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Crockett council holds FY2025 budget workshop; discusses utilities, staffing, EDC changes, animal shelter and rate pressures
Summary
Staff presented a draft FY2025 budget including a proposed 3% COLA, operational and departmental reorganizations, an animal shelter operations estimate, and potential external rate pressures (a reported ~44% wholesale water increase and a 3% garbage contract CPI pass-through); council requested additional data and invited water and garbage providers to present.
City staff presented a draft FY2025 budget and led extended discussion covering revenues, personnel, departmental structure, and contract rate pressures. Key points:
- Cost-of-living and personnel: The draft includes a 3% cost-of-living increase intended to be applied broadly; staff estimated the employee-impact amount (approx. $1,500 net to employees) and noted the city would absorb some health-insurance savings. Staff also raised the policy question of extending certificate pay (pay tied to required certifications/licenses) to all licensed employees if council elects to do so.
- Department reorganization and economic development: Staff proposed consolidating planning, permitting, code enforcement, building/development services, economic development and related functions into a single community services and development department with a department head to improve oversight. Council discussed the separate legal status and spending limits of the Economic Development Corporation (Type A EDC) and whether the EDC offices or bylaws should be relocated/reviewed; a council member requested items to be placed on a future agenda to consider removing/reappointing EDC board members.
- Facilities and service items: Staff described estimates and timelines for an animal shelter (current estimate manageable for ~6 dogs/month, recommending capacity increase to 10–12) and a potential pool project (application outcomes expected in 90–120 days, construction ~1 year if awarded). Staff also reported a notice from Houston County water district showing an approximate 44% increase in wholesale water charges; the draft budget did not include that increase pending further discussions.
- Contracts and rates: The garbage contract allows CPI-based increases up to a 3% cap; staff emphasized they absorbed last year’s increase and suggested council decide whether to pass a 3% increase on to customers or eat the cost (approx. $34,000 impact if absorbed). Council directed staff to invite the water district and garbage provider to a future meeting to explain rate-change justifications.
Council asked staff to finalize numbers, provide a utility rate study for consideration alongside debt scenarios, and prepare administrative agreements where outside groups occupy city office space. Staff said they will return with refined figures and recommended agenda language.
