Stephenville City Council held a regular session Tuesday to approve a proposed maximum tax rate and reorganize the police force leadership.
Monica Harris, the city’s finance manager, presented the tax rate options to the council for consideration, noting that her staff are recommending the maximum proposed tax rate for 2021 on the voter approval rate with an unused increase of $ 0.4420 per 100 US dollars set.
Harris went on to state that if the tax rate is formally adopted in September, it will not exceed the proposed maximum rate approved by the council at Tuesday’s meeting.
The council unanimously voted on the electoral approval rate and also approved a public hearing on the proposed tax rate to be held in the city council chamber on Tuesday, September 14 at 5:30 p.m.
Reorganization of the police leadership
Stephenville Police Chief Dan Harris spoke to the council about the possibility of reorganizing the senior staff for his department.
The chief stated that he currently has one position for a deputy chief and three positions for a lieutenant.
Harris said he would like to combine the assistant chief and lieutenant positions and create two captain positions.
“This creates an equal, two-level second-in-command structure. A captain would oversee all administrative functions and a captain would oversee all operational functions ”, it says in the agenda item. “The two posts would be directly subordinate to the police chief. Two existing lieutenant posts, administration and operations, would remain in the third level of the SPD organizational structure.”
Harris noted that the change would save the city money and that positions within the department could be filled with current staff.
The municipal council unanimously approved the change.
“I just want to praise Chief Harris for all the work you have done here since you came into existence,” said City Councilor Justin Haschke. “Not just to help taxpayers with budget cuts wherever possible, but to become more efficient as a department. Thank you.”
Quarantine leave
City Manager Allen Barnes told the council that a law recently passed by the Texas Legislature has required communities to grant paid quarantine leave to firefighters, peace officers, detention officers and medical technicians who are “employed, appointed or elected to the Texas government.” Quarantined or isolated for possible or known exposure to a communicable disease while on duty. “
Barnes said the new law requires the city to pay 14 days of quarantine leave, and that time cannot affect the employee’s sick time.
The Council has approved the measure that will be included in the Urban Policy Manual.
Financial report
Finance Manager Monica Harris presented the following report:
• Property Tax: The city received $ 21,000 in property taxes in June, an increase of $ 155,000, or 2.41%, over the funds raised until last June. The fiscal year’s $ 6.59 million accumulated so far is 99.16% of the budget, which is essentially the 99.17% expected.
Sales Tax: The city received $ 595,000 in sales tax in June, which is $ 930,000, or 19.73%, more than the funds raised last June. The fiscal year to date of $ 5.6 million is 90.34% of the estimated budget of $ 6.24 million, which is higher than the expected 73.54%.
• HOT Funds: Accommodation businesses reported $ 333,000 in hotel use taxes as of June, compared to $ 299,000 last June. The city received $ 69,000 in sports facility taxes through June. The city spent $ 375,000 on hotel occupancy tax this fiscal year, compared to $ 134,000 last year due to the Day Tripper contract, gateway planning, and Moo-la-Fest.
• Income (Budget Comparison): The target budget for operating income is $ 22.5 million. The city has received $ 23.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year to date, which was $ 594,000 above budget due to sales taxes and service fees.
• Spending (Household Comparison): The target budget for operating expenses is $ 15.7 million. The city has spent $ 14.9 million in the fiscal year to date, which was $ 838,000 below target.
• Revenue (YoY): Operating revenue last year was $ 22.04 million compared to $ 23.1 million this year, up from $ 1 million due to property taxes , Sales taxes and service fees.
• Spending (Year-Over-Year): Operating expenses were $ 14.08 million last year compared to $ 14.9 million this year, up $ 820,000 due to costs related to COVID-19 – Prevention Led, Stimulus Grant To Reduce The Effects Of COVID-19, Claims For Damages, Wages, Fees, Advertising And Gateway Planning.
For more information on Tuesday’s meeting, including the agenda and the agenda package, please visit www.stephenvilletx.gov/meetings