CITY COUNCIL HOLDS 2ND AND 3RD BUDGET MEETINGS
The City Council of Brenham held their 2nd and 3rd budget meetings Monday and Tuesday at the Barnhill Center in Downtown Brenham. Monday’s meeting focused on the General Fund of the city, and Tuesday’s meeting was mostly about the Utility Fund. The total budget for the city is $52,872,000.
As more and more people move to Brenham, the problem of controlled growth raises its head. It is estimated by the city that 1265 housing units are committed by developers to be built in the city over the next few years. That effects all utilities, but electric most of all. That, along with supply chain issues and labor problems, is putting a crimp in the utility budget progress. The city council spent considerable time discussing the Commercial Driver’s License law changes and how it’s affecting the different departments.
The water department is the only city utility to see a rate increase next year. A 5.5% increase in the water rate is anticipated to help fund a study of the current water plant and its proposed expansion. The budget will now go before the council at a future meeting for a public hearing and a vote.