In the regular Sept. 8 meeting, the Dublin City Council approved tax rate and a balanced budget after making several major concessions.
Interim City Manager/Dublin Police Chief Cameron Ray reported the city started the budget process with a projected $1.4 million shortfall which was reduced to $708,000 and then finally to a balanced budget with a $5,000 surplus.
A large part of the starting shortfall had to do with a decrease in taxable revenue after a large standby pipe yard (contributing $15 million in value) was moved from the city.
The city was able to get costs down with a contract for the county to take over EMS operations (keeping the same station, vehicles and staff, see related story on page A1).
City staff also agreed to no raises in the coming year while the city cut corners all over the budget by unsubscribing from databases, handling cleaning duties internally and moving to paper time cards. The city manager salary was also cut by 50% with Ray taking those duties at a stipend until the city can budget a full salary and can seek a full-time city manager.
The tax rate was announced as $.7402 per $100 valuation, up from last year’s .6883 rate but below the no new revenue rate. The tax rate is effectively raised by 1.7%, raising maintenance and operations taxes on a $100,000 home by $17.
Public hearings were held on the budget and tax rate with no comments issued.
Councilmembers unanimously voted for both (with Jacob McCullough absent).
Eric Hayden of Hayden Real Estate was also present to speak on the potential annexation of the Riata mobile home park into the city limits. The Dublin City Council voted earlier this year to increase the cost of water to customers outside the city limits after the city had assumed a number of rate increases from Upper Leon Municipal Water District in recent years on behalf of customers. The decision was made in an effort to spur annexation to people who already are utilizing city services.
Ray and Hayden discussed the matter after he and Jamie Hayden spoke at the last meeting, noting the increase made budgeting difficult for residents of the park. It was discovered that the city had a mobile home park ordinance, but Hayden found it was more restrictive than those in the surrounding area.
The city’s ordinance set an age restriction of no older than 10 years and Hayden found that the only age restriction in other local cities was no homes older than 1976. Hayden said age didn’t necessarily dictate quality as he made improvements to windows, flooring and more using materials better than are what is found in most new mobile homes.
He also said the spacing requirement of 30 feet between each house would be costly because the cost to move a mobile home even within the lot can be around $4,000, yielding a potential cost of $50,000 just to meet spacing for the park. Hayden found spacing in other cities at between 10 and 20 which he said he could meet.
Ray remarked that the Riata owners have been doing a lot of quality improvements and Hayden said, “the goal is to have pride of ownership.”
Councilmember Sammy Moore expressed appreciation for the work but said his concern would the sale of the lot in the future by someone who lets the property go into disrepair.
Hayden noted the only reason he was seeking annexation was the rise in water rates, saying the cost for a 3-person family is about $300 per month.
Councilmembers voted to table the matter to see what could be done to assist.
Councilmembers also voted to set the deadline for agenda item submissions as Tuesday as the posting deadline for a Monday meeting is now 6 p.m. the Wednesday before under the new guidelines set by the state.
Council also approved contract service agreements with Texas Communities Group which has been aiding the city with Code Enforcement measures like property/owner research, notices and more. Ray said the partnership has yielded several positive results. The Dublin Economic Development Corporation had agreed to pay half of the contract in partnership to make improvements in the local community. Ray also reported the city is working on an agreement with the city of Stephenville for demolition disposal, making the process cheaper and easier.
Council also unanimously approved a contract with Kologik Records Management (formerly CopSync), saving the city several thousand dollars per year than paying for the police reporting system without one.
The meeting included several planning and zoning decisions, approving the replat of two lots around 517 W. ONeil into five (meeting all access and space requirements) and the replat of one property into three in the 300 block of Vine.
The council tabled a vote to replat properties around Camden and Travis as Miles Gilman was seeking to reposition them for street access and a private road that would be created in the alleyway that council previously voted to allow residents to buy. Councilmembers expressed concern in doing anything that would affect the alley until the neighboring homeowners weighed in if they would like to purchase a piece of the alleyway. Council also approved Danny Crouch to the Planning and Zoning Board, leaving one spot still vacant.
Council also approved a policy for police/code enforcement/animal control purchase orders, an agreement with TxDOT for railroad marking and signage at city crossings, an updated investment policy for 2025-26 and adopting The Dublin Citizen as the official newspaper of Dublin.