The Levelland city council on Monday approved several ordinances, interlocal agreements and appointed a new city manager.
Following an executive session, the council voted to approve Justin Balderas to take the reins as city manager after city manager James Fisher announced his retirement on Aug. 17 with an end date of Feb. 1, 2027.
Balderas is currently the interim assistant city manager and has served as the executive director for the Levelland Economic Development Corporation.
A public meeting was held addressing the proposed tax rate followed by the council approving Ordinance No. 1124 setting the 2026 maintenance and operation component of the 2026 tax rate (general fund, cemetery fund ) and the dept component of the 2026 tax rate (interest and redemption fund). A tax rate of $0.57000 per one-hundred-dollar valuation of property was approved.
The tax rate will be raised by 3.19% and will raise taxes on the average homestead of $173,600 by approximately $94.54. The budget would raise more revenue from property taxes than the previous year by $146,539 which is a 2.19% increase. The property tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $123,555.
The next public meeting concerning the budget and tax rate is scheduled for Sept. 14 at 6
p.m.
In other business, the council approved the annual services agreement with the Levelland Chamber of Commerce for FY 2026-2027. The agreement addresses the Chamber’s services that include assistance with reviewing applications and administering the Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund (HOT Fund), event marketing and coordination, general services administration and operation of the Keep Levelland Beautiful Program.
The council approved Ordinance #1121 on second reading to adjust utility rates in the water, wastewater and sanitation department.
The ordinance makes several amendments to the existing Code of Ordinances fee schedule.
Several rates within the water and wastewater tiers were rounded up due to the phasing out of the penny and for simplicity purposes. Additionally, city staff is proposing new rates for sanitation services, specifically the landfill. The most significant change will be charging noncity residents landfill disposal fees.
Concerning Ordinance No. 1122, the council approved on second reading to take the necessary action to bring city compliance in line with HB 1750. HB 1750 provided that a city may not impose a governmental requirement that directly or indirectly prohibits the use of accepted agriculture practices listed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, which primarily addresses cattle, horses, goats, sheep and chicken inside the city limits.
The council also approved amending Ordinance No. 1123 definitions for abandoned and junked motor vehicles and renaming the article on first reading.
Council members approved the Student Resource Officer Interlocal Agreement with Levelland ISD for Levelland Police Department to provide school resource officers (SRO) within the district. The agreement outlines roles, responsibilities and cost-sharing provisions.
The city agrees to employ up to five law enforcement officers to be designated as SROs to be compensated according to the agreement.
With the need to cast a ballot for the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool board of trustees, the city approved four nominees, including Kevin Clark, Emily Crawford and Austin Bates. As a member of the pool, Levelland was entitled to vote for board members.
The board approved the 2026 Election Agreement with the Hockley County Elections Office. The county pays the bulk of the expense, but the contract includes an annual fee for staffing, equipment maintenance, voter registration, plus the costs incurred during an election (poll workers, ballots, equipment and programming fees).
Concerning the Texas Department of Transportation airport maintenance, the board approved an agreement for the FY 2027 Routine Airport Management Program. The agreement includes repairing or improving airport pavement, signage, drainage, approach aids, lighting systems and numerous other items through an annual grant program called the Routine Airport Maintenance Program grant. Recently the Texas Transportation Commission increased the total amount available to $100,000 and reduced the local match to 10%.
The board approved a payment of $1,549,266 to MH Civil Constructors for the new wastewater treatment plant. City Manager James Fisher gave a report to the council on upcoming events and projects.
Fisher said the TML Small Cities Clinic was hosted by the city at the Wallace Theater on Sept. 9. The Hockley County Ag Producers Shrimp Boil was also held on Sept. 9 along with the SPAG Annual Meeting. The Patriot’s Day Lunch was scheduled for Sept. 11 at the LFD firehouse.
Main Street: Shine, Rise and Shop is scheduled for Sept. 19 and Business After Hours at the SPC Aquatic Center will be held on Sept. 24.
The annual Cotton & Crude Festival is on the calendar for Oct. 9, and Petticoats on the Prairie will be held at the Mallet Event Center on Oct. 16-17.
A special city council meeting is set for Sept. 28 to discuss the Capital Planning Project.