Shenandoah residents and city officials discussed how tax dollars are used, police department enhancements, residential building permits and the addition of a fourth water plant during the city’s spring Town Hall meeting Wednesday. “We’re going to try to do [town halls] quarterly to bring our residents good information,” Mayor Ritch Wheeler said. “We need folks to be [at City Hall] being involved, engaged and concerned with city matters. We are only up here to represent you—that’s all we’re here for—to be a voice. So we don’t know what to say if you don’t come tell us.” To view the full town hall agenda and presentation, visit www.shenandoahtx.us. 1. All property tax revenue in Shenandoah pays off the city’s debt obligations. The first presentation, given by City Administrator Greg Smith, looked at how the city’s tax dollars are used. Although the city’s property tax rate has continuously decreased every year since 2004, from 40.99 cents per $100 valuation to 22.95 cents per $100 valuation, the city’s average home value has continually increased since 2012, up from $221,141 to $373,257. In 2016, the average resident paid approximately $856.62 in property taxes to the city. In Shenandoah, 100 percent of the city's property tax revenue pays for the city’s debt obligations—roughly $22 million—88 percent of which is due to improvements in the Shenandoah Valley subdivision voters approved more than a decade ago in 2006. “If we didn’t have debt, we could [not have property taxes],” Smith said. According to the current debt service payment schedule, all the city’s debt could be paid off by 2033, Smith said. Roughly $5 million, or 72 percent, of Shenandoah’s total general fund revenue is made up of sales tax collections. City officials urged residents to continue to shop local to allow the city to continue its tradition of lowering property taxes in the future. “I think everybody in this room knows that the city operates off sales tax—that is what keeps us operational at the level at which we operate, with the low property tax we have,” Smith said. 2. Shenandoah Police Department will begin a series of community awareness training sessions in May. Shenandoah Chief of Police Raymond Shaw gave a presentation to residents on the police department’s new community awareness training program, which will consist of a series of sessions that are held every other month. “The trainings will empower you,” Shaw said. “The biggest thing we’re trying to do is give you tools to help reduce yourself, your family, your home as a target—that’s our goal with all of these security trainings. We want to reduce Shenandoah—both commercial and residential—as a target.” All trainings will be held in the council chambers at 7 p.m. and the schedule is as follows: May 9: Home security July 11: Identity theft Sept. 12: Personal safety Nov. 14: Vehicle safety Shaw said future trainings not yet scheduled may also cover internet safety for children and adults and education on phone scams. 3. Shenandoah requires residential building permits for several routine home maintenance projects. New roof installations, sewer and water line replacements, driveway replacements, window replacements, pools and generators are a few projects for which the city requires residential building permits. A complete list of required residential building permits can be found at www.shenandoahtx.us. 4. The bid for the city's potential fourth water plant came in at $1,754,050. The fourth water plant project was originally budgeted by the council at $2.5 million; however, the bid was received April 4 at a significantly lower cost of $1,754,050.   The project could be paid for with debt service, debt service with reserve funds or general fund reserves. The first water rate increase since 2010 could take place to pay for the project in October. “How the funding is going to come is something that we are still discussing,” Smith said. “Nothing has been decided and the decision will be made in the future by the City Council.” Although debt will not be issued as previously scheduled in March, construction on the project is still slated to begin in May and should be completed by December. The council will further discuss the project and water rates at its next workshop meeting, April 12.