CITY CORNER by Mayor Brent Hinckley

     The rains this past weekend were a great blessing, cooling and drenching our parched landscape.  Many areas around Mason had several inches of rain and it was very much needed, but our annual rainfall is still well below average and our land is still dry just below the surface.  Continue to pray for rain and we shall all wait for God to continue blessing our land in the coming months.  Even with this extra moisture, the City has started and will continue to monitor the mandatory water conservation regulations and we hope that you will keep that in mind as you begin to again water your yard and landscape once this current moisture begins to evaporate.  The City wells are in the 300 to 400 foot depth range and are little affected by a good weekend rain, and we continue to watch for the long term effects of the drought-like weather we have been having for the past year.

       The City budget for the next fiscal year, which starts November 1, has been the primary focus of our efforts for most of this summer.  It is always a challenge to get all of the needed spending balanced by the expected sources of income and meet the requested projects that we all would like to see as we seek to improve our hometown.  We have some major projects that will be requiring extra efforts and spending in the coming months, but most of the water treatment system is already funded through the Texas Water Development Board.  The Commission is looking at how to provide the financing for the new landfill and will make decisions on that project and establish the funding and payback means in the next six months.  The regular operations of the City are not being considered for any major changes but they are being closely examined to provide better service and improvements within the limited revenues that we have each year. 

       One of the areas that every governmental entity relies on for annual funding is the ad valorem property taxes.  This is the primary way the County, and for the most part the School, provide the funding for all of their activities and salaries.  In the City of Mason our direct property taxes are relatively minor and we rely on the fees we collect for utilities and services to fund most of our expenses.  I have heard many times that the City should do more for the taxes we collect, however if you look closely at our budget you would realize that taxes make up a very minor portion of our revenue, about 4.5% of our $5,496,540 in projected revenues for fiscal year 2018!  In fact, most of the property taxes that every citizen of Mason who owns a home, land or commercial property pays are a result of County and School taxes, not our limited City tax assessments.  We are looking at property taxes closely, but the City will not increase the tax rate this year, and the chart that I have included with this article will clearly show that very little of the taxes our citizens pay is attributed to the City of Mason.   Look closely and remember that the next time you want to complain about the taxes you and I pay locally, very little of that revenue in our community goes to fund any of the City budget!

       My goal for our City is to be financially conservative and keep our town in a strong position with a fully balanced budget.  I have just filed the proposed budget for next fiscal year with the City Secretary and if you or anyone in the public would like to generally review it or examine it closely there are copies available in the City office.  The Commission will not vote to accept it until the regular September meeting, and there may be some changes prior to that decision time.  At this time we have come to what I believe is a wise, balanced and progressive budget that will help us to continue on the path of making Mason the best hometown in Texas.