BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING, TAKE FIRST VOTE ON CITY BUDGET & TAX RATE
The Brenham City Council will take public comments on Thursday prior to taking the first vote on adopting the budget and levying the property tax rate for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year.
The proposed budget authorizes $107.6 million in expenditures and is estimated to raise an additional $959,022, or 9.42 percent, in property tax revenue compared to the current budget. Of that amount, $364,048 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll.
The city is looking to keep the tax rate the same at $0.4584 per $100, though the makeup of the new rate will be slightly different from the existing one. The city plans to slightly increase the maintenance and operations (M&O) side from $0.3102 to $0.3164. Meanwhile, the interest and sinking (I&S) portion would fall from $0.1482 to $0.1420.
With this tax rate, combined with higher property values, the tax on the average homestead is projected to increase by $148.43, or 13.51 percent.
(courtesy City of Brenham)
near the intersection of West Blue Bell Road
that is proposed for rezoning from R-1 single
family residential to R-2 mixed residential. The
Brenham City Council will consider the
rezoning request on Thursday.
(City of Brenham)
Following the public hearings on the budget and tax rate, another public hearing will be held before possible action on a rezoning request. Councilmembers will consider whether to allow the rezoning of approximately 6.09 acres of vacant property at 1320 Burleson Street, going from R-1 single-family residential to R-2 mixed residential.
The request, from Ernest James Nunn and Jake Carlile, is for the purpose of developing the property with higher-density residential uses including townhomes and possibly duplexes. Brenham Planning and Zoning Commissioners met on August 26th and unanimously recommended approval of the item, but two citizens spoke during a public hearing against the request, and city staff have received two letters in opposition.
Later, the council will perform the first reading of an ordinance to amend the city’s thoroughfare map, comprehensive plan and future land use map. The amendments, which were discussed during a public hearing at the council’s meeting on August 15th, set the framework for the adoption of the Brenham Family Park Special Area Plan and the extension of South Blue Bell Road to Highway 36 South.
In other business, the council will consider:
- Renewal with the Texas Municipal League (TML) Intergovernmental Risk Pool for the city’s general liability, law enforcement liability, public official liability, public official liability, mobile equipment, airport liability, property, auto liability, physical damage, crime, theft and worker’s compensation coverage for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year.
- An interlocal agreement between the city and TML Intergovernmental Risk Pook for cyber liability and data breach response coverage.
- An amendment to the city’s professional services agreement with Strand Associates related to various wastewater projects funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
- An amendment to the professional services agreement with Strand Associates for on-call engineering services for the 2023-24 Fiscal Year and a new services agreement with Strand Associates for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year.
The council will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.
Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.
Might as well get the news on Labor Day to raise property taxes since we labor all year to pay the government to keep our property. Thanks mayor and city council. Now go give city manager and city directors another annual raise. We can all work harder next year.