City Council holds Second Public Hearing on Property Tax Increase and Budget Workshop

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

The Eagle Pass City Council held its regular monthly meeting on September 9, 2014 at the Eagle Pass City Hall, holding the Second Public Hearing on Property Tax Increase and Budget Workshop regarding the 2014-2015 Fiscal Year.

During the Citizens Recognition of the agenda, local citizen and U.S. Veteran Albert Daniel spoke before the City Council against the proposed 4.5 cents per $100 valuation property tax increase being considered by the City Council and Administration.

“Mr. Mayor and Council, I am here to speak on the proposed tax rate and I am opposed to it. I believe that there are things that need to be done prior to raising the taxes,” said Daniel.

Daniel advised City Council that in recent years there has been an increase of boarding homes within the City limits to allow foreign persons attend the local public schools or take advantage of public benefits. Daniel requested the City to reclassify local properties operating as boarding homes and be taxed as commercial or businesses instead of residential.

“We have a lot of these and two family residences or properties as it appears that they are commercial endeavors. When you turn a home into a boarding house then its commercial. I believe that these houses and properties should be taxed at a higher rate,” said Daniel.

Mayor Ramsey English Cantu thanked Daniel for his comments and attending the meeting.

Mayor Cantu read into the minutes the proposed property tax rate increase of 4.5 cents per $100 valuation and opened the public hearing for comment. Sadly, no local citizen spoke before the City Council regarding for or against the proposed property tax rate increase during the public hearing. Without any comments, the Second Public Hearing was closed.

The scheduled final reading of the new proposed property tax rate increase for 2014-2015 will be held on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at a special City Council meeting. The public is invited to attend and express their comments whether in favor or against the tax rate increase. The September 16th meeting will be the last opportunity for any citizen to speak with the City Council before they vote to approve the proposed property tax increase.

Another agenda item approved unanimously by City Council was an amendment to the 2013-2014 fiscal year budget to reflect the City Administrations’ projections for expenditures and revenues. The budget amendment was done to reflect more accurately the financial figures presented to City Council by City Manager Gloria Barrientos.

“This is going to be a $2.2 million dollar net effect budget amendment for 2013-2014 budget amendments. The purpose is to update budgeted revenues based on actual figures, to cover overages and utilize savings for the purpose of capital equipment,” said Barrientos.

Barrientos stated the purpose of the amendment is to decrease the proposed budget and to adjust revenues and expenditures accrued from the last budget.   “Current Levied Real Property is at $110,290 which needed to be adjusted to show the increase in revenue, building permits $76,280, sale of land $104,457-this is the revenue received from the border fence issue, parking meters adjustment in revenue $ 26,397, miscellaneous revenue at $33,083 transfer from bridge $491,238 after the $200,000 that were restricted for the 2014-2015 budget. Revenues that needed to be reduced were current levied personal by $61,456, franchise taxes by $67,516, variance request fee by $ 5,558, traffic fines $ 43,949,” said Barrientos.

Barrientos stated that the amendments resulted in a balanced budget for 2013-2014.

Following the approval of the budget amendments, the City Council opened up the City Budget Workshop for 2014-2015 and discussed the proposed budget. The City Council approved to consider the proposed final budget for 2014-2015 fiscal year at its September 16th special meeting. Mayor Cantu noted the City Council will decide whether to approve the budget presented.

City Council was also scheduled to approve a variety of resolutions of appointments to the Mayor’s Fitness Council, The Planning and Zoning Commission, Eagle Pass Board of Electricians, and the Animal Grievance Board, but tabled these appointments until a full City Council was present as Council members Rudy Villalpando and Gloria E. Hernandez were absent.

City Council also discussed in Executive Session pursuant to Section 551.071, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code -Consultation with legal counsel regarding the operation of Los Potrillos Dance Hall in violation of the City Code and possible action to authorize the City Attorney to seek an injunction and/or other remedies for the purported (former, current and future) code violations; and possible action in open session regarding the same.

After Executive Session, the City Council approved unanimously to authorize the City Attorney Heriberto Morales of Langley & Banack to file a petition requesting an injunction and any other legal remedies available to the City against the Potrillos Dance Hall and its proprietors.