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Bandera City Council members discuss the next fiscal year budget.
Photo by Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
July 17, 2024
Notes from Bandera City Council
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Bandera City Council members are preparing next year’s fiscal budget, which may include a small increase for water and sewer services, and possible merit raises for hourly employees.
Council last week discussed an overall increase for residential and commercial water, which City Administrator Stan Farmer said would help keep up with inflation and pay for infrastructure. Multiple proposals were considered, including a tiered increase, raising water and sewer rates up to two percent for usage exceeding 1,500 gallons, and leaving the conservation rate of zero to 1,500 gallons the same.
The majority of residential users fall in the first tier, Farmer said, adding those in small households or on fixed incomes would not be affected.
“I struggle with that,” Council Member Tony Battle said. “If a person has five kids, we’re going to punish them?”
Council Member Lynn Palmer agreed with Battle, stating she would support a smaller increase across the board, rather than discriminate water usage.
“I don’t think this is the time to go up, when people are struggling to buy food,” Council Member Debbie Breen said. “I’d like to see us just go across the board at 1.5 percent…perhaps offer incentives for people to use rain catchment systems.”
Farmer said if a 1.5 percent increase was applied across the board for both residential and commercial utilities, the additional annual revenue would total $9,900 and $7,700, respectively.
Farmer also reported the City Park revenue is at 64 percent of budget at the nine-month mark for the fiscal year.
“We are making money at the park. It is marginal, but we are still in the black,” Farmer said, adding the city overall is at 90 percent of budget.
Council members came to a preliminary consensus for proposed salary increases, with the exception of department heads.
“With all of the projects we need to get done - the streets, the wastewater, going up on utility rates - I don’t think it’s a good idea to give a raise right now, except for a few employees at lower rates,” Palmer said. “Department heads get many benefits, including life insurance, health insurance and longevity. This is our taxpayers’ money.”
According to reports, all city staff received a 20 percent raise in 2020, a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) every year, and a three percent raise last year.
“The administrative salaries are pretty high,” Council Member Jeff Flowers said. “I’m not against raises for lower tiered employees, based on a performance review.”
“I tend to agree that the department heads are paid pretty handsomely,” Breen said, adding she believed other employees should be considered for some type of merit increase.
The lone dissenting voice was Battle, who advocated budgeting a three percent raise for all city employees across the board.
“We are going through a cycle where we’re going to ask a lot with projects that need to be watched over,” Battle said. “I’m of the opinion that you get what you pay for.”
In the Public Works Department, hourly rates range between $16.80 and $24.04. The department head receives $75,000 per year.
City office staff hourly rates range between $18 and $30.26 per hour. The city administrator receives $110,000 per year; the city secretary receives $86,340 per year; and the city treasurer receives $70,000 per year.
The Marshal’s Office deputy hourly rates are $27.98. The marshal receives $80,000 per year; the chief deputy marshal receives $73,060 per year.
“The average household income is $35,000 per year in Bandera,” Mayor Rebeca Gibson said. “I think there comes a point that the city can’t just keep paying more and more.”
Following additional budget workshops, prospective hearing dates for the next fiscal year’s budget and tax rate are Aug. 13, Aug. 27 and Sept. 10.
In other business, the first day to file for a place on the ballot for the Nov. 5 election was Saturday; the deadline is Aug. 19. Open seats at the city’s table include the mayor and two council positions, currently held by Gibson, Palmer and Flowers.
Council last week discussed an overall increase for residential and commercial water, which City Administrator Stan Farmer said would help keep up with inflation and pay for infrastructure. Multiple proposals were considered, including a tiered increase, raising water and sewer rates up to two percent for usage exceeding 1,500 gallons, and leaving the conservation rate of zero to 1,500 gallons the same.
The majority of residential users fall in the first tier, Farmer said, adding those in small households or on fixed incomes would not be affected.
“I struggle with that,” Council Member Tony Battle said. “If a person has five kids, we’re going to punish them?”
Council Member Lynn Palmer agreed with Battle, stating she would support a smaller increase across the board, rather than discriminate water usage.
“I don’t think this is the time to go up, when people are struggling to buy food,” Council Member Debbie Breen said. “I’d like to see us just go across the board at 1.5 percent…perhaps offer incentives for people to use rain catchment systems.”
Farmer said if a 1.5 percent increase was applied across the board for both residential and commercial utilities, the additional annual revenue would total $9,900 and $7,700, respectively.
Farmer also reported the City Park revenue is at 64 percent of budget at the nine-month mark for the fiscal year.
“We are making money at the park. It is marginal, but we are still in the black,” Farmer said, adding the city overall is at 90 percent of budget.
Council members came to a preliminary consensus for proposed salary increases, with the exception of department heads.
“With all of the projects we need to get done - the streets, the wastewater, going up on utility rates - I don’t think it’s a good idea to give a raise right now, except for a few employees at lower rates,” Palmer said. “Department heads get many benefits, including life insurance, health insurance and longevity. This is our taxpayers’ money.”
According to reports, all city staff received a 20 percent raise in 2020, a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) every year, and a three percent raise last year.
“The administrative salaries are pretty high,” Council Member Jeff Flowers said. “I’m not against raises for lower tiered employees, based on a performance review.”
“I tend to agree that the department heads are paid pretty handsomely,” Breen said, adding she believed other employees should be considered for some type of merit increase.
The lone dissenting voice was Battle, who advocated budgeting a three percent raise for all city employees across the board.
“We are going through a cycle where we’re going to ask a lot with projects that need to be watched over,” Battle said. “I’m of the opinion that you get what you pay for.”
In the Public Works Department, hourly rates range between $16.80 and $24.04. The department head receives $75,000 per year.
City office staff hourly rates range between $18 and $30.26 per hour. The city administrator receives $110,000 per year; the city secretary receives $86,340 per year; and the city treasurer receives $70,000 per year.
The Marshal’s Office deputy hourly rates are $27.98. The marshal receives $80,000 per year; the chief deputy marshal receives $73,060 per year.
“The average household income is $35,000 per year in Bandera,” Mayor Rebeca Gibson said. “I think there comes a point that the city can’t just keep paying more and more.”
Following additional budget workshops, prospective hearing dates for the next fiscal year’s budget and tax rate are Aug. 13, Aug. 27 and Sept. 10.
In other business, the first day to file for a place on the ballot for the Nov. 5 election was Saturday; the deadline is Aug. 19. Open seats at the city’s table include the mayor and two council positions, currently held by Gibson, Palmer and Flowers.