As the cities of Magnolia and Tomball begin their fiscal year 2016-17 Oct. 1, their respective new budgets feature salary increases, plans for improved water resources and new city amenities.
Both cities’ employees will see a 3 percent increase in pay, with the exception of the Magnolia Police Department. Employees in the Magnolia Police Department will receive pay increases in accordance with their positions, totaling about $10,680 for the department.
As of press time, Tomball City Council had not yet approved its 2016-17 budget but was expected to do so Aug. 1. Magnolia City Council will vote on its proposed budget at its Sept. 13 meeting.
Tomball budget
Tomball’s budget estimates about $46.02 million in revenue and $74.37 million in expenditures for FY 2016-17, both increases from the city’s budget adopted for FY 2015-16. The city will receive the additional funds necessary to balance its expenditures from bonds and its financial reserves.
The city of Tomball will add two full-time and two part-time positions. Two school resource officers will be added to the police department. The officers will serve Creekside Park Junior High School and Concordia Lutheran High School this academic year. Additionally, the city has budgeted for a floater position in the finance department and an administrative assistant position in the marketing department.
Health insurance plans for Tomball city employees will not change. However, as costs increased by 16 percent, each employee will pay an additional $5 per pay period for medical insurance and a 50-cent increase for dental insurance.
Although several capital improvement projects are expected to begin later this fiscal year, property tax and utility rates will not increase for Tomball residents. The property tax rate will remain at $0.3415 per $100 valuation.
City Manager George Shackelford said the city plans to construct the M118 drainage channel south of Medical Complex Drive and purchase all of the right of way needed for the Medical Complex Drive Segment 4B extension project from South Persimmon Street east to Hufsmith-Kohrville Road. Utilities will be added, and a two-lane road will be built.
“This whole project will open up an estimated 300 acres for development, provide additional utility facilities to an underserved area and will provide a new east-west connection from [Hwy.] 249 east to Hufsmith-Kohrville [Road],” Shackelford said in a June 28 memo to the City Council and mayor.
Water lines will also be looped from Snook Lane east to Hufsmith-Kohrville Road down to Broussard Community Park and west on Zion Road at a cost of $800,000. Meanwhile, $3.48 million updates will begin on the city’s two wastewater treatment plants this year and take around 24 months to complete.
Funds have also been set aside for improvements to Broussard Community Park and the Wayne Stovall Sports Complex. Improvements include a new storage structure and concession stand for the sports complex as well as possible soccer fields, restrooms and nature trails at Broussard Community Park.
“All of the money put together for Broussard Park, we’ve got about a million dollars for cash that we can hopefully get something started this year,” Shackelford said.
Magnolia budget
The city of Magnolia proposed an additional two positions this fiscal year during a July 16 budget workshop. A new lieutenant position may be added to the police department in lieu of the captain position, and a full-time employee may be added to the public works department.
Sales tax revenue is down for the city for FY 2015-16, City Administrator Paul Mendes said. A decrease of 11 percent in sales tax revenue has been budgeted for FY 2016-17.
“Over the year, we’re running through approximately a 7 percent decrease in our sales tax. It’s just the way the trends are going,” Mendes said. “We tried to build [the 11 percent decrease] in as a firewall for a little protection in case the economy doesn’t come back as quickly as we hoped.”
Water rates will stay the same for city residents, but a $20,000 water rate study will be performed this fiscal year by engineering firm Jones & Carter to assess whether the city needs to increase water rates in future years as the growing population strains water resources.
“Water rates have stayed the same for eight years, and there is no possible change in rates until the study is completed and the council decides [whether to increase rates],” Mendes said.
The proposed budget also includes funds for additional self-reading water meters, a new air conditioning unit for council chambers and $700,000 to relocate utilities for the FM 1774 overpass. The city of Magnolia had not released a final budget by press time.
