Gallop on out to Mustang Island – Sports 1B
The Princeton Herald
• Princeton, Texas, Thursday, August 6, 2015
The Official Newspaper of Princeton
•2 sections, 10 Pages
75¢
Property tax rate approved By Joe Reavis Staff Writer
news@princetonherald.com Princeton City Council agreed to a proposed 2015 property tax rate, tried to assist a homeowner with a hazardous drainage ditch and joined in an awarded presented to one of their own at a special meeting held Aug. 3. The council session was conducted immediately following a 3-hour budget workshop. On a motion by Councilman John-Mark Caldwell, Place 3, seconded by Mayor pro tem Steve Deffibaugh, the council voted unanimously to proposed a property tax rate of 69.1866 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The rate is less than the 2014 levy of 72.18 cents and equal to the rollback rate. The rate will raise $355,866 more than was generated by property taxes last year, of which $192,616 is assigned to new property added to tax rolls. Property taxes of about $2.3 million go to the general fund portion of the city budget, proposed at $4.24 million this year. Receiving the Smokey Bear award from Texas A&M Forest Service was Deffibaugh. The sponsored nationwide by the U.S. Forest Service is the highest given at the state level and recognizes efforts made to prevent wildland fires. Making the presentation was Nick Harrison of the Texas A&M Forest Service. A plea was made by Janelle Mason, a resident of Princeton See STREET page 5A
Back to School Bash slated for Saturday
The annual Back to School Bash will be hosted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Clark Junior High School Saturday, Aug. 8. The event is hosted by Christ United Methodist Church. Free services offered at the back-to-school event are vision screenings, immunizations and haircuts. Students must bring their current shot records with them in order to receive immunizations. Also on tap are free healthy snacks, door prizes and school supplies giveaways.
Coloring up some fun
Sofia Lujan, 5, and Princeton Police Chief James Waters concentrate intently on their coloring pages at the final meeting of the Summer Reading Club July 31. For more photos see page 6A.
Council talks upcoming FY ’16 budget
By Joe Reavis Staff Writer
news@princetonherald.com In a workshop held during the afternoon of Aug. 3, Princeton City Council discussed funding growth in city services through a 20.2 percent increase in property values and savings gained through refinancing a portion of debt. The workshop was conducted at City Hall and was followed by a council meeting during which the council proposed a 2015 property tax
rate of 69.18 cents per $100 assessed valuation, less than the 2014 levy. General fund expenses proposed for fiscal year 2015-‘16 total $4.24 million, and enterprise fund expenses are $3.36 million. The general fund is financed through taxes and fees, while the enterprise fund receives its revenue from water, sewer and trash service charges. Revenues are pegged at the same numbers in both accounts. Princeton property values increased about $70 million over
news@princetonherald.com
Lake Lavon Levels Normal – 492
492.37
as of 08/04/15 Lake Jim Chapman Normal 440 – Current 439.71
Source: US Army Corps of Engineers
C&S Media Publications
David Jenkins/The Princeton Herald
Guess who’s back?
Princeton’s Kai Brinkerhoff makes the catch as Regan Wilkins closes in Aug. 3 during the opening day of practices for the 2015 season. Full-contact action kicks off 7 p.m. Friday at the high school. For additional photos see this week’s Sports.
of First Southwest in Dallas made a presentation explaining plans to refinance a 2007 series of municipal bonds, $3.48 million, to get a lower interest rate and realize savings over the life of the series. The bonds are currently issued with an interest rate of about five percent and refinancing this year should lower that to about 3.36 percent, saving $865,966 in interest payments over the next 35 years. “The interest rates we have used are conservative in today’s market,” London said.
To raise instant cash, the city is looking to issue certificates of obligation up to the amount of the proposed savings. City Manager Derek Borg gave the council an overview of the proposed budget, highlighting five priority projects for the upcoming fiscal year. Those projects are continuing to replace ageing streets and related water and sewer infrastructure, increasing the number of police officers, increasing the number of career
Holdover city council member, in addition to Caldwell, is Steve Deffibaugh in Place 5. Princeton city officials serve 2-year terms. Signing up last week for a new term on the Princeton school board was Kyle Strickland. Three positions on the PISD board must be filled this fall. Trustees are elected at-large and serve for three years. Board members whose terms are expiring are Strickland, Brent Collins and Bob Lovelady, currently serving as board secretary. All three trustees have indicated they will seek new terms. Holdover trustees are Carol Bodewell, Tim Tidwell, Lisa Caldwell and Ricky Gillespie. John-Mark Caldwell Motivated by a sense of community pride, John-Mark Caldwell will bring something else to the office of Princeton Mayor, he plans to serve as a full-time mayor to actively help the city grow. Caldwell, serving his second term in Place 3 on the City Council, signed up the first day filings were open to run for
mayor. “Princeton needs a fulltime mayor, with a fulltime vision. I would like to John-Mark put my leaderCaldwell ship and experience to work as your mayor,” he said. Caldwell moved to the Princeton area in 1964 with his family and attended Princeton Independent School District schools before joining the U.S. Navy. He attended Philadelphia College in Seattle, WA, worked 17 years as a private investigator and is now retired. He and his wife, Lisa, are parents of six children and have eight grandchildren. “I take great pride in being a Panther, “ Caldwell declared. “I was raised here, I went to school here and played sports here. Princeton is a part of me.” The candidate serves in the same council seat his father, J.R. Caldwell, Sr., held
See PUBLIC page 5A
All quiet on the election front Staff Writer
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the past year to $413 million, of which $27.5 million came from new property added to tax rolls. With that growth, city services must increase. “We are a big melting pot and it’s going to do nothing but get bigger,” Councilman Bill Glass, Place 2, said. The proposed tax rate is less than the 2014 levy of 72.18 cents and equal to the rollback rate. The effective tax rate, the levy that raises the same amount of revenue as in the prior year, is 64.2774 cents. Bond expert Boyd London
By Joe Reavis
Inside
Volume 50 Issue 18
Wyndi Veigel/The Princeton Herald
A pair of candidates got out of the gate early by filing for the Princeton municipal election on the first day, but they have not yet been joined by any other hopefuls. Municipal and Princeton Independent School District elections are set for Nov. 3. Filings opened July 24 and remain open through Aug. 24. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 5 and early voting is set for Oct. 19-30. Signed up for the city election are John-Mark Caldwell, seeking the office of mayor, and David Kleiber, running for another term in Place 1 on the city council. Caldwell is currently serving in Place 3 on the council but his term does not expire this year. Also to be filled this fall is the Place 2 council seat held by Bill Glass and the unexpired year of a term in Place 4, currently vacant by resignation. Glass has not filed for reelection, nor has incumbent Mayor Ken Bowers.
See VARIOUS page 5A