Aldermen approve new budget, tax rate

Clarendon Aldermen formally approved $1.817 million budget during their regular meeting last Tuesday, September 23.

The budget addresses several needs of the city, including money for a designated summer caretaker for Prospect Park, continued money for contract code enforcement services, and money providing for the position of city administrator, although the board has not yet discussed when or if one will be hired.

City leaders also intend to purchase a street sweeper in the 2015 fiscal year, but that is not a specific line item in the new budget. It will instead be paid for through a new rolling stock fund.

Aldermen approved setting the city’s tax rate at $0.708915 per $100 valuation to support the budget.

The Clarendon Economic Development Corporation also submitted budgets for the Board of Aldermen’s review and approval, one designated for the CEDC sales tax fund and another for the seventy-five percent of the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax fund that the CEDC board administers.

The city board approved both budgets, highlights of which included continued work on the Mulkey Theatre project, renewal of the CEDC’s popular Façade Grant Program, support for the Clarendon Visitor Center and the Saints’ Roost Museum, and funding for other efforts to promote and improve the city.

Aldermen approved the city’s Fund Investment Policy and also approved renewing the contract with Texas Panhandle CyberMedics for computer services at City Hall and the Burton Memorial Library.

The board also issued an abatement order for the property at 602 S. Bugbee Avenue because of unsafe structures and raccoons and foxes at that location. The property owner as 30 days to respond before the city can proceed with the condemnation process.