V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute
Following another contentious budget workshop, the Jefferson City Council proposed a “No New Revenue” tax rate for 2024.
Council proposed a rate of $0.4087406 per $100,000 in appraised value. This is slightly lower than last year’s rate of $0.4186110.
The City will hold a public hearing on the rate at 6:30p September 12 at the Transportation center.
Budget workshop discussions were again contentious as Council spent most of their focus on the Tourism budget. Tourism is funded through Hotel Occupancy Tax, paid by tourists at the lodging establishments in town.
Ward 3 Alderman Robin Moore asked Tourism Board president Colleen Taylor about funding $5,000 to the Marion County Chamber of Commerce, which Taylor responded “the attorney told me giving money to the chamber was not a viable option.”
Taylor then went on to accuse fellow Tourism Board member Mike Chandler, who is also the Chamber Board president, of “throwing Tourism under the bus,” during the last workshop. In that meeting, Chandler was asked by Moore if the Chamber could work with the City. Chandler said they were willing and it could be discussed. Taylor said she had not watched the recording of that meeting and was going on what she was told.
“I think the Chamber is an asset to the tourism business in Jefferson,” Moore said.
Moore then asked Taylor to consider cutting some of the advertising funding – possibly one of the television stations, or the TourTexas.com website – to provide the funds.
Taylor doubled down on not sharing funding with the Chamber saying that “5,000 gets you no where in marketing.”
“I think it’s late in the day to start moving yuor funds, but I want to definitely look at this for next year,” said Moore.
Council also dropped both the earlier proposed $5,000 to the Chamber, as well as the City’s $1,000 membership.
“No taxpayer money should be used to pay dues that are of no benefit to them,” said Mayor Patricia Finstrom.
Aldermen Bubba Haggard (Ward 1) and April Taylor Johnson (Ward 3) disagreed and argued the Chamber works to promote Tourism in the City and the City should have a membership.
Johnson suggested taking the $1,000 membership from Park Improvements, which was set back at $40,000 from the $30,000 at the last workshop.
Finstrom refused to consider the change citing the Chamber’s use of the old police station at no cost.
Council returned to regular session and granted Finstrom the ability to write a letter of support to any company that is applying for the Texas Broadband Development Office Boot II grant program who approached the City.
Two sewer projects have been given the green light following Council’s acceptance of bid recommendations.
The ARPA Owens Street Forced Main project was awarded to Duplichain Contractors for $280,820, and the ARPA Polk Street Sanitary Sewer Improvements was also awarded to Duplichain Construction at a cost of $686,498.
JEDCO is supplying up to $500,000 in addition to the City’s $450,000 ARPA funds, but there is still a short fall of approximately $17,000. How to fund will be discussed at a later date.
In other business, Council:
- • Haggard appointed Gordon Vaughn to P&Z
- • Discussed future use and rental cost increases of the Tourism building, citing monthly financial losses on the facility.