[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6140785,"mediaKeyId","5577412-85171af75c8edfdde5a3af762621fb6a","parentId",5577412,"title","Henderson council approves proposing no-new-revenue property tax rate; motion carries by voice vote","audioSeconds",691,"startMs",1669000,"endMs",2360000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5577412-85171af75c8edfdde5a3af762621fb6a&start=1669&end=2360","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5577412-85171af75c8edfdde5a3af762621fb6a/thumbnail_1669000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6140785/Henderson/Rusk-County/Texas/Henderson-council-approves-proposing-no-new-revenue-property-tax-rate-motion-carries-by-voice-vote","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6140785-f595f6a33003d7a8de981d220265c9cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1773700307&Signature=bYlHkno8aN0q8Vpq8CN17gMxT7xL21zd04v4ne81rDQuYbo91n3ndhghIUdcGOrcQWeYo8gZD~S3q-pBIskU-MezQY-rHer6YZ-eZTpIdKPLP2ZP2qpUVfJoLX1AGkCGepZ8Ov8ZK1E28zNe0roXDNOJF3TQs7~TItUAhITNk6iVPlW9PMYzuOndyL3QGvJsRl5Z8sV2ISjEeiAAZAViUZ9EcY~6f9OAPG0M3x5fGcBlx7~u4pJOQMR6B7Fd8DaDFEgYVXXyK8G9b8qGW80IwUKAA0wq7V~RnpU6gzWpQfH2Fr-~JiKS9vzbCELUM2bJyCEo3plrrLwnTY4TVYTG9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Henderson TX","date","2025-08-08T11:45:30Z","article","The Henderson City Council voted to move forward with a proposed 2025 property tax rate set at the no-new-revenue level, with a motion carried by voice vote during a rescheduled August meeting.

City staff presented a chart comparing three measures — the no-new-revenue rate, the voter-approval rate and the current rate — and the projected revenue under each. A staff presenter explained that because of new property added to the tax roll (described as a one-time increase driven mainly by West Frasier expansion), the no-new-revenue line can show more revenue even if the rate is lower.

\"You have the ability to do anything up to the voter approval rate, and then you can go down as low as you want,\" the staff presenter said while explaining the options. The presenter recommended that, if the council accepts the larger revenue tied to new property values, the city should not add ongoing expenditures and instead push funds into the general-fund reserve. \"Other than potential cost-of-living stuff for staff, nothing should be added to the budget,\" the presenter said.

A public commenter who identified herself as \"Miss Veil\" urged the council to adopt the no-new-revenue rate and to keep revenue flat compared with the prior year. During that comment she criticized oversight of boards and cited specific statutory sections, saying, \"HeadCo, for example, spent $27,000 on a mural without first seeking city council approval, a clear violation of Texas Local Government Code §501.073 and §505.158.\" She also urged the council not to adopt a tax rate higher than the no-new-revenue rate.

Council discussion recorded a budgetary difference tied to the rate options: adopting the current rate would raise about $550,931 more than last year, while the no-new-revenue alternative shown on the chart would lower that; the transcript notes a specific revenue-difference figure of $113,005.50 between two of the rates. When asked whether the difference would put the city in a bind, staff said the primary effect would be on how much could be returned to reserves.

After public comment, a council member moved \"to approve the no new revenue fee at the recommended, or the lowest rate, the 52¢. 0.529139¢\"; the motion was seconded, the council voted by voice and the mayor declared the motion carried. The transcript records procedural confusion about who made and seconded the motion in council remarks, and no roll-call vote or individual vote tallies were recorded; the meeting transcript shows only a voice vote and the mayor's announcement that the motion carries.

Clarifying details presented at the meeting included a staff estimate that the city should aim to restore general-fund reserves by about $1 million to $1.5 million over time; the presenter recommended funneling one-time revenue increases into reserves rather than adding recurring spending.

Ending: The council approved placement of the proposed tax rate per the no-new-revenue calculation and moved forward without adopting additional budget items tied to that new revenue during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Henderson | Regular Rescheduled City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","During a rescheduled August meeting, the Henderson City Council voted to propose the no-new-revenue property tax rate for 2025 and authorized a record vote; staff presented a chart showing the difference between the no-new-revenue, voter-approval and current rates and recommended using new revenue to bolster reserves rather than add new spending.","taxTitle","Henderson, Rusk County, Texas","taxId",58113,"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},6140789,"Residents urge council to restore separate preservation board after downtown mural sparks complaint",988,211000,1199000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5577412-85171af75c8edfdde5a3af762621fb6a&start=211&end=1199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5577412-85171af75c8edfdde5a3af762621fb6a/thumbnail_211000.jpg","/articles/6140789/Henderson/Rusk-County/Texas/Residents-urge-council-to-restore-separate-preservation-board-after-downtown-mural-sparks-complaint","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6140789-07fd2def24cb539b29dcbc48d2ea9b92/orig.mp4?Expires=1773700307&Signature=GHb9FJUh2wkmLLt85O3bbpWYJywZ-tFs02xOZEJz6a2EwFFU530SNgMlFpVr6uNcuIy391IQZjZAmMSsRe3EqU17DhQ9KxnxDFwfrr3E~KPjcA1WVJHLtJg7P-0JtAm0tuDi66aXmeE~p4w0UPBaMPen5sMVHO~3-Ns6BUz-GGEwIjYtR-1xG5Ul9~XpKQuXhLTOX8ngFPyd7qJLLM55cTObB-B59tOuufQArcimmHNk-LjCe8eOIqWJoQvcLanYlTBtH-Vs5LUPjYI~ET87AglAOeNMI0SH0aUXs5PJXEp-mBM29fM-lPeomFeqA6qRjQQHfyZmloPbFoAWkj9OCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Henderson residents used the council's public comment period to press elected officials to reinstate a separate Landmark Preservation Committee and to investigate how a recently installed downtown mural was approved and paid for. Speakers said the downtown historic district requires specialized oversight and training to protect 19th-century storefronts listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The issue surfaced in multiple public comments. \"Please reinstate a separate landmark preservation committee,\" said Cindy Walker, who identified herself as a former Main Street coordinator, president of the Heritage Association, and a member of the historical commission. \"Historic buildings must constantly be protected, and when they are gone, they do not come back.\" Walker told the council the Henderson Historic Landmark Preservation Committee was created by city council ordinance (88-4-14) on April 12, 1988, and that committee had authority to approve or prohibit construction, destruction or modification within the Henderson Historic District.

Why it matters: speakers said Henderson's downtown is a distinguishing asset—Walker said the entire downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places—and that protecting original brick facades, preventing sandblasting and poorly informed paint or waterproofing choices requires trained reviewers. Several commenters said the current Main Street board is composed largely of realtors and downtown merchants and that combining preservation duties with Main Street's economic development role creates conflicts and reduced technical oversight.

Rochelle Thrasher, who said she works with the local Hope House, told the council she supports separating the two boards because preservation work \"requires a whole different set of education.\" Ali Townley said she had raised concerns directly with council members and described the approval process for the mural as rushed: \"It was approved within minutes by a group who admitted they were not properly trained on historic preservation guidelines.\"

Chris Leonard Wheeler, who identified himself as a downtown property owner, criticized the selection process for the new mural and urged the city to prioritize local artists and greater public input. \"Local people were bypassed,\" Wheeler said, and he suggested the city should focus on economic-development projects that address grocery access in underserved neighborhoods rather than large advertisements downtown.

Several speakers also asserted that the mural was paid for with public funds and said council oversight was lacking. One commenter during public comment cited a figure of $27,000 spent by HeadCo on the mural and said the expenditure occurred \"without first seeking city council approval.\" That claim was made during the meeting; the council did not take formal action on the mural or on board membership changes during the session.

Discussion versus action: all remarks about the mural and board structure came during the public comment portion of the meeting. No council motion, vote or staff directive to change board structure or to open an investigation into the mural approval process was recorded in the meeting transcript. Speakers repeatedly urged the council to act; council members did not announce a follow-up or formal inquiry at the meeting.

Speakers stressed technical protections they say the city should enforce: discouraging painting on unpainted historic brick, preventing sandblasting, requiring repointing rather than abrasive cleaning, and mothballing unused buildings to protect roofs and windows until repairs are possible. Walker suggested the city and Hedco could offer matching grants for repointing and facade work.

Ending: Council members did not respond with a formal vote or directive during the meeting. The public-comment speakers asked the council to place the matter on a future agenda and to require training from the Texas Historical Commission for future preservation-board members; no date for such an agenda item was given during the session.","Multiple residents told the Henderson City Council during public comment that the city should reinstate a separate historic-preservation committee from the Main Street board after a recently installed mural drew criticism for lack of oversight and use of public funds.","actionData","errors"]

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Henderson council approves proposing no-new-revenue property tax rate; motion carries by voice vote

Residents urge council to restore separate preservation board after downtown mural sparks complaint