On Monday, September 11, at 4 pm, the City of Pampa held a regular meeting of the City Commission with a hearing open to the public to discuss the increase of the total tax revenue from properties on the tax roll in the upcoming year among readings of ordinance amendments, budget approvals, and board appointments.
The Pampa City Commission opened with a public hearing. The topic of the hearing was to focus on a discussion of an increase in total property tax revenue for the upcoming year. Currently, at $0.73 per $100.00 of taxable value, the increase would be for $.03, bringing it to $0.76, or 14.20% (percent by which the proposed tax rate exceeds lower of the no-new-revenue tax rate and the voter approval tax rate calculated under Chapter 26 of the Tax Code). As a result, an individual’s taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted. No public persons were signed up to speak and the public hearing was closed.
Proceeding with other items on the agenda, the first being the consideration of the approval of the minutes for the September 5, 2023, public hearing and special commission meeting. The minutes were approved.
The second item on the agenda was the consideration of adopting the second and final reading of Ordinance No. 1792, the City of Pampa’s 2023-2024 Operating Budget. This ordinance has been in discussion for the past six months and was approved by roll call.
The third item on the budget was consideration to adopt a second and final reading of Ordinance No. 1793, repealing Article 8.04 of the Code of Ordinances, Curfew for Minors.
“We’re just lining up, now, with state law that prohibits us from having these ordinances,” said City Manager Shane Stokes.
The final reading was approved.
The fourth item on the agenda was to consider approving the first reading of Ordinance No. 1794, setting the tax rate of $0.76 per $100.00 valuation on taxable property for the 2023-2024 fiscal year and levying an Ad Valorem Tax on all properties subject to taxation within the corporate limits of the City of Pampa. This first reading was approved by roll call.
The fifth item on the agenda was to consider approving the proposed operating budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year for the Pampa Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Glennette Goode, President of the EDC was called to speak on the proposed budget, stating that personnel was currently the largest part of the proposed operating cost. Currently, Clay Rice, the Executive Director, is preparing for retirement and staying on as long as is needed to find and train a replacement. This is estimated to take as long as until the end of December. A company that specializes in Executive Director recruitment and Site Selection has also been brought in to assist. Several businesses continue to contribute, including Whiskey Grill despite their closure, and Flogistix after their recent expansion and five-year contract renewal, by making payments on their loans.
The sixth and final item for consideration was the consent agenda items a through h. All consent items are considered routine in nature by the commission and are enacted by one motion. There was no separate discussion on these items, so no items were removed from the consent agenda. A commissioner can request discussion on an item of the Consent Agenda, at which time the item would then be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in normal sequence on the regular agenda.
The items on the Consent Agenda were as follows:
a. Consider appointing Heath Parker to the Board of Adjustments for a two-year term beginning October 1, 2023, and ending September 30, 2025.
b. Consider reappointing Cade Taylor to the Board of Adjustments for a two-year term beginning October 1, 2023, and ending September 30, 2025.
c. Consider appointing Kevin Jefferis to the Construction Board of Appeals for a two-year term beginning October 1, 2023, and ending September 30, 2025.
d. Consider reappointing Bobby Burns, Josh Crawford, and Kevin Redding to the Construction Board of Appeals for a two-year term beginning October 1, 2023, and ending September 30, 2025.
e. Consider reappointing Jerri Erickson and Sarah Doucette to the Lovett Memorial Library Board for a two-year term beginning October 1, 2023, and ending September 30, 2025.
f. Consider reappointing Audrey Meaker, Harold Price and Rachel Schmidt to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a two-year term beginning October 1, 2023, and ending September 30, 2025.
g. Consider appointing Russ Alexander to the Hidden Hills Golf Advisory Board for a two-year term beginning October 1, 2023, and ending September 30, 2025.
h. Consider reappointing Kelly Everson and Tom Lindsey to the Hidden Hills Golf Advisory Board for a two-year term beginning October 1, 2023, and ending September 30, 2025.
All items on the Consent Agenda were approved. With no further items for discussion, the meeting was adjourned by Mayor Lance DeFever at 4:20 pm.
