Bee Cave eyes police, library expenditures
Sales tax continues to fund most of Bee Cave’s budget. The general fund preliminary budget for FY 2015-16 is projected at $8.09 million, of which $6.56 million is derived from sales and use tax, Director of Finance Katie Griffin said Aug. 11. The draft budget includes a proposed property tax rate of $0.02 per $100 of valuation, the same rate applied to FY 2014-15.
Proposed budget highlights
• Add two patrol officers to Bee Cave Police Department, salary cost $110,000; uniform and equipment at a cost of about $25,000 plus $2,500 in advertising and recruitment
• Add funding for increased dispatch services provided by city of Lakeway at cost of about $75,000
• Replace police radio equipment at a cost of $15,505
• Add a full-time library employee at a cost of $35,000 including benefits
• Connectivity plan implementation at a cost of $150,000
• RR 620 trail extension at a cost of $175,000 (from Economic Development Board budget)
• RR 620/Ladera intersection improvements at a cost of $200,000 (from EDB budget)
• Add a lane on RR 620 from Lohmans Crossing to Falconhead neighborhood at a cost of $250,000 (from EDB budget)
• Road maintenance funding at a cost of $102,500
• Current FY 2014-15 savings from unfilled staff positions total about $220,000 resulting in a proposed administrative budget reduction for FY 2015-16 of about $160,000
[caption id="attachment_91850" align="alignright" width="220"]
From left: City Attorney Doug Young, City Manager Charles Winfield and Mayor Thom Farrell listen to budget proposals during an Aug. 19 meeting.[/caption]
Rollingwood seeks to lower water, wastewater deficits
For FY 2015-16, Rollingwood City Council has proposed raising the tax rate to $0.2101 per $100 valuation to reduce deficit in water and wastewater funds and create a reserve fund for each. Several additions to the budget also contribute to a higher proposed tax rate. Proposed budget highlights • The current property tax rate is $0.2066 per $100 valuation; the new proposed tax rate is $0.2101 Current FY savings moved the 2014-15 budget from a $13,680 deficit to an estimated ending excess of $361,890 • Upgrade administrative phone system at a cost of $10,000 • Replace police handheld radios at a cost of $21,900 • Add police body cameras at a cost of $12,000. If approved, add street security cameras at a cost of $25,000 • Transfer $488,520 from General Fund to water fund to help reduce deficit, create three months of reserves and end with excess cash of $70,397. • Cut unemployment compensation insurance from $13,500 to $1,000 in FY 2015-16 after it was unused in FY 2014-15 • Add street painting for bike lanes and curbs at a cost of $28,000 • Mixed beverage tax is estimated to create $4,890 in revenue for FY 2014-15, compared to an adopted budget at $0, after Chinatown received a mixed beverage license • Add street painting services at a cost of $28,000, to be used primarily for creating bicycle lanes[caption id="attachment_91849" align="aligncenter" width="700"]
Lakeway Mayor Joe Bain (center), flanked by council members Dwight Haley (left) and Dave Taylor, contemplates the city’s draft 2015-16 budget and property tax rate.[/caption]
Lakeway proposes $0.17 tax rate
Lakeway’s biggest expenses are police, parks and public works, City Manager Steve Jones said at the July 29 Lakeway City Council budget meeting. The draft budget includes a $0.17 property tax rate proposed by City Council Sept. 3, the same rate as adopted FY 2014-15, and a FY 2015-16 general fund budget increase of 16 percent compared with FY 2014-15’s budget. Proposed budget highlights • Add two code enforcement officers at cost of $124,330 and an administrative assistant at cost of $46,670 in Building Development • Add wildlife mitigation specialist and upgrade personnel at cost of $95,900 • Improve tennis courts at cost of $58,000 • Replace four police vehicles at cost of $145,772 • Add wage increases for police department at cost of $95,000 • Add full-time administrative assistant to police department at cost of $48,700 • Add police iPads, technology at cost of $23,527 • Add play and shade structures to Porpoise Park at cost of $48,500 • Add third-party inspection service to aid Building and Development review services at cost of $127,250 • Improve/repair courtroom lighting at cost of $9,000 • Landscape Highlands Boulevard at cost of $125,000 • Add public works equipment and vehicle at cost of $81,000[caption id="attachment_91848" align="alignright" width="220"]
West Lake Hills City Council members tour the outside of City Hall to review the estimated $130,000 in repairs that need to be made.[/caption]
