[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6147848,"mediaKeyId","5519360-1f24d3dcf1312481325177a84050951d","parentId",5519360,"title","Utility Tax Service outlines collection plan for BID assessments; board to act next month","audioSeconds",335,"startMs",127855,"endMs",463545,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5519360-1f24d3dcf1312481325177a84050951d&start=127&end=463","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5519360-1f24d3dcf1312481325177a84050951d/thumbnail_127855.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6147848/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Utility-Tax-Service-outlines-collection-plan-for-BID-assessments-board-to-act-next-month","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147848-19a62eb08464456480d61584af944ae2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776610820&Signature=CIj9WsTPZD-jMNIuCMLRtLuapMByrik8Sl9~VTUkHJ95wNFRvfo08BIfUonJUbsHE9I-rQzw-2l3ET~dlI4EMXcDNGTmPxfG1nlFQPJnah8tmnaMc9nLX9VLziNDKWYe60EhPK8PFhVyeAlXxW5YU9TUn8V7oRDornCoP0W3ToMEh85mVgfqsKy3VmfF7piNDrCGLXsluBOCtZ7544Be9Nt78zvNbVZxPScOXEDWbqc27XRNIgc0kKJB4CKl5bGOwfLRoSs2lG4kmpNdgWu4qfwaM39O0eZJ3EczB6QhqkOOwqwl~7g6Cjl14Ycvad0bU9NIixkVPnx1fagRtQbFFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Laredo, TX","date","2025-07-30T18:06:55Z","article","Michael Arburn, president of Utility Tax Service, told the Downtown Business Improvement District at its July 29 meeting that his firm has activated the district’s taxing authority with the Webb County Appraisal District and is prepared to begin publishing and collecting next season’s assessments.

Arburn said the district’s certified rolls for 2025 are in his office and that the next formal steps are publishing the tax rate and mailing bills. “We’ve already activated your, taxing authority with Webb County Appraisal District,” he told the board, and said the district’s service plan lists a proposed rate of 20¢ per $100 of assessed value.

The presentation described how the firm will pick categories of property to include on the roll, excluding classes that the service plan indicates should not be assessed. Arburn said Utility Tax Service will provide monthly collection reports to the board and will mail tax bills in October. “I’ll get some information offline from Justin about where we’re going to transfer the funds that are collected, and we’ll walk you through the processes once I actually have a written report for you guys,” he said.

Arburn also described payment-processing arrangements the firm will bring back for board action. He told the board the Texas legislature requires taxing authorities to accept electronic payments and that the firm uses Certified Payments to handle card and ACH processing. He said the processing fees are passed through to the consumer and cited a 2.5% card fee and a $1.50 ACH fee as typical examples. “There’s no fees to the district whatsoever. The pass through is directly to the consumer,” Arburn said.

On safeguarding deposits, Arburn said he will present a depository pledge agreement with Stellar Bank to collateralize public funds over the FDIC limit. “What that deposit pledge agreement does is it collateralizes your funds over $250,000,” he said, adding the district itself would not be expected to hold that magnitude in the tax account.

No formal board vote occurred on the tax collection contract at the July 29 meeting; the board approved minutes from its June 10 meeting and the chair said action items related to the collection contract will come back next month with a checklist and the agreements for the board to consider.

What’s next: Utility Tax Service will deliver the written service plan, merchant/ACH agreements and the bank pledge documents for the board’s review and for formal authorization at a future meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Downtown Business Improvement District Meeting, 07/29/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Michael Arburn, president of Utility Tax Service, told the Downtown Business Improvement District at its July 29 meeting that his firm has activated the district’s taxing authority with the Webb County Appraisal District and is prepared to publish the BID’s tax rate and mail bills in October.","taxTitle","Laredo, Webb County, Texas","taxId",2820,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6147835,"Board voices concerns over vacant-building ordinance enforcement, missing map and economic effects",405,1079400,1484400,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5519360-1f24d3dcf1312481325177a84050951d&start=1079&end=1484","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5519360-1f24d3dcf1312481325177a84050951d/thumbnail_1079400.jpg","/articles/6147835/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Board-voices-concerns-over-vacant-building-ordinance-enforcement-missing-map-and-economic-effects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147835-2e9f07e5480a11be26970f8046f9566b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776610820&Signature=I0N~1ukmVQIPZbw5tqBhgm6HfFRL0TAbPKHtOBrTpbxzJPOQuZ~8Dxxil1i-Zpbeqa9m7lQB3tQ-9cwhAvJ4LJGSD5GGr7W3hOlTdK4bGwkKGG02kchlRu0FVSgDLeIcqpsReMvx9E6XrvJ~RrgYTIo0sm1F1PTrBgtpnIxqHKH84h-0UnlF60jrTdfi~ujKlp7gz9ZmEslrakaEmwwAJAb9bNlPpcZWEL5dpHJ1Ko9Zd-Av7sseBd7yXk7b42RVoRA4l9vkgJ1IfFkhJEofig6otZvm236mv6gwNW9WeGuBiRfDuowgFIghhfo1e5EpJ8rhI7RmIRa-ApP9~tHhZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members used the July 29 meeting to detail concerns about the city’s vacant-building ordinance, its enforcement and the potential economic effects on downtown property owners.

Board members said the ordinance, originally adopted in 2021, refers to a boundary map (Exhibit A) that was not included in the ordinance as adopted and that the lack of a clearly defined geographic boundary could complicate enforcement. “When you go to when it was passed, it says see exhibit A or exhibit B. And when you go to the meeting when it was passed, there is no document exhibit A,” a board member said. Another board member said the city’s building-services web page now shows a map but that the map on the website differs from maps other staff described; the board asked the city to clarify the geographic area subject to the ordinance before assessing fees.

Members discussed the ordinance’s occupancy threshold. A board member stated, “It’s gotta be more than 60% occupied to not be vacant,” indicating that properties at 60% occupancy or lower would be considered vacant under the rules as cited in the meeting.

Speakers also discussed fee and penalty language included in portions of the ordinance and in city communications but noted inconsistent figures in the materials and during the discussion. A board member summarized components cited in the ordinance process as including a registration fee, late fees and potential fines for failure to comply with building-code or security requirements, and explicitly said the exact fee schedule and timing “was not specified” in the meeting materials the board reviewed.

Several board members urged caution about enforcement before the city clarifies boundaries, registration processes and whether proposed fee increases will be applied. One board member said amendments to the ordinance were placed on the city council agenda for last week but that the council moved to table the item; another said the city staff’s position appeared to be to move forward with enforcement despite the pending questions. “So to me, it’s a little unclear. It’s still technically on the books,” a board member said of the ordinance.

Members warned the ordinance could have unintended economic consequences. Several said the downtown currently faces weak rental market conditions and that requiring substantial capital investment to bring buildings to code could push owners toward demolition or conversion to uses such as surface parking, rather than renovation and leasing. “If you spend the money to renovate the building and now it’s sitting there empty, deteriorating, that’s another disincentive for property owners,” one member said.

Board members asked council members outside the downtown district to press the city to pause aggressive enforcement until the boundaries, registration process and fee schedule are clarified and until the city pairs enforcement with incentives and outreach. The board did not take a formal vote; members said they will continue to press the city for clarity and reported that their district council representative had been restricted from speaking to council on the item because she owns property in the district.","Board members raised objections on July 29 to the city’s vacant-building ordinance, citing a missing geographic exhibit in the adopting ordinance, unclear fee language and a 60% occupancy threshold that speakers said would classify many downtown properties as vacant.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6147840,"Board says 501(c)(3) paperwork filed; nonprofit status could allow downtown fundraising",84,849980,934300,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5519360-1f24d3dcf1312481325177a84050951d&start=849&end=934","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5519360-1f24d3dcf1312481325177a84050951d/thumbnail_849980.jpg","/articles/6147840/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Board-says-501c3-paperwork-filed-nonprofit-status-could-allow-downtown-fundraising","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147840-cccd564aad5707a610dee6d4a8e0a1ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1776610820&Signature=ftdb~gN9sEmeMrZfi5A2y8m-MPAfyQ09sA-OviNHPu9xmwsXXM~qZu3T9hKoxlbypFs47SvS4i4G9TiLM6alNA~PvCx6VD-SQIyXsss~s5GQ2kdRe71~6HcSp77WaG-nb4lU-tMTBwXvFuNuz~sbvbuBN5sYC5DETKlwdCEhn5xL5zToFAcfwoyjMRqiFdlVHozP7iLlmDe2k8Cqvt72hT6MnZ31xOnhg3MbZQA3srXdlPIkut-H7716KLfd~10H4HWsBR8Jb5v96V9eSQZe-r-6IV0JbthDwdT4i7dppAxZRD9IwLx15hjehm5ISFe2yUu~7Wpbb8WAGle6BcEiFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members reported that paperwork to form a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to support downtown initiatives has been submitted to the federal government and that the district is awaiting IRS determination.

“All paperwork’s been submitted with the feds. We’re just waiting on the 501(c)(3) approval,” the chair said during the July 29 meeting. Board members said they had not received any requests for clarification from the IRS — which they interpreted as a positive sign — but they did not give a firm approval date. “So I’m hopeful that by August we’ll be reporting that that has been fully formed and is in good standing as a 501(c)(3),” the chair said.

Board members described the primary benefits they expect if the nonprofit is approved: the ability to accept tax-deductible donations from individuals and companies to buy capital equipment or pay for programs that assessments alone might not cover. As an example, one board member said a street-washing machine could cost roughly $25,000 and that donors could give toward such equipment even if they are not property owners. “This will allow them to donate to downtown whether or not they’re property owners,” a board member said, adding that donations would allow supplemental purchases beyond assessment-funded services.

The board discussed using nonprofit fundraising to supplement contract services, capital purchases and other activities downtown. No formal vote took place on nonprofit governance or on appointing nonprofit officers at the July 29 meeting; board members said they would report back when the IRS determination arrives.","Board members reported that paperwork for a downtown nonprofit (501(c)(3)) has been submitted to federal authorities and argued the status would allow outside donations for equipment and programs beyond the district’s assessment revenue.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6147845,"Appraisal totals and class codes reviewed; 11 accounts remain under review, board told",127,551675,679529,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5519360-1f24d3dcf1312481325177a84050951d&start=551&end=679","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5519360-1f24d3dcf1312481325177a84050951d/thumbnail_551675.jpg","/articles/6147845/Laredo/Webb-County/Texas/Appraisal-totals-and-class-codes-reviewed-11-accounts-remain-under-review-board-told","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147845-3cb8f7d420796a7c57cd385b9b15d9fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1776610820&Signature=HP2g9XWyBUtHcgm6yF7MjSNE8TUnxaSg6~emVXWCz4aR2smJMEQi5OfA9uU70tXEUBaYxr22zM582PM2YOHOTn-9x3uwDqA9RiWytUqshiwynPgvE59AAD7nj9U6XK819j03T07w2Ic8yklVb05lVN5xyUhhSewXSplOxV5~f8K8xzj37r-eXwvTl3qVInKxnbWcloVMIChnqC2vinNBxc3q9A6M1IpEFEdduIdJvv5XNFPzdpjM3Gx5URO3Q-eKK-NvCEhsY8Z678Mzp2yembEu5BeotG~wTrT3-FGJzhgBMXFj1MTh9rbi4q6u4Ck2~7FR2d7YzF3mHD-RR-CQ9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members reviewed appraisal-district totals for the downtown district and discussed how property-class codes determine which accounts will appear on the BID tax roll.

Michael Arburn and board members noted that the firm had received the district’s certified rolls for 2025 and that some accounts remain under protest or appraisal review. “You still have 11 accounts under review,” Arburn said, referring to roughly $1.8 million in value he identified on the draft listing. He said the certified (not-under-review) commercial, class F1, base for the district listed about $150.8 million in value.

The board discussed classification rules that affect whether small multifamily homes are treated as residential or commercial for assessment. Board members and Arburn said properties of four units or fewer are treated as residential under the state class codes discussed; once a structure hits five units it is typically treated as commercial for the purposes the presenter described. “Once it hits 4 units, then it becomes a commercial property,” Arburn said, and later clarified the common local practice that small multifamily is often coded as residential.

Arburn provided an illustrative example, saying, “If you just use that $150,800,000, the first-year levy would be $301,007.17,” phrasing the figure as an illustrative estimate tied to the draft certified base and the district’s service plan rate. He cautioned that the figure can change if the accounts under review are adjusted by the appraisal review board.

Board members asked about accounts that had settled after prior reviews; Arburn said adjustments from settlements would be reflected once the appraisal review board process is complete and that he would bring a copy of the report with examples to the next meeting.

No formal action was taken on values or classifications at the July 29 meeting; discussion centered on verifying the certified base and understanding how outstanding protests might affect next year’s levy.","Board members reviewed Webb County Appraisal District totals for the BID area, discussed classification rules that determine which properties will be assessed, and heard an estimate of a first-year levy based on the certified commercial base.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Utility Tax Service outlines collection plan for BID assessments; board to act next month

Board voices concerns over vacant-building ordinance enforcement, missing map and economic effects

Board says 501(c)(3) paperwork filed; nonprofit status could allow downtown fundraising

Appraisal totals and class codes reviewed; 11 accounts remain under review, board told