City Council to hear public on proposed budget

Texarkana, Texas, City Hall, 220 Texas Blvd., is shown in December 2015.
Texarkana, Texas, City Hall, 220 Texas Blvd., is shown in December 2015.

TEXARKANA, Texas - During a regular meeting Monday, the City Council will conduct a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget.

Members of the public can comment on the budget before the Council votes on approving it during its next meeting, scheduled for Sept. 13.

The budget includes a property tax rate reduced 5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, from 70 cents to 65.

Though the rate would go down, the city expects to raise about $58,400 more in property tax revenue than it did the previous fiscal year because of new property added to the tax roll.

Property taxes account for a large portion of the city's expected revenue over the next fiscal year, about

$17.8 million.

The budget as currently proposed plans for about $109 million in total revenue and $118.2 million in total expenditures, leaving a fund balance of $24.3 million at the end of Fiscal Year 2022.

Taxes other than property tax, such as sales tax, are expected to bring in about $19.2 million. Other large sources of revenue are Texarkana Water Utilities at about $28.2 million and grants at about $16.1 million.

TWU also is expected to account for about $30.6 million in spending. General government at $21.6 million; police, firefighting and other emergency services at a combined $19.7 million; and planning and community development at $12.3 million round out the list of most costly city expenditures.

The Council will also vote on approving a $684,000 contract with Bureau Veritas North America Inc. of Plano, Texas, for plan review and inspection services for the Wadley Regional Medical Center project.

In May, Wadley announced plans to build a new 123-bed hospital at the corner of University Avenue and West Park Boulevard, at a cost of $227 million.

The Council will also hear first briefings on a number of zoning and permitting matters.

The agenda includes an open forum during which members of the public may address the Council on any topic for up to five minutes each.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 220 Texas Blvd. A live video stream will be available via the city's website, ci.texarkana.tx.us.

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