BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS TAX RATE PROPOSAL, VOTE ON AGREEMENT FOR DESIGN OF SECOND FIRE STATION
A property tax rate for the new fiscal year and an agreement for the design of a second fire station will be among today’s (Thursday) items of discussion for the Brenham City Council.
The new tax rate being proposed is $0.4584 per $100 valuation, made up of $0.3102 for maintenance and operations (M&O) and $0.1482 for interest and sinking (I&S).
Last year’s adopted rate was $0.4737, consisting of $0.3297 for M&O and $0.1440 for I&S.
The proposed rate is above the no-new-revenue rate of $0.4445. However, it is below the voter-approval rate of $0.4606.
Although the new tax rate would be less than last year’s if it is approved, the average home can still expect to pay more in taxes because of higher property values. Per the agenda packet for today’s meeting, the tax on the average homestead will increase by 7.58 percent from $1,021 to $1,098. The average homestead taxable value in the city went up from $215,591 to $239,681.
Official adoption of the rate will come when the council meets on September 7th and 21st.
In other action, the council will take up an agreement with Brown Reynolds and Watford (BRW) Architects for the design of a fire station to be located at the intersection of James Nutt Boulevard and Handley Street. The facility is planned to be approximately 10,000 square feet in size and have three apparatus bays, living quarters for six personnel, an exercise room, training classroom and associated support spaces.
In June, the council authorized issuing $10 million in certificates of obligation to support building the new fire station. The funding will also be used for in-house street, sidewalk and drainage improvements. The agreement for BRW’s services will cost $584,600.
Also today, 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 15th 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; 21st Judicial District Court, Washington County.
The council meets at 1 p.m. at Brenham City Hall.