City Council - Special Meeting

And Sam, if you please give him a take invocation, we will rise and stand for Stan.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for this evening. Father, we thank you that this is the day, Father, we decide the money for our city. We thank you, Father, that we're in good hands. I thank you, Lord, that our police is reaching out to the community and watching over our citizens. Lord, I thank you that the city is blessed. And we thank you for all of that. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the United States flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Texas flag.

Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance.

All right, we did not receive anything from the citizens' comments, so we'll move right along to the public hearing. Item number five on your agenda. Convening a public hearing on the proposed FY2027 City of Montgomery annual budget. It's exactly 6.01, and we are in public hearing. Seeing that no one's coming to the podium, we will go ahead and close this public hearing at 6.01. Item number six, convene into public hearing on the proposed 2026 tax rate of .400 per 100 of assessed valuation. It is 6.02. We will enter into public hearing. Seeing that no one's coming to the podium, we will close this public hearing at 6.02. Thank you. All right, item number seven, special agenda. Consideration of possible action regarding adoption by a record vote of an ordinance of the city of Montgomery, Texas, adopting an operating budget for the fiscal year 2026-2027. This budget will raise more revenue from property taxes than last year's budget by an amount of... $140,360, which is a 5.59% increase from last year's budget. The property tax revenue will be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $192,457. Taxpayer impact statement. This notice informs taxpayers of the potential impact of the proposed tax rate for fiscal year 2026-2027, comparing what would be paid under the no new revenue tax rate versus the proposed revenue tax rate. Do I need to read these as presented or are we good?

Okay.

I don't know. Mayor and Council. The budget that's being brought to you this evening for consideration is the proposed budget that you voted on one month ago. It has been posted as required for the 30 days.

I'd like to make a motion that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 0.0000 for $100.

That's actually number seven, and that's number 10. Yeah, we're on number seven.

No, it's all right.

Number seven is the budget.

Still need a recorded vote.

Yes, it does have to be a record vote, but it's not the tax rate components. Yeah, you have to adopt your budget before you can adopt your tax rate.

All right, I'll make a motion to approve the operating budget for fiscal year 26-27.

Motion by Mr. Olson that we approve the operating budget for fiscal year 26-27. Second. And a second motion by Mr. Donaldson. This is a record vote. So, Ms. Langley, what is your pleasure? Yes. Mr. Olson?

Yes.

Mr. Glazier?

Yes.

Ms. Fox? Yes. Mr. Donaldson? Yes. Fantastic. Moving right along to item number eight, consider, adopt, and set by ordinance the 2026 ad valorem tax rate for maintenance and operations at .3301 per 100.

All right, Mayor and Council, these two items, your tax rate is comprised of two pieces, the maintenance and operation, and then your debt servicing. Both of those components need to be voted on independently, and then the last item is to vote on your tax rate as a whole. So this is bringing forward the maintenance and operation. rate of .3301 per $100, and this is what was used to put together the budget that you just approved.

And this is not by record vote? This is cumulatively correct? Correct. And then the next one, the number 10, will be record, independent? Okay.

So a real quick question. A .3301 per 100, was that an increase over the last year?

That's a which I can find for you.

It should be the same.

It does change slightly with debt service. So it's slightly different, but I'll give you what those...

It said last year that we approved .3258, so there was a slight change.

So it's like towards debt service. Yes. Okay, that's good enough.

All right, thank you.

Actually, no, it was .258 last year? It was .3258. Okay, so a slight shift to debt services. Okay. I'll make a motion to adopt and set the ordinance for the 2026 ad valorem tax rate for maintenance and operations at 0.3301 per $100.

Motion by Mr. Olsen that we adopt and set by ordinance the 2026 ad valorem tax rate for maintenance and operations at 0.3301 per 100. Second. Second by Ms. Fox. This motion is debatable and amenable.

Requires majority vote. It's open for discussion.

All those in favor accepting and setting by ordinance the 2026 ad valorem tax rate for maintenance and operations at .3301 per 100, say aye. Aye. The nays say nay. The ayes have it, the motion carries and we will accept the M&O tax rate at .3301 per 100. Number eight on your agenda, number nine on your agenda. Consider, adopt and set by ordinance the 2026 ad valorem tax rate for debt service at .0699 per 100.

This is that second component of the overall tax rate, and this is just specifically for debt servicing.

I make a motion that we adopt the ordinance for the 2026 ad valorem tax rate for debt service at $0.0699 per $100.

Motion by Mr. Donaldson that we adopt and set by ordinance the 2026 ad valorem tax rate for debt service at 0.0699 per 100.

I have a second. Second by Mr. Olson.

All those in favor of setting by ordinance of 2026, ad valorem tax rate for debt service at 0.0699 per 100, say aye. Aye. Those opposed say nay. The ayes have the motion. We will set by ordinance of 2026, ad valorem tax rate for debt service at 0.699 per 100. Just for the record, that actually went down. Last year we approved 0.0742. Noted. Number 10. Consideration of possible action on an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Montgomery, Texas, setting the abnormal tax rate for the City of Montgomery for the year 2026 at a rate of .4000 per $100, valuation on all taxable property within the corporate limits of the City of Montgomery as of January 1st, 2026, specifying separate components of such for operations and maintenance and for debt service. levying an ad valorem tax for the year 2026, providing for new and delinquent dates together with penalties and interest, providing for collection and ordaining other related matters. This would be an independent vote.

I move that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of the tax rate of 1.400 for $100, which is effective at 2.01% increase in the

It has been moved that we set by ordinance the 2026 ad valorem tax rate of .400 per 100 using the legally required wording below. I move the property tax rate to be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of .400 per 100, which is effectively a 2.01% increase in the tax rate. Is there a second? Go ahead, Ms. Langley. Are you good with that? What is your vote? Yes. Mr. Olsen?

Yes.

Mr. Glacier?

Yes.

Ms. Fox?

Yes. Mr. Donaldson?

Yes.

Perfect.

Who did second?

Mayor, who was our second? Who was?

Oh, I can second.

Okay.

I thought you did.

Sorry. I'm so sorry. I did not second.

I think I had it in my mind when you were asking the questions that you were.

No.

Okay, so sorry. All right, closing agenda.

Can I just clarify? Yeah, absolutely. Just for the record that even though the wording is it has to be an increase, it says an increase, there has been no increase. That is the same amount it was last year. Since 2018.

Correct.

It's not just that for the record, but it's still the same.

Number 11, council inquiry on the closing agenda.

Thank you, Miss Carl. You're welcome. Thank you.

Number 12, I have to consider for placement on future agendas. I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. I make the motion to adjourn. Motion by Ms. Fox. Second. Second by Mr. Olson. All those in favor of adjourning, say aye. Aye. The ayes have it. The motion carries. It's 6-11. Adjourn this meeting.