[1. CALL SESSION TO ORDER ]
[00:00:09]
ALL RIGHT, 6:00. WE WILL CALL THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 8 WE WILL CALL THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT NEXT. WHEN I CALL YOUR
[3. PUBLIC COMMENT]
NAME YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. THE LIGHT WILL BE GREEN WHEN IT IS 30 SECONDS, YOU WILL GO TO YELLOW. WHEN IT IS UP IT'LL BE READ. FIRST UP, WE HAVE COREY.>> HELLO CITY COUNCIL. I AM COREY --, RESIDENT OF HUTTO.
CURRENTLY SERVING ON THE PARKS BOARD DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMISSION AND ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS. I WANT TO SAY HUTTO IS GROWING AND FAST. IT IS A CRITICAL TIME FOR THE CITY. THE DECISIONS MADE TODAY AND BUDGET DECISIONS MADE WILL DEFINE THE HUTTO OF THE FUTURE. WE ALL KNOW WE'RE ALREADY BEHIND IN EVERY WAY THAT CAN BE NAMED. BASIC AMENITIES. ROADS.
AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE ADJUSTING CENTER AND LIBRARY AND REC CENTER AND WIDENING ROADS AND STORAGE FACILITIES TRAILS AND THE LIST GOES ON. GETTING OUT OF THE HOLE WILL TAKE TIME. AND OF MONEY. TO PRETEND OTHERWISE IS TO BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND. I BELIEVE IN FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. STRIVINGS KEEP TAXES AT A REASONABLE RATE. IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR NO NEW REVENUE. THIS IS NOT THE TIME AND THIS IS NOT THE PLACE. IN MY OPINION IT IS JUST NOT A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNING STRATEGY. IN HUTTO AT THIS MOMENT. IT WILL NOT ALLOW US TO ADEQUATELY PREPARE HUTTO FOR A RAPIDLY GROWTH FUTURE. RAPID GROWTH FUTURE. IT IGNORES PRESENT NEEDS AND SELLS THE FUTURE SHORT. HE PRETENDS THE FUTURE SOMEHOW DOES NOT EXIST. IT SUPPOSES THAT SOMEHOW, SOMEBODY IN THE FUTURE WILL FIND A WAY TO CATCH HUTTO UP TO SPEED. WE CAN LEAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO THEM. IS THAT REALLY THE LEGACY WE WANT TO LEAVE TO FOLKS WHEN ASKING 10 OR 15 YEARS FROM NOW WHY HUTTO IS SO FAR BEHIND? MY FAMILY IS WILLING TO PAY $15 MORE A MONTH IF WE CAN SEE PROGRESS BEING MADE. TANGIBLE RESULTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH , SAFETY AND RECREATION OPTIONS FOR HUTTO RESIDENTS. I KNOW MANY OTHERS FEEL THIS WAY. AT A CITY BUDGET WORKSHOP HELD EARLIER THIS YEAR, ALMOST EVERYONE IN THE ROOM EXPRESSED THE SAME SENTIMENTS. WHEN FOLKS WERE SHOWN WHAT A FEW MORE DOLLARS A MONTH COULD DELIVER, THEY WERE OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF IT. YES, KEEP TAXES AT A REASONABLE RATES. PLEASE BE CLEAR EYED ABOUT THE PRESENT NEEDS. AND WHAT HUTTO'S FUTURE WILL LOOK LIKE IF CITY COUNCIL IS NOT WILLING TO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS NOW. NOT SOMEDAY IN THE
FUTURE. THANK YOU. >> THANKS. NEXT WE HAVE TONY
--. >> HI AGAIN. THIEVES. STEALING MY MONEY, AGAIN. I KNOW YOU DON'T CARE WHAT ANY OF US HAVE TO SAY. YOU DON'T CARE AND YOU HAVE PROVEN IT AND YOU HAVE A TRACK RECORD. WE HAVE A COUPLE GOOD REPRESENTATIVES. THANK YOU, MIKE AND EVAN AND WHEREVER DAN IS. THE REST OF YOU HAVE PROVEN YOU HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF THIEVERY. THOU SHALL NOT STEAL SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY'S AMPLE -- PRETTY SIMPLE THING TO LIVE BY. GUESS WHAT? TAXATION IS THEFT AND YOU ARE STEALING FROM ME AND YOU DO NOT HAVE CONSENT TO STEAL FROM ME AND TAKE MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET AND FOOD OFF OF MY TABLE. YOU DON'T HAVE MY CONSENTS. YOU ARE A THIEF AND YOU ARE IMPLICIT IN THIEVERY? YES. VERY SIMPLE. IT DOESN'T NEED A BUNCH OF FLOWERY WORDS AND DISGUISED MAKEUP ON A PAGE. IT IS THIEVERY! YOU ARE THIEVES! EVERYBODY THAT VOTES FOR AN INCREASE, THIEVES COMES IN POINT THAT'S WHERE I AM AT.
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YOU HAVE A GOOD ONE! >> THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT, WE HAVE JOSHUA DORSEY. SHE TO HI. GOOD EVENING. YEAH. DEFINITELY NOW THAT THE TAX ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION , I'M UNSATISFIED WITH WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE COUNCILS TRYING TO PUSH FOR. I'M AGAINST TAX INCREASES AGAINST ALL OF THESE PLANS WE HAVE GROW THE CITY WHEN I AM LOOKING AROUND, THE TAX MONEY HAS BEEN FLOWING FOR A WHILE IT'S NOT A NEW DEVELOPMENT. I DON'T SEE THE PROPER GROWTH HAPPENING IN THE CITY. SOMEHOW THE MONEY IS MISMANAGED OR SOMETHING. I WANT MORE TRANSPARENCY HOW THE MONEY IS BEING USED AND I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THAT. MIKE WAS VERY GENEROUS IN SHARING A LOT OF THOSE DETAILS AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. OR WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A COUNCIL MEETING THAT PEOPLE APPARENTLY COULD NOT TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF THEIR TIME TO GIVE MORE INFORMATION TO US ABOUT. THAT'S ALSO A CONCERN.
IF NOT ABLE TO SACRIFICE YOUR TIME TO STEP UP AND DO YOUR DUTY MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T BE A PART OF THE COUNCIL. SO ON TOP OF THAT, PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE $40 MORE A MONTH. IS IT $40 MORE A MONTH WHEN I AM ADDING UP THE NUMBERS. IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THAT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD. IF EVERY $10 MILLION IS $40 A MONTH , THAT IS CONSIDERABLY MORE ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ASKING FOR 1 BILLION. THAT IS A LEAST FOUR GRAND MORE THAT TAXES WILL GO UP. MY NUMBERS MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT BUT THEN I DEFINITELY LIKE A FURTHER EXPLANATION ON IT AND MORE TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATION TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT THE REAL COST OF THINGS WILL BE. AS ALL THESE DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND STUFF AND I THINK THE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE MORE OF A SAY INTO WHAT IS GETTING INCREASED TAXES FOR. RIGHT NOW I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE
>> YOU ARE GOOD. THAT'S WHAT MY WIFE SAYS ABOUT MINE.
>> I'M NOT NATIVE TO HUTTO AND WE CAME HERE BECAUSE OF THE DRAW OF THE SMALL TOWN FEEL WHAT WE CAME FROM MY WIFE AND I WERE GROWING UP. I HAVE BEEN ALONG THE LINES WERE I HELPED A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES TO BRING AWARENESS TO DIFFERENT THINGS. I HAD COMPANIES WITH DIFFERENT THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I'D LOVE TO ASK THE WORD THREE SIMPLE QUESTIONS. IF THE FIRST THREE DON'T GO WELL. TAX INCREASES. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE DO IT. I'VE BEEN ON THE OTHER SIDE A FEW TIMES SAYING WE NEED TO RAISE FOR THIS AND THIS AND THIS. THE LIST WE RECEIVE MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT ONE. THAT IS COOL BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE AND FIGURED THE MAJORITY OF THESE ARE PRETTY MUCH LINED UP AND THIS IS WHAT IT'LL BE FOR. I BELIEVE A LOT OF IT SHOULD BE PUT ON THE BACK BURNER. SOME OF IT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT. MAYBE PUSHED TO THAT FOUNDATION TO ANOTHER PROJECT.
PUT SOME OF IT OFF. I'D LOVE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A MEETING AND TALK ABOUT WHY SOME OF THESE SHOULD BE. WHY THEY HAVE TO HAPPEN. I WOULD LOVE TO GET A COMMITMENT AND THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE AND OTHER FOLKS THAT BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION. I WANT A COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNCIL THAT THEY LIVE IN TOWN. YOU LIVE WITHIN THE CITY. YOU MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE TO THE CITY IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN THAT ORDER. OFF THE CONSOLE. SOMEBODY ELSE CAN FILL THE DOOR. I DON'T HAVE AN AGENDA. I REALLY DON'T. I'M TRYING TO SAY AND NEED CERTAIN PEOPLE OFF THE BOARD. I WANT TO HELP THIS TOWN AND MY KIDS WANT TO COME BACK. I HAVE TWO OF THEM LEFT BECAUSE THEY SAID DAD CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE. THEY ASKED ME IF I LIVED IN MY HOUSE WHILE I GO AND LEAVE. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HUTTO BECAUSE THEY CAME HERE FOR A REASON. I NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP IT GOING. THAT IS KIND OF WHERE IT IS. I REALLY DON'T HAVE ALL THE OTHER QUESTIONS LAID OUT. BUT IN ALL HONESTY I'M HERE TO HELP YOU HELP US. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. I TALKED TO MANY FOLKS UPSET YOU GUYS. SOME
[00:10:02]
PEOPLE LOVE YOU, THAT IS COOL. WE HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE OUTCOME FOR THE CITY. NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT LITERAL HUMOROUS NOTES.SOMEBODY SAID THE OTHER DAY ONLY THE BOARD HAVE SOMETHING AND THEY ARE GETTING RETRIBUTION AND WHATEVER BACK IN THEIR POCKETS FROM DOING IT. I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF YOU GOT ANYTHING GOING INTO YOUR POCKET TO HAVE A TAX INCREASE. OKAY? THIS IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE NEED YOUR HELP AND WE GOT YOU ON THE BOARD TO HELP US. AND I TURNED RED, I THINK I'M OUT OF TIME. I'M HERE TO HELP WHATEVER I CAN DO WITH ANY OF YOU. TAKE THE THINGS I SAID TO HEART. LET
ME KNOW I CAN HELP HONESTLY. >> THANK YOU, SIR. NEXT WE HAVE
KAREN MCMURRAY. >> GOOD EVENING. I DECIDED TO APPROACH YOU TONIGHT WITH ONE LESS SLIVER OF HOPE MAYBE THIS TIME YOU WILL LISTEN TO US ON TAXES. I HOPE TONIGHT HE DIRECT A PASSIONATE ENERGY YOU PUT IN FREQUENT DISPUTES AND EMBARRASSING DRAMA AMONG ONE ANOTHER TOWARD CARING FOR US AT CITIZENS SAYING NO TO TAX INCREASES. YOU LET ANOTHER YEAR PASSED BY WITH CITIZEN CONCERN LENDING DEAF EARS. I'VE ALREADY BEEN HERE BEFORE TO ASK YOU TO NOT PUT THE TRAFFIC CIRCLES IN OLD TOWN AND YOU IGNORED IT. AND YOU IGNORED IT AND DID IT ANYWAY. HE SPENT TAX DOLLARS ON THAT. I DIDN'T FORGET. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE YOU IGNORED. VOTER TURNOUT IS TERRIBLE AT AROUND TWO AND HALF PERCENT THIS YEAR. THAT'S COMPARING AGAINST POPULATION INFORMATION FROM 2022. IT SHOULD ALARM YOU AND IS INDICATIVE OF CITIZENS GIVING UP FEELING LIKE THEY HAVE NO VOICE. LET ME MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU. WATER AND ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE I HAVE SEEN THE BUDGET. SHINY THINGS CAN AWAITS. HOW CAN WE ENJOY A PARK WHEN IT TAKES MORE TIME GETTING THERE THAN SPENDING TIME. WHAT ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL AMPHITHEATER PAID FOR WASTING AWAY? WHY DO WE NEED MORE STAFF AND WE HAVE IMPROVED RETURNS WITH WHAT WE HAVE? DO WE DRIVE THE SAME 79 YOU DO. DID YOU TURN A BLIND EYE TO INSURANCE INCREASES IN SCHOOL TAX INCREASES. THE HOPE WE CONVENIENTLY FORGET? ARE WE NOT USING THE SAME WATER? DO NOT REMEMBER THE WATER INCREASE THAT TOOK PLACE TWO MONTHS AGO FOR AMBIGUOUS IMPROVEMENT? WHERE'S THE TRANSPARENCY THERE. I EXPERIENCED OVER 20% INCREASE ON MY MONTHLY BILL. I KNOW FOR A FACT WE ARE INCREASING THE WATER BILL AGAIN BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T TAKEN CARE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED TO WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS. POOR PLANNING IS NOT AN EXCUSE TO ABUSE CITIZENS AND RAISE TAX RATES.
PROVE TO US YOU CAN BE RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR MONEY THAT YOU HAVE. YOU HAVE YET TO DO SO. BE FRUGAL AND MINDFUL AND CONCERNED. WE ALL SHARE COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE CITY BUT YOU ALSO SHOULD COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING CITIZEN QUALITY-OF-LIFE. WE ARE FACING HARDSHIP WITH FOOD AND WATER AND INSURANCE AND TAX BUDGETS . DON'T BE THE FINAL STRAW THAT'LL PRICE US OUT OF OUR HOMES. I FIRMLY BELIEVE MAINTAINING CURRENT TAX RATES IS CRUCIAL. PLEASE BRING CITIZEN VOICES BACK INTO THE CONVERSATION AND PLEASE SAY NO
TO TAX INCREASES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM.
>> WE HAVE KATHLEEN COOK. >> I MOVE IT, CAN YOU HEAR ME.
>> S. >> I AM KATHERINE COOK, I LIVE IN 205 LAKESIDE HUTTO TRAIL. WHEN HUTTO CITIZENS WERE GIVEN THE GREAT LIST EVERYBODY KEEPS SAYING. THE CITIZENS WANTED AND THEY SAID THEY WANTED IT. THE PRIZE TAG WAS NOT INCLUDED.
ASKING CITIZENS WHAT THEY WANT WITHOUT TELLING THEM THE FINAL COST THEY WILL PAY IS MISLEADING, UNJUST AND CORRUPT.
HUTTO CITIZENS WERE NOT COUNTING THE COST WHEN IT WAS COMPLETED . IT WAS A WISH LIST. NOT A REQUIREMENT. WHERE THE RESIDENCE TOLD ABOUT THE LARGE INCREASE TAXES AND A HIT ON THEIR PERSONAL BUDGETS? DID THEY KNOW MORE OUTRAGEOUS WATER AND SEWAGE CHARGES WERE COMING BECAUSE THE COST OF UPGRADING AND REPAIRS ARE OVER WHAT IS IN THE BUDGET? SHOULD OF BEEN IN THERE TO BEGIN WITH. DID YOU TELL THEM THESE MASSIVE INCREASES WILL CONTINUE FOR FIVE OR 10 YEARS OR MORE. DID YOU SAY MANY WILL NEED SECOND JOBS FOR THE CITY'S EGO TRIP.
THAT SOME OF THEM WILL HAVE TO SELL OR FIND FORECLOSURE
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NOTICES IN THEIR MAILBOXES? I DON'T THINK SO. WE MUST LIVE WITHIN A BUDGET WE CAN AFFORD. LIVID SPENDING TO SAFETY.ROADS. DRAINAGE AND WATER. SEWER. IT'S NECESSARY ESSENTIALS FIRST. THE WISH LIST ONLY WHEN THERE IS A SURPLUS.
NOT MORE ISSUED BONDS. NOT MORE DEAD. CASH SURPLUS. FOUR OF YOU NEED TO DROP THE DECEPTIONS. THE CORRUPTION AND THE FOOLISH GRANDIOSE VISIONS. YOU ARE NOT DOING WHAT THE CITIZENS WANT.
THE FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT ARE THE ONES ABLE TO ATTEND. MANY OTHERS ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE AND FEEL HELPLESS WITHOUT THE COUNCILS LISTENING EARS. MY NEIGHBOR LEFT HUTTO LAST WEEK. HE SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO HANDLE THE INCREASED WATER AND SEWER AND TAXES. FOR-SALE SIGNS ARE GOING UP.
EXPEDIA LAID OFF IN APRIL. INDEED JUST LAID OFF ANOTHER THOUSAND IN MAY. AS WE SPEAK TONIGHT, THOUGH IS LAYING OFF 30% OF THEIR WORKFORCE. IT IS TIME TO TIGHTEN , NOT EXPAND THE BUDGET. STOP , STOP, STOP! THE TAX AND A NECESSARY BUDGET INCREASES. STOP THE MASS OF WATER AND SEWAGE INCREASES. NO NEW TAXES. NO INCREASED UTILITY FEES. MAKE THE NECESSARY BUDGET CUTS NOW! I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT, MAINTAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY. GROW RESPONSIBLY AND SUBSTANTIALLY. CREATE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF LIFE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE JAMES --.
>> >> AT EVENING. MY NAME IS JAMES WEAVER AND I LIVE IN HUTTO. EVERY TIME I MAKE MYSELF A PLEDGE TO BE CALMER AND MORE RESERVED IN MY PUBLIC COMMENTS, COUNSEL INVARIABLY MAKES SOME FOOLISH MOVE THAT EMBARRASSES THE CITY. THIS OFTEN HAPPENS DURING THE BUDGET AND TAX PREPARATION PERIOD. BY LOOKING AT THE BREAKOUT OF PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS I HAVE SEEN MANY WANTS THAT LOOKS LIKE IT CARRIES THE SAME WEIGHT AS MOST OF THE NEEDS. THIS IS LUDICROUS AND ALSO RECKLESS. GROWING CITY LIKE OURS FIRST OF ALL MADE ROADS TO HANDLE THE INFLUX OF PEOPLE COMING IN.
SUPPORT GROWTH AND MAINTAIN A SOLID TAX BASE. WE ARE SEVERAL YEARS BEHIND IN OUR STREET AND ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION. THIS IS PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE LEGAL FOOLISH AND RECKLESS ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CITY ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO THAT RESULTED IN OUR BOND FUNDS BEING CUT OFF BY THE STATE AG. RECOVERY TOOK ABOUT THREE YEARS. EVEN AFTER THAT.
IT HAS TAKEN US A COUPLE MORE YEARS TO GET BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS. AND NOW HERE WE ARE AGAIN TRYING TO PLAY BIG SHOT AND COVER EVERY POSSIBLE THING THAT COULD BE DREAMED UP. EACH OF THESE THINGS MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU OR SOMEBODY YOU KNOW WOULD WANT. BUT THEY'RE NOT NECESSITIES. THE ITEMS NECESSARY FOR STABLE TAX BASE OUR ROADS AND BASIC UTILITIES.
I CANNOT PUT AS MUCH CONFIDENCE IN CONTINUED GROWTH AS YOU ARE SHOWING. YOU JUST HEARD FROM THE LAST ONE. ABOUT THE LAYOFFS GOING ON RIGHT HERE IN THIS AREA. SO MANY OF THE INDICATORS ARE SHOWING DOWNTURNS GENERALLY EVERY 20 TO 30 YEARS, THE ECONOMY HAS A CONTRACTION. SOMETIMES SMALL AND SOMETIMES HUGE. IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE WALL STREET JOURNAL YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT PROBLEMS LIKE INFLATION. AND EVEN OVERBUILDING CREATING GLUTS IN VARIOUS REGIONS. THERE ARE OTHER MATTERS BEING DISCUSSED ON THE HORIZON. MAKE SURE YOU CONSIDER THESE. I HAVE WORKS WITHIN BOTH -- AND FDIC DURING THE 80S AND 90S. AND I KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN AND CAN
[00:20:02]
DESTROY ECONOMIES REQUIRING LONG PERIODS TO OVERCOME.DURING THESE PERIODS, MAJOR CITIES DECLARED INSOLVENCY AND WENT THROUGH REORGANIZATION AND EVEN BANKRUPTCY. THE ASSET BASE OF THE 108 SAVINGS AND LOANS ADMINISTERED HAD HUGE LOSSES.
IT WAS VALUED AT 40% OF THE ORIGINAL COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
. >> JAMES, I'M SORRY. I NEED TO
CUT YOU OFF, I'M SORRY SIR. >> THAT'S IT?
>> THAT'S IT. TO OKAY. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S IT FOR THE IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT. WE DID RECEIVE COMMENTS FROM ROSE MCMILLAN. SAMANTHA CULBERTSON.
>> I HAVE ONE. >> DO YOU WANT TO BRING IT UP? OKAY. DOUGLAS MASTERS IN KEVIN O'NEILL. AND JAMIE TILLMAN.
SYDNEY JOHNSON. DEBORAH FERGUSON.
>> WAS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY APPLICATION?
>> WHAT WAS YOUR NAME? >> WEAVER. I WORSE -- MY FIRST NAME IS IDA. BUT MY FRIENDS -- MY GOOD FRIENDS CALL ME GAIL.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. I'M SORRY. >> YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.
>> I WISH THE SPECIAL MEETING HAD BEEN SCHEDULED AT A MORE CONVENIENT TIME TO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC'S TO PARTICIPATE. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THE PEOPLE HERE DO NOT REPRESENT THEIR REALM OF INFLUENCE. THESE ARE INFLUENCE , INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY. ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. THESE, EACH ONE OF THESE PEOPLE OUT HERE YOU MIGHT AS WELL MULTIPLY BY 100, 200. BUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS AT MARGO'S LIQUOR TODAY. SHE HAS A GROUP CALLED FREE BOXES. JUST CALLED BOXES. OF COURSE LIQUOR IS HEAVY WITH GOOD STURDY BOXES AND PEOPLE LIKE TO USE THE BOXES FOR MOVING. USED TO.
SHE'D HAVE TO BREAK IT DOWN AND PUT IT IN THE TRASH. NOW SHE HAS A WAITING LINE FOR MOVING BOXES. WHAT DOES IT TELL YOU? I HAVE THE SAME THING. IF I COME ACROSS BOXES I HAVE A WAITING LINE FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT THEM. SO THINGS ARE GOING ON IN THIS CITY AND YOU BETTER BE CAREFUL. THERE WERE ABOUT 50 PEOPLE OF VARIOUS AGES AT THE FRETZ PARK TOWN HALL BUDGET MEETING LAST SATURDAY. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS PUSHING 100 DEGREES. THIS PROPOSED BUDGET CONTAINS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF POLITICAL FAVORS THAT PLAY ON SPECIAL INTERESTS AND WANTS OF SOME OF YOU. THE PROPONENTS PREACH PEOPLE OF HUTTO WERE PROMISED THESE THINGS IN 2018 ABOUT THE SAME TIME THAT ROAD BOND MONEY WAS MISAPPROPRIATED AND HUGE TAX INCREASES WERE VOTED IN. THESE ACTIONS GENERATED THE LAYOFF OF 40+ STAFF MEMBERS AND THE FREEZING OF ROAD BOND BY THE STATES. YOU MAY NOT OF BEEN HERE THEN BUT REGARDLESS WE SHOULD LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES. THE ECONOMIST TELLS US TO TAKE 6 TO 8 YEARS TO RECOVER FROM SUCH FINANCIAL DISASTERS. MANY OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW IT BUT I WAS A SPECIAL AGENT FOR THE IRS FOR FIVE YEARS. I UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS. WE ARE NOT YET THERE WE ARE NOT YET RECOVERED. WE CAN'T COUNT ON THESE DEVELOPMENTS THE INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES AND COMMERCIAL FACILITIES THAT ARE COMING IN. ARE THEY REALLY GOING TO HAVE PHASE TWO. I DOUBT IT. YOU SHOULD DOUBT IT TOO. WE NEED TO KEEP OUR BELT TIGHT. WE ARE PROMISED HUGE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL GROWTH. THE QUICK CLIMB CAN PLUMMET AS FAST. I APPRECIATED THE MAYOR IS FIGHTING FOR THE CITIZENS OF HUTTO. RINGLEADER FOR THE FACT BUDGET AND TAX RATE HAS BEEN ON COUNSEL SINCE 2019. HE WROTE THE WAVE AND WANTS TO DO IT AGAIN. ANOTHER PROPONENT OF THE BUDGET DOES NOT LIVE IN HUTTO AND HE SEEMS TO BE LED BY HIS EGO. THE THIRD POLITICAL , HAS POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS AND TAKES A SALARY FROM THE STATES WHILE SERVING ON OUR ACCOUNT. THESE THREE SEEM TO BE PRESSURING NEW COUNCILMEMBERS TO GO ALONG WITH THE TAX INCREASE. A VOTE OF FOUR CAN PASS THE BLOATED BUDGETS. WE ARE HERE IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT TO HELP PREVENT MASS EXODUS OF THE FINANCIALLY STRAPPED NEIGHBORS. I AM PRETTY UPSET.
[00:25:01]
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> SORRY, WE HAVE ONE MORE.
GERALD --. >> THANK YOU COUNSEL. MY NAME IS GERALD REYNOLDS AND I LIVE IN GEORGETOWN. ACTUALLY, I WORKED THERE ALL THE TIME SO I CAN PAY TAXES AND HUTTO. I LIVE IN CARMEL CREEK HERE IN HUTTO. I'M SORRY I'M NOT A STRUCTURED IS MOST. I ONLY KNOWS COMING UP HERE ABOUT THREE HOURS AGO. I'M THE ONLY BOARD MEMBER FOR MY HOA AND CARMEL CREEK. THAT HAS NOT BEEN TURNED OVER BY THE DEVELOPERS .
THEREFORE I FEEL LIKE THE GUY EVERYBODY POINTS OUT AND SAYS WE NEED YOU TO BE THE VOICE. I'M NOT AFRAID TO STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT ON WHAT IS RIGHT. THERE WERE A FEW PEOPLE THAT ASKED ME TO STAY ANONYMOUS IF I WOULD SHARE WITH YOU GUYS ON A CERTAIN FEW ISSUES WHICH TODAY AND AND CARMEL CREEK WE HAD A CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK. MR. GORDON AND MIKE. THOSE WHO REACHED OUT TO ME THE QUESTIONS WERE SAYING WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES AND HOW IT CRUSHES THEM? ALL RIGHT.
OLDER PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PURCHASED AND CARMEL CREEK AT THE TIME DURING COBIT PRICES WERE CHEAPER. WITH THE RAISE IN TAXES WHAT DO WE DO TO COMBAT THAT? THE OTHER THING IS WATER. THE COST OF WATER HAS INCREASED INCREDIBLY OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I CAN TESTIFY MYSELF. I HAVE A POLL IN MY BACKYARD IF MY BILL INCREASES TWO TO $300 A MONTH TO PUT WATER IN IT , AND MY POOL, I'M NOT LETTING YOU GUYS TO AND ONLY WATER MY YARD ONCE. FIGURE IT OUT. AND FEW PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME AS WELL. IF WE COULD GIVE PHONE NUMBERS IF YOUR HOUSE IS AVERAGED AFFORDED $50,000 BUT IT IS ASSESSED ON WILKINSON COUNTY BEAUTIFULLY AT $600,000, HOW WITH THE TAX INCREASE EVEN THOUGH IT IS 14.86 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUT SOME STATUS .03. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE A WHAT'S THE FACTUAL NUMBER IS A TRULY $4000 A YEAR , $14,000 A YEAR? WE'D LIKE TO SEE IT AS WELL. THERE SHOULD BE MORE TRANSPARENCY THERE AND I LIKE TO BE A JOKER BUT AT THE SAME TIME I THINK WE SHOULD FLIP THE SWITCH AND BE SERIOUS AT TIMES. THIS IS A TIME WISH WE SHOULD BE SERIOUS ABOUT IT. WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THEY WILL BE PUSHED OUT OF HUTTO BECAUSE OF TAXES, I'M A HOMEBUILDER MYSELF. I'M IN GEORGETOWN, LIME ROCK, CEDAR PARK, YOU NAME IT. I CHOSE HUTTO AS A PLACE I WANT TO BE.
ARE WE PREPARED IN THE EVENT IN INTEREST RATES DROPPED? AND THE HOUSE PRICES GO TO THE MOON AGAIN AND THERE'S A MASS EXODUS FROM HUTTO BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET OUR STUFF TOGETHER? MAYBE WE SHOULD PREPARE ON THAT. IF MY HEALTH IS VALID AT SEVEN $50,000 AND I PAID $250,000 FOR IT, THAT'S $350,000 IN MY POCKET. MAKE ME THINK TWICE ABOUT STAYING HERE.
AND YOU GUYS. THANK YOU GUYS. >> THE BRINGS US TITLE IV .1
[4.1. Review and possible action on the Fiscal Year 2025 proposed budget. ]
REVEAL POSSIBLE ACTION ON FISCAL YEAR 25 PROPOSED BUDGETS. AS WE GET IT STARTED. I WANT TO BRING IT UP TO THE COUNCIL HERE. COUNCILMEMBER THORTON PORTERFIELD AND MAYOR SNYDER I WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO READ PREPARED STATEMENT REGARDING THE BUDGET PROCESS. MANY WILL REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR ON AUGUST 31 THE NIGHT THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO SEND NOT TO EXCEED TAX RATE ABOVE THAT OF NO NEW REVENUE. WHAT MADE IT MORE MEMORABLE TO SOME OF US WAS THE WAY IN WHICH FOR CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED TO SUSPEND THE ROBERTS RULES IN ORDER TO MAKE THE VOTE ON THE TAX INCREASE TO BE POSSIBLE. WE ALL KNOW PUBLIC WILL NEVER FORGET THE VOTE BY THE COUNCILMEMBER WILL CARK, THOMPSON AND PRO TEM GORDON TO RAISE TAXES. WE FIND OURSELVES AT THE START OF A NEW CYCLE THE MEMORY OF WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO DO. SET A FOLLOWING THE WISHES OF THE PUBLIC IT SEEMS LIKE THE MAIN CONCERN IS TO PROVIDE TO THE CITY MANAGER AND WHAT HE DESIRES MOST. MORE TAXES AND EXPANDED GOVERNMENT.PEOPLE WANT THEIR NEEDS MET WITH WHAT IS LEFT OVER HEALTHY DEBATE IN WHICH ONCE WE ARE ABLE TO AFFORD. SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES FOR THEM TO BE UP TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE THAN IT IS TO EXPAND HUTTO GOVERNMENT WITH MORE WANTS. FOR THE HUTTO ISD FOR 24, 2023. 42.8% OF STUDENTS ARE ECONOMICALLY
[00:30:03]
DISADVANTAGED. 4184. LET'S RAISE THE PARENTS TAXES. HUTTO CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED FOUR PILLARS OF GOVERNMENT.COLLABORATE FOR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND EFFICIENCY.
MAINTAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY. GROW RESPONSIBLY AND SUSTAINABLY. CREATE THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF LIFE. NONE OF THESE ARE MET WITH THE BUDGET THIS YEAR AND PROJECTION FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS OF TAX INCREASES. THIS IS WHY IT STOPS TONIGHT AND THREE OF US ARE REGULARLY OUTVOTED ON MATTERS THE PUBLIC ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. WHEN IT COMES TO RAISING YOUR TAXES THERE IS NO MORE SHENANIGANS. TEXAS PROPERTY CODE SECTION 26 FIVE IS ABOUT THE TAX RATES. UNDER PARAGRAPH EIGHT IT SAYS, THE GOVERNING BODY OF EACH TAX AND UNIT SHALL ADOPT THE TAX RATE FOR THE CURRENT TAX YEAR AND SHALL NOTIFY THE ASSESSOR FOR THE TAXING UNIT OF THE RAID ADOPTED. GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT THE TIMELINE YOU HAVE TO DO IT IN. IT ALSO SAYS UNDER B, TAXING UNIT MAY NOT IMPOSE PROPERTY TAXES OF ANY YEAR UNTIL THE GOVERNING BODY HAS ADOPTED A TAX RATE FOR THE YEAR. THE ANNUAL RATE MUST BE SET BY AN ORDINANCE RESOLUTION ORDER DEPENDING ON THE METHOD PRESCRIBED BY LAW FOR ADOPTION OF THE GOVERNING BODY. THE VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE ORDER MUST BE SEPARATE FROM THE VOTE ADOPTING THE BUDGET. FOR THE TAXING UNIT OTHER THAN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE RESOLUTION OF ORDER SETTING A TAX RATE EXCEEDING THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE MUST BE A RECORD VOTE AND AT LEAST 60% OF THE MEMBERS OF GOVERNING BODY MUST VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE. THAT IS 50 VOTES.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T VOTE IN TIME ON A RATE ABOVE NO NEW REVENUE? SECTION C SAYS OF THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE TAXING UNIT DOES NOT ADOPT A TAX RATE BEFORE THE DATE REQUIRED BY SUBSECTION A, THE TAX RATE FOR THE UNIT OF THAT YEAR IS LOWER OF THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE CALCULATED FOR THAT YEAR OR THE RAID ADOPTED BY THE TAXING UNIT FOR THE PRECEDING TAX YEAR. TO THE HUTTO CITY COUNCIL AND MANAGER , THE TAXPAYERS WE SIT HERE TONIGHT TO LET YOU KNOW THREE OF ITS PLANTS ABODES FOR NO NEW REVENUE. WHETHER THE COUNCIL VOTES , WHETHER THE REST OF THE COUNCIL VOTES THAT WAY IS IMMATERIAL BECAUSE LAW IS WRITTEN IN 85 COUNCILMEMBERS TO RAISE TAXES UNDER THE LAST YEARS GAIN REVENUE COUNCILMEMBER DAIS. EVAN PORTERFIELD. ONE THAT ALSO AGREES WE SHOULD BE DILIGENT IN HOW WE TAX PEOPLE AND HELP SPEND THEIR MONEY ALL THREE OF US DO NOT AGREE ON ALL AREAS OF GOVERNMENT WE AGREE THE GROWTH HAS GIVEN US PLENTY OF TAX REVENUE WHICH TO ESTABLISH BUDGETS THAT ALLOW THE NEEDS TO BE MET. HUTTO IS SITTING ON ALMOST 5 MILLION IN CASH THROUGH VARIOUS ACCOUNTS. IS IT TIME TO RAISE TAXES? WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S NON-INTERRUPTION ON THE COUNCIL WHILE HE READ. WE WANT TO BE CLEAR BY INTENTIONS. WE DO NOT PLAN TO STAY LONG DEBATING WHETHER EMPLOYEE SHOULD HAVE TRAVEL EXPENSES LAUNCHES IN CLOTHING AND TRIPS. WHETHER WE NEED MORE DIRECTORS WHO DEBATE PUBLIC SAFETY WHILE WE ENTER --. THIS'LL CAUSE A MAJOR REWRITE OF THE BUDGET AS A SHAVES OFF AROUND SIX CENTS OFF THE TAX RATES. EMPLOYEES AT EFFECTS, PLEASE NOTE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS CONCERNS HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THE CITY MANAGER WEEKLY. MAYBE MOSTLY BY MYSELF AND OTHERS I DON'T KNOW.
BUT WEEKLY REGARDING COST-OF-LIVING AND TAXES AND SPENDING. SOME OF IT TO SHARE DIRECTLY FROM A PEER. EACH TIME, PEOPLE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE ORGANIZED US TO DO WITH THE CITY MANAGER WANTED. TONIGHT IT STOPS. I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH A QUOTE. " IT'S BETTER TO FOCUS ON YOUR LEGACY THAN IT IS TO FOCUS ON YOUR RESUME." I WANTED TO SAY THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GO IN HERE WITH INTENTIONS OF LIKE WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR THE VERY END TWO OF US ARE VOTING NOW AND IS A TAX INCREASE WE NEED TO FOCUS ON HOW TO BALANCE THE BUDGET WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT I'M NOT SURE WHERE TO GO. I'M HAPPY TO CALL A RECESS IF PEOPLE WANT TO TALK IN DIFFERENT GROUPS TO FIGURE OUT THE NEXT PLAN HERE IS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING? UNTIL TOMORROW NIGHT SO PEOPLE HAVE TIME TO SLEEP AND GO THROUGH THE BUDGET. I HAVE A LOT OF NOTES OF THINGS, PAGE BY PAGE.
ALL 400 PAGES. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE NOTES ON WHAT TO CUT AND WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE ADDED. IT IS OPEN TO THE COUNCIL AND
[00:35:03]
WE CAN PROCEED FROM HERE. >> MY THOUGHT IS, IF WE WILL DO NO NEW REVENUE I THINK WE OUGHT TO PROVIDE THE CITY MANAGER WITH TIME TO DEVELOP A NO NEW REVENUE BUDGET. IF THAT IS OUR BASICALLY FEEL DEVELOP --. HOLD ON? LET'S KEEP I GUESS THE
NOISE IN THE AUDIENCE DOWN. >> THAT WILL BE HELPFUL. IF WE HAD A NO NEW REVENUE BUDGET WE CAN WORK OFF OF HE COULD TELL US WHAT HE RECOMMENDS IN THE REVENUE BUDGET. THAT'LL BE SIMPLER BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE BUDGET WE HAVE BEFORE US WE WERE PLANNING ON GOING THROUGH IS TO BE A BUDGETS. AND I THINK THAT BASING IT ON A NO NEW REVENUE HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO RETHINK A LOT OF THINGS AND REPRIORITIZE A LOT OF THINGS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE EVERYTHING FITS. IT IS A SIX CENTS DIFFERENCE. THAT'LL PROBABLY BE THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE WHAT WE ARE DOING. I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS TIME TO GO THROUGH EVEN IF WE HAD A RECESS. I DON'T IF EVEN ONE DAYS ENOUGH TIME FOR THAT. I WONDER IF WE SHOULD GIVE HIM THAT TASK OF WORKING ON IT FOR THE NEXT WEEK AND GO THROUGH THIS ON THE 15TH. I GUESS WE CAN TALK ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS YOU WANT TO CUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NOT GOING TO FIT IN THE BUDGET OF IT IS A SIX CENTS DIFFERENCE. I GIVE MY CONCERN TO THE BUDGETS. AND I GET IT. I'M HARD-NOSED ON THINGS AS MY WIFE TELLS ME. YOU ARE A CERTAIN WAY AND PEOPLE BLOCK YOU OUT. I GET IT. I PERSONALLY HAVE , I DON'T THINK WE DID A GOOD JOB ON THE BUDGET. IF YOU ADOPT EXACTLY LIKE IT IS, EMPLOYEES ARE GETTING PAY CUTS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DID TO GET A PAY CUT.
SOME GET A 1% TO SOME PEOPLE GET AN EIGHT AND 30% INCREASE.
I DON'T IF THEY ARBITRARILY PUT IN THERE BUT I MADE NOTES EVERY PAGE THERE ARE THINGS I WANT TAKEN OUT OF IT PERSONALLY. I DON'T WANT US COMPARING OUR TAX RATES OTHER CITIES BECAUSE WHEN YOU COMPARE TAX RATES. I BROUGHT IT UP EVERY YEAR. IT'S NOT JUST THE JAMES THING. IT'S A GOVERNMENT THING. EVERYBODY WAS TO SAY, SAY $.42 AND WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE. AS I TRIED TO ARTICULATES WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL $.10 FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE ALSO DON'T RUN A GOLF COURSE. WE NEED TO COMPARE OURSELVES WITH OURSELVES. I DON'T WANT TO SAY THESE ARE LIKE LINES IN THE SAND BUT I DON'T WANT ANY MEALS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. IF YOU ADDED UP THE WON'T SAVE MORE THAN HALF $1 MILLION.
COUNSEL DOES ANY CLOTHING ALLOWANCE OR FOOD. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE TRAINING WENT FROM 14,000 TO 34,000. WE NEED TO RE-EVALUATE MEMBERSHIP AND THERE IS PROBABLY 30 DIFFERENT ENTITIES THE CITY WANTS TO JOIN A MEMBERSHIP WITH. THERE ARE SO MANY IN ONE DEPARTMENT. THE TEXAS CITY MANAGEMENT ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE CONFERENCE INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE TEXAS DOWNTOWN AND CITIES CONFERENCE. CHARLESTON ARTS AND CULTURAL FESTIVAL.
THAT IS ONE DEPARTMENT MULTIPLIED TIMES MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS. AND YOU HAVE THE MEMBERSHIP ON EVERYTHING. YOU HAVE HOTELS. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EMPLOYEES TO GO TO SOME OF THESE THINGS. I WORK IN A DIFFERENT FIELD THAN I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNCIL IS. IN MY WORLD, WE BUDGET EVERY YEAR LIKE IT IS THE END OF THE WORLD. EVERYTHING HAS TO BE WHY DO YOU NEED IT AND YOU HAVE TO PROVE EVERYTHING. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU SPENT IT'S WHAT SHE WILL DO THIS YEAR.
THEY DON'T CARE HOW MUCH MONEY WE MADE LAST YEAR. THEY DON'T CARE HOW MUCH YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE. THEY CARE WHAT YOU WILL NEED. THE CITY MANAGERS BUDGETS LAST YEAR APPEARED I DIDN'T GO THROUGH ALL OF 2024. YOU GUYS APPROVED A LOT OF CAR ALLOWANCES. ONE OF THEM MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. WE HAVE A SPECIAL EVENT FOR 10,000. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DESCRIPTION ON IT. I BROUGHT UP MY CONCERN WITH A TWO. WAGES. YOU KNOW? OVERALL I SATE ABOUT WAGES.
THERE ARE PEOPLE HIRED HERE FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS GOING TO GET $30,000 INCREASE IS BECAUSE OF THIS , WHATEVER IT IS WITH THE STUDY WE DID. WHEN HIRED THREE MONTHS AGO IT BECAME THE MARKET. HOW TO FORWARD IS AN EXPENSIVE PROGRAM. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE EMPLOYEES GET TOGETHER BUT I DIDN'T LIKE THE NUMBER ON IT IT WAS $20,000. THERE'S A LOT OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
[00:40:02]
ALMOST EVERYBODY HAS EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND IS A LEAD PROGRAM AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. ALMOST EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS A CLOTHING ALLOWANCE BUT THE CITY SECRETARY OFFICE. IF EVERYBODY CAN GET CLOTHING USED GET IT AS WELL. THERE'S A LOT OF BUSINESS MEALS AND A NEW LINE ITEM FOR $20,000 FOR DIGITAL ADS. WE HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE OF 10,000 PEOPLE. IF YOU HAVE MARKETING PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT. THAT SIDEWALK MONEY AND A PARK BENCH AND ALL OF THAT. WE HAVE COMMUNITY CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. A LOT GOING ON THERE.CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION EVERYBODY'S GETTING AN ALLOWANCE OF $200. BOOTS RANGE FROM HUNDRED TO 400. IF YOU PAY THE EMPLOYEES APPROPRIATELY, I NEVER HAD SHE WAS PAID FOR BY ME BUT I DON'T MIND IF WE GAVE AN ALLOWANCE IF YOU GIVE A $20 LOAN SOMEBODY WILL BUY IT. IF IT'S ME AT BYTES ONCE AND $50 PAIR OF BOOTS. OPERABLE BY THE DOLLAR PAIR 400. PHONE ALLOWANCES I DON'T UNDERSTAND BECAUSE SOME ARE GETTING THEM SOME AREN'T. MILEAGE. SOME PEOPLE GETTING MILEAGE. SOME OF THEM GOT TAKE-HOME CARS AND I DON'T KNOW WHO HAS A TAKE-HOME CAR AND WHO GETS A CAR ALLOWANCE. WE HAVE A LOT OF VEHICLES. WE HAVE TIMES WHERE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE QUALIFICATIONS ARE TO BE BUILDING EXPECTED BUT WE HAVE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE BEGIN WITH AND BUILDING INSPECTORS.
MY WIFE IS AN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND I DON'T WANT TO DEMEAN THEM. BUT SOME OF THESE ROLES HAVE DEGREES IN SPECIALIZED TRAINING. WHEN DIRECTORS GETTING 4.7% INCREASE BUT ANOTHER PERSON IS ONLY GETTING ZERO. FOR ME IT IS LIKE A THEORY. THE HIGHER UP YOU GO, THE LESS THE INCREASES ARE.
LAYING ASPHALT SHOWING UP TO WORK THEY WORK OUTSIDE. THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT GET THE MONEY. IN AN IDEAL WORLD LIKE TEXT, IF YOU WORK FROM HOME A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL TAKE A PAY CUT TO WORK FROM HOME. IF YOU WANT TO GET PAID A FULL WAGE COMPARED TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR YOU PROBABLY NEED TO BE HERE.
THAT RUFFLE SOME FEATHERS. TEAM LUNCHES ONLY WORK AT TWO PLACES AND I NEVER GOT A TEAM LUNCH. LET'S SEE HERE. WE ARE USING OLD FIGURES FROM 2023 AND A BUDGET FOR 2024 AND 2022 AT THE POPULATION FROM 2022. I HAVE TERRIBLE HANDWRITING. WE HAVE PARKS AND MAINTENANCE. I WANT TO FIND OUT WE HAVE SEVEN MAINTENANCE TEXTS WHAT ARE THEY DOING. SEVEN PEOPLE 40 HOURS IS 280 HOURS A WEEK AND WE ARE OUTBIDDING FOR SOMEBODY TO MOW THE GRASS. DO WE TRULY AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE ADDED POSITIONS LAST YEAR AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT. I DON'T KNOW THE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC OPERATIONS DOES. PEOPLE GOT PROMOTIONS BECAUSE THEY DESERVED THEM. JENNIFER WORKS FOR A PLACE YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE, YOU GET WHAT YOU EARN.
IF A SPOT IS OPEN, A LOT OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE WHEN I WAS COMPLAINING FOR MONTHS AGO ABOUT JAMES REORGANIZING THE CITY CREATING POSITIONS AND NEW DIRECTORS. I WAS AGAINST IT BECAUSE WE ARE CREATING POSITIONS WHERE PEOPLE I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO LEAVE HUTTO. BUT IF YOU ARE MAKING 100 YOU GET PROMOTED BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT. AND HE COULD HUNDRED AND 40 BUT YOU ARE DOING THE SAME JOB AND MAYBE MORE. IT IS UNSUSTAINABLE. WE ARGUE ABOUT HOW WE LAID OFF PEOPLE. BUT I WILL GO THROUGH WHAT HE SAID WE HIRE TOO MANY PEOPLE. WE HIRED 22 YEARS AGO WITH 40 LAST YEAR LOOKING AT 14 THIS YEAR. I AM AFRAID WE CANNOT KEEP DOING IT. I WILL LEAVE IT AT THIS. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ONE AND THE PUBLIC KNOWS IT FOR FIVE YEARS. YOU BUDGET WHAT YOU NEED. WE ARGUE ABOUT THE EXTRAS. I THINK IT IS EASY TO HIT NO NEW REVENUE. SCARE TACTICS OF LAYING PEOPLE OFF AND ALL OF IT PEOPLE WILL SWITCH ROLES. IT IS EASY TO BE DONE AND WE HAVE TO SPONSORSHIPS AND COLLABORATE LIKE IT SAYS WITH THE NONPROFIT. WE WILL DO IT THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR WE WILL DO IT AGAIN WE WILL GET USED TO DOING IT UNTIL AT SOME POINT IN TIME WE REALIZE EVERY YEAR THE NEW GROWTH AND BRINGS INTO MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR WHICH IS 2 MILLION MORE DOLLARS TO ADD ON SERVICES AND INCREASE WAGES. WE CAN'T ADD ON SERVICES AND EXPAND GOVERNMENT FASTER THAN WE TAKE THE MONEY AND. I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH EACH PAGE AND I DON'T KNOW , WE TALKED A
[00:45:05]
LOT ABOUT THING. FOR ONCE AT LEAST IN THIS GROUP I MAY BE IN THE MIDDLE ON SOME THINGS. I DON'T WANT TO BORE YOU WITH ALL 14 PAGES OF COMMENTS. I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN>> 6:45 PM. WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE. SO PLEASE CALL THE
>> OKAY, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 6:46 PM.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.