Carrollton Leader > News
Council OKs tax, budget by 5-1 vote
By Dan Eakin, Staff Writer
The Carrollton City Council voted 5-1 Tuesday night to adopt the same tax rate as last year and approve a 2006-07 budget.
Matthew Marchant, Place 4 councilman, voted against approving the same tax rate as last year of $0.632875, and also voted against the proposed budget. Voting in favor were council members Tim Hayden, John Mahalk, R. Clayton Hutchins, Pat Malone, Larry Williams and Herb Wedinger.
In explaining why he voted against the tax rate and budget, Marchant said, “I feel like we had enough recurring revenue that could have supported a two-cent cut in the tax rate.”
Due largely to a 3.83 percent increase in certified taxable assessed values over last year, the budget for 2006-07 is $176,861,103, a 7.95 percent increase over last year’s budget of $163,836,999.
Last year’s certified taxable assessed values totaled $8,178,218,158, compared to this year’s total of $8,491,796,090.
Prior to taking action on the tax rate and budget, the council left the platform and stood in front of it with family members of Ronald Branson, Place 6 councilman, who resigned earlier this month due to ill health.
Mayor Becky Miller read the inscription on the plaque that was presented to the family to take to Branson, who continues to be in ill health.
The plaque reads: “Presented to Ron Branson, city council member 2002-2006, mayor pro tem 2006.
“In recognition and appreciation of your diligent community leadership and dedicated public service to the city of Carrollton, Texas, and
“In acknowledgement of your integrity, honest, fair, conscientious and practical representation earning public trust and confidence for city government,
“Commitment to the community’s leisure services and programs, valuable contributions to the city government and community,
“With respect and gratitude, Carrollton’s 118,700 citizens, mayor and city council colleagues and city employees.”
After the mayor read the wording on the plaque, Branson’s 11-year-old grandson, Christian Mims, read a letter from Branson which stated that he regrets that he must step down due to ill health, and thanking the council and citizens for their support.
During the work session, City Manager Leonard Martin said the council will likely be asked to call for a special election to be held Tuesday, Dec. 5, to elect a council member to replace Branson.
The council will also be faced with the duty of naming a new mayor pro tem to replace Branson.
The council voted to accept Branson’s resignation at a council meeting last week.
At that meeting, Councilwoman Pat Malone made the motion, stating, “With much sadness, I move that we accept the resignation of Councilman Branson, Place 6.”
After the unanimous vote, the mayor said, “Of course, we all were really opposed, but these are tough times.”
Also at Tuesday night’s council meeting this week, Cesar Molina, director of engineering, provided a summary of the status of initiatives that support the city’s transit-oriented development (TOD) objectives.
“With the anticipated arrival of DART light rail service to Carrollton in 2010, several initiatives have been undertaken to support future transit-oriented development near the future passenger stations,” he said.
He said special zoning standards will be tailored to support TOD development, strategic parcels of land will be acquired to create contiguous tracts for improved development and redevelopment opportunities and that the Mercer railroad yard in the Downtown Carrollton Station area will be relocated to the east Belt Line industrial area.
He said plans are to design and construct a grade-separated crossing on Belt Line Road at the railroad tracks.
Also planned is an overpass at I-35E to provide an additional access point to the Trinity Mills Station TOD area.
Molina also said plans are to hire a professional staff member to coordinate TOD-related initiatives of the city. He said candidates were interviewed earlier this month, and that the position is expected to be filled next month.
At the work session prior to the council meeting, Terry Briley, creative director of Briley & Stables Creative, offered numerous logos to serve the new rail stations, which will be located in old downtown Carrollton, on Trinity Mills and at Frankford Road.
Matthew Marchant, Place 4 councilman, voted against approving the same tax rate as last year of $0.632875, and also voted against the proposed budget. Voting in favor were council members Tim Hayden, John Mahalk, R. Clayton Hutchins, Pat Malone, Larry Williams and Herb Wedinger.
In explaining why he voted against the tax rate and budget, Marchant said, “I feel like we had enough recurring revenue that could have supported a two-cent cut in the tax rate.”
Due largely to a 3.83 percent increase in certified taxable assessed values over last year, the budget for 2006-07 is $176,861,103, a 7.95 percent increase over last year’s budget of $163,836,999.
Last year’s certified taxable assessed values totaled $8,178,218,158, compared to this year’s total of $8,491,796,090.
Prior to taking action on the tax rate and budget, the council left the platform and stood in front of it with family members of Ronald Branson, Place 6 councilman, who resigned earlier this month due to ill health.
Mayor Becky Miller read the inscription on the plaque that was presented to the family to take to Branson, who continues to be in ill health.
The plaque reads: “Presented to Ron Branson, city council member 2002-2006, mayor pro tem 2006.
“In recognition and appreciation of your diligent community leadership and dedicated public service to the city of Carrollton, Texas, and
“In acknowledgement of your integrity, honest, fair, conscientious and practical representation earning public trust and confidence for city government,
“Commitment to the community’s leisure services and programs, valuable contributions to the city government and community,
“With respect and gratitude, Carrollton’s 118,700 citizens, mayor and city council colleagues and city employees.”
After the mayor read the wording on the plaque, Branson’s 11-year-old grandson, Christian Mims, read a letter from Branson which stated that he regrets that he must step down due to ill health, and thanking the council and citizens for their support.
During the work session, City Manager Leonard Martin said the council will likely be asked to call for a special election to be held Tuesday, Dec. 5, to elect a council member to replace Branson.
The council will also be faced with the duty of naming a new mayor pro tem to replace Branson.
The council voted to accept Branson’s resignation at a council meeting last week.
At that meeting, Councilwoman Pat Malone made the motion, stating, “With much sadness, I move that we accept the resignation of Councilman Branson, Place 6.”
After the unanimous vote, the mayor said, “Of course, we all were really opposed, but these are tough times.”
Also at Tuesday night’s council meeting this week, Cesar Molina, director of engineering, provided a summary of the status of initiatives that support the city’s transit-oriented development (TOD) objectives.
“With the anticipated arrival of DART light rail service to Carrollton in 2010, several initiatives have been undertaken to support future transit-oriented development near the future passenger stations,” he said.
He said special zoning standards will be tailored to support TOD development, strategic parcels of land will be acquired to create contiguous tracts for improved development and redevelopment opportunities and that the Mercer railroad yard in the Downtown Carrollton Station area will be relocated to the east Belt Line industrial area.
He said plans are to design and construct a grade-separated crossing on Belt Line Road at the railroad tracks.
Also planned is an overpass at I-35E to provide an additional access point to the Trinity Mills Station TOD area.
Molina also said plans are to hire a professional staff member to coordinate TOD-related initiatives of the city. He said candidates were interviewed earlier this month, and that the position is expected to be filled next month.
At the work session prior to the council meeting, Terry Briley, creative director of Briley & Stables Creative, offered numerous logos to serve the new rail stations, which will be located in old downtown Carrollton, on Trinity Mills and at Frankford Road.
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