WOODVILLE – Woodville City Council held a special meeting Monday evening to adopt a tax rate, with mayor pro-tem Joyce Wilson presiding.
A workshop, followed by a public hearing on the tax rate began at 5:30, with the public hearing commencing at 5:45 p.m., in which city administrator Mandy Risinger said, “the proposed tax rate is 35 cents per $100 evaluation. That is up a little from last year but does not exceed what we are allowed to increase by law. Our proposed budget is approximately $7 million and there is approximately $53K set aside in the budget to be utilized for special projects going forward. We don’t anticipate spending the full seven million, that is not the point, but we have budgeted for contingencies and increased expenses, and because of that, that is our anticipated budget”.
Council approved the tax rate as presented and moved on to the fiscal year 2024-25 budget. Risinger explained, “as presented, our expenditures are anticipated to be approximately 5% lower than last year, and revenue is anticipated to be 2% lower. The primary reason is sales tax has leveled off, but the big one is the price of natural gas is anticipated to be substantially lower”. After some discussion among council, the annual budget was approved.
Next on the agenda was the approval/review of Woodville’s Investment and Strategy Policy and approval/review of the city’s authorized Broker/Dealer list; both of these items were approved in short order, with minimal discussion.
Council quickly approved the retainer of Lufkin-based accounting firm Alexander, Lankford, and Hiers, Inc., to conduct the city’s fiscal audit for the year 2023-2024, and approved to authorize the procurement of an administrator for TxCDBG TDA F/Y 2025-2026 Competition. Wilson was appointed to this position.
Lastly, council approved the appointment of a rating committee to evaluate administrator proposals for the TxCDBG TDA 2025-26 competition.
