Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutReporter Nov 09© City of Georgetown, 2009 VOL. 7 • NO. 11 A Publication of the City of Georgetown November 2009 The Georgetown City Council approved a 2010 budget of $189.1 million compared to $214.7 million for 2009, a decrease of 11.9 per- cent. The 2010 fiscal year began on October 1. The budget saves more than $1.6 million as a result of 26 staff posi- tions funded in last year’s budget that have not been filled. The hiring freeze was enacted in the fall of 2008. Non-public safety employees did not receive a cost-of-living raise this year. However, approxi- mately $200,000 is includ- ed for merit increases. The city council approved a property tax rate of 35.622 cents per $100 valuation, unchanged from 2009. Since the average home in Georgetown decreased in value by 2.1 percent, the average homeowner will pay $14 less in 2010 for City property taxes. Two factors have caused the decrease in expected property tax revenues. A Christmas ornament depicting the historic M.B. Lockett Building goes on sale November 23. The limited-edition ornament, which is the third in a series, will be on sale for $20 at the Visitor Information Center at 101 W. Seventh Street. Only 250 of the Lockett Building ornaments will be produced. Production and sale of the orna- Downsized Budget for 2010 The first is a decrease in total prop- erty valuations for 2009. The second factor is a substantial increase in the amount of property on which tax revenue is frozen since the home- owner is 65 or older or disabled. The budget includes no rate increas- es for electricity, water, wastewater, or drainage. A monthly increase of 30 cents for residents and 45 cents for customers outside the City Limits for solid waste and recycling services was approved to fund oper- ating and administrative costs. Commercial customers also will see a slight increase. Transportation projects in the proposed budget include the design and engineering of the Northwest Boulevard bridge over Interstate 35 (funded with the 0.5 percent sales tax for trans- portation projects that enhance econom- ic development) annu- al street maintenance (funded with the 0.25 percent sales tax), and sidewalks in new areas mandated by the City’s development code. Utility projects in the budget include the expan- sion of the Lake Georgetown Water Treatment Plant, as well as funding of new billing and customer information soft- ware and the first phase of a smart- metering initiative. Funding to replace the computer-aided dispatch system used by police and fire also is included, as well as funds for the design of Fire Station 5. The City of Georgetown website www.georgetown.org is one of the top three finalists for the best city website in the U.S. for medium- sized cities (pop. 35,000 to 100,000). The site was a finalist for the Pinnacle Award from the National Association of Government Webmasters at their annual confer- ence in September. Websites were judged by other web- masters from across the country and awarded points based on content, organization, design, function, accessibility, technical standards, interactivity, and the size of the development team. Georgetown’s website includes news items with comments, photo galleries, videos, construction project updates, inter- active mapping, online bill payment and registration, as well as integra- tion with FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr. Below are comparisons between figures in the 2009 budget and the 2010 budget: 2008 average home value:$192,841 2009 average home value:$188,789 (decrease of 2.1 percent) Total 2008 city-wide property valuation:$4.24 billion Total 2009 city-wide property valuation:$4.17 billion (decrease of 1.6 percent) 2008 frozen property valuation:$842.4 million 2009 frozen property valuation: $1.13 billion (increase of 34.2 percent) For details, see the Budget Summary at http://files.georgetown.org/budget-summary. City Website: Top 3 in U.S. ments depicting historic buildings is a project of the Georgetown Main Street program. Lockett Building Collectible Ornament Thanksgiving Holiday City offices closed Nov. 26 – 27 No solid waste or recycling collection on Nov. 26 only (Thanksgiving Day) Discover the latest news about the city at www.georgetown.org Georgetown’s Convention and Visitors Bureau won six first place awards this summer at the annual Texas Association Convention and Visitor Bureaus convention. Georgetown CVB won awards in the categories of advertising, tourism promotion (2009 Visitor Guide), website (www.VisitGeorgetown.com), cooperative marketing (holiday Many days of triple-digit summer heat as well as the recession have put tremendous demand on the utility bill assistance fund. John Stock, executive director for The Caring Place, says that the entire $130,000 that was budgeted for utility bill assistance in 2009 was depleted by the end of the summer. The program at the nonprofit provides utility bill assistance for people facing a medical hardship, job loss, or unexpected crisis. In August, the Utility Office accepted vouchers from The Caring Place for a total of $18,365 and the total Good Neighbor Fund contributions were only $1,297. In a typical month, The Caring Place provides $8,000 - $15,000 in utility bill assistance and the Good Neighbor Fund collects $1,300 - $1,500 in $1 donations. The Caring Place uses revenue from other sources like the thrift store to help make up the difference. “We have spent $76,000 more for utility bill and rent assistance that what was budgeted so far this year,” says Stock. If every Georgetown utility customer donated $1 each month, The Caring Place could direct more of its own revenue to food and rent assistance to families in need. Give to the Good Neighbor Fund. Your donation makes a difference. marketing campaign), DVD/video, and best green project (City-Wide Garage and Sidewalk Sale). More than 250 convention delegates voted for the best projects in the state. The Georgetown CVB was in the largest category with more than 40 Texas bureaus with operating budgets under $350,000. Good Neighbor Fund Needs Donations The Georgetown City Reporter is a publication of the City of GeorgetownPublic Communications Department, P.O. Box 409, Georgetown, Texas, 78627. For questions or comments, contact KeithHutchinson, public communications director at (512) 930-3690, or by email at khutchincson@georgetowntx.org. Farmers Markets Downtown Market, Thursdays 3:30 until 6:30 p.m. at 300 E. Morrow Street across from Bob’s Catfish ‘n More restaurantSun City Market, Tuesdays 9 a.m. until noon at 2 Texas Drive(Note that both markets will be closed after Thanksgiving and willremain closed until next spring.) The Palace Theater Man of La Mancha, weekends Oct. 2 to Nov. 1 Annie, Nov. 20 to Dec. 30Details at georgetownpalace.com, or call (512) 869-7469. First Friday, November 6Theme: Giving Thanks, Downtown shops, galleries, and restaurants areopen late with live music. For details, go to the DowntownGeorgetown Association website at www.TheGeorgetownSquare.com. Market Days, November 14Handmade arts and crafts, food, and more on the Square from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details at www.TheGeorgetownSquare.com. Hill Country Book Festival for Children and Youth, November 14 www.hillcountrybookfestival.org The Georgetown Swirl, November 21 A new event showcasing our down-town shops, restaurants and Texas wines (ticketed event) Lighting of the Square, November 27 Carolers, cookies, and hot chocolate as Georgetown lights the historic Square for the holidayseason at 6 p.m. Georgetown Wins Six Tourism Awards November Events Marcy Henry, Amy Vessels, and Cari Miller with the Georgetown Convention and Visitors Bureau Daylight Savings Time ends Nov. 2Change your smoke detector batteriesLost Maples Backpacking Adventure Trip Experience the changing of the season with Georgetown Parks and Recreation as we backpack into the heart of the beautiful Lost Maples State Park on November 7 – 8. Backpacks, camping gear, and meals while camping are pro- vided. For participants age 12 or older. The cost is $50 for residents and $55 for nonresidents. For details and a complete list of trips offered this fall and winter, visit: http://adventure.georgetown.org or call (512) 763-8365. Co-ed Youth Basketball Registration for co-ed youth basketball starts on November 30 and ends January 5. The fee is $30 for Georgetown resi- dents and $40 for nonresidents. A $5 late registration fee will be added start- ing on December 31. All games will be played on Saturdays at the Georgetown Recreation Center. The season is January 9 through March 13 with leagues from pre-K through 7th grade. There will be a parents/coaches meeting on Thursday, January 7 at 7 p.m. at the Georgetown Community Center. Volunteer coaches are needed. For more information, call the Recreation Center at (512) 930-3596. Georgetown Parks & Recreation Georgetown Public Library Amazing creativity describes eight years of successful gingerbread house-building con- tests. This year the library is sponsoring the 2009 Edible Construction Extravaganza. The sky’s the limit—if it fits in the door. The only restrictions are: 1) all building materials must be edible, and 2) entries should not exceed 18 inches deep by 18 inches wide. Transport and display will be much more successful if your entry is on a firm base. For complete details please visit http://library.georgetown.org Dec. 5-7 Entry