR NEW VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT. WITH REPLACEMENTS. WE SAVE FOR THOSE OVER THE YEARS THAT BUILDS UP OUR FUND BALANCE IN THE EQUIPMENT FUND, AND THEN WE SPEND THAT OUT AS VEHICLES NEED TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE SEEN RISES IN COSTS FOR VEHICLES, POLICE VEHICLES, PATROL VEHICLES ARE NOW COSTING ABOUT A 120,000 TO OUTFIT. THAT'S WAY UP FROM WHAT THEY WERE THREE, 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO WHEN WE ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THESE VEHICLES. AND THEN WE DO HAVE SOME LARGER EXPENSES FOR REPLACEMENTS, SUCH AS A DUMP TRUCK, WHICH WE TYPICALLY REPLACE ABOUT EVERY 7 TO 8 YEARS. AND THEN WE DO HAVE NEW VEHICLES. AND WITH THE NEW VEHICLES, WE ATTEMPT TO USE INCOMING REVENUE SOURCES FOR THAT YEAR TO MAKE THAT ONE TIME PURCHASE. AND THEN WE SAVE FOR THOSE FUTURE REPLACEMENT COSTS AS WE GO DOWN, GO DOWN. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. POPULATION GROWTH IS DRIVING THIS. AS YOU ADD MORE EQUIPMENT, AS YOU ADD MORE STAFF TO MEET SERVICE DEMANDS, THAT'S INCREASING THESE INTERNAL INTERNAL SERVICES COSTS. AND WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COST SAVINGS. A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THIS YEAR OUR ADMIN SERVICES TEAM, THEY WENT OUT DID A QUOTE FOR TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, THIRD PARTY IT AND FOUND SOMETHING THAT MEETS OUR NEEDS AND IS LOWER. AND SO THAT'S PROVIDING SOME COST SAVINGS THIS YEAR.
CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT IS CONTAINED AND THAT IS TIED TO OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
THAT'S THE OTHER BUDGET THAT STAFF WORKS ON AND COUNCIL ADOPTS FOR THIS YEAR. WE'RE LOOKING AT 83.4 MILLION IN CAPITAL PROJECT COSTS, ASSUMING THAT EVERYTHING HAPPENED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE AND WE SPENT ALL THE MONEY THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO. ROADS ARE 13.6 MILLION, WATER AND SEWER 27.9. AND THEN BUILDING ANOTHER IS 4.19 MILLION. THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY THE STAR CENTER BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE. WITHIN THAT ONE, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 51.9 MILLION FROM AVAILABLE FUNDING SOURCES, AND A PROPOSED DEBT ISSUANCE OF UP TO 32.4 MILLION, DEPENDING ON HOW PROJECTS PROGRESS. AND JUST AS KIND OF A REMINDER FOR THE PUBLIC ROAD PROJECTS WE ATTEMPT TO SUPPORT WITH PROPERTY TAXES, WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS ARE PRIMARILY FUNDED BY UTILITY REVENUES OR IMPACT FEES. AND THEN THE STAR CENTER, THAT IS ONE OF OUR MAJOR BUILDING PROJECTS, AND THAT'S BEING SUPPORTED BY LEASE PAYMENTS, SALES TAX, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AND REVENUE FROM THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE AS THOSE RETURNS COME IN. SO THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION JUST WANTED TO DIVE INTO A LOOK AT THE BUDGET IN TERMS OF THOSE FOUR FOCUS BUDGET FOCUS CATEGORIES THAT PRESENTED THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESENTATION. RIGHT HERE IS THE WE'RE GOING TO START WITH EFFECTIVELY EFFECTIVELY MANAGE PUBLIC RESOURCES. SO COUNCIL HAS ALWAYS DEFINED THAT BOTH PAST AND CURRENT. COUNCIL HAS DEFINED THAT AS MAINTAINING THAT 29.5 CENT TAX RATE, KEEPING THE TAX RATE LOW FOR LOW FOR CITIZENS. AND THIS BUDGET CONTINUES TO TRY AND ACHIEVE THAT BY UTILIZING THE DE MINIMIS RATE, IDENTIFYING ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES THAT WE CAN HELP TO PUSH OFF ANY TYPE OF TAX INCREASE. OPERATING ON A LEAN STAFFING MODEL AND EMPHASIZING TECHNOLOGY WHEN WE
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HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SO. AND WE ALSO ARE BENEFITING FROM NEW VALUE GROWTH. SO THAT CONTINUES TO HELP OFFSET THE CAP THAT'S PLACED ON APPRAISALS. AND THEN USING AVAILABLE FUND BALANCES FOR REPLACING EQUIPMENT, ONE TIME PURCHASES WHEN THOSE ARE APPROPRIATE, AND THEN SUPPORTING DEBT FROM OTHER REVENUE SOURCES. JUST LIKE I MENTIONED, THE STAR CENTER USING LEASE PAYMENTS OR UTILITY REVENUES TO SUPPORT DEBT INSTEAD OF PROPERTY TAXES. I'LL LOOK QUICK. LOOK AT PROPERTY TAX. WE LOOKED AT THIS WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE REVENUE PRESENTATION. BUT THE 25 VALUES ABOUT 3.7 BILLION, THAT WAS OUR TAXABLE VALUE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S COMPLETELY EVERYTHING.THERE'S EXEMPTIONS PULLED OUT. A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THAT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION THAT THAT COUNCIL APPROVED RAISING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION OF 65 DISABLED UP TO 200,000. SO THAT BRINGS DOWN SOME OF THAT VALUE THAT WE COLLECT REVENUE ON. BUT TAXABLE VALUES ON A WHOLE INCREASED BY 18%. THE SPLIT IS 44% COMMERCIAL AND 56% RESIDENTIAL. RIGHT NOW, NEW VALUE ACCOUNTS FOR 9% OF THAT TAXABLE REVENUE. AND WE DID SEE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, IT WAS KIND OF A LITTLE BIT OF A BUMPER YEAR COMPARED TO THIS ONE, 33% LOWER IN TERMS OF NEW VALUE FOR THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. THIS IS THE PROPOSED TAX RATE THAT STAFF IS PROPOSING FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER 29.5 CENTS, MAINTAINING THAT SAME TAX RATE THAT THE TOWN HAS HAD FOR 20 PLUS YEARS. AND JUST TO LOOK AT THE 25 AND THE 26 RATES. SO IN 25, WE DID ADOPT THE 29.5 CENTS. AT THAT TIME, IT WAS THE VOTER APPROVED RATE. WE DID SEE A DECREASE IN OUR NO NEW REVENUE RATE THIS YEAR, WHICH BRINGS EVERYTHING DOWN. YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE GRAPH THERE. IT DROPS EVERYTHING BACKWARDS BECAUSE YOU START FROM THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND THE CALCULATIONS BUILD ON THAT.
WE'RE PROPOSING ADOPTING THE DE MINIMIS RATE OF 20.5 CENTS THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR TOWNS 30,000 OR LESS. WITH THAT RATE, WE'RE LOOKING AT 10.3 MILLION IN REVENUE. THE INS WOULD BE ABOUT 4.6 MILLION, ABOUT 540,000 OVER LAST YEAR. AND THAT'S USED TO FUND DEBT AND THEN TOTAL MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, THAT WHICH GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND, THAT WOULD BE 5.7 MILLION.
SO THAT ALSO IS SPLIT OUT WITH THE TOURISTS AS WELL. OPERATING EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
THIS THE TOWN IS ALWAYS ATTEMPTING TO MAINTAIN CURRENT SERVICE LEVELS. FOR A GROWING POPULATION, THE GOAL IS TO NOT REGRESS, BUT ALWAYS PROGRESSING FORWARD WITH MAINTAINING THOSE SERVICES AND MAKE SURE THAT RESIDENTS ARE RECEIVING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO THAT WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP PACE WITH OUR STAFF BY DOING MARKET STUDIES AND KEEPING PACE WITH THE MARKET TO REDUCE EMPLOYEE TURNOVER, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY FINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF. SO THAT WOULD BE ADOPTING NEW TECHNOLOGY WHEN POSSIBLE. RIGHT NOW, BUDGET EXPENSES FOR NEW EMPLOYEES ARE 573,000. THIS IS SPLIT ACROSS ALL FUNDS AT 205,000 FOR COST OF LIVING MARKET AND BENEFIT INCREASES 103,000 FOR TECHNOLOGY THIS YEAR. THAT WOULD INCLUDE PERMITTING SOFTWARE AND COMPUTER ASSISTED DESIGN SOFTWARE TO HELP PUBLIC WORKS AND COMPUTER FORENSIC SOFTWARE FOR POLICE FOR THEIR INVESTIGATIONS, AND THEN 1.2 MILLION FOR VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT THAT INCLUDES NEW AND REPLACEMENT COSTS, PERSONNEL ADDITIONS ARE EIGHT. POLICE IS ASKING FOR TWO CORPORALS AND A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER. THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER WOULD BE SPLIT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WOULD SPEND A MAJORITY OF THE TIME THERE AND THEN COME BACK TO THE TOWN. I BELIEVE IT'S FOR THOSE SUMMER MONTHS. AND THEN PUBLIC WORKS UTILITY SUPERVISOR AND STREET SUPERVISOR TO HELP MANAGE THEIR STAFF. IT'S GETTING TOO MUCH FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT TO HANDLE ON HIS OWN, SO HAVING THOSE TWO POSITIONS WOULD HELP TO SPLIT UP THAT RESPONSIBILITY. EQUIPMENT OPERATOR AS WELL FOR THE STRIPING CREW AND THEN WITH ADMINISTRATION LOOKING AT RECORDS CLERK TO SUPPORT THE TOWN SECRETARY AND A PURCHASING AGENT TO HELP STREAMLINE PURCHASING WITHIN FINANCE AND HELP WITH SOME ACCOUNTING WORK, AS WELL AS AS WORK CONTINUES TO INCREASE FOR EQUIPMENT. AS MENTIONED, THAT 1.2 1.2 MILLION THAT'S USING BUILT UP RESERVES FOR REPLACEMENTS AND ONE TIME PURCHASES, AND THEN INCOMING REVENUE FOR NEW PURCHASES, NEW VEHICLES. POLICE IS ASKING FOR TWO PATROL AND A PUBLIC WORKS SUPERVISOR TRUCK FOR PUBLIC WORKS, TWO OF THOSE, ONE FOR THE UTILITY AND ONE FOR THE STREET SUPERVISOR. REPLACEMENT VEHICLES. WE HAVE A NUMBER THIS YEAR TWO PATROL, TWO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION POLICE VEHICLE UNITS, A DUMP TRUCK FOR PUBLIC WORKS, AND THEN A UTILITY TRUCK. AND THEN OTHER EQUIPMENT WOULD BE A POLICE MOBILE SPEED SIGN, TRAILER, AND THEN STREET MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT TO HELP MAINTAIN STREETS HERE AT THE NORTH LAKE. AND THEN THE LAST SECTION KIND OF COMBINES TWO OF THOSE FOCUS POINTS, DIVERSIFYING THE TAX BASE AND RESPONSIBLY MANAGING GROWTH. SO THE TOWN HAS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. AND THE GOAL OF THAT IS TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES TO RESIDENTS. THAT'S THE FIRST. ANOTHER GOAL IS TO HELP GROW THE COMMERCIAL TAX BASE BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, WITH THE IDEA THAT THAT COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT BRINGS IN INCREASED PROPERTY TAX, SALES TAX AND ADDITIONAL REVENUE IN OTHER WAYS. WITH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AS
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MENTIONED ALREADY 83.4 MILLION, THIS HAS INCREASED FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL ROAD PROJECTS. THIS YEAR. THE STAR CENTER IS LOOKING TO BE COMPLETED HERE AROUND JUNE IN 2026. AND THEN THERE IS A NUMBER OF PROJECTS WITHIN THE KATHERINE BRANCH AREA THAT SHOULD BE THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMPLETED OR WRAPPING UP, AND THEN A DEBT ISSUANCE OF 32.4 MILLION TO HELP SUPPORT POTENTIAL PROJECT OR SUPPORT THESE PROJECTS. HERE'S JUST A LIST OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THE TOWN'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM THAT WE BRIEFED IN A PRIOR IN A PRIOR SESSION. WE HAVE A ROAD PROJECTS, OUR WATER AND SEWER AND OUR BUILDING AND OTHER. AND THEN THE TOWN. OUR BUDGET BOOK IS ONLINE. IT'S ALL DIGITAL, SO THIS IS A QR CODE RESIDENTS ARE WELCOME TO USE. IT'S BEEN ON ONLINE SINCE AUGUST 1ST WHEN WE PRESENTED IT TO COUNCIL AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON THERE ONCE IT'S ADOPTED. WE'LL UPDATE THIS LINK WITH THE ADOPTED BUDGET. IT WILL NO LONGER BE THE PROPOSED, BUT WITH THAT, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. TAKE ANY COMMENTS. COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS? EXCELLENT PRESENTATION ONCE AGAIN SIR OKAY, YOU'RE ON A ROLL. APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. THAT ENDS OUR OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS AND[3. PUBLIC INPUT ]
BRIEFINGS TONIGHT. WE HAVE PUBLIC INPUT. IT'S FOR SPECIFIC ITEMS. WOULD YOU WANT TO WAIT FOR THAT PUBLIC HEARING MR. MCGREGOR OR NO. JOEL MCGREGOR 8921 SAM LEE LANE. AND OF COURSE I HATE TAXES. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT CUTTING OUT UNNECESSARY THINGS.YOU KNOW, CHRISTMAS TREES AND SIGNS AND VARIOUS JUNK LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE THAT. THAT'S GREAT. I BET WE CAN GET GROUPS THAT LIKE THOSE THINGS TO DONATE MONEY TO DO THEM, AND IF WE CAN'T, THEN WE DON'T NEED THEM. YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT I WAS TALKING TO A RESIDENT HERE IN NORTHLAKE ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS TREE JUST TODAY. AND, YOU KNOW, I BET 2% OF THE PEOPLE DON'T SEE THAT OR EVEN KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT IT, BUT WE TOOK THE OTHER 98% OF THE PEOPLE'S MONEY AND MADE THEM PAY FOR IT, TO MAKE 2% OF THE PEOPLE HAPPY. AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE THOSE 2% THAT SAW IT OR WENT TO THE THING WOULD EVEN BE THAT UPSET IF THEY IF WE DIDN'T HAVE IT. BUT ANYWAY, WE'D BE. NOW WE COULD BE TALKING ABOUT PAYING OFF DEBT OR LOWERING OUR TAX RATE OR SOMETHING INSTEAD OF BORROWING MORE MONEY. AND I DO APPLAUD YOU FOR NOT RAISING THE TAX RATE. BUT OF COURSE, AS YOU SAW IN THE THING, I GUESS YOU'D HAVE TO GO TO A VOTE IF YOU WANTED TO RAISE IT, AND THAT WOULDN'T BE POPULAR ANYWAY. YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW MY THOUGHTS ON THAT. AND WE GOT TONS OF MEETINGS THIS MONTH, AND I HAVE MEETINGS FOR THE NEXT TWO THURSDAYS, SO I WON'T BE HERE. SO I'M GOING TO BE WATCHING RECORDINGS AND STUFF. KEEP AN EYE ON YOU GUYS. BUT YEAH, I'VE GOT A CC MEETING THAT THE NORMAL ONE IS NEXT THURSDAY. AND THEN THERE'S A SPECIAL ONE THE FOLLOWING THURSDAY, WHICH ARE BOTH YOU GUYS ARE HAVING COUNCIL MEETINGS ALSO. SO I'LL, I'LL MISS YOU. SO BEHAVE. THANKS. OVERLAPPING MEETINGS. THANK YOU,
[4. CONSENT ITEMS ]
MR. MCGREGOR. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE OUR CONSENT ITEMS. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT. I'LL TAKE ANYTHING FOR PULLING OR FOR MOTIONS. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. I'LL SECOND A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE CAN TAKE A VOTE ON THAT. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUS 7 TO 0 MOTION PASSES. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON ACTION AGENDA TONIGHT. AND THE FIRST IS[5.A. Consider approval of a Resolution of the Town of Northlake, Texas, setting the proposed tax rate of $0.295000 per $100 valuation to be considered for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, and taking a record vote ]
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION TWO NORTH LAKE, SETTING THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 29.5 CENT PER $100 VALUATION TO BE CONSIDERED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026. COUNCIL, THIS ONE'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. WE HAVE TO TAKE A RECORD VOTE FOR THIS. SO WE WILL GO DOWN THE LINE AND SAY I OR FOR OR AGAINST THE COUNTRY'S. WE CAN YOU CAN STILL DO IT AUTOMATICALLY. IT'S JUST YEAH. IF YOU GO THE NEXT SLIDE IT KIND OF SHOWS, YOU KNOW. AND WE HAVE SPECIFIC MOTION LANGUAGE. IF SOMEONE WOULD BE SO KIND. I'M PROUD OF STAFF FOR BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN THIS TAX RATE AGAIN AND SQUEEZING EVERY LITTLE THING OUT OF IT, BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE HAS REALLY BEEN[00:20:02]
LIMITING US AND WHAT WE CAN DO. SO THANK YOU, STAFF. GOOD JOB ON THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. THANK YOU.[5.A. VOTE]
I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED. SETTING PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 29.5 CENT PER $100 VALUATION BE CONSIDERED FOR A FISCAL YEAR OF 2025 AND 2026. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND FOR MISS HOLMES? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. ITEM[5.B.Consider adoption of an Ordinance, of the Town Council of the Town of Northlake, Texas, adopting the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 beginning on October 1, 2025, and ending on September 30, 2026, for the Town of Northlake, Northlake Public Improvement District No. 2 (The Highlands), Tax Increment Financing Zone No. 1 (TIRZ-Canyon Falls), Tax Increment Financing Zone No. 2 (TIRZ-Catherine Branch), and Tax Increment Financing Zone No. 3 (TIRZ-Lifestyle Center)]
B WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT FOR ADOPTING THE PROPOSED BUDGET. DO WE HAVE ANY? WE JUST WENT THROUGH THE BRIEFINGS. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF BRIEFINGS. SO I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 5:51 P.M. IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET. I KNEW YOU WOULD TURN THAT DOWN REAL QUICK. HOPEFULLY THEY DIDN'T SCREW UP EVERYBODY ELSE'S. BUT THIS YEAR ON THE HAS TO DO WITH THE BUDGET, THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, MY HOMESTEAD CAP WENT UP TO 1.1 MILLION $216,000 IS WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO TAX ME ON FOR THIS YEAR, AND THEY JUST FIXED IT THIS WEEK. SO IT DROPPED BACK DOWN TO 1.37. SO THAT'S A ONE ALMOST A 1.1 MILLION DROP IN WHAT THEY WERE SAYING THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO GET PAID TAXES ON. AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THEY CHANGED TO SOME NEW SYSTEM AND IT SCREWED UP ALL KINDS OF STUFF. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT NUMBER THEY GAVE YOU THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING IS MESSED UP, BUT I KNOW ALMOST 1.1 MILLION OF IT IS MESSED UP. SO. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC HEARING? IT'S 5:52 P.M. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING COUNCIL. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS OR DO WE HAVE ANY SPECIAL LANGUAGE FOR THIS ONE? WE DO. AND NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO AS JOHN SAID YOU YOU YOU JUST APPROVED THE PROPOSED TAX RATE. WE CAN GO UP TO THAT RATE. SORR.THE 21ST ADOPT THE BUDGET AND THEN ADOPT THE TAX RATE. BECAUSE YOU GOT TO DO THE BUDGET BEFORE YOU DO THE TAX RATE. BUT YOU CAN'T DO THE TAX RATE UNTIL YOU PROPOSE IT. SO BUT THE BUDGET IS RELATED TO THAT. SO WE HAD THE BUDGET HEARING AND YOU YOU WERE PRESENTED THE BUDGET. SO WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO CONTINUE THE BUDGET UNTIL THE 21ST. AND THEN ON THE 21ST, ADOPT THE BUDGET
[5.B. VOTE]
AND THEN ADOPT THE TAX RATE. OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE TO CONTINUE THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 2026 BUDGET TO A CERTAIN DATE OF AUGUST 21ST, 2025, DURING A SPECIAL MEETING TO BE HELD BY TOWN COUNCIL AT 5:30 P.M. AT TOWN HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBER, 1500 COMMON CIRCLE, SUITE 300, NORTH LAKE, TEXAS 76226. I'LL SECOND ALL MOTION IN A SECOND.[5.C. Consider adoption of an Ordinance of the Town of Northlake, Texas, providing for the annexation of approximately 25.5 acres of land being Lot 2, Block A, H3 Cattle Addition, contiguous to the current town limits of Northlake, Texas, in the exclusive extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of the Town. Case # ANX-25-002]
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, COUNCILORS. AND THIRD, WE HAVE THE. THIS IS NOT RELATED TO BUDGET PROVIDING FOR ANNEXATION. APPROXIMATELY 25.5 ACRES IN THE EIGHTH STREET CATTLE ADDITION. THIS WILL BRING ANOTHER PROPERTY INTO TOWN AND BRING SOME MORE TAX REVENUE TO THIS. AND NATHAN WILL GIVE JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW. AND WE HAVE SPECIAL LANGUAGE FOR THIS ONE TOO. SO YES. SO JUST AS A REMINDER, A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WAS APPROVED FOR THIS PROPERTY OWNED BY CHECKERED FLAG INVESTMENTS. IT'S OFF OF DALE EARNHARDT WHERE THE NEW DALE EARNHARDT PROJECT WAS ADDED. TWO MORE LANES WAS PARTIALLY FUNDED BY A ROAD ASSESSMENT FEE, AND THAT WE BENEFITED FROM THAT ROAD ASSESSMENT FEE BY BEING ABLE TO GET SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES THAT ARE IN THE ETJ, DON'T PAY ANY PROPERTY TAXES TO THE TOWN TO HELP FUND THAT PROJECT, BUT IT ALSO ENCOURAGED ANNEXATION OF THOSE PROPERTIES. WITH THE ANNEXATION, YOU'VE AGREED TO WAIVE THAT ASSESSMENT FEE BECAUSE WE'LL BE COLLECTING PROPERTY TAX. SO THAT GOT THIS PROPERTY TO THE TABLE. YOU SEE THAT BLUE PROPERTY OFF OF 114 THAT GOT IT IN EARLIER AS WELL.SO I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU OF THAT. BUT THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WAS APPROVED
[00:25:04]
STILL HASN'T BEEN EXECUTED. WE THINK THE OWNER IS READY TO DO THAT FINALLY. BUT THEY WANT TO DISCUSS IT WITH THEIR BUSINESS TENANT ON THE PROPERTY BEFORE TAKING FINAL ACTION ON THIS. SO THEY'VE REQUESTED THIS BE POSTPONED TO THE AUGUST 28TH MEETING. AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THIS SPECIAL MOTION FOR YOU. THEY'RE STILL LOOKING TO ANNEX. THEY'RE JUST WAITING. SOME[5.C. VOTE]
CLARIFICATIONS. YES. OKAY. I MOVE FOR POSTPONE CONSIDERATION OF THE ITEM AS PRESENTED TO INCLUDE A PUBLIC HEARING TO A DATE CERTAIN OF AUGUST 28TH, 2025 AT 5:30 P.M. AT TOWN HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 1500 COMMON CIRCLE, SUITE 300, NORTH LAKE, TEXAS. 76226. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, I HAVE A SECOND FOR MR. PROSCIUTTO.MR. GANS. OKAY. NO PROBLEM. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. AND WITH THAT, I DON'T BELIEVE WE
[6. EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
HAVE ANY ACTIONS THIS EVENING, BUT WE WILL CONVENE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER.551071551072551074 AND 551087. WE SHOULD HAVE NO ACTIONS COMING OUT. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT OKAY. WE ARE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM TO PURSUE TONIGHT.
[7. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION ]
AND I WROTE THIS DOWN HERE. SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE TOWN MANAGER'S EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT MODIFICATIONS AS PRESENTED. I'LL SECOND.YEAH. THESE ADDING TO THE DRAMA. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. AND WITH THAT IT IS 6:34 P.M. I WILL
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.