Budget crisis forces city to consider drastic spending cuts

During a recent government meeting, officials discussed significant adjustments to the proposed budget following the receipt of certified values, which revealed a revenue decrease of $385,000. This adjustment brings the projected revenues down from $23.2 million to $22.8 million, while expenditures in the proposed budget are set at $23.3 million.

Two key items were highlighted for consideration: an increase of $18,000 to the Coryell Central appraisal district budget, necessary to meet quarterly payment obligations, and an additional $10,500 for non-city agencies, as requested by the city council. These changes would raise total expenditures to $23.4 million and increase the budget deficit from $135,000 to $549,000. Despite this increase, officials noted that the city would still maintain an ideal fund balance.

To address the growing deficit, staff proposed delaying market adjustments for public safety and coil adjustments by three months, shifting the start date from October to January. This delay is expected to yield savings of $390,000 for public safety adjustments and an additional $22,000 for coil adjustments, effectively reducing the deficit to approximately $217,000.

The meeting underscored the importance of these budgetary decisions as officials prepare to propose a tax rate that aligns with the revised financial outlook.