CITY COUNCIL HOLDS BUDGET WORKSHOPS
The Brenham City Council held a pair of Budget Workshops Monday and Tuesday.
Prior to the Budget Workshop Monday, the Council approved several items. They approved the City of Brenham’s Liability and Workers’ Compensations coverage with the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool. They also established an Employee Benefits Trust fund for the city. This will be further explained at the August 3rd City Council meeting where the council is expected to approve another health insurance carrier. As mandated by the state, they voted to appoint Brenham Animal Services Manager Megan Gray as the Local Rabies Control Authority. The council also approved a contact with the AJR Media Group related to the City’s Tourism and Marketing Department.
In the Budget Workshop portion of the meeting, councilmembers covered the Utility Fund and Special Revenue Funds Monday and the General Fund Tuesday. Tim McRoberts went over the various items during the meeting. He said the 23-million-dollar budget, that makes up the General Fund, is very conservative. Most of the discussion came about from the School Districts’ request that 5 new SROs be funded along with a Sergeant. It was mentioned that there is no penalty listed in HB3 that mandates that one armed officer be on duty at each campus. City Manager Carolyn Miller said that she wants to wait until after the Town Hall meeting with 3 members of the school board Tuesday night. She also said that there will be a meeting between the city, county and BISD. This all has to happen by September 1st, when the law is scheduled to take effect. This is taking into account that the city can find SROs in time. Come September 1st, almost every school district in the state will be looking for SROs.