news@jacksboronewspapers.com
Work on the upcoming 2022-2023 fiscal year budget continues for the city of Jacksboro.
The general fund budget is 8.74% larger than last year, according to City Manager Mike Smith. No new positions or people were added, but salary increases of up to 10% were added.
There are still three open positions at the police department (two patrol positions and one supervisory). Smith says you still have to budget full salaries for a full staff even if the positions are open.
Smith said the street budget which included work on 6th Street between Belknap and Union was supposed to be completed before the start of school. Smith said the city is simply waiting on material and is ready to go on that.
Street workers will also be working on two downtown streets around the square as part of a grant project the city was awarded earlier this year.
The tax rate will bring in the same amount of money. Valuations were about $11 million less than last year’s values. The new fiscal year budget goes into effect Oct. 1.
In other news: Alderman Joel Hood, the chair of the tornado Long Term Recovery Committee made two announcements. A group led by the UMCC of Dallas will be leading a media marketing campaign and filming a video here this week with a goal of raising $500,000. The committee will also be hosting a disaster resource fair Monday, Sept. 19 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Jacksboro Church of Christ. Those affected by the tornado can listen to presentations from a forensic engineer, a mold prevention specialist and more. Victims can get questions answered from those in the know, Hood said.
A zoning request for a private dog park for public use was denied by the council. Alderman Brandon Sisson said he thought it was just a bad idea.
“I’d be made if a I saw a dog park outside my window,” Sisson said.
Alderman Greg Robinson said it would set a negative precedent to allow that to happen in a neighborhood setting. Alderman allowed businessman Mike Coker to have a food court in the former Garlic’s location. Smith said there has already been a vendor wanting to join the court and they have been held off because no decision on Coker’s proposal had been made.
Approval was given to hire Strategic Economic Efforts (SEE) for a two-year period to provide administrative services for the city’s Community Development Block Grants. Smith said they will not be the sole source for grants and they will provide updates on other grants available to the city.
- Log in to post comments
