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

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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

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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

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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]

West Lake Hills considers reserve fund

During a special Aug. 20 budget meeting, West Lake Hills City Council proposed a reserve fund to cover six months of expenses—approximately $2.5 million—as well as $750,000 to $1 million reserved for capital improvements and various fees. The city currently estimates it will have $6 million in available cash by the end of September. After setting a reserve amount of up to $3.5 million, some of the remaining cash may be used to pay for the FY 2015-16 budget shortfall. Proposed budget highlights • There is a FY 2015-16 shortfall of approximately $1.5 million after deciding not to build a roundabout at Westlake Drive and Redbud Trail, saving $1.1 million • Proposed property tax rate of $0.0572 per $100 valuation, a $0.0038 increase over the FY 2014-15 $0.0534 tax rate; the FY 2014-15 tax rate is the lowest it has been since 1997 and has not been changed since 2006 • Budgeted 15 Tasers and 15 body cameras for police officers has been lowered to five each, saving $27,500 • Conduct drainage repairs and maintenance at a cost of $100,000, a nearly $50,000 increase from FY 2014 • Creating senior officer positions in the police department and offering more competitive pay raises will create an 11 percent increase FY 2014-15 in the budget • Add fire safety projects such as clearing trees from dense areas at a cost of $250,000 • Although the budget for general street improvements was cut by half from the FY 2014-15 budget, several major road projects, such as those at Wildcat Hollow and Bee Cave Road, increased the public works budget for FY 2015-16 by more than $1 million compared to FY 2014-15 to a total near $3 million.