BRENHAM CITY MANAGER RESPONDS TO CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES
Brenham City Manager Carolyn Miller has been listening and reading the comments from candidates running for City Council. Miller says that after reflecting on those candidates’ statements, in particular from the KWHI Candidates Forum, she believes additional information needs to be communicated on several issues.
(City of Brenham)
In a letter addressed to KWHI, Miller writes, “Next Month I will celebrate 20 years with the City of Brenham. As the Chief Financial Officer for 16 years, and City Manager for four years, I take enormous pride in the financial strength of our organization. Early in my tenure I began presenting quarterly financial reports at City Council meetings. The municipal finance world is complex, but we strive to present information that is easily understood by our citizens.”
Miller goes on to address the assertion made by candidates that “The City has too much debt”. She explains that there are two ways to finance capital plans, either by pay-as-you-go, or by debt issuance. She says the decision to issue debt can depend on the level of urgency for the project, interest rate environment which is at historic lows the past few years, inflation risk, and useful life of the project. She goes on to say that the City of Brenham has maintained an excellent AA minus rating by Standard and Poor for sixteen years. Lenders who issue those bonds have been lining up to work with the City, with each issuance having between 7 and 10 bidders. Her letter also explains that the City has a Debt Management Policy which was adopted in 2019, which sets guidelines for making debt decisions, in order to manage debt responsibly.
In addressing the candidates’ assertion that Brenham City Council needs to “Stop kicking the can down the road” on projects, Miller says “The Current City Council has faced and addressed several major challenges head-on. She goes on to explain how the Council upheld the commitment to First Responders and our community with design and construction of Fire Station #2., and also staffing for that station. In addition, Miller explains how this Council, over the past three years, has financed and implemented a project to rehabilitate and expand the water treatment plant, and drill groundwater wells for a second water source for the City.
On the candidates’ assertions that City employees have not received pay raises, Miller debunks that with a chart showing annual raises the past 4 years ranging from 2 ½ percent to 5 percent for City employees.
Candidates have said that “Our city streets are too bad to drive on”. Miller explains that maintaining city streets is a priority for all cities, and since 2021 they have been spending roughly $600,000 to $800,000 per year on in-house street reconstruction.
In closing, Miller says “Success is measured by the strength of the team that keeps the City running. The City of Brenham has an enormously talented, dedicated and committed team. We are supported by a Mayor and Council who are focused, collaborative, and open-minded. They respect and trust the team but also push for accountability.”
Miller's full letter can be read here.
Yes, first met her when I was facing some major issues with city and from the beginning I always felt Carolyn was a straight to the point, common sense person as reflected in her actions. She’s done a great job in my view, and support her in her position.
They’ve tried fixing my street three times in the last 5 years and it’s still awful.