[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6017291,"mediaKeyId","5776421-dd939f2f7a3dda527caf454cc504aecd","parentId",5776421,"title","White House council welcomes new patrol officer, gets City Center renovation and community updates","audioSeconds",277,"startMs",92000,"endMs",369000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5776421-dd939f2f7a3dda527caf454cc504aecd&start=92&end=369","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5776421-dd939f2f7a3dda527caf454cc504aecd/thumbnail_92000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6017291/Whitehouse/Smith-County/Texas/White-House-council-welcomes-new-patrol-officer-gets-City-Center-renovation-and-community-updates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6017291-f10fd89b8b04ab0f3640268e4ee03dab/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153096&Signature=e93Z0PK88UP0yLJR2em1kGvLfvhUYNvmPoeIA8MBE1UIqk-HnFajDZx74db47o4vFPKD1oNhUGnbjQfEoiv~UYtBCerDvb-ziB-XatWNXtwgZOTwB4CBfvSeVEtGNfMAu3pKOmZNhcdv3nuJL56SdnGs8R6yolWL9pC5G8qIx2nK9hRWy4NdSRYEbzCTACCtB~lg2SjlNik~-FseKHqhTk1~74zEdv2RmLmyKRZaH3i5Y3WoNy9D1gxIjI5yS10IwCaTSNlXi1EQMAewnVL8nnKkT80s648NFw0XdjauYTQNhXGQcdMk4kyWtz46UkWw4jHy~QCteFaovITHKeobpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Whitehouse Texas","date","2025-08-06T11:38:54Z","article","The White House City Council on Aug. 5 introduced a new patrol officer and heard updates on City Center renovations, the farmers market and other community items.
Chief Robeson introduced the new patrol officer, identified in the agenda as Bob Frakes. Council members welcomed the officer to the department; the mayor called the city’s first responders and staff “the heart and soul of our community.”
During community-interest reports staff provided a status update on City Center renovations: HVAC systems are running, interior painting is complete with one finish coat remaining, millwork and cabinetry are installed, the elevator is in place and permanent light fixtures have begun to be energized. Staff said furniture delivery is scheduled in a couple of weeks and landscape work will likely be among the last tasks; final exterior concrete pours are waiting on stonework to finish so crews do not damage new concrete. On setting and curing concrete, staff said it would need roughly three days before it can be driven on.
Staff also reported outreach to the farmers market organizer, who is “super excited” about returning to City Center and the additional space for vendors and community gatherings. The council discussed that the City Center should expand opportunities for weddings and other events and that the interagency council and farmers market organizers are eager to use the facility once finished.
Staff reminded residents that filing for a place on the municipal ballot remains open through Aug. 18. The council briefly noted upcoming budget- and tax-rate public hearings on Aug. 19 and Sept. 23.
Ending: The council’s community items covered operations and near-term scheduling for City Center and outreach to event organizers; staff will continue to provide construction and scheduling updates as the finish work is completed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - August 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council members introduced a new patrol officer and received updates on City Center renovation progress, the farmers market and other community items, including a reminder that candidate filing remains open.","taxTitle","Whitehouse, Smith County, Texas","taxId",52509,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6017296,"White House staff presents FY 2025–26 budget; council proposes tax rate, schedules public hearing",955,1101000,2056000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5776421-dd939f2f7a3dda527caf454cc504aecd&start=1101&end=2056","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5776421-dd939f2f7a3dda527caf454cc504aecd/thumbnail_1101000.jpg","/articles/6017296/Whitehouse/Smith-County/Texas/White-House-staff-presents-FY-202526-budget-council-proposes-tax-rate-schedules-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6017296-0713a5f51379ca75c670454192f881d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153096&Signature=A6kGUHQ6zzhoGI4n75co1VYZ9qBjU19bJBVAdc0W9-8y~llY4GOmQ4Dg-loMWdlWmG679tfIFCvWSck77nz3X27aX-fwLYommdRYaeHemFLnxSB-U8lSN5TFeH03dtrFzOvCNJi3dO5Gnxk8U~Bvd1HkP6MrQpLqfyGuAZC8AEMT0tqBEEQVOx25LY7lfhn3yRQFkNRfFoKfMB5-gzo5dHP4hjjQUbe5uUb9cRwf69Pc5T~BZKhxpxXGg-HGSag7dAbT~ycwWI4o5uDj6Fro3qO12M1FF1vvUwjAtzPzX-tCs7tmZyYHRv0vNX6a6nJFKE96VseALdLU059lDI3q8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget to the White House City Council on Aug. 5 and the council proposed a total tax rate that it set for public hearing on Sept. 23.
The presentation included staff projections that the city’s certified net taxable value increased just over 10 percent, with $22,000,000 of that increase attributed to new construction. “We did show our net taxable value increased just over 10%, which was right in line with what we were anticipating and expecting in our general fund for revenues. 22,000,000 of that is in new construction value,” a staff member said in the presentation.
Staff described the proposed budget as structurally balanced and noted key items: a recommended 3% cost-of-living adjustment for all staff, targeted pay adjustments for certain leadership positions, capital spending tied to completion of City Center, continued investment in street and stormwater maintenance and a recommendation to issue $15,000,000 in certificates of obligation for capital needs. Staff also said sales tax revenue assumptions remain flat and that the city is monitoring potential water-rate impacts from the City of Tyler before finalizing utility rates.
On the property tax calculation, staff said the city’s no-new-revenue rate for 2025–26 is 0.67 per $100 of valuation, the voter-approval rate is 0.77, and the proposed tax rate is 0.717855 per $100 of valuation (comprised of 0.428003 for maintenance and operations and 0.289852 for interest-and-sinking). Staff explained that although the proposed rate is unchanged from the current year, required statutory notices must include the percentage change in budgeted property tax revenue compared with the prior year because assessed value increased.
The council moved to propose the tax rate and set a public hearing. Councilman Zach Briscoe made the motion to propose a total tax rate of 0.717855 per $100 of valuation and to set a public hearing at 6 p.m. Sept. 23, 2025, at 311 East Main Street; Councilman Michael Lowe seconded. The council took a recorded vote and the motion passed unanimously.
Other budget details discussed included plans to maintain 3–4 months of operating reserves for the general fund, vehicle-replacement funding and a noted grant-funded comprehensive plan not yet included in the budget (a General Land Office grant for planning). Staff said they will return with any required rate adjustments for utilities after the city of Tyler announces its water-rate decision.
The council’s next steps: formally propose the budget at a later meeting, hold the budget public hearing on Aug. 19 and the tax-rate public hearing and adoption steps in September to meet regulatory timing requirements; the fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
Ending note: staff emphasized the budget’s focus on long-term fiscal stability and capital planning while maintaining service levels.","City staff presented a structurally balanced FY 2025–26 budget proposal featuring a 3% cost-of-living adjustment, planned capital projects and a recommended tax rate the council proposed and advanced to public hearing on Sept. 23.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6017301,"White House council OKs interlocal with Smith County and orders November elections, puts charter amendments on special ballot",644,458000,1102000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5776421-dd939f2f7a3dda527caf454cc504aecd&start=458&end=1102","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5776421-dd939f2f7a3dda527caf454cc504aecd/thumbnail_458000.jpg","/articles/6017301/Whitehouse/Smith-County/Texas/White-House-council-OKs-interlocal-with-Smith-County-and-orders-November-elections-puts-charter-amendments-on-special-ballot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6017301-55584a67e19d67ab9d7cb32dbd9a65eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153096&Signature=JHtJDO~W1ZmrH5gHIembXiLC7wMRCHJmmGpCuD85U0fRmonQ1edKpB-21Bls8cGRvgVMLc903sSN0GJrBN7hYV0IYXPPqdaalGRG~IvbZzUBz6BhJKdhngYTzlAZhWxrQue7DaU0jTOGzaI5VxCD-mctO1gjIheurp083XV4ZOdldFEUKDVCefzXFICy7ZodJr9ihmM2GQyBvLubAoow-hn~aVgOEbYoXI6-GygTlBYd2bxg-BAJsusKFPTtjpDDYhnmVCd36IvM3srnbkAEtT26DWPehdS3M2Ph84MAKqLC4Acb9bekGt6AE1eT5bIrKLglfBe0LupsRBkg5pVHIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The White House City Council on Aug. 5 approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter an interlocal agreement with Smith County Elections Administration to conduct the city’s November joint election and passed ordinances calling regular and special elections that will put municipal races and proposed Home Rule Charter amendments before voters.
The actions matter because they set filing deadlines, early-voting windows and the ballot language process for amendments to the city’s charter that the council and a charter review commission produced.
Council members adopted resolution R25-0805-01 authorizing the interlocal agreement after City staff explained that Smith County has been a partner in previous elections and offers expanded voting options. “Smith County has been a great partner to us, and I can say for myself and, as I stated, for Susan too, they are an asset to us and staff. They also offer expanded voting options for our citizens,” a staff member explained during the meeting.
The council then approved ordinance 25-0805-01 calling and ordering the election for Council Place 1, Council Place 3 and Council Place 5. City staff said filing for a place on the ballot is open through Monday, Aug. 18; early voting will take place Oct. 20–Oct. 31; and Election Day is scheduled for Nov. 4. Staff noted the ordinance omitted some election-day polling locations because Smith County had not finalized those sites at the time the packet was prepared.
The council also approved ordinance 25-0805-02 calling a special election to submit eight proposed amendments to the White House Home Rule Charter to qualified city voters. Staff described the amendments as the product of the charter review commission’s work and said one previously-discussed change (a proposed lengthening of a post-term employment restriction) was removed from the propositions after staff compared it to the charter’s existing language.
On that change, staff said the charter currently provides that “no council member or mayor shall receive such appointment during the term of which they shall have been elected nor within 2 years after the expiration of his or her term,” and that council discussion proposing a longer restriction was withdrawn so the item was not placed on the ballot. Staff also advised the council that ballot language must be precise and limited to what the charter text would actually change; staff recommended a public information campaign to explain the effects of the proposed amendments without advocating for or against them.
Council members requested staff obtain a quote from an outside firm to help with voter education materials; staff said they can also distribute factual information in-house and will return with cost estimates for outside assistance. The ordinance and related motions passed on unanimous votes.
Less-critical details: staff removed one previously-drafted election date from the interlocal agreement as a clerical correction, and the council discussed whether unopposed candidates would appear on the ballot; staff said unopposed candidates are currently shown as unopposed on the ballot rather than being omitted.
The council’s actions set the timetable and administrative arrangements for the municipal and charter votes and direct staff to prepare voter information ahead of the November election.","The White House City Council authorized the city to contract with Smith County to run the November election, called municipal races and a special election on proposed home-rule charter amendments, and directed staff to prepare voter information.","actionData","errors"]

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White House council welcomes new patrol officer, gets City Center renovation and community updates

White House staff presents FY 2025–26 budget; council proposes tax rate, schedules public hearing

White House council OKs interlocal with Smith County and orders November elections, puts charter amendments on special ballot