DONE. DONE IN THE BOOKS, FILED, DONE. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL [00:00:10] MEETING FOR THE TOWN OF HORIZON CITY IS NOW IN SESSION. PLEASE RISE AND JOIN US IN RECITING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA& AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU VERY& MUCH, EVERYONE. WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. THANK YOU CHIEF. AND WE& [CONSENT AGENDA] DO NOT HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR OPEN FORUM TONIGHT. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TOO& OUR CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE. OKAY. WE CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO MOVED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. COULD YOUU& PLEASE PULL THE COUNCIL? HI, KIDDOS. OOPS. SORRY. SORRY, SORRY. HI, ORTEGA. HI. HI, JAMES. HI. HI, MENDOZA. HI. [6. PUBLIC HEARING] MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. ON TO THE& REGULAR AGENDA. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ADOPTIONN& OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2526 BUDGET. FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO QUESTION AND COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2526 BUDGET. COPIES OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR REVIEW AT THE CITYY& CLERK'S OFFICE AT THE TOWN OF HORIZON CITY, 14999 BARRINGTONN& ROAD, HORIZON CITY, TEXAS,,& BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7 A.M. TO 6 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AND AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. GOOD EVENING, MAYORR& AND COUNCIL. DO YOU WANT TO OPEN THE HEARING FIRST OR NO? GO AHEAD AND START THE PRESENTATION. OKAY. LILY GAITAN, FINANCE DIRECTOR. TODAY WE HAVE& THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND REVIEW THE. THE TAX RATES. ASS& YOU IF YOU'LL RECALL, OUR TAX RATE FOR THIS YEAR IS GOING TOO& BE 5.535368. AND THAT'S A TWO COMPONENTS OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OF 0.361492. AND OUR DEBT SERVICE OF 0.173876. WE PROJECT THAT THIS IS A 4.20%, I'M SORRY, 4.29% DECREASE INN& THE RATE AND A 4.20% INCREASEE& IN THE REVENUE. SO IT WILL BRING. YEAH. THANK YOU. DOESS& ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ONN& ON THIS PAGE. WE DID MAKE SOME REVISIONS TO THE BUDGET. AS YOU& CAN SEE WE NO LONGER HAVE A DEFICIT. OUR ESTIMATED GENERAL FUND WILL BE 11,000,009 37 538 EQUAL AMOUNT FOR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES. AND OUR TOTAL BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR WILL BE 17,000,003 69 927,000. JUST TO OFFER YOU SOME INFORMATION, HERE'S THE BREAKDOWN ON WHAT WE THINK CAUSED. NOT WHAT WE THINK, BUT WE ESTIMATE CAUSED THE INCREASE IN THE BUDGET. SO I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THOSE REALL& QUICKLY. LAST YEAR'S BUDGET WAS 11,014,950. AND WE HAD A $55,000 AMENDMENT TO THATT& BUDGET. SO OUR 2025 BUDGET IS 11,000,069 950. WE HAVE MERIT INCREASES OF 926,627. WE HAVE ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES OF 169 457. THERE WAS A NET INCREASE IN CAPITAL COST OF 84,467. THERE WAS A DECREASE IN ELECTION EXPENSE. SINCE WE'RE NOT HAVING& AN ELECTION IN 2026, THAT'S A DECREASE OF 75,621. THERE'S ANN& INCREASE IN THE IT LICENSE,,& SOFTWARE LICENSING AND MAINTENANCE OF 112 926 A DECREASE IN THE MASS TRANSIT CONTRIBUTION OF 57,400. THE ADDITION OF MEDICAL, DENTAL AND VISION BENEFITS FOR COUNCIL IS 57. I'M SORRY, 67,032. IN THE..& THERE'S AN INCREASE IN THE MAINTENANCE FOR THE DISPATCH EQUIPMENT 43,001 98 THERE WAS ALSO AN INCREASE IN THE PARKK& MAINTENANCE AND WATER FEES OF 105 TO 86. THE APPRAISAL AND AUDIT FEES ALSO INCREASED BY 25,948. OUR HEALTH INSURANCE AND HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITSS& INCREASED BY 104,822. AND LASTLY, THE INCREASE IN OUR PROPERTY LIABILITY AND AUTOO& INSURANCE AMOUNTED TO 29,705. [00:05:04] THE NET EFFECT OF OTHER CHANGES IS ABOUT 131,000. THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE INCREASE IN THE BUDGETT& OF 867,588. WE DID WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TOO& BE DIPPING INTO OUR PRIOR YEARR& SURPLUS. THAT AMOUNT IS 336,658. WE DID FIND WELL, WE DIDN'TT& FIND THE INCOME, BUT WE MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO OURR& REVENUES IN THE AMOUNT OF 440,335. LARGE PART OF THAT WAS IN OUR. BUILDING AND INSPECTIONS. THE BETWEEN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, ECONOMICC& DEVELOPMENT AND OUR. DEVELOPERS. THERE'S AN ESTIMATED 353 HOMES THAT ARE GOING TO BE BUILT IN THE CITY. SO WE ESTIMATE THOSEE& REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING IN ABOUT $847,000. SOO& WE INCREASED THAT THAT LINE ONN& OUR BUDGET FROM 973,000 TO 11& MILLION, 306,000. THE OTHER INCREASES WERE IN OUR SALES TAXES AND MIXED BEVERAGES..& BASED ON WHAT EDC TOLD US ABOUT THE INCREASE IN NEW HOMES, AND THAT BRINGING IN NEW BUSINESSES AS WELL, WE INCREASED OUR SALES TAX AND MIXED BEVERAGE REVENUE BY $60,000. AND THEN OURR& FRANCHISE FEES. WE GOT SOMEE& MORE DATA IN, SO WE INCREASED THOSE BY $33,000. SO CUMULATIVELY, THAT INCREASED OUR REVENUES BY FIVE 440,000. SO THAT HELPED WITH OUR DEFICIT& IF YOU REMEMBER LAST TIME OUR DEFICIT WAS 577 876, BUT THERE WERE INCREASES IN OUR ON OUR EXPENSE SIDE. SO NOW WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET, BUT WE AREE& DIPPING INTO LAST YEAR'S REVENUES. I'LL BE GLAD TOO& ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE OR THE PUBLICC& MAY HAVE. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR,& PRIOR YEARS. YES, SIR. PRIORR& YEARS. YES. BEING THAT THIS ISS& A PUBLIC HEARING, I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN I'LL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT. IS THERE ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TOO& COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? NO. SEEING THAT THERE IS NO ONEE& THAT WISHES TO COMMENT, I'LL GO& AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND BEING THAT THERE'S THERE REALLY IS NO DISCUSSION ON THIS& RIGHT NOW, WE CAN MOVE ON TOO& OUR DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, [7. Discussion and Action] PLEASE. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. THIS IS A DISCUSSIONN& ACTION ITEM. THIS IS AN ITEMM& THAT WAS TABLED AT THE AUGUSTT& 12TH, 2025 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL& MEETING. THIS IS ON THE APPROVAL OF THE FISCAL YEAR 266& EL PASO COUNTY 911 DISTRICT ANNUAL BUDGET. GOOD AFTERNOON..& MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. MARCO VARGAS, CHIEF OF POLICE. I'D LIKE TO PRESENT MR. SCOTT CALDERWOOD, THE DIRECTOR FORR& THE 911 CENTER, TO PRESENT HIS HIS ITEM. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR. COUNCIL. APOLOGIES FOR GETTING MY NOT GETTING ALL MY CALENDAR THE LAST TIME. SO YOU HAD TOO& TABLE THE ITEM. BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE, IT WAS A LONGG& ENOUGH MEETING. THANK YOU. WASS& IT? DID YOU A FAVOR? YOU DID. BUT WE'RE GLAD TO SEE YOU TODAY& GOOD. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, I AM SCOTT CALDER..& I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EL PASO COUNTY 911 DISTRICT. WE ARE NOT PART OF THE COUNTY,,& NOT PART OF THE CITY. WE'RE AA& SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT. THATT& IS, OUR PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE NINE, 11 SERVICES FOR ALL THE PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES WITHINN& THE COUNTY. YOU GUYS HAVE WHAT WE CALL A SECONDARY SAFETY PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT..& AND SO WE SUPPORT YOU GUYS BY PROVIDING YOUR 911 PHONE SYSTEM, YOUR COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH, TECHNICAL SUPPORT, A BACKUPP& FACILITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT..& SO WE HAVE QUITE A PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU AND YOUR CHIEF OF POLICE. YOU GUYS HAVE YOU DOO& DISPATCH ALSO FOR BESIDES FOR PD, YOU DO DISPATCH FOR ALL OF THE ESD ONE, ESD TWO. AND SO YOU'RE OUR SECOND LARGEST DISPATCH CENTER. AND YOU GUYSS& DO A REALLY GREAT JOB ABOUT THAT. SO AS PART OF OUR. OUR ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS AND BY STATUTE, WE BRING OUR BUDGET TO& ALL OF OUR PARTICIPATING JURISDICTIONS FOR THEIR REVIEWW& AND APPROVAL. THIS YEAR IS THE THIS YEAR WE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER YEARS? WE DID NOT HAVE AA& SUFFICIENT REVENUE TO MEET ALL OF OUR OPERATING. AND SO THATT& IS PRIMARILY DUE TO THE FACTT& THAT WE ARE TOTALLY FEE BASED..& ALL OF OUR MONIES COME EITHER [00:10:04] FROM WIRELINE OR WIRELESS FEESS& THAT ARE ON PHONE BILLS, AND OUR BOARD HAS A OUR BOARD HAS THE CONTROL OVER WIRE LINE FEES, BUT WIRELINE FEES AREE& DIMINISHING BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GETTING RID OF THEIR WIRELINEE& PHONES. THE STATE SETS THEE& WIRELESS RATE. THAT RATE HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED IN OVER THREE DECADES. IT IS $0.50 A LINE..& THE STATE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. OR DISTRICTS IN TEXAS ARE GOING TO BE INN& TROUBLE. WE'RE ONE OF THOSE. SO WE HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS IN OUR RESERVE ACCOUNT TO KEEP USS& SOLVENT FOR A FEW YEARS. BUTT& WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHINGG& ABOUT THAT ANYWAY. OUR OUR BUDGET. WE DID TRIM QUITE A BIT OUT OF OUR BUDGET. WE TOOK QUITE A BIT OUT OF AGENCYY& ASSISTANCE. THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO HURT SOME PEOPLE LIKEE& LIKE THE CITY OF HORIZON ASS& WELL. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BEE& ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME OF THE SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLEE& TO PROVIDE IN THE PAST, FINANCIAL SUPPORT. HOPEFULLY WE& CAN GET SOMETHING ADDRESSED ATT& THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL AND GET BACK TO OUR NORMAL FUNDING AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AGAIN, BUT WE'RE STILL& GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE GREAT 911 SERVICE THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE. DOES ANYBODY HAVEE& ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR BUDGET? COULD YOU WALK US THROUGH EXACTLY HOW HORIZON CITY WOULDD& BE AFFECTED WITH THE LOWERED AGENCY ASSISTANCE? YES. SO A DECADE AGO, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY PURCHASED A MOTOROLA P25 RADIO SYSTEM. AND HORIZON IS A PARTICIPATING AGENCY ON THE P25 RADIO SYSTEM. THE CITY AND THE COUNTY CAME UP TO THE AGENCIES AND WAS GOING TO CHARGE THEM A SUBSCRIBER FEE FOR EVERY ONE OF& THE DEVICES THAT THEY USE, A MOBILE OR A PORTABLE RADIO. THE 911 DISTRICT WAS APPROACHED ALSO BY THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, AND ASKED IF WE COULD HELPP& OFFSET SOME OF THE COST. THE INITIAL COST OF THE P25 RADIO SYSTEM. WE AGREED WE SIGNED AA& TEN YEAR CONTRACT TO DO THAT, BUT IN THE CONTRACT, WE SPECIFIED THAT THE CITY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CHARGE A SUBSCRIBER FEE FOR ANYBODY INN& THE COUNTY. WE'VE BEEN COVERING THE SUBSCRIBER FEES FOR EVERY AGENCY IN EL PASO COUNTY. WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO THAT& ANYMORE. AND SO WE ARE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO STOP PROVIDINGG& THAT SERVICE. THE TEN YEARR& CONTRACT IS UP. WE DID NOT RENEW THE CONTRACT. HOWEVER, WE& DID DO OUR BOARD, WHICH CHIEF MENENDEZ IS ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR BOARD APPROVED FOR& US TO PULL MONEY OUT OFF& RESERVES FOR THE NEXT YEAR, AND WE DID PAY THAT FOR THIS YEAR. BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE THAT'SS& GOING TO BE AN IMPACT TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY PROPOSAL AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO. DEAL WITH& THIS SHORTFALL OR SO? WE DEALL& WITH THIS AS AN ALLIANCE. ALL OF THE ALL OF THE DISTRICTS,,& THERE ARE 28 DISTRICTS IN TEXAS REPRESENTING 78% OF THE POPULATION. AS AN ALLIANCE, WEE& GET TOGETHER AND CALL OURSELVES& THE TEXAS 911 ALLIANCE. I AM THE VICE CHAIR OF THE ALLIANCE, AND I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THEE& LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE. AND THIS WILL BE OUR FOURTH LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WORKING TO GET WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS $0.25 A MONTH. BUT UNFORTUNATELY FOR SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS, IDEOLOGY ISS& MORE IMPORTANT THAN COMMON SENSE. AND SO YEAH, IT'S BEENN& AN UPHILL CLIMB. WE HAVE WEE& HAVE MANAGED TO SECURE A STATE APPROPRIATION, WHICH WE'RE NOT STATE APPROPRIATED IN ANY WAY,,& SHAPE OR FORM. BUT WE GOT A STATE APPROPRIATION DURING THE 86TH LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THEY THEY HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT WE THAT WE DO HAVE INSUFFICIENTT& FUNDING. AND THEY ALSO GAVE USS& AN UNFUNDED MANDATE REQUIRING US TO GO TO NEXT GENERATION 911 SERVICES. WE'RE ON 911 AND HAVE BEEN ON NG9 ONE ONE FOR FOURR& YEARS NOW. THE 87TH LEGISLATURE& WE WERE ABLE TO AGAIN OBTAIN A STATE APPROPRIATION THAT COVERED THE DELTA BETWEEN THE CURRENT 50 CENT RATE AND THE 75& CENT RATE. THIS LASTT& LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE GOT NOTHING. AND SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THEM. WE HAVE GOTTEN BILLS THROUGH THE HOUSE BEFORE, BUT THEE& SENATE IS OUR THE SENATE AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ARE OUR& ROADBLOCK RIGHT NOW. SO WE ARE OPTIMISTIC BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER DISTRICTS IN TEXAS THATT& ARE HURTING WORSE THAN WE ARE..& THERE'S A COUPLE OF THEM THATT& HAVE ACTUALLY VOTED ALREADY TOO& BECOME OR THAT HAVE BECOMEE& INSOLVENT AND HAVE VOTED TOO& DISSOLVE. AND SO WE'RE HOPINGG& THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN HERE..& [00:15:04] WE'RE IN WE'RE IN OKAY SHAPE FOR A COUPLE MORE YEARS WITHH& OUR WITH OUR RESERVE FUND. SO I HOPE SOMETHING HAPPENS,,& SOMETHING GOOD. WE'RE TRYING SIR. THAT'S THAT'S ON THE STATE LEVEL. HOW ABOUT FEDERALLY DOO& YOU ALL QUALIFY FOR ANY TYPE OF FEDERAL ASSISTANCE. AND LIKE II& SAID, TRADITIONALLY WE WE HAVEE& NOT BEEN GRANT FUNDED OR ANY KIND OF APPROPRIATION. WE'REE& SOLELY FEE FUNDED. SO ARE WEE& LOOKING INTO THAT? YES. AND THERE HAS BEEN THERE HAS BEEN AT THE STATE, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, TALK OF MAKING LIKE GRANT FUNDING AVAILABLE. BUT ALL OF THAT, ALL OF THAT, THAT WAS IN A IT WAS IN A BILL LAST SESSION. IT ALL GOT KILLED. SO WE'LL WE'LL LOOK AND EVERYWHERE WE CAN TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT FUNDING BACK UP. BUT LIKE I SAID, WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE OUR PRIMARY FOCUS, WHICH IS WHAT WE'REE& TRYING TO GET BACK. YOU KNOW,,& WE GOT TO WE GOT TO FOCUS ON OUR PRIMARY, WHICH IS PROVIDING& 911 CONNECTING YOUR COMMUNITYY& TO TO YOUR FIRST RESPONDERS. SO WE'LL STILL BE ABLE TO DO THATT& AND DO IT WELL. YES, SIR. MR. CALDERWOOD. SO IF I UNDERSTOOD YOU CORRECTLY, JUST JUST TOO& MAKE SURE YOU SAID IT WAS GOING TO AFFECT US BASICALLY FINANCIALLY, IT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE AFFECTED AS FAR ASS& WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF THE RADIOS? YES, I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY. YES.& SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE NEXT QUESTION ACTUALLY SHOULD BEE& DIRECTED TO YOU OR TO YOU..& CHIEF VARGAS, IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT WHAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT& AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS REGARDINGG& THE RADIO SITUATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT? SO SO, YES, SIR. IT IT WILL AFFECT IT. WE JUST DON'T KNOW THE AMOUNT YET..& WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE CITYY& OF EL PASO, WHICH IS GOING TOO& WHICH IS THE ENTITY THAT'S MANAGING THE LICENSES. AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET A MONETARYY& FIGURE FOR THAT. OKAY. SO THE NUMBERS THAT WE WERE PRESENTEDD& MIGHT BE AFFECTED. THEY MIGHTT& CHANGE. YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU CHAIR. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? OKAY SIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING OUT AND VISITING US. BEING THAT THIS IS A DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I'M SORRY. ONE MORE QUESTION. YES, SIR. ON THE AGENDA. I THINK THERE WAS AN ATTACHMENT FROMM& ELITE MEDICAL TRANSPORT. ISS& THAT PART OF THIS PRESENTATION? NO, THAT WAS AN EXTRA. THAT'S JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION. OH,,& OKAY. YEAH. OKAY. SO WE DON'TT& HAVE ANY REPRESENTATIVES FROMM& THEM HERE TODAY. THAT'S CORRECT& OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. II& WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TOO& APPROVE. MOTION TO APPROVE..& SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. WE BEAT YOU THIS MUCH? CAN YOU PLEASE PULL THE COUNCIL? ORTEGA. HI. HI, ORTEGA. HI, AVILA. HI, AMES. HI. HI, MENDOZA. HI. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU SOO& MUCH. I HOPE THIS IS A SHORTER MEETING FOR. WE'RE GOING TO BE.& HANG TIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW SHORT. BEING THAT THERE& ARE NO FURTHER ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA, I WILL ENTERTAIN AA& MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO ADJOURN. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.