City OKs budget, tax rate

By Tony Farkas
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SHEPHERD — The Shepherd City Council gave its blessing to the next budget, which contains funds for exploring the creation of a police department.

At its regular meeting on Sept. 12, the council passed a budget with general fund expenses of $711,000 and revenues of $712,000.

Additionally, council members approved a tax rate designed not to generate any new revenue. The new rate is 0.17674, or 17.674 cents per $100 of property valuation, down from 20.14 cents from last year’s budget.

City Clerk Debra Hagler said the city is looking into a police department.

“It’s not started, but we’re in the exploration stage,” she said. “The city feels that it’s time to get extra police coverage.”

Funds for a police department would come from grants, and amount to $180,000.

As part of the budget, the utility fund expenses were set $968,000; up slightly from last year expenses due to the city project of installing new water meters.

Also, the $115,000 Economic Development Council budget was passed.

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In other business, the council:

•tabled a measure to install signs in the Cherry Creek subdivision;

•tabled a decision on a request by Guendy Overturff to create a parking area on Knighton;

•took no action on several variance requests for lack of representation;

•approved a variance for a manufactured home for Rolondria Web on Seals Avenue;

•approved an ordinance denying rate increase request by Entergy;

•contracted for water assistance program Great East Texas Community Action Program’s water assistance, which provides funds for qualified residents; and

•approved an audit on FY 2021.