CITY COUNCIL APPROVES PROPOSED TAX RATE/SCHEDULES READINGS

  

A public hearing to discuss a proposed property tax rate was one of the top items up for discussion of the Brenham City Council when they met on Thursday.

No one signed up to be heard at this time.

The proposed rate of $0.4731 per $100 valuation is proposed to fund the FY 2015-16 budget. Of this rate, $0.2950 will be for maintenance and operations. The balance of $0.1781 is for debt service. Based on certified taxable values of $1,188.724.237, the effective tax rate is $0.4632, and the rollback rate is $0.4766 per $100 valuation for the 2015 tax year.

The first reading of the Ordinance to adopt the tax rate will be during a Special Council meeting on Monday, September 14 at 8:00 a.m. at City Hall. The second reading of the Ordinance and adoption of the tax rate is scheduled for a Regular Council meeting on Thursday, September 17 at 1:00 p.m.

Also on the agenda was a resolution in support of Jefferson Square Housing submission of an application to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, requesting 2015 low income housing tax credit for the Jefferson Square Apartments.

Earlier this year Jeff Washburn of LCJ Management, Inc. requested the city council to support the grant application. One of the grant requirements was for the city to assist with providing at least $17,364 in financial support of the project. This support will be made in the form of street improvements in front of and adjacent to the Jefferson Square Apartments. This improvement will make a positive impact in the area and specifically to the rehabilitation project. The city recognizes the importance and encourages economic activity and affordable quality housing for seniors.

The Council also discussed the acceptance of the GED Program Grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and the Institute of Museum and Library Science in the amount of $8,800 for the purchase of five laptops and ten licenses of GED software for the Nancy Carol Robert Library.

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission offered a  competitive FY16 Library Cooperation Grant with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This grant provides funding for programs that establish or enhance cooperative services among Texas library communities. Funded programs are required to develop partnerships with community-based organizations. Library staff met with Brenham ISD and Region 6 Adult Education representatives to discuss the benefit and impact of this grant opportunity. Statistics from the Brenham Independent School District show an increase in the high school dropout rate from 4% in 2013 to 1.3% in 2014, and the 2010 census data reflects 5,400 people in Washington County under the age of 24 are without high school or GED credentials.

During the Consent Agenda, the council approved the placing of stop signs on Bruce Street at the intersection with Ledbetter Lane and Woodson Lane.

During the Work Session, a discussion was held of concerning the creation of a non-profit charitable organization for the City of Brenham.

A City of Brenham Community Services Foundation would provide a 501(c)(3) tax identification number which could meet the requirements of certain donor and granting entities concerning which the City of Brenham is not currently eligible. These additional funding opportunities could be applied to large capital projects augmenting local governmental funds which would further enhance services provided to community residents by the City of Brenham. The activities of the non-profit Charitable Foundation would be managed by a Council-appointed board of directors.