Sulphur Springs City Council Passed Budget Related Ordinances on First Reading

The Sulphur Springs City Council passed several budget related ordinances on first reading during a regular meeting Tuesday night. Included was an ordinance for the appropriations ordinance for the budget. Council members agreed to add money to implement more of Roger Brooks’ initiative for $66,000. Funds would be used for signage to direct people from the Interstate to downtown. The council also requested that the city increase their donation an extra $100 to both Mel Haven Cemetery and City Cemetery. The council also requested an increase in the administrative fees charged when the city is required to do mowing projects from $50 to $125 to better cover costs. The council also passed an ordinance keeping the tax rate at 44-cents per $100 valuation. Other ordinances will raise water and sanitation rates 2%. The council passed an ordinance that will increase sewer rates 4%. Before the second reading, they want to ascertain how major businesses feel about the increase. Director of Finance Peter Karstens said this increase is just the beginning as the city prepares to do a $12-million rehab of the city’s struggling wastewater treatment plant. The council also approved ordinances for updating service credits for city employees and for notice of intent to issue more than $5-million in combination tax and revenue bonds. The funds will be used for more street work and equipment and for engineering work for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Rehab and the Old City Hall remodeling. All of the ordinances will need to be approved on a second reading.

By Don Julian, KSST News and Sports Director