[00:00:03]
ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU OUT TO THE BUDGET TOWN HALL NUMBER TWO.
[Budget Townhall on August 13, 2024.]
TODAY IS AUGUST 13TH.WELCOME TO EVERYONE WHO'S JOINED US IN PERSON.
WE GOT SOME ACTIVITIES FOR Y'ALL JUST A LITTLE BIT LATER.
SO WITH THAT, JUST A COUPLE OF SUMMARY POINTS TO TONIGHT'S MEETING.
GIVE YOU A LITTLE QUICK AGENDA.
TONIGHT, THE REASON WE'RE REALLY HERE IS WE WERE HERE LAST JUNE WAS TO DO AN OVERALL PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET, KIND OF A HIGH LEVEL VERSION OF IT, HOW WE CONSTRUCTED IT, WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE NOT REALLY MEANT TO BE A DETAILED VERSION OF THE BUDGET, BECAUSE, FRANKLY, WE HAD A PROPOSED BUDGET WORKSHOP ON THE 29TH. THE ACTUAL PROPOSED BUDGET FROM THE CITY MANAGER WILL BE PUBLISHED THURSDAY THE 15TH.
SO THAT'S WHEN WE WILL GET THE OFFICIAL PROPOSED BUDGET FROM THE CITY MANAGER, BUT TONIGHT IS TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE BASED ON THE BUDGET MEETING ON THE 29TH, AND WE'RE GOING TO, AS YOU WILL SEE IN THE VIDEO HERE IN JUST A SECOND, WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW WE CONSTRUCT THE BUDGET USING LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS.
SO WITH THAT WE'LL DO THAT, AND THEN I'LL HAVE A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET, AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO THE TIMELINE THE BUDGET EMAIL ADDRESS AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND SPOIL IT FOR YOU IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET TONIGHT, TOMORROW, THE NEXT DAY BUDGET@CITYOFSACHSE.COM THAT'S THE BUDGET EMAIL, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO SOME ONLINE POLLS BUT ALSO TOO IF YOU'RE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE YOU CAN YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A QR CODE, AND IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR PHONE OUT, DON'T HAVE TO.
SO WE WILL DO THAT TOWARD THE END, AND SO WITH THAT, WE WILL GET Q&A.
WHETHER YOU'RE HERE, WHETHER YOU'RE ONLINE, WE WILL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS, AND WITH THAT WE WILL START WITH THE VIDEO, AND AGAIN THIS IS A SUMMARY OF HOW OUR BUDGET IS CONSTRUCTED, AND AGAIN THESE ARE NUMBERS FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
I GOT TO GO TO THE BIG SCREEN TO DO THIS.
UNDERSTANDING OUR BUDGET IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE IT AFFECTS EVERYTHING FROM OUR ROADS AND PARKS TO OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. BY KNOWING HOW THE BUDGET WORKS, YOU CAN SEE HOW OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING USED TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY.
LET'S DIVE INTO WHAT MAKES UP OUR BUDGET AND HOW YOU CAN BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.
FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT A BUDGET IS.
ESSENTIALLY, A BUDGET IS A PLAN FOR HOW WE WILL RAISE AND SPEND MONEY OVER THE FISCAL YEAR.
IT INCLUDES ALL THE EXPECTED INCOME AND PLANNED EXPENDITURES.
NOW, WHERE DOES THE CITY'S MONEY COME FROM? OUR REVENUE MAINLY COMES FROM PROPERTY TAXES, CHARGES FOR SERVICES SUCH AS UTILITIES, SALES TAX, AND VARIOUS FEES AND PERMITS.
PROPERTY TAXES ARE THE LARGEST SOURCE, CONTRIBUTING 45% OF OUR TOTAL REVENUE.
ADDITIONAL TO THESE SOURCES, WE PROACTIVELY APPLY TO RECEIVE FUNDS FROM STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS, WHICH ARE USED FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS. THIS DIVERSIFIED REVENUE STREAM IS ESSENTIAL FOR MAINTAINING THE SERVICES AND FACILITIES THAT OUR RESIDENTS RELY ON EVERY DAY.
UNDERSTANDING THESE SOURCES HELPS US PLAN BETTER AND ENSURE STEADY FUNDING FOR FUTURE PROJECTS.
UNDERSTANDING WHERE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES GO IS CRUCIAL.
WITHIN THE CITY PORTION PROPERTY TAXES ARE DIVIDED INTO MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, AND INTEREST IN SINKING, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATIONS COVERS THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS AND SERVICES OF THE CITY.
WHILE INTEREST IN SINKING IS USED TO REPAY DEBT FOR MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THIS BREAKDOWN HELPS US UNDERSTAND HOW WE ALLOCATE RESOURCES AND MANAGE OUR CITY'S NEEDS.
SALES TAX ALSO PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN OUR BUDGET.
THE SALES TAX RATE IN SACHSE IS 8.25%, WITH 6.25% GOING TO THE STATE OF TEXAS, 1% TO THE CITY, 0.5% GOING TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, 0.25% GOING TO STREET MAINTENANCE, AND 0.25% GOING TO THE MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
[00:05:04]
NOW LET'S LOOK AT HOW WE ALLOCATE THESE FUNDS.CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, WHICH INCLUDE MAJOR ROAD REPAIRS AND OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS, IS A TOP PRIORITY, ENSURING THAT OUR COMMUNITY'S INFRASTRUCTURE KEEPS UP WITH WEAR AND TEAR. PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH INCLUDES OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, ENSURES THAT OUR COMMUNITY REMAINS SAFE AND SECURE.
EACH DOLLAR SPENT IS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN SACHSE AND ACHIEVING OUR VISION.
YOUR INPUT IS VITAL IN SHAPING OUR BUDGET.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT MOST MATTERS TO YOU.
YOUR FEEDBACK HELPS US PRIORITIZE PROJECTS AND ALLOCATE RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY.
THIS PROCESS ENSURES THAT THE BUDGET TRULY REFLECTS THE NEEDS AND DESIRES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT OUR BUDGET, AND LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER TO HELP MAKE SACHSE A VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAT OFFERS EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY. ALL RIGHT, AND AS YOU CAN TELL.
YES I'M WEARING THE SAME THING TONIGHT AS I WAS IN THE VIDEO.
SO I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING.
ESPECIALLY MISS ESTHER WEAVER.
SHE HAS THE PATIENCE OF JOB TO HELP ME GET THROUGH THAT, AND SO THANK YOU, ESTHER, FOR THAT.
LOGAN AS WELL. APPRECIATE YOUR HELP ON THAT.
SO I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU FOR THAT.
OKAY. SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? SO THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET OVERVIEW, AS YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN IS THIS.
SO WHEN THE COUNCIL GETS TOGETHER AND SAYS, HEY REALLY BACK TO OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING INITIATIVES BACK IN JANUARY, WE LET THE CITY MANAGER KNOW WHAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES, AND SO YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN HERE, WE BASICALLY CAME UP WITH THREE PRIORITIES FOR HER TO CONSIDER IN PROPOSING A BUDGET.
NUMBER ONE INFRASTRUCTURE RISING RISING COSTS OF INFRASTRUCTURE DUE TO INFLATION POST COVID.
THE COST OF EVERYTHING HAS INCREASED SINCE COVID, AND WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH THAT.
NEXT WE ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO LOOK AT OUR PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY.
IF IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS, THAT IS OUT BY OUR WATER TOWER OFF SACHSE ROAD, NOT TOO FAR FROM THE NEW ANIMAL SHELTER THAT'S ABOUT TO COME ONLINE, AND I AM NOT PROUD TO SAY THAT IT IS A FACILITY THAT IS IN DIRE NEED OF AN UPGRADE, AND QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE DEMOLISHED AND REDONE TOTALLY.
THE WAR ON TALENT FOR AND COMPENSATION.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY OF THE WORLD.
I'M A GEN XER AND MR. MILLSAP WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY WHO IS NOT A GEN XER.
I THINK WE WOULD BOTH AGREE OUR GENERATIONS SEE IT, WORK HARD AND KEEP WORKING HARD AND THAT'S IT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING OR NOT? FUTURE GENERATIONS DON'T QUITE SEE IT THAT WAY, AND SO YOU DO HAVE TO ADJUST, AND SO WHEN YOU ADJUST FOR THAT, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT, HEY, THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET PAID.
IT'S LIKE WHAT'S YOUR CLIMATE WHAT'S YOUR WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT LIKE, AND SO WE HAD TO TAKE ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT IS NOT FREE, AND SO IT'S SOMETHING ELSE. WE ASKED OUR CITY MANAGER TO LOOK AT AS FAR AS HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO ATTRACT TOP QUALITY TALENT, AND I WILL DO A QUICK LITTLE HUMBLE BRAG.
I WILL SAY, I WON'T SAY WHO, BUT THE A NEIGHBORING CITY WAS GIVING US A HARD TIME BECAUSE SOME OF THEIR EMPLOYEES HAD COME OVER HERE TO WORK FOR US AND THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW WE DID IT AND SO I THINK THAT'S THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU CAN GET.
SO BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S A CONSIDERATION THAT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IN THE BUDGET.
SO AS FAR AS THE BUDGET CLIMATE GOES, AS YOU SAW FROM THE SLIDESHOW OF THE VIDEO, I SHOULD SAY REVENUES, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO FACTORS LIKE INFLATION ARE MORE LIMITED THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN RECENT YEARS.
SO THAT IS DEFINITELY A CHALLENGE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT, AGAIN, FROM AN OVERARCHING STANDPOINT, IS THAT WE KNOW AS A COMMUNITY WE ARE CLOSER TO BUILD OUT THAN WE EVER HAVE BEEN.
[00:10:03]
I MOVED HERE IN 1999, AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE BACK THEN, PLENTY OF SPACE FOR GROWTH, AND WE ARE NOT WE DO NOT HAVE UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH ANYMORE.SO THAT'S DEFINITELY A CHALLENGE.
ALSO FOCUSING ON STRATEGIC PLANNING TO REDUCE IMPACTS ON THE PUBLIC AND THE TAX RATE.
QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S AGAIN IT'S A CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT MORE ROOM TO GROW.
THANKFULLY WE STILL HAVE SOME COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
WE'RE WORKING ON THE STATION BEING A GOOD EXAMPLE.
SO WE DO HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY THERE, BUT AGAIN, IT IS A CHALLENGE AND IT'S JUST NOT LIKE WE HAD BEFORE TO WHERE, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO GET 300 BUILDING PERMITS THIS YEAR FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, THAT REVENUE IS NOT THERE ANYMORE AND OBVIOUSLY WE'VE KNOWN THAT FOR A WHILE.
NOW WE WILL WRAP UP WITH THIS SLIDE AS WELL, BUT SO SOME IMPORTANT DATES OF COURSE.
SO THE NEXT IMPORTANT DATE IS THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET, WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE 15TH, WHICH IS THURSDAY, AND AGAIN, I WANTED TO KIND OF MAKE A DISTINCTION TO HOW WE GOT HERE.
IS THAT, AGAIN, LIKE I TALKED ABOUT IN JANUARY, WE HAD A STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT FOR THE COUNCIL AND THAT KIND OF KICKED OFF EVERYTHING, AND THEN WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE, FAST FORWARD TO JULY 29TH, WE HAD OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION.
THAT WAS NOT AN OFFICIAL BUDGET.
THAT WAS A WORKSHOP. HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE THINKING, AND AM I ON THE RIGHT TRACK FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S STANDPOINT AND THEN SO THE INPUT WE GOT FROM THAT ALMOST THREE HOUR MEETING IS OKAY.
SO SHE WENT BACK AND TOOK THAT, AND AS WE WILL SEE ON THURSDAY, THIS IS WHAT SHE'S PROPOSING, AND EVEN THOUGH IT WILL BE A PROPOSAL, WHETHER IT'S FROM THE TAX RATE OR FROM, HEY, WE WANT TO SPEND THIS ON CAPITAL OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
AGAIN, THAT IS NOT A FINALIZED VERSION.
THAT IS KIND OF WHAT THIS SCHEDULE IS ABOUT.
SO WE WILL TAKE HER OFFICIAL PROPOSAL, AND OF COURSE, BY THE WAY, IT WILL BE PUBLISHED ONLINE.
THAT WILL BE AN OPEN DISCUSSION.
WE OF COURSE MEET ON MONDAYS, BUT THAT'S SEPTEMBER 2ND IS LABOR DAY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO PUSH THAT MEETING BACK TO THE THIRD.
WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT, AND THEN AT THE SAME MEETING WE'LL ADOPT THE BUDGET.
YOU ASSUME WE'LL ADOPT AT LEAST SOME KIND OF BUDGET.
I'LL JUST PUT IT THAT WAY AND APPROVE THE TAX RATE AGAIN.
WHATEVER TAX RATE IT IS ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, AND THEN I'LL RE-EMPHASIZE AGAIN BETWEEN NOW AND REALLY THE 16TH, BUT OBVIOUSLY IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUBMIT IT WAY BEFORE THE 16TH.
YOU CAN SUBMIT THAT OFFICIALLY THROUGH BUDGET AT CITYOFSACHSE.COM.
OF COURSE, ALWAYS. YOU KNOW, THERE'S MANY OTHER WAYS TO CONTACT US.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN CONTACT YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
YOU CAN CONTACT STAFF WITH SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
SO BUT WE JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THAT.
IS THAT JUST A REFERENCE NUMBER? JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
YOU CAN GO TO SLIDO.COM AND YOU CAN ENTER THAT NUMBER.
OR IF YOU SCAN THE QR CODE, IT'LL TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO THIS EXACT SLIDE.
I FIGURED THERE WAS A BACKUP PLAN.
OKAY. THANK YOU. SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE EVERYBODY JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO SCAN THAT.
YOU SEE, THIS QR CODE WILL BE IN THE CORNER SO IT WON'T GO AWAY.
IT'LL BE A LITTLE SMALLER, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO THERE YET BUT AGAIN, JUST WANT TO GIVE EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE HERE OR ONLINE AT HOME TO GET A CHANCE TO, TO SCAN THAT.
GOTCHA. SO IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE WATCHING THIS AT A LATER DATE AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO BE OPEN.
SO IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY OR NEXT WEEK, YOU CAN STILL DO THIS.
OKAY. SO WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN SUBMIT.
WE DID ACTUALLY OPEN THE Q&A LAST WEEK.
SO THAT'S WHY WE ALREADY HAVE QUESTIONS.
SO THEY'RE NOT QUITE THAT FAST.
SO BUT ANYWAY, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THESE TWO QUESTIONS.
FIRST TO KIND OF GET US KICKED OFF.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS WHAT ARE THE GOALS FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET?
[00:15:02]
WE DID WE DID TALK ABOUT THAT, OF COURSE, BUT AGAIN, I'LL REEMPHASIZE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, THE RISING COST OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE RESULTING INFLATION POST COVID WE ARE LOOKING AT A POTENTIALLY A NEW PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE WAR ON TALENT AND COMPENSATION.THOSE ARE OUR PRIORITIES AND GOALS OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
SO AGAIN, I BELIEVE THAT ANSWERS THAT QUESTION.
IT SAYS ARE THE MINOR ARTERIAL ROAD PROJECTS MERRITT AND SACHSE ROAD ON THE QUOTE FAST FORWARD LIST FOR IMPROVEMENTS? DOES THIS BUDGET FUND EITHER OR BOTH OF THEM? THAT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT QUESTION. SO WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP ON THE 29TH.
SO JUST TO KIND OF SEPARATE THE PROJECTS, WE'LL TAKE MERIT FIRST.
MERRITT IS A TOTALLY SEPARATE PROJECT.
IT HAS BEEN FUNDED BY MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES.
SO IT'S NOT PART OF THE BUDGET, THIS BUDGET PER SE.
SO THAT IS NOT PART OF THE BUDGET.
SACHSE ROAD, ALTHOUGH IT'S KIND OF JUST ONE QUESTION OR ONE ENTITY.
AGAIN ON THE JULY 29TH MEETING, WE DID SEPARATE THAT INTO PHASE TWO AND PHASE THREE.
SO PHASE TWO AND I'LL YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, WE DON'T MEMORIZE EVERYTHING.
PHASE TWO IS NOT ON THE FAST FORWARD PROJECT, AND AGAIN, IF YOU DIDN'T SEE THE BUDGET PRESENTATION ON THE 29TH, THERE'S A THOUGHT WITH THIS YEAR'S BUDGET TO A PROPOSAL, IF YOU WILL, TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, THESE 2021 BOND PROJECTS WITH SACHSE RD AS A PART OF, HEY, YOU KNOW, CAN DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAYBE SPEED THOSE PROJECTS UP AND THAT IS WHERE WE INFUSE MONEY FROM THE BUDGET.
WE GOT THE BOND MONEY AND, YOU KNOW, WE DID NOT INFUSE IT.
IT'S GOT TO GO JUST LIKE ALWAYS BECAUSE THE BOND APPROVED IT.
HOWEVER, IF YOU WANT TO SPEED IT UP, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
SO HAVING SAID THAT, SACHSE ROAD'S PHASE TWO IS WAS NOT PART OF THE PROPOSAL.
DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T CHANGE, BUT WAS NOT PART OF THE PROPOSAL TO SPEED UP SACHSE ROAD PHASE THREE WAS, AND SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE WERE TRYING TO GO FROM FISCAL YEAR 28 TO FISCAL YEAR 26 ON PHASE THREE, NOT PHASE TWO.
SO AGAIN, THE LAST PART OF THAT QUESTION, DOES THIS BUDGET FUND EITHER OR BOTH OF THEM? WELL, I THINK I JUST ANSWERED THAT.
THE BUDGET FUNDS PHASE TWO AND PHASE THREE, BUT ONLY ACCELERATION POTENTIALLY WOULD BE PHASE THREE.
SO WE HAD Q AND A, AND AGAIN THAT WILL BE OPEN.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S CUT OFF FOREVER.
OBVIOUSLY WE'LL KEEP THAT OPEN TO THE I GUESS AND THROUGH THE ENTIRE BUDGET PROCESS, AND SO ANOTHER WAY TO HAVE INTERACTION IS POLLS, AND WHO DOESN'T LIKE A POLL, RIGHT? SO YOU SEE THEM ONLINE ALL THE TIME.
SO THESE ARE POLLS THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE RELEVANT TO THE BUDGET DISCUSSION TONIGHT.
SO I'LL LEAVE THAT ON THE SCREEN FOR A LITTLE BIT, OBVIOUSLY, AND AGAIN IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS US OLD PEOPLE CALLED IT TAPE DELAY, BUT NOW IT'S VOD VIDEO ON DEMAND. I THINK I GOT THAT RIGHT.
AGAIN, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST IMMEDIATE NEED FACING THE CITY? I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A QUESTION WE GET QUITE A BIT.
OKAY. WE WILL GO ON TO THE NEXT POLL.
SO THIS IS A RANKED POLL SO YOU DON'T GET TO MAKE UP YOUR ANSWERS.
SO AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S WHY WE DO POLLS LIKE THIS.
BECAUSE WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK, YOU KNOW AND HOW YOU FEEL.
THESE ARE PRIORITIES. SO I'LL JUST I'LL JUST STATE THESE.
NUMBER ONE, MORE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES.
NUMBER TWO, ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY.
OF COURSE, THAT WOULD INCLUDE POLICE, FIRE, MEDICAL.
NUMBER THREE, INVEST IN ROAD AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES.
NUMBER FIVE MORE BUSINESSES AND JOBS.
SO AGAIN WE'LL KEEP THAT UP A LITTLE BIT LONGER, AND AGAIN, YOU CAN ALWAYS COME BACK TO THIS LATER AND, AND RANK YOUR RANK YOUR THOUGHTS ON THESE SEVEN IDEAS, AND OF COURSE, IF YOU DON'T LIKE ANY OF THESE SEVEN, YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE FIRST POLL QUESTION AND PUT THAT IN THERE.
[00:20:09]
CHANGE. IT'S IN THE RECORD.HEY, LOOK AT THAT. WE'RE CHANGING ON THE FLY.
THIS REAL TIME PARTICIPATION IS AWESOME.
NOT SURPRISED TO SEE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES UP THERE.
NOW, GRANTED, WE DON'T HAVE A YOU KNOW, NOT RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL GIVE IT A FEW MORE MINUTES.
WE'LL HANG OUT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY CHANGE.
SO MORE AND BETTER PLACES TO SHOP HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD.
INVEST IN ROAD AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS A CLOSE SECOND.
SO I GOT A BID WHILE WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS.
NUMBER THREE IS I DO LIKE THAT ONE, IMPROVE SIDEWALK TRAILS AND BIKEWAYS.
YOU KNOW TRAILS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A WANT, IF YOU WILL, OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME, AND I THINK THE THING THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT TRAILS, BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE CONCRETE.
CONCRETE IS NOT THE CHEAPEST THING IN THE WORLD.
SO THAT IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE OF DOING TRAILS.
OKAY, AND GIVE IT MAYBE 30 MORE SECONDS.
I LIKE MORE BETTER, MORE AND BETTER PLACES TO SHOP, DINE AND HANG OUT.
SO WE'LL HAVE MORE MORE PLACES TO SHOP AND DINE OUT AT THE STATION, SO THAT'S GREAT.
GIVE IT JUST A FEW MORE SECONDS HERE, THEN WE'LL MOVE ON.
OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO DO ANOTHER TYPE POLL A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 5, HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THE IMPACT OF THE CITY'S BUDGET ON YOUR DAILY LIFE.
GOT A FIVE IN THERE. FOUR IS WINNING RIGHT NOW, AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS IS YOU GOT TO YOU CAN JUST DO THE AVERAGE 4.3.
GIVE ME A CHANCE TO GET SOME WATER.
ALL RIGHT. FOUR IS IN THE LEAD, AND IT'S REALLY NOT SURPRISING IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
I REMEMBER THIS BEING IN SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY BEING IN A GOVERNMENT CLASS.
SHOUT OUT TO MR. HAMMERLY, WHO WAS MY GOVERNMENT TEACHER AT GARLAND HIGH SCHOOL, AND HE HE ALWAYS TOLD US THAT WITH THREE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL THE FEDERAL LEVEL CERTAINLY GETS A LOT OF THE TV TIME, AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE PUB, IF YOU WILL STATE DOES TOO, IN SOME LEVELS, AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY HAS THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOUR DAILY LIFE.
IT REALLY DOES, AND SO THAT'S NOT SURPRISING AT ALL TO SEE THAT YOU'VE GOT SOME FOURS IN THERE.
I WILL GIVE IT A MAYBE 10 OR 15 MORE SECONDS JUST TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES.
ALL RIGHT. I KNOW ESTHER WILL STAY ON TOP OF THAT, AND APPRECIATE YOU, ESTHER, FOR THAT.
SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF WAYS WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS.
NUMBER ONE IS OF COURSE IF YOU'RE WATCHING THIS ONLINE YOU CAN CONTINUE TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS, AND IF YOU DO ESTHER IS MONITORING THAT, AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION THAT WE GET, WE WILL DEFINITELY ANSWER THAT BUT BE QUITE HONEST, RESPECTFUL OF THE PEOPLE THAT CAME TONIGHT TO OPEN THE FLOOR UP TO YOU.
IF YOU DO WANT TO ASK A QUESTION, WE DO NEED TO GET YOU A MIC.
SO WITH THAT, QUESTIONS FROM THE OTHERS? YEP. GOT ONE BACK HERE.
[00:25:03]
AS ALWAYS FOR ME IT'S TAXES.I ALSO CAME HERE IN 99 AND THERE HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL GROWTH IN SACHSE, BUT MY TAXES HAVE ALWAYS GONE UP. THIS YEAR THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE DEBATE, I GUESS, AMONG SOME OF THE COUNCIL.
I AM PAYING MORE IN TAXES THIS YEAR THAN I DID LAST YEAR.
SO ARE Y'ALL RAISING MY TAXES? I KNOW FUNDING IS COMPLICATED, BUT THERE IS THE FIFTH STREET DISTRICT.
THERE'S AT LEAST A HALF MILLION DOLLARS THAT WAS BORROWED FROM THE CITY TO DO AN ENGINEERING STUDY, TO DO ASBESTOS, TO DO DEMOLITION OF A HOUSE, AND THERE WAS $600,000 AT THE STATION TO BUILD A PARKING LOT, AND WHEN DO WE GET THAT MONEY BACK? AND WHEN DO Y'ALL QUIT RAISING MY TAXES? BECAUSE IF THERE'S 1.1 MILLION OUT THERE THAT'S SITTING IN A POT, WHY DIDN'T IT COME BACK HOME TO THE GENERAL FUND AND LOWER MY TAXES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT DEVELOPMENT IS SUPPOSED TO DO.
YEAH. SO I'LL GO BACKWARDS A LITTLE BIT FOR THERE, AND YOU'RE CORRECT, YOU KNOW, IN THE SENSE THAT WHEN WE GET DEVELOPMENT THAT LESSENS THE IMPACT ON OUR TAX, THE TAX BURDEN ON OUR RESIDENTS AND SO YOU'RE CORRECT.
I'M GOING TO GO BACKWARDS IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT, AND SO YOU'RE CORRECT.
SO I'M GOING TO SKIP A LITTLE BIT.
SO I APOLOGIZE IF I FORGET SOMETHING.
I THINK EVERYBODY'S TAX BILL HAS INCREASED.
SO WE SET OUR PARTICULAR TAX RATE, AND AS I MENTIONED IN ONE OF THOSE OTHER SLIDES YOUR TOTAL TAX BILL IS BASED ON A LOT OF THINGS.
WE'RE ONE PART OF THAT PUZZLE.
YOU HAVE, YOU LIVE IN DALLAS COUNTY, SO GISD, PARKLAND HOSPITAL, YOU HAVE ALL THEIR TAX RATES, AND QUITE FRANKLY I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING, BUT SO THAT'S OUR RATE. YOU KNOW WE HAVE KEPT THAT THE SAME.
NOW IF THERE'S REALLY TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT THIS.
ONE IS EACH INDIVIDUAL ENTITY IN THE COUNTY'S TAX RATE IS X.
SO THAT OBVIOUSLY FACTORS INTO YOUR TAX BILL.
THEN THE NEXT PROBABLY THE MOST THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IF YOU WILL IS YOUR APPRAISAL VALUE.
IT'S ALL GONE UP. SO YOU'RE PAYING MORE ON TAXES ON BECAUSE YOUR APPRAISAL VALUE IS HIGHER.
SO THAT'S SO ALMOST BY DEFINITION YOU'RE GOING TO PAY MORE IN TAXES BECAUSE THAT AMOUNT IS HIGHER.
SO WE DON'T SET THOSE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW.
THAT'S THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
SO WE DON'T CONTROL THAT, AND WE OBVIOUSLY GET THOSE NUMBERS AND WE SAY, HEY, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND SACHSE IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO WHERE WE HAVE TWO COUNTIES THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, COLLIN COUNTY AND DALLAS COUNTY, AND IT DOESN'T HELP THE BUDGET PROCESS WHEN WE HAVE TO GET THEM AT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT WE DO GET THEM IN TIME FOR THE BUDGET.
SO REALLY, I WOULD SAY AS FAR AS YOUR TAXES GOING UP EVERY YEAR IS THAT THEY DO.
I BELIEVE THE MAIN DRIVER OF THAT IS APPRAISED VALUES.
NOW, THAT'S NOT THE ONLY PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
LIKE I SAID, THE OTHER PART OF IT IS THAT YOU HAVE EVERY ENTITY IN DALLAS COUNTY, AND OF COURSE, IF YOU'RE IN COLLIN COUNTY, IT'S YOU HAVE DIFFERENT ENTITIES, BUT SAME CONCEPT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN SET OUR TAX RATE TO X, EVEN IF THEORETICALLY WE SAID, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO LOWER OUR TAX RATE $0.02, $0.01, WHAT HAVE YOU AND IF EVERYTHING ELSE IS EQUAL, I WOULD GUESS BASED ON APPRAISED VALUES YOUR TAX, YOU WOULD STILL PAY MORE IN TAXES.
NOW TO KIND OF GO TO YOUR OTHER QUESTION ABOUT FUNDING FOR THE OH, WE GOT TO GET YOU THE MICROPHONE.
I REALIZE ALL THE OTHER PARTIES, I'M ONLY TALKING CITY TAXES, AND I SHOULD HAVE CLARIFIED THAT.
OH, OKAY. I'M ONLY TALKING CITY.
I AM PAYING MORE TO THE CITY THIS YEAR THAN I DID LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S ALL Y'ALL CONTROL? SURE. SO LOWER THE TAX RATE.
SO YES, THAT'S A FUNCTION OF THE COUNCIL.
THAT IS A FUNCTION. WE START WITH THE AGAIN ON THE 15TH.
[00:30:03]
TO LOWER THAT TAX RATE.NOW IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT COULDN'T CHANGE, BUT AT THIS POINT, THAT'S I'M GUESSING THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE PROPOSED ON THE 15TH, AND THEN SO BUT TO GO TO YOUR QUESTION IF YOUR PORTION, YOUR SACHSE PORTION, IF YOU WANT TO PAY LESS THAN THAT YOU KNOW, THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A DOABLE THING, BUT WHAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT AND OF COURSE, I'M JUST ONE PERSON OF SEVEN ON COUNCIL IS THAT OKAY IF THAT IS THE ONLY GOAL IS TO HEY RESIDENT A RESIDENT B ALL THE RESIDENTS OF SACHSE WE WANT THEM TO PAY LESS IN TAXES THE CITY PORTION. OKAY, BUT DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO SACRIFICE SOMEWHERE ELSE AND I MEAN SACRIFICE IN THE SENSE THAT, WELL, MAYBE WE WOULDN'T DO MORE ROAD PROJECTS. YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE WOULDN'T DO SOMETHING ELSE, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BUDGET PROCESS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT, BECAUSE I THINK YOU HEARD IT AT THE 29TH MEETING.
IS THAT, HEY, YOU KNOW, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? THAT'S ALL PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND IF CERTAINLY NOT SAYING THIS WOULD HAPPEN, BUT IF THE DISCUSSION TURNS INTO, HEY, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT IT TO BE LOWERED $0.01 WELL, THE NEXT THING YOU WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT BASED ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT'S PRESENTED, IS THAT OKAY WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CUT? AND I THINK THAT JUST GOES TO A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION OF KIND OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING OR REQUESTING.
MAYBE A BETTER WAY TO PUT IT IS THAT YOU WANT TO PAY LESS IN CITY TAXES, AND SO THERE IS A WAY TO DO THAT BUT I THINK WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS TO DO, AT LEAST IN MY OPINION, IS THEY HAVE TO BALANCE OUT ON OKAY, BUT MY FAVORITE SAYING IS WHAT KIND OF CITY DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN? AND THAT COSTS MONEY.
NOW AGAIN, YOU'RE CORRECT IN THE SENSE THAT IS A PRIORITY.
YOU KNOW, WHAT IS YOUR AS COUNCIL, WHAT IS YOUR PRIORITY? IS YOUR PRIORITY HEY, NO MATTER WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LOWER THIS TAX RATE IN THE STORY.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE RIPPLE EFFECT IS IF YOU WILL.
OR HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF KEEP THAT TAX RATE SIMILAR, AND THEN OR IN THIS CASE FLAT, AND THEN DO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
SO MAINTAIN A POLICE DEPARTMENT, A FIRE DEPARTMENT AT THAT CURRENT LEVEL.
THAT IS INDEED THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION THAT WE HAVE TO ANSWER.
WELCOME, SIR. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
WE ARE IN THE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION PART SO BUT THAT GOT.
YOU MISSED THE SECOND HALF OF THE QUESTION.
OKAY. REPEAT THAT PLEASE. THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN.
WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL IS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, LIKE THE $354,000 FOR THE ENGINEERING STUDY, THE $100,000 FOR THE ASBESTOS, $100,000 FOR THE HOUSE DEMOLITION.
THE FIFTH STREET, CORRECT? YEAH, AND THEN AT THE STATION, IT WAS THE 600,000 FOR THE PARKING LOT.
IT WAS TOLD THAT MONEY WILL GET PAID BACK.
WHEN IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN? THE MONEY'S SITTING THERE RIGHT NOW.
YEAH. SO YOU HAVE $1.1 MILLION THAT YOU COULD BRING BACK INTO THE BUDGET AND NOT RAISE MY TAXES.
WELL, AND AGAIN, THAT GOES TO WHAT WE'RE KIND OF TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S THE DISCUSSION THAT THE COUNCIL IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE.
WELL, WE GOT SOME MEETINGS COMING UP.
SO DO WE HAVE ANY ONLINE QUESTIONS? NO? OKAY.
INFRASTRUCTURE, IN THIS MONTH'S BUDGET.
THERE WAS A PROPOSITION OR PROPOSAL.
EXCUSE ME. 900,000, I'M GOING TO CALL IT A MILLION FOR THE PARKS.
PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, AND THAT'S JUST FOR DESIGN.
27,000FT². WAS THE NUMBER THAT WAS THROWN OUT, AND WHEN THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, HOW MUCH IS THIS BUILDING GOING TO COST? WELL, WE DON'T KNOW.
SO WHY ARE WE SPENDING $1 MILLION FOR WE DON'T KNOW.
WHY DON'T WE GO TO HOBBS WHO WAS PICKED AND SAY, HERE'S $10,000.
WHAT'S THIS GOING TO COST? IT'S NOT THAT HARD.
I DID IT ALL THE TIME WITH ROADS AND BRIDGES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WHY ARE WE SPENDING $1 MILLION BEFORE WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE'RE GETTING, AND OUR TAXES AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE BUT UP? YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT COSTS TO DESIGN THINGS.
YOU'RE CORRECT, ROADS AND BRIDGES NOT QUITE AS EXPENSIVE, BUT BUILDINGS ARE A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE, AND JUST WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, YOU KNOW, ARCHITECTURE FEES ARE WHAT THEY ARE BUT TO GET KIND OF MORE TO THE CORE OF YOUR QUESTION.
AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL HAS TO ULTIMATELY DECIDE.
[00:35:01]
YOU'RE CORRECT ON THE NUMBERS. 27,000, ALMOST A MILLION, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.IS THAT OKAY? SO WHAT TYPE OF BUILDING DO WE WANT TO HAVE FOR THOSE GUYS AND GALS, AND SO THE NATURE OF THE BEAST, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, AND GRANTED, I DON'T WANT TO SPEND 900,000 OR $1 MILLION MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE DOES, BUT IF THAT'S WHAT THE ECONOMY, THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE SAY, IF YOU WILL, THE MARKET.
PROBABLY A BETTER WAY TO PUT IT.
THAT MIGHT BE WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
SO IF THE DESIGN COMES BACK AND SAYS, WELL, IF YOU WANT THIS KIND OF BUILDING AND JUST TO BE GENERIC, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE WANT THE BEST BUILDING WE CAN GET, OKAY? AND IT'S GOING TO COST X OKAY.
THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE EXPENSIVE.
WHAT'S THE MIDDLE ROAD? OKAY, WELL, IF WE DESIGN IT THIS WAY.
NOT QUITE AS FANCY, IF YOU WILL.
THIS. MUCH LESS, AND THEN JUST TO BE SIMPLE, AND WE'LL JUST DO A TILT WALL BUILDING AND, YOU KNOW, OR DESIGN BUILD AND THIS WILL BE X, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT THAT WILL GET US TO.
IT'S I DON'T WANT IT TO COST THAT MUCH TO GET IT, AND SO AND FREE PREVIEW WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 19TH ON WHERE WE GO FROM HERE, YOU KNOW, DO WE DO THAT ROUTE? DO WE GO WITH MR. HOBBS? YOU KNOW, DO WE DECIDE ANOTHER ROUTE THAT MIGHT COST LESS MONEY? I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT.
ONLINE QUESTIONS OR? NO? OKAY SO I WILL DO THIS ONE SLIDE HERE, AND AGAIN, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE THAT CAME IN LATE AGAIN, THIS IS OUR SCHEDULE.
OF COURSE WE'RE ON BULLET POINT NUMBER ONE.
SO AGAIN, I WOULD SAY THAT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE 15TH, WHICH IS THURSDAY, AND AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE ONLINE ON THE WEBSITE, AND A HARD COPY IS GOING TO BE IN THE LIBRARY, AND THEN ALSO TOO AS I REFERENCED JUST A SECOND AGO, WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET AT A FORMAL COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 19TH, AND SO AGAIN, THAT WILL BE A PART OF THE AGENDA WHERE YOU CAN TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND THEN THE ACTUAL OFFICIAL PUBLIC HEARINGS IS GOING TO BE SEPTEMBER 3RD ON THE BUDGET, SEPTEMBER 16TH ON THE TAX RATE AND THEN WE WILL ADOPT A BUDGET AND A TAX RATE ON SEPTEMBER 16TH.
WHETHER IT'S ULTIMATELY THE PROPOSED FROM THE CITY MANAGER, WE SHALL SEE.
THAT'S WHAT THE DIALOG IS ALL ABOUT, AND AGAIN, I WOULD SAY ESPECIALLY PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING THIS AFTER THE FACT, IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET, YOU CAN SEND THEM TO COUNCIL DIRECTLY.
YOU CAN SEND THEM TO STAFF DIRECTLY IF IT'S A SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT.
OF COURSE, IN GENERAL, YOU CAN SEND IT TO BUDGET AT CITYOFSACHSE.COM.
SO I DIDN'T REALIZE THE MEETING WAS.
YEAH. WELL, WE HAVE THE WE HAVE.
WE GET TO SHARE THE BUILDING WITH OUR COURT TONIGHT.
SO. SO THAT'S PART OF IT, BUT IF YOU WANT TO HANG AROUND, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU AFTERWARDS.
OH, YEAH. ALL RIGHT, SO WITH THAT, WE WILL WRAP THIS UP.
AGAIN, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE BUDGET IS ON OUR WEBSITE, JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE SLASH BUDGET.
IT'S HOT OUT THERE. BE CAREFUL GOING HOME AND WE'LL MOST LIKELY SEE YOU ON THE 19TH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.