Montgomery City Council members met on Tuesday evening to discuss numerous agenda items, including the 2017-18 fiscal year operating budget and property tax rate, as well as the Montgomery Economic Development Corporation FY 2017-18 budget.

All council members were present except for Position 2 Councilmember John Champagne.

Here are four takeaways from the Sept. 12 meeting:

Council members approve FY 2017-18 budget and property tax rate

Council members also unanimously approved the FY 2017-18 operating budget during Tuesday’s meeting. The budget has an anticipated total expense of $10.2 million, which is roughly 25 percent more than the FY 2016-17 budget expenditure of $7.14 million.

Council members also approved the city's property tax rate of 41.55 cents per $100 valuation.  The city’s tax rate has not changed in recent years, which city officials have credited to Montgomery’s increased sales tax revenue.

MEDC FY 2017-18 budget approved after some debate

Montgomery City Council members were divided on the Montgomery Economic Development Corporation budget, specifically the allocated salary of $32,000 annually for the position of director of economic development, which is held by Shannan Reid, who is also the director of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. According to budget details, the city pays $32,000 to the Chamber for the director’s time and office spent on economic development through the Chamber.

Job responsibilities of the director of economic development includes gathering market and trade statistics, maintaining contacts with businesses and companies, and organizing community events that will increase interest in residential and commercial growth, City Manager Jack Yates said.

Public hearing dates scheduled to discuss annexation of portion of Hwy. 105

Two public hearing dates were scheduled for 6 p.m. on Oct. 10 and Oct. 24 at Montgomery City Hall to discuss the city’s annexation of 10.15 acres of land along Hwy. 105, from the Montgomery United Methodist Church to Montgomery High School. Yates said the city has already annexed the land on either side of the road, so annexation of the right-of-way will allow Montgomery police officers jurisdiction to write tickets and assist in traffic accidents on the road.

Buffalo Springs Drive bridge repair should not be delayed by Hurricane Harvey

During the spring 2016 flooding, the bridge on Buffalo Springs Drive was severely damaged by flooding. Since then, city officials have been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to receive partial funding for the $1.8 million in estimated repairs to the bridge.

City Engineer Chris Roznovsky said during Tuesday night’s meeting that construction on the bridge is expected to begin in the third week of November and be completed in March 2018. Roznovsky said he does not anticipate delays in bridge repairs due to FEMA's response to both Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.