City Council approves budget and tax rate

Monday night the Kennedale City of Council finally had their say on the new city budget and tax rate to fund the budget after several months of discussion and citizen input. {{more: continue …}}

The 2017-18 budget and the tax rate was approved on a 3-2 vote with Mayor Brian Johnson breaking a 2-2 tie vote on both issue. One council member, Lizzie Carrintgon, was not present on the five member council. The mayor votes only in case of a tie. Monday night his vote was required twice.

The yes vote on the budget was by council members Rockie Gilley and Kelly Turner. The no vote was registered by Sandra Lee and Jan Joplin. The tie breaker vote by Mayor Brian Johnson

was yes.

The budget that was approved was known as Scenario A, an option presented by City Manager George Campbell. It included $226,351 in cuts to the original proposed budget. See more about budget considerations at www.cityofkennedale.com/budget.

The proposed tax rate of 0.7775 was adopted. This represented a one-cent or a 6.5 percent increase over the prior year.

The yes vote on the tax rate was by council members Rockie Gilley and Kelly Turner. The no vote was registered by Sandra Lee and Jan Joplin. The tie breaker vote by Mayor Brian Johnson was yes.

Other action …

• Action on the wastewater agreement with Fort Worth was tabled at the request of the City Manager.

• A $0.33 increase to solid waste/recycling service passed unanimously.

• The Planning & Zoning Case 17-08 which was proposing to incorporate the Parks Plan into the Comprehensive Land Use Plan was postponed on a motion by Council member Rockie Gilley and passed with Rockie Gilley, Sandra Lee and Jan Joplin in favor and Kelly Turner against.

Home owners will see a decrease in the their utility bill in the rate charged for sewer. All will see a $9 decrease in the rate charged for sewer and some will see a decrease in the water rate charged for 1? lines, however, the majority of residents have ?? lines and will see no change.

Passing the budget was only the first step. The budget that was adopted according to City Manager Campbell was based on a two cent increase in the tax rate. The tax rate that was passed was a one cent increase. Bottom line, the city leaders will have to exam cost and expenditures carefully throughout the year to see what savings can be made to make revenue match expenditures without dipping extensively into reserve accounts.