Public hearings concerning Bridge City’s proposed budget and tax rate were set by the City Council Tuesday night. The first hearing will be Tuesday, August 18, and the second hearing will be Tuesday, September 1. Both hearings are scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM. City Manager Jerry Jones said there will be a slight increase in the new tax rate for Bridge City. Jones added that the increase in the tax rate is below the rollback level and the increase in the budget is basically for a 3 percent across the board pay raise for city employees and to purchase a new police vehicle. Otherwise the budget is unchanged since the city is trying to increase its reserves. The council will vote on approving the new $7.4 million budget and the 49.92 cent tax rate on September 15.
Jones informed the City Council that the slab for the new file storage building will be started behind the City Hall next week. Plans for the new Bridge City Police Station are complete and the property at the end of Rachal is being cleared to make it ready for construction. Jones reports that 76 of the 200 sewer lines for low income residences have been completed as part of a Community Development Block Grant. The last of the parts for the splash pad should be received this week according to Jones, and construction will start when the contractor completes another project hopefully this month.
Bridge City will be part of the Shop Orange County marketing campaign. The City Council unanimously approved Tuesday buying a platinum package for the campaign. Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce representatives Ida Schossow and Dean Granger spoke to the council about the program to encourage the city’s participation. There was some concern that with alternative packages Bridge City would share a TV commercial with other local businesses or cities. Councilman Eric Andrus was the first to say that Bridge City should accept the platinum package and the city would have a full 30-second commercial to itself.
Mayor Kirk Roccaforte had questions before the presentation, but is glad Bridge City is on board for the get a slice of Orange County campaign. Roccaforte expressed, “I think it’s a very good plan. They presented it, Mr. Granger and Mrs. Schossow presented the plan very well. I think it’s very good for the whole county, and I’m happy to see Bridge City involved in it. We want to promote Bridge City as much as we can.”
City Manager Jones reassured the City Council that Bridge City has the funds to pay the $1,000 fee for the platinum package which the cities of Orange and Vidor have also purchased as part of the campaign.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
Social Media