City Council - Regular Meeting
The Victoria City Council held a special session to discuss the proposed budget and property tax rates. Public comment focused on the Fire Department budget, while the council clarified legally required, complex language regarding the property tax rate, ultimately confirming the proposed tax and setting the 2026 tax rate.
About this meeting
- Government Body
- City Council
- Meeting Type
- City Council
- Location
- Victoria, TX
- Meeting Date
- September 8, 2026
Transcript
54 sections
Good evening, everyone. Welcome to our special session on Tuesday, September 8th. Please be seated.
Councilman Dilarja.
I am present.
Councilman.
Yeah.
Councilwoman Butler. Yes. Councilwoman Scott. Mayor Pro Temian. Councilman Larang. And Mayor Crocker.
Please stand up and join me for a moment of silence.
I take the oath of allegiance to the United States of America and the Republic of Canada for which it stands. Texas.
Mr. Garza, do we have any announcements? No, sir. Okay. Do you have any respect for the public and workers? No, sir. Okay. Does anyone have any issues with the council? No, sir. No, sir. No, sir. No, sir. No, sir. No, sir.
No, sir.
No, sir. No, sir. Mr. Swanson, welcome back. It's good to see you. I support this. I wanted to talk about the night budget today because it's a hot topic. But I have done an avlokan. Where did all the work go? Where did all the people go? I was here last Friday and you know, Friday before the week, but now this is not an excuse. There is a sit-down going on here and that place is always crowded. I don't know where they are all going. Many of our citizens are missing and I have seen a special person whom I like to listen to. They always have many suggestions for your thoughts. I am not seeing them here today. So just one thing is changing.
I don't know.
But I want to tell you and remind you that what you're doing, I appreciate it. It's important and your appreciation is... And with this, I will wait for the budget meeting. But all of you are doing a good job. I recommend it. Keep the good work going.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Swans. Okay, I will end the citizens' meeting and we will move on to our public hearing. This evening, we have two public hearings and we will start with item C1.
Item C1 is a public hearing on the proposed budget of the year 2020.
I will start listening to Sarvajanik on item C1. If anyone wants to address the issue. Yes, please come forward. This is a topic on which I want to give you some courage. You have my support. I think the problem of the budget is with the Damkal department. And in my opinion, Damkal Department is different from EMS. I don't want to let them be separated from Damkal Department. They want you to join them so that you don't get to know what's going on. And they give reference to all the rules and regulations of the state and central government that you have to follow. But I need all of you to stand in front of them. Remember, when we were talking about the fire deal, I heard the Mayor and he was absolutely right. Once you get connected with these people, it never ends. And no matter how hard you try to satisfy them, they will never be satisfied. Until they get everything that we have in Victoria. My conclusion is that I don't believe in the form of a citizen and citizen. That we can raise the expenses of this department and I look at the community in which we live. I don't think we can raise the expenses of this department. This is too much. A lot of people are doing a lot. I don't know what they are doing. I would like to see the report of that fire marshal, the rainy fire marshal report that tells me how much fire he has actually set. Now, on Navaro, on the place of Uncle Mike, there was a big fire. Where is the fire report of the fire marshal? He is always investigating. He has been doing this for the last 50 years. Ever since I am in Victoria, he just investigates. He doesn't tell us whether we are burning with electricity, whether we are burning with volcanic ash, whether we are burning with barbeque.
I don't know anything about him.
And he is a good person. I don't want to show that person down. This is about the workshop. This is about the work that is being done. This is not about these people. We are talking about the budget. So, my question is for Mr. Yannichek. Are you Mr. Yannichek? And Mr. Swansan, let me make it clear that this is not a question-and-answer session, but a question-and-answer session for those of you who want to have a chat. Okay. I think that for information, thank you. You are always very helpful in this. And I appreciate it because sometimes I start giving my speeches. I want to know how much is the total budget? How much is the total budget? How much is the part of the fiscal department? And now I want to know what is the EMS of the fiscal department? Not of EMS. I want to know the full number and then how much is the fiscal department? And I just want to see that part, because if we ever sit together and feel that only 3% of the voters gave that thing their consent, and we did that foolishly under the right advice, then we will feel it. But if I get that number, then I will have the basis to know how many cuts can be made. Do you know how much effort he has put in? I am in search of this. And I will come back in the remaining time.
Yes, excellent. Thank you, Mr. Swanson.
Thank you. Is there anyone else who wants to address the discussion on the subject of Sarvajanik Sunwai? Without seeing anyone, I will stop the Sarvajanik Sunwai on item C1 and we will move towards the Sunwai on item C2. Ms. Hilbert.
There is a Sarvajanik Sunwai on item C2, Victoria city, on 26-27-27.
Is there anyone who wants to comment on this matter? Please come forward at this time. Without seeing anyone, I will stop the discussion on item C2 and we will again discuss these issues as part of our discussion. But first, we will not take only one item on the agenda of agreement.
Item D1 Victoria sells tax development corporation for the budget of 2026-2027. Do I have a proposal for this?
Item 1 is an order that gives a total of 24 to 17,000 commons for the beginning of October 2026. Do I have a proposal to accept the budget through Item E1?
Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1? Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1? Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1?
Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1?
Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1? Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1? Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1? Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1? Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1? Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1? Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1? Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1?
Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1? Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1? Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1?
Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1?
Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1? Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1? Do I have a proposal to accept Item E1? Do
Mr. Rain, I know that you have some information on this topic for us. Yes, absolutely.
Good evening, Parishad. First of all, what I want to say is that the best way to correct a mistake is honesty. In the last Parishad session, the staff gave you some words to read out loud. However, the staff forgot to add some other specific language to it. In the second word, we gave you some other language to read out loud. So, before we move on to the next part, let's clarify the fear. If you don't mind, I would like to explain to you in a few minutes what is happening, how the mistake happened, and what that extra language actually means. Let's start. It is very easy to clarify the fear of wealth. This is a separate field from the budget and the career. This majority information is made for the public. The local requirement is that this language should be in it, whether the currency is large, stable or low. When you look at the tax code in depth, it is really talking about the currency. Therefore, if compared to the previous year, you are increasing your M&O currency, then you did what you did last year, that is, you stated that the currency is more than the previous year. And this is correct, because this is a new improvement. We have received about $112,000 for new improvements, which have never been done before. Keep this in mind. Now, one thing that was left is that if the proposed budget is based on non-neurate calculation and recognition, i.e. the calculation through Truth in Taxation, you have to join with another statement. and that is that the interest rate will be increased by 0.1% and the interest rate will be reduced by around $60 to the people living in a $1,000 house. Now if you are like me, a normal creditor, then I will say, what is this? You are increasing it by 0.6%. But my interest rate is going down by 7%. This is all very strange. The first language they are talking about is about the effect of the green part. Basically, no new rate. It is a fancy word to use. Secondly, the red part is talking about the actual transaction. There are two different things. So, this is M and O. There are two different stories. It is like green apple and red apple. They look different and taste different. On behalf of the needs of the population, they want you to apply for a loan and keep in mind that applying for a loan is done for the calculation of new wealth along with all the assets. And compare it with the calculation of your non-new rate in which new wealth is not included. Basically, we want to show the difference there. Red is basically a direct cash transfer. This is your last year's credit. This is your this year's credit. You deposit X dollars. For any calculation, it is completely direct. So, basically, if you look at the calculation, then the deposit is 29.80. The new one is 29.7. So, basically, you have 0.6% more impact. What does all this say? Basically, the Austrian Constitution is trying to tell you that you can be more strict in your work so that you can keep the same things as you did last year and become a president. Do you understand this? And to get a bypass on this, forget about the new property, which is really excellent. Because if you see, all the laws only talk about M. Victoria is one of those unique cities in Texas where it has lost its interest rate in all these years. Austin is concerned about those cities that punish those cities that always try to increase their debt. We are going in the other direction and are very proud of our interest rates and everything else. So, apart from $7, the next slide is a simple calculation. If you add up the interest on it and the M, then you can easily see the decline of 25 words. But I don't want you to say that. That's why they choose what they want. So basically, the law is telling you that it also wants to show the debtors that without fear of new wealth and new values, what can happen is that you can go down by 0.6% instead of decreasing by 7%. This means maybe a dollar or some other money. Anyway, I just wanted to give you this thought. I wanted to take time. And this is necessary by law. It doesn't make any difference that Ganesh doesn't understand in the form of Nishkash. But you couldn't study together. That's why you have two different ideas. This is my proposal.
I hesitate to ask this. But does anyone have any questions? Please. What did he say?
What did you say?
I definitely feel that such situations, and this does not happen every year, but such situations where the calculation is correct, it means that it is clear in the language in which you have to enter that calculation. And that's why such strange situations arise, where it is written that the tax on $1000 should be increased from minus $60, which is the estimate. And I think, just like Sushri Scott didn't tip before, his English teachers will be very upset with that language. But that's the way it is. That's the way it is. I'm sad to say that Lawrence has prepared it. So, any questions on that?
Thank you for your time.
Okay. We are grateful for this clarification. With this, to confirm the property tax, we will have to think about item E2. And I believe that we have the language that was given to us and which meets the constitutional requirements. I want to intervene for a second, Mayor.
The language given to you is for the administration of item E3. For administration? Yes, sir. Okay.
So, at this time, we will have to make a request for the confirmation of the proposed tax. Yes, sir.
Is it separate or is it just an ordinary instruction?
Understood. Okay. So, I need a request for the confirmation of the proposed tax for the panel of ladies.
I will do the easy work and keep that request. Support me. I have a request and support.
No discussion. All in favour say yes.
Now we will go to item E3, which is Sushi Silbert's instruction. Item E3 is an instruction, which is based on the tax of $100 per year for 2026.
This item is the second third reading. Thank you. So now we will need to use the language that has been provided to us for the proposal. And that's why it was possible to make it simple. What I have given you is the first proposal to open the item. And then the second proposal is in order, as all of us.
We will open the first proposal. And then we will close it and then we will close the first one again.
Thank you very much. Do I have any initial proposal? I am willing to pay tax on $100.45 to the tax office. And this tax office will pay more taxes than the previous year's tax office. I will support this. I am willing to support this proposal.
So we will need to improve this proposal.
I have a proposal to reform the Constitution. I have a proposal to reform the Constitution under Article 3 of the Constitution, as it has been written, so that it can be included in the Constitution. The interest rate will increase by 0.61% in comparison to last year's interest rate. The interest rate will increase by 0.61% in comparison to last year's interest rate. The interest rate will increase by 0.61% in comparison to last year's interest rate. The interest rate will increase by 0.61% in comparison to last year's interest rate. The interest rate will increase by 0.61% in comparison to last year's interest rate. The interest rate will increase by 0.61% in comparison to last year's interest rate. Thank you. Do I have any support for the constitution?
I support it. Have you received any support for the constitution? Is there any discussion on the constitution?
Just a tip that I think there should be a discussion on this, that we understand that this statement doesn't mean anything, but we are following the law. You are absolutely right.
Those who are on the side of the constitution, there is no objection. Okay. So then we will have to agree on a balanced initial proposal. So are you in favor of saying yes? Is there any objection?
And I believe that it brings us into the realm of law, no matter how delusional it may be. Okay, Mr. Gadriya, do we have any report from the city manager?
No, sir. And I understand that we will not have any work to do. No, sir. You are very kind to us. Okay, then we will complete the work in 5 minutes and 10 minutes.
This transcript was automatically generated from the official public meeting video and is presented unedited. It reflects remarks made on the public record by elected officials, staff, and public commenters. Transcript accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.