The City of Brownwood presented the 2012/2013 proposed budget in a public hearing at the Brownwood City Council meeting Tuesday morning.  The proposed balanced budget includes a 3% cost of living raise for city employees without increasing fees or taxes to citizens.

City Finance Director Walter Middleton stated that this was a difficult budget that took some work to find a way to make it balanced.  He said that his staff and other city employees’ frugal handling of last year’s budget made it possible along with the Brown Count Water Improvement District’s decision not to increase water rates to wholesalers such as Brownwood.

“This budget was very interesting and challenging as they all are.  We had to go through some gyrations to get it done and as you all are aware from our workshop, this was not an easy one to balance,” said Middleton.  “But we did get it done and we are now putting it up to the public to get their input.”

Middleton explained, through a slide presentation, that the proposed $30,283,130 budget includes no increases in fees or tax rates, and it did include a 3% cost of living increase for all city employees.

The proposed budget is an increase of 1.16% from that of last year.  Middleton explained that although the budget is a larger dollar amount, it was possible to balance due to the adjustment of BCWID wholesale water rates (a $20,200 savings figured when rates were expected to increase), departmental conservation and added revenue from items such as airport fuel sales and increased sales tax.

Council scheduled further consider the 2012-2013 proposed budget and will vote on approval on first reading September 11, 2012 at 9:00am, followed by second and third readings September 25, 2012 at 9:00am.  Details of the proposed 2012-2013 budget are available on the City of Brownwood website.

In other matters on Tuesday’s agenda:

*Brownwood Economic Development Corporation Director Emily Crawford received the council’s ratification of the BEDC’s action to give an infrastructure incentive to Canidae Corporation (Ethos Pet Food plant) for up to $100,000.  Crawford explained that Canidae has invested a large amount of money into the plant’s upgrades and has begun production of pet food at the Brownwood plant; however the area around the plant needs to be paved due to FDA requirements to limit dust and prevent contamination of the product.  Due to Canidae’s investment in the plant and their plans to expand, the BEDC board has approved the incentive as a form of support for the capital investment and jobs created by the plant’s location to the Brownwood area.  Currently, the Ethos plant has created 22 jobs for the area and future plans are to increase that number.

*A public hearing was held to consider closing a portion of the alleyway located between 611 and 607 Coggin Avenue beginning at Coggin Avenue north approximately 190 feet.  Homeowners Ronald and Jennifer Cornell addressed the council with concerns favoring closure while the daughter of nearby homeowners expressed concerns against the closure on her parents’ behalf.  The item failed for lack of motion or second and may be considered again at a future council meeting.