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Residents urge review of street maintenance fee and request review of golf-course ban
Summary
During citizens forum, George McMaster argued the city's street maintenance charge functions as an unlawful occupation/ad valorem tax and urged repeal or non-enforcement; Jeffrey Burke requested a formal review and records after a ban from Hills of Cove Golf Course following an incident that resulted in charges later dismissed by the district attorney.
Copperas Cove — During the citizens forum at the Dec. 2 council meeting, two residents pressed the council on separate grievances.
George McMaster (1101 Magnolia Avenue) presented a lengthy legal argument contending that the city’s street maintenance fund operates as a revenue-raising charge that looks like an ad valorem or occupation tax and therefore may be unlawful without proper authorization. He cited court precedent (Lowenburg v. Dallas) and the city charter section 9.01 in urging council to direct staff not to treat the fee as a tax and to repeal or lawfully reimpose it if desired.
"Any fee meant to raise revenue is a tax regardless of how you present it," McMaster said, arguing the business portion of the program could be considered an illegal occupation tax and urging repeal or lawful imposition under Texas law.
Jeffrey Burke, a Killeen resident, asked the council to review and reverse a ban placed on him at Hills of Cove Golf Course after a golf-cart collision that led to an arrest and later dismissal by the district attorney. Burke said he received no written notice or due-process explanation and formally requested public records and administrative review.
Council did not take immediate action on either request during the meeting but the public comments put both matters on the record for staff review.
