Orange Council tackle budget and tax issues at meeting

The Golden K Kiwanis Club of Orange receives signs designating their Adopt-a-Street Program at the Orange City Council meeting Tuesday night. The organization adopted 10th Street from Polk Avenue to Western Avenue, 28th Street from Sunset Drive to Park Avenue and Main Street from 16th Street to South Street. RECORD PHOTO: David Ball

David Ball - For The Record

The Orange City Council addressed budgetary and tax matters at their regular meeting on the evening of August 25.

The council adopted a final reading of an ordinance amending the adopted budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2014 and ending on Sept. 30, 2015.

The sum of $18,302,477 is appropriated out of the General Fund for the payment of operating expenses, capital outlay and inter-fund transfers out of the city government as set forth in the budget.

The sum of $8,174,142 is appropriated out of the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund for the payment of operating expenses, capital outlay and inter-fund transfers of the Water and Sewer Utility for paying the accruing interest, principal and service charges on the water and sewer supported debt service bonds as set forth in the budget.

The sum of $5,845,825 is appropriated out of the Special Revenue Fund for the payment of operating expenses and capital outlay as set forth in the budget.

The council approved another ordinance, first reading, for adopting a budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2015 and ending on Sept. 30, 2016.

The sum of $18,474,467 is appropriated out of the General Fund for the payment of operating expenses, capital outlay and inter-fund transfers out of the city government as set forth in the budget.

The sum of $992,631 is appropriated out of the Debt Service Fund for the purpose of paying the accruing interest, principal and service charges on the tax supported debt of the city as set forth in the budget.

The sum of $600,424 is appropriated out of the General Capital Improvement Project Fund for the purpose of capital outlay expenses as set forth in the budget.

The sum of $8,326,460 is appropriated out of the Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund for the payment of operating expenses, capital outlay, and inter-fund transfers of the municipality owned Water and Sewer Utility and for the purpose of paying the accruing interest, principal and service charges on the water and sewer supported debt service bonds as listed in the budget.

The sum of $4,788,545 is appropriated out of the Water and Sewer Bond Construction Fund for the payment of capital outlay costs, associate with bond issues to finance water and sewer construction projects as set forth in the budget.

The sum of $1,948,044 is appropriated out of the Sanitation Fund for the payment of operating expenses and inter-fund transfers as set forth in the budget.

The sum of $1,623,940 is appropriated out of the Special Revenue Fund for the payment of operating expenses and capital outlay of the city government as set forth in the budget.

Also passed was the first reading of an ordinance making a tax levy and fixing the maintenance and operations tax rate, debt service tax rate and total tax rate for the city of Orange for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2015 and ending Sept. 30, 2016 upon all taxable property in the city.

The 2016 ad valorem tax for maintenance and operations of $.58412 per $100 of value, and ad valorem tax for debt service of $.11588, for a total ad valorem tax of $.70 per $100 of value.

The council approved a resolution authorizing City Manager Dr. Shawn Oubre to enter into an agreement with Fitz & Shipman, Inc. for $51,955 for professional engineering services for the extension of water and sanitary sewer infrastructure at West Allie Payne Road.

Jay Trahan, Orange Economic Development Corporation director said the $51,955 is part of the $658,000 recently approved by the OEDC and city council for the infrastructure project, which includes the 1,700 foot extension to the west of water and sanitary sewer along with a lift station.

The estimated completion date is Spring 2016.

Another resolution was approved to enter into an agreement with Greg Wobbe with MPTX and Associates to provide flood mitigation consultant services pertaining to real property located at 3809 Huntwick in Orange.

Mr. and Mrs. David Bellon requested the city enter into an agreement with the Texas Water Development Board to obtain money through a grant for the raising of their home to prevent further flooding. According to the available date, this property has eight paid flood insurance claims totaling $366,000, with the most recent being field in March 2012.

This is to assist the Bellons in applying for this grant.

PBT Architects, Inc. was selected for $9,800 for professional architectural services for the addition to Fires Station No. 2 on Allie Payne Road.

Services include design phase, drawings for bidding phase and consultant services for the construction phase.

During Citizen Comments, The Rev. Demetrius Moffett of the Orange Church of God requested the clergy in the city and the Orange City Council set a meeting. The church will be launching several programs and events including one in October in Navy Park. However, the north portion of the park allows no parking. Moffett is requesting amending the signs to read no parking from dusk to dawn.

The council renewed employee medical insurance with Blue Cross/Blue Shield for a period of one year at 9.14 percent increase in rates.

The employee dental insurance with MetLife for a period of one year at 0 percent increase in rates was approved.

Lastly, the vision insurance with MetLife for a period of one year at 0 percent increase in rates was approved.

Culllin Smith and Jim Pledger were re-appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a two-year term that ends on Sept. 12, 2017. Jack Moore was re-appointed to the commission for a one-year term that ends on Sept. 12, 2016.

There are still two vacancies on the Planning and Zoning Commission that need to be filled.