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Hallsville council adopts 2024–25 budgets, sets tax rate, approves bank agreement and cancels Nov. 5 election
Summary
The City of Hallsville Council unanimously adopted the 2024–2025 general fund and water/sewer budgets, set the tax rate at $0.2867932, approved three resolutions including canceling the Nov. 5 election, authorized a three-year bank depository agreement, and approved $223,300 in intra-fund transfers to the Water & Sewer Fund.
The City of Hallsville Council met Sept. 17, 2024, at City Hall and unanimously adopted the city’s fiscal year 2024–2025 general fund and water and sewer budgets following a brief public hearing with no public comment. The council then set the 2024–2025 tax rate at $0.2867932.
Council members took a series of related administrative actions on routine city business. By unanimous votes the council approved Resolution 2024-05 cancelling the November 5, 2024 election; Resolution 2024-06 re-adopting the city’s investment policy for fiscal year 2024–2025; and Resolution 2024-07 authorizing the mayor to enter into a three-year bank depository agreement with Guaranty Bank & Trust, with one possible two-year extension if later approved by the council.
The council also approved intra-fund transfers in the 2023–2024 Water & Sewer Fund totaling $223,300 to comply with governmental accounting standards and to reallocate multiple line items. Specific transfers recorded in the minutes include $75,000 moved from “TDEM Grant Match #HM4485” to “Capital Improvements,” amounts moved from the “Chemicals” line item into Utilities, Employee Retirement, Employee Benefits–Insurance and Payroll Taxes, and transfers among Sewer Jet Machine, Maintenance and Repairs, and Legal/Engineering/Accounting. The minutes state these transfers do not change the fund’s previously adopted total of $2,741,060.
All motions were seconded and carried unanimously. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Jesse Casey and adjourned at 6:20 p.m. The minutes list Mayor Pro-Tem Gary Lovelace; Aldermen Charlie Hunt, Guy Walker and Brant Cain; and Alderwoman Lauren Bresch as present, along with city staff including City Secretary Laura Welch and City Administrator Marty Byers.
Votes at a glance: • Adopt 2024–2025 General Fund and Water/Sewer budgets — Moved by Alderman Guy Walker; seconded by Alderman Charlie Hunt; outcome: approved unanimously (6–0). • Adopt 2024–2025 tax rate of $0.2867932 — Moved by Alderman Charlie Hunt; seconded by Alderwoman Lauren Bresch; outcome: approved unanimously (6–0). • Resolution 2024-05 (cancel Nov. 5, 2024 election) — Moved by Alderman Brant Cain; seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Gary Lovelace; outcome: approved unanimously (6–0). • Resolution 2024-06 (adopt investment policy) — Moved by Alderman Guy Walker; seconded by Alderman Brant Cain; outcome: approved unanimously (6–0). • Resolution 2024-07 (authorize bank depository agreement with Guaranty Bank & Trust) — Moved by Alderman Charlie Hunt; seconded by Alderwoman Lauren Bresch; outcome: approved unanimously (6–0). • Amend 2023–2024 Water & Sewer Fund budget — Moved by Alderwoman Lauren Bresch; seconded by Alderman Guy Walker; outcome: approved unanimously (6–0).
What this means: The council completed routine fiscal housekeeping for the coming year—formally adopting the budget and tax rate, approving the city’s investment policy and bank depository arrangement, and reallocating prior year water/sewer line items to conform with accounting standards. The cancellation of the Nov. 5 election was approved by resolution and recorded in the minutes.
Next step/record: The minutes show all actions were final in open session; no public comment was recorded on these items. The minutes note that the council may convene to executive session under the Texas Open Meetings Act for certain matters but any official action will be taken in open session.
