City Commissioners met Monday afternoon

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The City of Pampa Commissioners met on Monday afternoon for a regularly-scheduled meeting. Commissioner Jimmy Keough was absent from the meeting.

Keeping the theme with other Commissioner meetings over the summer, this meeting opened with a heavy discussion about the general budget.

Finance Director Robin Bailey took the Commissioners through each individual departments’ budget, their capital needs requests and the role they play within the City. As part of explaining the budget process, Bailey said that departments are asked to submit a five-year capital needs program.

Bailey also noted that there has been no fee-increase suggested, no change in the City’s health plan and that revenue from court costs is down almost $60,000.

The City has a policy of keeping 20 percent in their budgeted revenues.

“That’s about 75 days worth (in case of emergency),” Bailey said. “Shane (Stokes, City Manager) and I have a wish to keep it up around 25 percent. If we have a bad year, and it goes under 20 percent, there are specific guidelines to get it back over 20 percent [including wage and hiring freezes, layoffs, etc.].”

At the end of the presentation and after giving the Commissioners a run-down of the various numbers that go into the general budget, Bailey said the operating budget is set at $3,373,000.

“That number is 25.2 percent of the operating revenue number,” Bailey said.

As for the tax rate, the City recently received their certified property values and will be proposing a tax rate in the coming weeks, but Stokes does not anticipate approaching the Commissioners to do a tax election.

The Commissioners also approved the following:

• The minutes of the July 12, 2021 Public Hearing/Regular Commission Meeting as presented.

• List of Disbursements dated June 2021.