The Robinson City Council on Aug. 11 approved the issuance and sale of tax-and-revenue certificates of obligation to fund street improvements, a ladder truck and utility projects and set a proposed maximum property-tax rate for public hearings as the city prepares a final budget. The council also adopted amendments to the fiscal 2024–25 budget to add money to street maintenance and the utility maintenance account after an unexpected lift-station failure.

Council members approved an ordinance authorizing the certificates of obligation after a presentation from Jennifer Miller of Specialized Public Finance, who explained the results from a competitive bond sale and the structure of the deal. Miller said the sale drew multiple bids and that one of the bids showed a reoffering yield of about 4.33 percent for part of the issue. She told the council the city had authorized 33,000,000 in certificates and that the premium from the sale would cover issuance costs so the full authorized amount would go to projects. “We received six bids,” Miller said, and described a market that is “higher than it has been” but still below some budget assumptions.

The council voted to place the proposed tax rate of 0.539732 on the Aug. 26 agenda and to hold a public hearing on Aug. 19. Members described the move as establishing a maximum the council could reduce later but not increase after adoption. Council discussion stressed that the extra revenue would be used largely for street work and that the apparent tax increase per household would be modest when spread annually; staff provided example figures during the meeting showing a $90-a-year difference on an average home between a lower proposed rate and the voter-approval ceiling discussed.

Separately, the council adopted ordinance 2025-022 to amend the current fiscal year budget. The ordinance adds $50,000 to the general fund street-maintenance line to pay for additional micro-seal work in Old Drury subdivision and other projects that became available before a contractor’s price increase. For the utility fund, staff increased the collections/distribution maintenance line after the Moonlight lift station lost electrical service and damaged pumps; the repairs and interim rentals raised costs by roughly $92,000 and the council added $30,000 to the previously reduced line to cover that expense. The capital projects fund was adjusted so the ladder truck purchase can be processed in the current fiscal year instead of being carried to the next year.

City staff and the city’s finance advisor framed the borrowing as necessary to address aging streets that staff said are constraining new development. Officials said proceeds were allocated roughly as follows in the documents reviewed at the meeting: approximately 22.5 million for streets, 2.5 million for a ladder truck and about 8 million for utility projects. Staff also noted a nine-year call provision on the bonds, which allows the city to consider refinancing if market rates fall.

Council members voted in favor of the certificates of obligation ordinance, the budget amendment ordinance and the schedule for the tax-rate hearings. No formal roll-call tallies for individual members were recorded in the public minutes beyond the council’s voice votes and motions to approve.

The council will revisit the tax rate at the Aug. 26 special meeting when it is scheduled to adopt the budget and the final tax rate.

Local officials said the borrowing and the budget adjustments are intended to accelerate long-delayed street repairs and to provide contingency funds for urgent utility repairs. Staff emphasized the city remains above its reserve target after the budget amendments.