Decatur council appoints member to budget committee, approves homestead-exemption increase and Paloma Trails contracts

The Decatur City Council approved several routine and policy items during its meeting, appointing Melinda Reeves to the city budget committee, adopting a second-reading ordinance raising the senior homestead tax exemption, and affirming ad valorem assessment and collection contracts for the Paloma Trails Public Improvement District.

The council voted by voice to approve the appointment of Melinda Reeves to serve on the budget committee. A motion to appoint Reeves was made and seconded and the council chair called the question; the council recorded the item as passed following the voice vote.

On its second reading the council approved ordinance 20250624 to raise the homestead exemption for residents 65 and older from $25,000 to $30,000. City staff reported an updated count of residents who qualified for and used the exemption: an earlier figure of 615 was updated to 622. Staff also provided an estimated incremental levy loss calculation for the change; the exact dollar impact was included in materials provided to council and updated that morning.

The council also approved two separate ad valorem tax assessment and collection contracts related to the Paloma Trails Public Improvement District—one for the development's major improvement area and a second for Improvement Area No. 1. City staff explained these contracts allow Wise County to assess and collect the district's tax on the city's behalf; each contract carries a one-year term and a stated annual fee of $1,500.

Finally, the council approved the consent agenda as presented. All votes described above were taken by voice; the chair called for those in favor to say “aye” and recorded the motions as passed.

Votes at a glance: - Appointment: Melinda Reeves to the budget committee — approved (voice vote). - Ordinance 20250624: raise homestead exemption from $25,000 to $30,000 (second reading) — approved (voice vote). - Contract: Ad valorem tax assessment & collection — Wise County / Paloma Trails PID (Major Improvement Area) — approved (voice vote). - Contract: Ad valorem tax assessment & collection — Wise County / Paloma Trails PID (Area 1) — approved (voice vote). - Consent agenda — approved (voice vote).

The council did not record roll-call vote tallies for these items; minutes reflect voice approval on each motion.