It is a done deal. During the Sept. 3 regular meeting, by a 5-1 vote, Marble Falls City Council approved a budget of more than $21.4 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025, set to begin Oct. 1.
“A lot of work went into it," Mayor Dave Rhodes said. “It will keep the ball rolling."
Council member Rich- ard Westerman dissented, mainly because the FY 2025 budget sets aside $80,000 for a new city public relations coordinator position.
"I find it is unneces -
sary," Westerman told The Highlander.
Council member Bry an Walker did not attend
the meeting.
After approving the budget, all council mem bers present voted 6-0 to approve a new tax rate of .5350 per $100 of prop- erty valuation, a slight decrease from the current rate of .5400, according to city documents.
As the meeting con- tinued, the council voted 5-1 to approve the annual update of the La Ventana Public Improvement District (PID) service and assessment plan.
Before the vote, sever - al La Ventana lot owners expressed concern related to an assessment increase cited in the PID update, from more than $3,000 to more than $8,000.
"I really think that is kind of dubious," PID lot owner Ronald Levick Sr. told council members.
The council went into executive session to dis - cuss the issue with City Attorney Josh Brock man-Weber. After the closed-door discussion, the council indicated the city could not ignore its legal obligation to approve the plan update, including the new assessment.
“I think there is oth- er recourse y'all could follow," Westerman told Levick and other aggrieved PID lot owners.
Any person or persons may contest or protest the assessment increase
issue with P3 Works, the PID administrator, May or Dave Rhodes told The Highlander.
Council member Karlee Cauble dissented with no comment.
According to city offi - cials, the PID update will not affect the city budget.
Turning to another matter, the council voted 5-0 to alter the amount of water and wastewater im- pact fees owed to the city by MMC Marble Falls 1070 LLC, from more than $3.4 million to $1.2
million, to support de velopment of more than 200 lots at Thunder Rock Boulevard and Centurion Parkway.
In turn, the council ac - cepted an offer by MMC to provide "in kind" labor valued at more than $2 million needed to devel- op the Rocky Road water supply system. Before the vote, coun - cil member Lauren Hal tom left the meeting.
Before the meeting ended City Manager Mike Hodge told council mem bers design and permit screening for the new city wastewater plant could be completed by March 2025.
“That is still up in the air," Hodge said.
The Texas Commis sion on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is still reviewing the city permit application for the new plant, the city manager added.
Also, the Texas Wa ter Development Board
is reviewing the city re quest for additional funds to build the plant, which could cost about $73 mil- lion, Hodge said.
“We are working through that process," he added.
Fire Chief Tommy Crane reported the reno- vation of Fire Station No. 1 could be completed by December.
"It is almost done," Crane told council mem- bers. "We are probably at 50% completion. We're looking good."
Also during the meet- ing, the council:
• Approved the issue of City of Marble Falls Tex - as Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2024 at a par value of $16 million, locked at 3.93% interest over 30 years; Recognized City Parks & Recreation De partment Supervisor Man- uel Zapata as Employee of the Quarter; and Denied the Texas Gas Service Company request for a rate increase and adopted the 2024 city of Marble Falls Mitigation Plan, during its consent agenda.
