CITY & COUNTY
News from Tomball, Magnolia & Montgomery County
Tomball proposes $34M budget for fiscal year 2023-24 BY LIZZY SPANGLER FY 2023-24 general fund revenues, Tomball is anticipating: • $15.7 million in sales taxes
BUDGET ADDITIONS According to the city’s budget presentation, the FY 2023-24 budget proposes:
14 new full- time-equivalent employees, which includes 3 new
A new computer- aided dispatch
Capital improvement plan proposed spending for water projects: $12.74 million
system for the police department: $500,000
firefighters: $1.2 million
TOMBALL The city of Tomball is proposing a $34 million general fund budget for fiscal year 2023-24, projecting $32.5 million in revenues and $34.9 million in expenditures, according to the proposed budget. Zooming out: During this first work- shop Aug. 7, City Council was briefed by city staff on the city’s strategic plan, the budget overview and pro- cess, the general fund, the enterprise fund, special revenue funds and the internal service funds.
SOURCE: CITY OF TOMBALL/COMMUNITY IMPACT
• $5.2 million in property taxes On the expenditure side, the city’s departments with the biggest projected expenses include: • Police: $8.02 million • Fire: $3.55 million • Emergency Services District No. 15: $2.39 million • Streets: $2.34 million • Sanitation: $2.04 million • Information systems: $2.02 million The city would use its fund balance—essentially its saving account—to make up the difference
is the voter-approval rate based on the certified estimated taxable value, Finance Director Katherine Tapscott said. The voter-approval rate is the maximum amount the city can adopt without voter approval. The city’s tax rate for FY 2022-23 is $0.287248 per $100 valuation. The tax rate will be adopted after the certified tax roll is received in August, City Council approves a pro- posed tax rate and a public hearing is held, Tapscott said.
between the projected general fund revenues and expenditures. At the end of FY 2023-24, the fund balance is expected to sit at $26.5 million. “The proposed budget, FY [2023- 24], does have the fund balance at 76%, which is still way above the 25% that is required by [the city’s] char- ter,” City Manager David Esquivel. One more thing: City staff is rec- ommending a property tax rate of $0.291472 per $100 valuation, which
The breakdown: Among its projected
95-acre development to bring luxury housing, retail to Magnolia
be a midsize shopping complex that could include food and beverage options, medical services, and child care. The center is expected to have a grocery store or fitness center as its anchor. It will be surrounded by green space and walking trails, according to the presentation. The background: According to development officials, staff has requested the city annex the property. The approved agreement from Aug. 8 allows prog- ress on permit drawings, preparing for construction after a temporary development moratorium is lifted by the city of Magnolia, Mokos said. According to city officials during the meeting, the city cannot ensure water and wastewater services will be provided until the second quarter of 2024. However, the development is allowed to proceed, although water connections may not be available until next year, city officials said. There is no set start date for construction, Mokos said.
BY SHAHERYAR KHAN
Magnolia Crossing, a proposed 95-acre master-planned community, received approval from Magnolia City Council. (Courtesy Red Hill Ventures)
MAGNOLIA City Council came to a development agreement with Red Hill Ventures on Aug. 8 for building Magnolia Crossing, a 95-acre master-planned community to be located northeast of FM 1488 and Mill Creek. The overview: The project proposes around 300 lux- ury multifamily units and about 240-260 single-fam- ily homes, said Kevin Mokos, the Texas development director of Red Hill Ventures. There will also be about 100,000 square feet of commercial space. According to July 11 meeting information, there will
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