The Levelland City Council held a regular meeting on Monday to read and approve multiple budget related items.
Council members started the meeting by approving the adoption of the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget.
A public hearing was held for the agenda item, in which no one spoke, before it was approved unanimously through a record vote.
City Manager James Fisher said the general fund budget is approximately $9.9 million, with 38% coming from property tax, 33% from sales tax, including property and street maintenance tax, and 11% from franchise fees.
Big budget items named by Fisher were a $7.7 million in enterprise fund regarding water items, as well as $50,000 for a feasibility study to look at the animal shelter and prepare for building a new one.
Multiple speakers during the meeting’s citizen statement period told the council about ongoing concerns regarding the animal shelter, like lack of business hours and communication inhibiting adoptions, as well as poor conditions at the shelter.
The property tax increase was ratified by the council shortly after the budget.
Fisher said the recommended tax rate goes down to .53500 from the proposed .55000 ceiling, but the city is receiving more revenue from increased property values.
He said they feel the rate will support the city and its services.
The maintenance and operation component of the tax rate, as well as debt component, was approved on a second reading.
The property tax rate was effectively increased by 2.95%. The largest chunk of the tax rate comes from general funds, at 87.61% of the rate.
Ordinance No. 1082 outlined the appropriation of the tax rate and stated that taxes for maintenance and operations on a $100,000 home will be raised by about $15.76.
The 2023-2024 fiscal year budget was amended by the council.
Director of Finance Cynthia Sanchez said the amendments included projects delayed to fiscal year 2025: a landfill fence and Type IV Cell III in sanitation, and a generator project in water production.
Other amendments included police department federal funds and purchases within state forfeitures.
The council also approved an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for a Routine Airport Maintenance Program for the upcoming fiscal year.
The annual grant program allows reimbursement up to $100,000 for routine maintenance projects at the airport, according to meeting agenda.
Fisher said anticipated maintenance at the airport includes $49,000 worth of crack seal maintenance and $40,000 worth of hanger roof projects.
The city of Levelland Investment Policy was approved at the meeting as well.
The Policy is to achieve goals of safety, liquidity, yield and public trust for management of public funds and all investment activity, the meeting agenda stated. There were no proposed changes made from last year’s policy.
An agenda item about Levelland’s Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Type IV Cell III construction project was approved by members.
The city received four bids and must appoint a committee to evaluate them, the agenda outlined.
Approved appointments for the evaluation committee were City Manager, Assistant City Manager/Director of Public Works, Assistant Director of Public Works and a representative from Parkhill.
The council also approved the addition of its member Jaime McCabe to the committee.
The criteria for bid evaluation were set with the council’s approval, at 40% proposal price, 40% contractor’s experience constructing municipal solid waste facilities, 10% contractor’s schedule of completion for the project and 10% contractor’s safety record.
Candidates for the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool Board of Trustees Election were also approved by the council.
TML IRP is the insurance group that provides the city insurance for property, vehicles and risk, the agenda stated.
Recommended ballot candidates were Randy Criswell for Place 11, Allison Hayward for Place 12, Harlan Jefferson for Place 13 and Mike Land for Place 14.
The council ratified an Axon contract signed by James Fisher for body cameras and other equipment for the Levelland Police Department.
Fisher added they’re looking at mid-November to get the equipment here and operational.
It was also mentioned at the meeting that it was included in the budget, so there was no need for budget amendments regarding the item.
A consent agenda containing seven items was also addressed during the meeting and approved in one motion.
An ordinance including a negotiated settlement with Atmos Energy Corporation’s West Texas Division was approved.
The ordinance came after a 2024 Rate Review Mechanism tariff request made by Atmos was reviewed by cities served by Atmos West Texas and its Executive Committee, according to the document.
The agenda stated Atmos eventually agreed to a recommended rate increase of $4.3 million in addition to revenue related taxes within the cities it serves. The ordinance will go into effect on Oct. 1, and the impact of the revenues increase will raise an average residential customer’s bill by about $1.27 a month.
Changes to the utility rates were approved on a second reading and outlined by Ordinance No. 1083.
To encourage water conservation, a tier for 20,001 gallons of water and above was added to water rates for both outside and within the city.
Additionally, wastewater system improvement fee per unit was increased to $21.62 and garbage rates have increased 3.5% across the board.
The ordinance stated it will take effect for all utility bills issued for water service on or after Nov. 1.
The Disaster Declaration from May 29 was effectively extended, as well as the Levelland Emergency Management Plan.
The 700-900 blocks of Houston Avenue and 500-700 blocks of Avenue H were approved to be closed on Oct. 31 from 5-9 p.m. for the Trunk or Treat Event.
An application for Ladies Night Out was approved, and road closures for the same areas are happening on Nov. 14 from 510 p.m.
Minutes for the council’s Sep. 9 meeting were also approved.