City Council: August 18, 2026

Call to Order

Mayor Tilbortion called the budget workshop to order at 5:31 p.m. and declared a quorum present.

Present: Mayor Gunther Tilbortion; Mayor Pro Tem Juanita Cardenas; Councilmembers Cletus Krenek, Peggy Sue Tatum, Hector Ybarra and Dwayne Lovelady.

Absent: Councilmember Francine Goodnight.

Staff present: City Manager Michael Dim; City Secretary Margie Dubose, TRMC; Finance Director Norma Fenley; Human Resources Director Charlene Sustaita; Chief Constable Waylon Strickland; Fire Chief Otis Barnhill; Public Works Director Darrell Whitten; Planning & Development Director Lupe Espinoza, AICP; Parks & Recreation Director Tammy Lindquist; Library Director Dolores Pawelek; Airport Manager Ron Hooten.

Mayor Tilbortion noted for the record that the standing water tower item does not appear on workshop agendas.

2. Citizens to Be Heard

Pursuant to Tex. Gov’t Code §551.042, Council may not deliberate on items not posted on the agenda. Three speakers submitted cards.

Loretta Weatherby, Fanny Pack Estates, asked whether the floodplain is contagious, and whether her lot can catch it from the lot next door, which is in Zone AE. Mayor Tilbortion thanked Ms. Weatherby and referred the question to Ms. Espinoza, who serves as the City’s Floodplain Administrator. Ms. Espinoza will contact Ms. Weatherby.

Ricky Mayfield, 600 block of E Tater St, asked whether Constabulary Unit 7 can be lifted. Mayor Tilbortion stated that the Constabulary budget would be presented under item 5 and that Council could not deliberate on Mr. Mayfield’s request.

Dustin Lackey, Big Chungus Heights, asked whether an appeal of his subdivision’s name could be funded in FY 2027 as a capital project. Mayor Tilbortion thanked Mr. Lackey.

3. Budget Overview, Revenues and Tax Rate Calculations

City Manager Dim stated that the proposed FY 2027 budget appropriates $21.6 million across all funds, including a balanced General Fund of $9,412,000, up 3.4 percent from FY 2026.

Finance Director Fenley presented General Fund revenues.

Source	FY 2027 Proposed
Property taxes (maintenance and operations)	$4,281,000
Sales tax (1.00% City share)	$2,046,000
Transfer from Utility Fund (administrative services)	$1,712,000
Franchise fees, permits, fines, interest and other	$1,373,000
Total	$9,412,000

Ms. Fenley reported the rate calculations published by the Brisket County Tax Assessor-Collector on August 7, 2026.

Rate	Per $100 valuation
Current (FY 2026) rate	$0.696900
No-new-revenue tax rate	$0.671200
No-new-revenue maintenance and operations rate	$0.502332
Voter-approval tax rate	$0.719800
De minimis rate	$0.746330
Proposed rate	$0.696900

The proposed rate is unchanged from the current rate. It exceeds the no-new-revenue rate by 3.83 percent and is below the voter-approval rate, so no election is required. The City tax on the average homestead, with a taxable value of $118,640, would be $826.80.

Councilmember Krenek asked how much revenue the City would forgo by adopting the no-new-revenue rate. Ms. Fenley stated approximately $149,000 across the General Fund and Debt Service Fund.

4. General Government, Human Resources and Municipal Court

Ms. Fenley presented General Government at $1,504,000: City Council ($48,000), City Manager’s Office ($412,000), City Secretary and Elections ($236,000, including the May 1, 2027 General Election), Finance ($468,000), Human Resources ($198,000) and contract legal services ($142,000).

Human Resources Director Sustaita reported that health insurance premiums will increase 7.4 percent. The City will continue to pay 100 percent of employee-only coverage. The 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment applies to all City employees. The employee chili cook-off is funded by entry fees and is not a budget item.

Ms. Fenley presented the Municipal Court budget of $264,000, which includes a replacement receipt printer. Mayor Pro Tem Cardenas noted that Appendix F lists the printer at $412 and the department summary lists it at $452. Ms. Fenley confirmed that Appendix F is correct and that the summary will be revised.

5. Constabulary, Fire and Emergency Management

Chief Constable Strickland presented the Constabulary budget of $3,284,000, including Animal Services. The budget funds six constables. Two replacement patrol vehicles will be purchased with Series 2025 tax note proceeds rather than from the General Fund. Unit 7 is not scheduled for replacement.

Fire Chief Barnhill presented the Volunteer Fire Department budget of $748,000, which includes turnout gear for six volunteers ($19,800), and the Emergency Management budget of $86,000, which includes maintenance of the outdoor warning sirens. Chief Barnhill stated that the pancake breakfast is self-supporting and is not a budget item. Councilmember Krenek asked that the record reflect his appreciation for the pancake breakfast.

6. Public Works

Public Works Director Whitten presented the following:

• Streets and Drainage (General Fund), $1,042,000. Includes mowing of the Queso Creek channel ($38,000), scheduled around nesting season at Queso Creek Park. The 3.4-mile seal coat program ($412,800) is funded from the Capital Projects Fund.
• Utility Fund, $7,846,000. Water, sewer and trash rates are unchanged, and the water base charge remains $24.69. A contract to replace the pump and column pipe at Well No. 2 will be presented September 1.
• Tower Maintenance Fund. No expenditures are budgeted until a color is selected. The balance is projected at $398,470 on October 1, 2026.

Councilmember Lovelady asked whether the budget could include more color options. Mr. Dim stated that color options are not a budget item.

7. Planning, Parks, Library, Airport and Other Funds

• Planning & Development, $611,000. Ms. Espinoza noted $1,200 to print 100 copies of the Official Zoning Map at 36 by 48 inches after the updated map is adopted.
• Parks & Recreation, $762,000, including the Cemetery. Ms. Lindquist presented six signs at Queso Creek Park advising visitors not to approach the ducks ($1,860).
• Library, $498,000. Ms. Pawelek presented $41,000 for collection purchases. Food and veterinary care for Dewey Decimal, Library Cat ($620), is budgeted under Collection Maintenance.
• Airport Fund, $214,000. Mr. Hooten stated that the fund is supported by fuel sales, hangar rent and a $42,000 transfer from the General Fund. Both windsocks were replaced in July. The budget includes a spare windsock ($400).
• Non-departmental, $571,000. Property and liability insurance, the City’s share of the appraisal district budget and contingency.

Ms. Fenley summarized the remaining funds: Debt Service ($1,548,000), Capital Projects ($1,495,000), Dongvile EDC ($986,000), Hotel Occupancy Tax ($68,000) and Municipal Court special revenue ($31,000).

8. Record Vote on Proposed Tax Rate

Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Cardenas, second by Councilmember Tatum, to propose a 2026 tax rate of $0.696900 per $100 valuation and to schedule a public hearing on the proposed rate for Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Record vote: Mayor Tilbortion, aye; Councilmember Krenek, nay; Councilmember Tatum, aye; Councilmember Ybarra, aye; Mayor Pro Tem Cardenas, aye; Councilmember Lovelady, nay. Councilmember Goodnight was absent.

Motion carried 4–2.

Adjournment

There being no further business, Mayor Tilbortion adjourned the workshop at 8:07 p.m.

Approved by City Council on September 1, 2026.

Gunther Tilbortion, Mayor

Attest: Margie Dubose, TRMC, City Secretary.