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DeSoto City Council Passes New Fiscal Year Budget in 5 – 2 Vote

DESOTO— Two public hearings were for discussion only, including the FY 2025 Budget, as required by Article VII of the DeSoto City Charter. This budget was later passed during the regular agenda.

The discussion during this public hearing had staff explaining the proposed tax rate of .684934 to fund the debt service and general fund operations. This rate is higher than the no new revenue rate of .613457 and equal to the voter approval rate of .684934. With this rate being equal to the voter approval rate the city is not required to hold an election for approval.

A 2025 to 2029 capital improvement plan was also established – increases were discussed as recommended by staff with several nine percent increases for residents with a five percent increase also proposed to keep current services as they exist, among other areas discussed for increases in the upcoming fiscal year budget.

After all the increases were explained, Anna Williams made one public comment stating she is against the Hampton Road Project. She added, “We talk about the taxes, the 6.84, and we senior citizens on a fixed income, we have to deal with that.”

The second discussion-only item was a Public Hearing on the FY 2025 Budget. With the proposed budget, staff said again they were proposing a tax rate of .684934 to fund the debt service and general fund operations, which is higher than the no new revenue rate of .613457 and equal to the voter approval rate of .684934 with it highlighted a tax rate was necessary to pay debt obligations and provide the level of operating services as proposed in the budget is $0.684934/$100. This is $0.000158/$100 lower than Tax Year 2023.

The proposed rate comprises the debt service rate (I&S) and the maintenance and operations rate (M&O). The debt service rate is $0.181000/$100, a decrease from the Tax Year 2023 rate of $0.181607/$100. The maintenance and operations rate is $0.503934/$100 valuation, a decrease from the Tax Year 2023 amount of $0.503485/$100.

Adopting this tax rate enables the city to cover the additional personnel costs resulting from the recent compensation study, increased staffing and funding for public safety, and other operating expenses.

The tax rate will effectively raise by 7.2% and will raise taxes for maintenance and operations on a $100,000 home by approximately $0.45.

Council voted on the Ordinance, by record vote, to adopt the FY 2024-2025 Annual Operating Budget, Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), City Council Business Plan. Again, it was stated the budget will raise more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget by $6,389,424, a 13.87% increase. The property tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $1,067,228.

Before the vote on this ordinance a secondary vote was held after some council members were still not okay with items not removed as suggested as well as positions being realigned, including a City Council Liaison.

In the end, majority ruled by only a 4 – 3 vote when councilmember Place 7 Letitia Hughes, with a second by Councilmember Place 4 Andre Byrd made a motion to approve the proposed budgeted position of Mayor and City Council Liaison as presented.
Raphiel was vocal before the vote on her concerns regarding staffing realignment, including the council liaison, so she voted against it.

Place Two Pierette Parker also spoke up about items being brought up and commented there were problems even though she said she believed there were “things in the budget that should have been removed” and discussed to bring items as noted.
A second vote passed 5 -2, also, with Hughes making the motion and Byrd seconding it to approve the budget as presented. Marks voted no after asking the City Attorney questions from the dais before voting.

An ordinance passed by record vote unanimously for an ordinance levying and assessing municipal ad valorem taxes fo

DeSoto City Council Discusses Budget, Final Hearing On September 17

DESOTO – The DeSoto City Council spent a good part of the meeting Tuesday night discussing the upcoming FY 2024/2025 budget.

There was one citizen comment, 34-year resident Anna Williams who thanked the DeSoto Police Department regarding city safety. Williams mentioned a former local Sheriff having said “Thank you for the most thankless job in America” adding “quite often that happens in DeSoto. Chief Costa and his policemen and policewomen, they are great and they do an amazing job in helping us in DeSoto to clean up crime, to clean up gambling that should not have been here, but they have done that and they have done an amazing job and I hope they continue to stay with us and with the citizens.”

Bernadine Harrison did not speak, but noted on a public comment card she was confused on how agenda items are presented.

The budget item was a discussion-only public hearing with no residents speaking.

The adoption of the Budget, Tax Rate, Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and Council Business Plan is set for Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 7 p.m.

DeSoto City Manager Majed Al-Ghafry said regarding the budget that staff was able to maintain the existing tax rate, and create a balanced general fund “as well as focusing to achieve the business plan priorities and strategic plan finally investing in areas identified as high priorities with citizen survey results while focusing on implementing large and prioritizes capital projects.”

The proposed budget, including the CIP, was first presented to the council on July 11 with two budget workshops held at the end of July.

The next steps will be for the council to prepare the draft and finalize its business plan during its upcoming summer retreat.

In staff notes it was pointed out the tax rate necessary to pay the debt obligations and provide the level of operating services as proposed in the budget is 68.4934 cents per $100 valuation, which is slightly lower than the tax rate in Tax Year 2024. The proposed rate is comprised of the Debt Service and Maintenance & Operations rates. The Debt Service rate is 18.1000 cents per $100 valuation, 0.0607 cents lower than Tax Year 2024. The Maintenance and Operations rate is 50.3934 cents per $100 valuation, 0.0449 cents higher than the Tax Rate in 2024. Adopting this tax rate will lower the overall tax rate by .000158 and enable the City to cover additional personnel compensation, salary, and associated benefits increases, supplies and equipment costs, contractual services, and professional fees.

The City is not required to hold an election with the proposed tax rate equal to the voter approval tax rate. The FY2024-25 budget is projected to raise more total revenue taxes than last year’s budget by $6,389,424 or 13.87%. Of that amount, $1,067,228 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year.

The Public Utility Fund Budget for FY 2024-25 has proposed a 9% increase in the water base and volume rates from the current base rate of $10.64 to $11.60 and the current volume rate of $3.70 to $4.03. The fund also has proposed a 9% increase in the sewer base rate from the current rate of $12.87 to $14.03 and a 9% increase in the sewer volume rate from the current rate of $12.87 to $14.03. The increase is proposed to cover the costs of contract water and wastewater treatment services, maintain current service levels, and continue capital improvements.

The Sanitation Fund Budget for FY 2024-2025 proposes a 5% increase in the sanitation rate from the current $29.97 to $31.47. The increase is proposed to maintain current service levels and cover the cost of the City’s new waste hauler contract with Republic Services.

Place 2 councilmember Pierette Parker had several questions about the increase $11.64 average of residential accounts proposed increase for water and sewer. Staff emphasized these costs are not controlled by the city and are passe

BREAKING NEWS: Suspect Dead After Early Morning Officer-Involved Shooting in DeSoto

A male suspect is dead following an early morning fatal officer-involved shooting in DeSoto.

Police were initially called to the 1100 block of Greenbriar Drive shortly after 4:00 AM Sunday after the unidentified armed suspect, a Hispanic male who was carrying a small child and was accompanied by two women, began knocking on random residential doors and trespassing through their front and back yards.

When police arrived, they encountered the male suspect who was armed with a handgun and was holding a small child. The man then threatened to shoot any police officer he encountered. Officers tried to talk to the man and deescalate the situation but the group fled into a creek behind the homes where police temporarily lost visual contact. Police formed a perimeter and encountered the group about 30 minutes later in the 1200 block of Springbrook Drive. They continued to talk to the man who was holding the gun in his hand and tried to get him to drop his weapon and let the small child go but he remained uncooperative.

Fearing for their safety and that of the child, one officer who was armed with a rifle fired on the suspect striking him. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene by DeSoto Medical Personnel.

Police are still working to identify the deceased male. The two women who were with the suspect were taken in for questioning but were not successful in helping the police identify the suspect. The child was turned over to family members.

The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave per departmental policy. Grand Prairie Police are the outside agency investigating the officer-involved component of the shooting. The Public Integrity Unit of the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office was also notified and responded to the scene. The involvement of both agencies is routine after an officer-involved shooting and is designed to ensure an objective outside investigation.

The post BREAKING NEWS: Suspect Dead After Early Morning Officer-Involved Shooting in DeSoto appeared first on Focus Daily News.

DeSoto City Council Receives Positive Update on Star Transit Services: Increased Ridership, Enhanced Efficiency, and New Service Options Highlighted

DESOTO—Last week, Kim Britton, Deputy Executive Director of Star Transit, presented an update to the DeSoto City Council regarding the company’s services. Antonio Harris, the company’s Transportation Director, also attended the meeting.

 

During the presentation, Britton highlighted the increasing trend of monthly trips for demand-response services. In 2024, there were 5,762 trips compared to 4,886 in 2023. The presentation also noted a significant rise in ridership for same-day services, with a total of 10,329 trips reported. These rides included activities such as shopping, visits to senior centers, and medical visits.

 

Britton started by providing information on the services offered by Star Transit in DeSoto, then proceeded to discuss the budget for Fiscal Year 2025 and service improvements.

 

She mentioned that Star Transit does not have a dedicated sales tax but does receive grant subsidies.

 

Star Transit currently operates in DeSoto in a Demand Response Dial-a-ride format, offering service from Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Rides can be booked up to two weeks in advance.

 

Since 2018, rides can go anywhere in DeSoto or the service area, and even outside that parameter for medical services. The service area includes the Glenn Heights UNT Station, the Social Security Office, the DART Redbird Transfer and the Redbird Health Complex, as well as Glenn Heights Park and Ride and Cedar Hill or Duncanville.

 

Star Transit’s fares are based on distance and range from $1 to $12.

 

Service efficiency was measured using the information provided regarding the introduction of the STARNow app. Same-day service has improved rider experience, leading to 96% positive reviews. The average wait time for rides has decreased from 24 minutes in 2021 to approximately 15 minutes in 2024.

 

Star Transit also offers staff that can help riders with disabilities, however, staff does not go into the home or to doctor’s appointments.

This ride does not cost riders. These are part of the grant funds program.

 

Britton also reminded Star Transit offers promo codes for discount rides for trips like job fares or voting.

 

Over the last few years, Star Transit has been working with TxDot and NCTCOG on grants and ways to improve services.

 

Star Transit is now receiving grants and last year they received 60% of the cost of $539,125 from federal subsidies for 323,475 in DeSoto Star Transit costs. That left 40% of the city’s portion at $215,650 to be paid breaking down to a monthly amount of $17,971.

 

Currently, Britton said DeSoto operates 38 hours of service every day with Star Transit, and the company charges per hour. Every year, the Board of Directors determines the cost of service per hour. Last year, it was $55, and this year, FY 2025, it will be $56.75.

 

Britton mentioned the company’s Lyft Pilot Impact, which launched in DeSoto in December 2022. The Lyft pilot program has resulted in shorter wait times, reduced costs per trip, and better control over monthly expenses. The current service model now includes UberX Share as an option, enhancing service delivery, and Britton said it will go into the company’s service portfolio and will no longer be just a pilot program.

 

Councilmember Place 3 Nicole Raphiel asked Britton about the current capacity compared with demand.

 

Britton said it depends on the demand response threshold of 10%, which would be the case before they would come to the city and say they needed to add capacity.

Britton emphasized, “We ca

Ground Spraying by Dallas County Scheduled in Parts of DeSoto Late Night August 28th & August 29th, Weather Permitting

The Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) laboratory has confirmed that mosquito samples in DeSoto have tested positive for West Nile Virus. The samples were collected from mosquito traps from the DeSoto 75115 zip code. In conjunction with the Dallas County municipalities, mosquito abatement teams are responding by treating impacted areas. DCHHS has scheduled ground spraying in DeSoto on August 28, 2024, 9:00pm to 5:00am, and August 29, 2024, 9:00pm to 5:00am, weather permitting.

A map is attached and spray areas are posted online. For better resolution and the ability to zoom in and zoom out please reference the County’s online map at http://www.dallas.leateamapps.com/PublicMap/

Dallas County Health and Human Services encourages residents in affected areas to be a part of the solution by eliminating insect breeding areas and larvae before they develop into adult, flying mosquitoes. Standing water can be treated with EPA-approved larvicides (aka Mosquito Dunks) that are available for free to DeSoto residents with address verification from the Action Center in City Hall. The Action Center will also provide residents with insect repellent at no charge.

• DEET All day, every day: Whenever outside, use insect repellents that have the active ingredient DEET or other EPA-registered repellents and always follow label instructions.

• Dress: Wear long, loose, and light-colored clothing outside.

• Drain: Drain or treat all standing water in and around your home or workplace where mosquitoes could lay eggs.

• All Day long: Day, Dusk and Dawn. Limit your time outdoors mosquitos are active anytime day or night.

Residents should remain inside during the time sprayers are in the area. Spraying will not be conducted in the event of wind speeds more than 10 mph or during inclement weather. A detailed map of the spray area can be viewed below.

Please note that spraying is handled by Dallas County and NOT the City of DeSoto. If you need additional information about West Nile Virus and its prevention, visit the County’s website at https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/communicable-diseases/west-nile-virus.php

The post Ground Spraying by Dallas County Scheduled in Parts of DeSoto Late Night August 28th & August 29th, Weather Permitting appeared first on Focus Daily News.

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