The Paris City Council approved several budget edits and multiple ordinances and resolutions at its Aug. 26, 2024 meeting.

Budget edits and fiscal items

Council voted to adopt staff’s edits to the proposed FY 2024–25 budget that implemented council direction from recent workshops. Finance Director Gene Anderson said staff had entered changes that included police salary increases, a cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) and updated service credits for retirees and current employees, reductions to some line items (including the contingency), increases to mowing/code‑enforcement mowing budgets, and re‑estimated some revenues such as interest and EMS collections. Anderson also said staff added the city’s 10% match for a TxDOT bike‑lane grant into the capital projects fund so the project can proceed when TxDOT provides its 90%.

Gene Anderson summarized the edits to council and said new budget pages will be inserted into council’s binders. The council approved the edited proposed budget on voice vote, recorded as 6–0.

Separately, the council passed resolutions calling a public hearing on the proposed budget and a public hearing on the proposed tax rate; both hearings were scheduled for the council’s Sept. 9 meeting. The motion to call the hearings passed 6–0.

Zoning and regulatory votes (at a glance)

- Agenda item 12 (Ordinance): Amendment to zoning ordinance 1710 to allow a specific use permit for a mixed live/work use (Sage Aesthetics) at 2301 Clarksville Street (Simpson Place Edition Lot 1, LCAD 17543). The council opened and closed the public hearing, then approved the ordinance by voice vote, 6–0.

- Agenda item 13 (Ordinance): Rezoning properties within Historic Overlay District No. 2 (Church Street Historic District) to single‑family dwelling district SF‑1 (staff noted SF‑1 with future neighborhood workshop to refine boundaries). Council approved the rezoning 6–0.

- Agenda item 16 (Ordinance): Adoption of a revised, consolidated Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan to satisfy sections 11.1271 and 11.1272 of the Texas Water Code and applicable TCEQ rules. Council approved the ordinance 6–0; staff noted the plan updates are required every five years and define four drought stages and thresholds tied to the city’s lake levels.

Votes and procedures

Each of the listed items passed on recorded voice votes noted in the transcript as “motion carries, 6–0.” Where a mover or seconder was not named on the record, the council’s clerk recorded the unanimous voice votes and the minutes show formal adoption or approval of the items. Council also adopted a motion to approve the consent agenda earlier in the meeting by a 6–0 vote.

Staff follow‑up and next steps

- Finance staff will insert updated budget pages into council binders and publish the proposed budget online per charter and state requirements.
- Staff will bring finalized documents for the 5 and 5 infill program (see separate article) and prepare contract templates with timeframes for council review.
- Public hearings for the proposed budget and tax rate are scheduled for the Sept. 9 council meeting.

Ending

Council adjourned after approving the listed budget edits, planning items and required public‑hearing calls. No items failed on the Aug. 26 agenda.