BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO PROPOSE TAX RATE, CONSIDER AGREEMENT FOR DESIGN OF SECOND FIRE STATION

  

The Brenham City Council will submit a property tax rate to be considered for the upcoming fiscal year at its meeting on Thursday.

The city is proposing a total tax rate of $0.4584 per $100 valuation, consisting of $0.3102 for maintenance and operations (M&O) and $0.1482 for interest and sinking (I&S). 

The previously adopted rate by the city was $0.4737, made up of $0.3297 for M&O and $0.1440 for I&S. 

The newly proposed rate is higher than the no-new-revenue rate of $0.4445, but lower than the voter-approval rate of $0.4606. 

Despite the tax rate decreasing, the average home will pay more in taxes due to higher property values.  According to the agenda packet for Thursday’s meeting, the tax on the average homestead will go up by 7.58 percent from $1,021 to $1,098.  The average homestead taxable value in the city increased from $215,591 to $239,681.

The council will consider official adoption of the new tax rate at its meetings on September 7^th and 21^st. 

Also this Thursday, the council will act on an agreement with Brown Reynolds and Watford (BRW) Architects for the design of the city’s second fire station, to be located at the intersection of James Nutt Boulevard and Handley Street.  The facility is anticipated to be an approximately 10,000-square-foot facility with three apparatus bays, living quarters for six personnel, an exercise room, training classroom and associated support spaces. 

In June, the council authorized the issuance of $10 million in certificates of obligation to support the building of the new fire station.  Funding will also go toward in-house street, sidewalk and drainage improvements.  The stipulated payment amount for BRW’s services is $584,600. 

In other business, the council will:

• Consider the first reading of an ordinance to create a reinvestment zone requested by MIC Group, LLC for commercial tax phase-in incentive.  The precision machining and electromechanical assembly manufacturing company wants to acquire additional manufacturing equipment in order to expand operations at its facility at 3140 South Blue Bell Road in Brenham.  The equipment being purchased has a total capital investment of $6 million.  The reinvestment zone is the first step in the abatement process.
• Hold discussion on the city’s noise nuisance ordinance before potentially acting on the second reading to amend city code to institute new noise regulations.  The second reading was tabled at the council’s meeting on June 15^th to allow more time to address concerns.
• Act on revisions to the city’s zoning ordinance, as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission.   The specific amendments include clarifying the definition of food truck sites to prohibit the storing of food trucks on residential property; changing R-1 single-family residential zoning to allow duplexes and twin homes with specific use permits; adjusting R-2 mixed residential zoning to allow accessory dwelling units and twin homes as permitted uses and including parameters for twin home and townhome developments; deleting information on noise regulations that duplicates or contradicts the noise nuisance ordinance; and removing provisions that allow conditions to be placed upon variance requests. 
• Consider agreements pertaining to employee benefits for the 2023-24 Fiscal Year, including medical, dental, vision, and life and long-term disability coverage.
• Hold executive session discussion to consult with the city attorney regarding Aviators Plus, LLC v. City of Brenham, Texas; cause no. 37896; 21^st Judicial District Court, Washington County.

This Thursday’s council meeting will begin at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.