MAYOR MILTON TATE ANNOUNCES HIS PLANS TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION

  

Brenham Mayor Milton Tate has announced that he will seek re-election this spring.

Brenham Mayor Milton Tate, Jr.
Brenham Mayor Milton Tate, Jr.

Tate was first elected in a special election in 2003 to succeed the late Walter Schwartz, and since then has been elected to three full terms.

Tate has cited a number of accomplishment during his tenure, including the completion of a cooperative project which saw the transfer of the emergency communications department to the county, saving the city roughly $750,000 annually and resulting in a seven cent reduction in property taxes.

“And, it resulted in establishing a working group of elected officials that continues to meet regularly  to ensure that shared services of the city and county work smoothly,” says Tate.

Tate stressed a high priority moving forward is maintaining and improving more than 80 miles of city streets. The city recently spent $1 million dollars to resurface 30,000 feet of roadways, and has allocated $450,000 over the next three years for material for city crews to resurface an additional 12 roads annually.

One of the major street improvement projects currently underway is the extension and improvement of Chappell Hill St from its intersection at Market St. to U.S. Highway 290.

Tate points out that the city has two important capital projects on line for construction beginning this year. Roughly $5 million dollars will be spent on a major renovation of the Nancy Carol Roberts Library, and construction of a new animal shelter. Approximately one-half of the funding will come from private donations and unbudgeted county payments.

“These are two quality of life projects that will benefit our community for many years, “says Tate.

While implementing financial guidelines that have reduced the number of city employees from 251 to 241 over the last decade, Tate stressed an emphasis has been placed on continually upgrading the city’s infrastructure.

“We have tried to be particularly aware of the needs of departments involving public safety, “said Tate. He noted new equipment and training have been routinely provided for the police and fire department.

Tate also praised the financial strength of the city.

“Brenham has received two upgrades in bond ratings recently, confirming the credit worthiness and good financial practices, and we have continually maintained 95 days in cash reserves as recommended by our external auditors,” said Tate.

“All our city employees are to be commended for their dedicated services. The good work of our employees has contributed greatly to the progress our city has made in recent years,” says Tate.

Tate is a past president of the Brenham Industrial Foundation and Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park Association. He has been an active member of the Brenham Rotary Club for many years, and was a past board member of Trinity Medical Center. He currently serves on the foundation of Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Brenham.

He and his wife Twila are long-time members of the United Methodist Church of Brenham, where he has held numerous administrative positions.

They have two daughters and sons-in-laws, Rebecca and Scott Ehlert, and Rachel and Chris Cangelosi, and they have six grandchildren.

 

 

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