Crockett council approves fiscal‑year 2025 budget amendment after tie vote and 30‑day stipulation

The Crockett City Council voted to approve Resolution R09B‑25, an amendment to the fiscal‑year 2025 budget, after deliberation about procedure and a tied vote that was broken by the mayor.

The amendment reallocated existing funds between departments so the city’s year‑end books would show a balanced budget. Staff presented the proposed changes as routine end‑of‑year adjustments driven by changes in revenue collections and unanticipated expenses.

City finance staff told council the city was approximately $63,099 short of projected general‑fund revenue at the time the packet was prepared, largely because the budget had assumed a 100% tax collection rate and some anticipated lease and reimbursement revenues did not materialize. Staff said delinquent tax collections and interest were higher than originally budgeted, and sales tax and rental income forecasts were adjusted downward.

Several council members raised process concerns. One council member referenced state guidance and said, citing a Greg Abbott opinion, that budget amendments should be made by ordinance and may require a public hearing; the council’s legal counsel had previously reviewed the resolution. That council member moved to approve the resolution but delay any interdepartmental transfers for 30 days so the administration could confirm end‑of‑month collections; the motion initially failed for lack of a second but was later seconded, produced a tie vote and was carried after the mayor broke the tie. The meeting transcript records the outcome as the motion carrying with the 30‑day stipulation.

Staff reviewed department variances: the street department had higher maintenance and repair spending; police and fire overtime increased due to major cases and lower volunteerism; the library incurred ARPA‑funded costs that slightly exceeded budget; water and sewer revenue reflected change orders and reimbursements from the Texas Water Development Board. Staff said no new revenue was requested and the amendment simply moved funds from departments with positive balances to cover shortfalls elsewhere.

Council requested follow‑up information, including lists of surplus assets sold and their sale prices, and asked for more frequent statements to monitor collections month to month. The resolution passed; the council did not record a roll‑call tally in the transcript beyond noting a tie and the mayor breaking it.

Votes at a glance: Resolution R09B‑25 (amend FY2025 budget) — motion carried after tie and mayoral tiebreak; stipulation to wait 30 days before transferring funds was retained.