Screenshot of Zoom teleconference by Jessica Nohealapa'ahi Goode
April 28, 2020
Bandera City Council approves relief funding package for Bandera businesses
By Jessica Nohealapa'ahi Goode
The Bandera Prophet
Bandera City Council members approved this morning the Bandera Economic Development Corporation CoViD-19 relief funding for businesses in crisis.
“Council, we have two jobs to get done today,” Mayor Suzanne Schauman said, adding the first task was to authorize a budget amendment to pay for the funding and the second was to approve one of the proposed plans.
After a brief discussion, City Council Member Jerry Russe motioned to authorize eligibility for non-essential businesses that pay sales tax to receive up to $2,500, and essential businesses that pay sales tax up to $1,000 each. The payments will factor in utility, rent and mortgage receipts.
Russe said his research showed Bandera has approximately 20 non-essential businesses and 35 essential businesses that pay sales tax. He estimated the total payout to be about $85,000, “which still leaves a little room for error,” he said.
Council also authorized City Attorney Dan Santee to create a 380 agreement, which is a third-party cooperation between the city, BEDC and businesses that receive additional funding from the city.
“The City of Bandera is in a very good position right now. I’m not talking about touching the budget,” Schauman said. “We are in a much better financial position to help our businesses than the BEDC. I propose to match the BEDC contribution…so they can administer the money to help more people. I think we as a city have got to support those who support us.”
Santee said he could work out the individual agreements, which will be between the city and the financial recipients. He said businesses accepting both BEDC and city money would enter into an agreement with the BEDC and the city as a third party.
“The mayor wants to double the assistance with same conditions as BEDC,” Santee said. “You’re discussing the allocation of a sum of money for the creation of a 380 program to assist the businesses. It is commonly done.”
Council Member Lynn Palmer said she would like to keep the agreement simple and mirror the BEDC agreement stipulating mortgage, rent and utilities reimbursements.
City Council’s next regular meeting is set for May 7. BEDC board members will have a meeting on Thursday, at 6 p.m. It will be accessible by Zoom at https://zoom.us. The meeting ID is 870 8756 0445 and the password is 166009.
“Council, we have two jobs to get done today,” Mayor Suzanne Schauman said, adding the first task was to authorize a budget amendment to pay for the funding and the second was to approve one of the proposed plans.
After a brief discussion, City Council Member Jerry Russe motioned to authorize eligibility for non-essential businesses that pay sales tax to receive up to $2,500, and essential businesses that pay sales tax up to $1,000 each. The payments will factor in utility, rent and mortgage receipts.
Russe said his research showed Bandera has approximately 20 non-essential businesses and 35 essential businesses that pay sales tax. He estimated the total payout to be about $85,000, “which still leaves a little room for error,” he said.
Council also authorized City Attorney Dan Santee to create a 380 agreement, which is a third-party cooperation between the city, BEDC and businesses that receive additional funding from the city.
“The City of Bandera is in a very good position right now. I’m not talking about touching the budget,” Schauman said. “We are in a much better financial position to help our businesses than the BEDC. I propose to match the BEDC contribution…so they can administer the money to help more people. I think we as a city have got to support those who support us.”
Santee said he could work out the individual agreements, which will be between the city and the financial recipients. He said businesses accepting both BEDC and city money would enter into an agreement with the BEDC and the city as a third party.
“The mayor wants to double the assistance with same conditions as BEDC,” Santee said. “You’re discussing the allocation of a sum of money for the creation of a 380 program to assist the businesses. It is commonly done.”
Council Member Lynn Palmer said she would like to keep the agreement simple and mirror the BEDC agreement stipulating mortgage, rent and utilities reimbursements.
City Council’s next regular meeting is set for May 7. BEDC board members will have a meeting on Thursday, at 6 p.m. It will be accessible by Zoom at https://zoom.us. The meeting ID is 870 8756 0445 and the password is 166009.