The Bandera City Council held its regular meeting Tuesday, Aug. 12, to review the proposed 202526 budget, including fee schedules, utility rates and tax rates. A public hearing for final approval of the budget is scheduled for Aug. 26 at 5:30 p.m.
The meeting opened with sharp criticism from Bandera resident Rilla Stephens during the visitors hearing portion.
“If it were up to me, I would fire each and every one of you [except Debbie],” Stephens told council members. “You are not taking care of your citizens.”
Stephens accused the council of raising taxes and giving itself a raise while roads remain in poor condition.
The council then turned to the budget workshop, where Public Works Director Terry Wells requested permission to work on an unused well in the Trinity Aquifer.
Wells said the well could provide water for all of Bandera if drilled an additional 75 to 100 feet.
He estimated the cost to drill deeper at about $45,000, noting the expense was well within budget. The motion to move forward passed unanimously.
Councilmember Debbie Breen asked Wells for an update on city road work, citing the department’s purchase of new equipment.
“From the seven-year plan we had, we have completed one full year and half of the second one,” Interim City Administrator Jill Dickerson said. “We have spent around $800,000 (which was not pulled from taxes) on repairing roads.”
The seven-year plan identified some of the city’s worst potholes and street defects. Dickerson said a new survey may be needed to update the plan.
“That’s a bit like a double- edged sword,” Councilmember Tony Battle said. “Residents would have to raise more than the $2 [they are already paying].”
Breen questioned why funding for street repairs had been removed from the budget. Councilmember Lynn Palmer responded, “We didn’t have the funds.”
The council ultimately decided to continue using the money raised from the $2 street maintenance tax on residents, which City Treasurer Allyson Wright said generates about $20,000 per year. Councilmember Jeff Flowers suggested looking into grants and using taxpayer money for its intended purpose of fixing roads.
Councilmember Brett Hicks recommended removing the $2 tax entirely. The council voted to draft a resolution for consideration at its next meeting.
Administrative Assistant Stephanie Biggs presented a proposal for new permitting software, with Dickerson noting the current system is outdated.
“Everything is online now, which is what people prefer,” Dickerson said. “People do not want to have to come into the city to purchase a permit.”
Biggs reported that permits generate about $30,000 annually for the city. Two options were presented: Community CORE, which would cost $25,000 upfront and $7,000 annually, or My Gov, which would integrate with the city’s existing system at a cost of $13,000 upfront. The council requested more information before making a decision.
Battle also raised the importance of an environmental study required for the Wastewater Treatment Plant property. The $130,000 cost will be reimbursed and falls within the project’s allotted budget. The council approved the measure unanimously.
The final portion of the workshop addressed the 2025 tax rate. Wright recommended adopting the voter-approved rate from the tax assessor’s office: $0.569939 per $100 valuation, based on a taxable value of more than $155,000.
The council scheduled public hearings for Aug. 26 at 5:30 p.m. for final decisions on the budget and tax rate. Visitors will have an opportunity to speak during the hearing.
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