Title
Consider and take action on setting the date for the public hearing of the FY 2016 Proposed Budget for August 25, 2015 (Director of Finance)
Background:
Approval of this item will set the public hearing on the FY 2016 Proposed Budget for August 25, 2015. Section 102.006 of the Local Government Code requires that the City conduct a public hearing before the Council votes on the budget. There are also publication and timing requirements in the statute.
The public hearing cannot be held until the budget has been on file with the municipal clerk for 15 days. The budget was filed with the City Secretary on July 13. Notice of the public hearing must be advertised in the newspaper using 18-point font or larger not later than the tenth day before the hearing is held. The notice will be published in the paper on August 9.
As required by section 102.005, the ad must also include language that discloses the amount and origin of net additional property tax revenue in the proposed budget. This same language appears on the cover page of the proposed budget itself, also is printed in 18-point font or larger. For purposes of this data sheet, the estimated property tax revenue amounts used are based upon preliminary taxable values from Galveston County Appraisal District and Harris County Appraisal Districts. The FY 2016 Proposed Budget is estimated to raise $3.82 million more in property taxes than the FY 2015 Budget, net of the estimated $1.7 million in property tax relief to be provided through the homestead exemption increase from 14 percent to 20 percent of assessed value. As required by state law, this same language pertaining to property taxes will be included in the newspaper ad publicizing the public hearing.
The City Charter provides that the Budget must be adopted by City Council at least 10 days before the beginning of the fiscal year. Therefore, the proposed budget is to be placed on the agenda for first reading on August 25, with second and final reading planned for September 8. The proposed public hearing date of August 25 aligns with all requirements of state and local law.
Attachments
1. Data Sheet
2. Notice of Public Hearing
FUNDING
{x} NOT APPLICABLE
{ } Funds are available from Account #___________________________
{ } Requires Budget Amendment to transfer from Account #______to Account # _______