Beaumont City Council today voted unanimously to propose a tax rate of $0.64 per $100 property valuation for the 2012 tax year and to schedule public hearings on August 28 and September 11 to provide the public with opportunity to provide input on the rate.

“The proposed tax rate of $0.64, which is the current tax rate, exceeds the effective tax rate of $0.636401 by $0.003599,” City Manager Kyle Hayes said.

When the tax rate exceeds the lower of the effective or rollback tax rate, which is $0.687572 per $100 valuation for 2012, two public hearings must be held prior to adoption of the rate.

The city council voted to schedule a public hearing for August 28 regarding the proposed FY2013 budget.

The city council voted to issue certificates of obligation in an amount not to exceed $24 million. Proceeds from the sale of the bonds are anticipated to be received by the city on September 13.  The bonds will be repaid through the city’s debt service fund, which is supported by property taxes.

The city council voted to approve the issuance and sale of water and sewer revenue bonds, not to exceed $21 million.  The bonds will be repaid through revenues from the city’s water and sewer utility service.

The city council voted to issue $26 million in general obligation refunding bonds.

The bonds will refinance past bonds issued by the city at a lower interest rate in order to realize savings on the repayment of the debt.

The city council voted to engage the services of Orgain, Bell and Tucker, LLP as bond counsel related to the proposed issuance of general obligation refunding bonds.

The city council had engaged the firm in July to serve as bond counsel for certificates of obligation and water and sewer revenue bonds being issued this year. 

“At the time that item was brought forth it was not known if refunding bonds would be issued,” Hayes said.

The firm will charge a minimum fee of $17,500, or .15 percent of the face amount of the bonds issued.

The city council voted to approve $593,278 for the purchase of a fire truck from Siddons-Martin Emergency Group.

The pumper fire truck will be assigned to Fire Station 10 to replace the existing Engine 10.

The city will use funds from the 2009 Port Security Grant to pay 75 percent, or $444,958 of the cost of the truck, with the remainder coming from the Capital Reserve Fund.

The city council voted to approve an agreement with the Texas Gulf Coast Regional Trauma Advisory Council and the Beaumont Public Health Department EMS Division.

The agreement is for participating agencies and hospitals to conduct an operations-based exercise.

The city council voted to reappoint Mary Jowers and Bob Harris to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

The city council voted to reappoint Charles Watts to the Convention and Tourism Advisory Board.

The city council voted to reappoint Marty Craig to the Historic Landmark Commission.

The city council voted to reappoint Lynda Kay Makin and Ransom “Duce” Jones to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The city council voted to reappoint Pam Wise to the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund Board.

All items were approved.  All votes were unanimous with Council Member W.L. Pate absent.  Agenda