City of Linden presents budget highlights

The following is a budget highlight summary for the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget, which is in effect from October 1, 2022, until September 30, 2023 (under the utility section, the bold/highlighted and underlined portion shows where utility rates are affected): General Fund:

• Our EDC has provided the City with $25,000 for the demolition and disposal of dilapidated structures. Our solid waste provider per our contract will partner with us to assist with the demolition and provide a reduced rate of disposal.

• Parks Plan: we have several ideas for one of our best community assets, which are our parks. To assist in effectively implementing ideas and to receive assistance in grant obtainment, a parks plan will be a huge assistance in improving our quality of life.

• There is a 4% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) which matches Cass County’s proposed COLA. All full and part-time employees receive a COLA which is for inflation, not performance-based.

• Police beginning salaries are proposed to increase to $45,000. This enables us to recruit at least to a base level of our surrounding law enforcement agencies which compete for the same local law enforcement personnel. The Chief and Sergeant’s salaries will be adjusted accordingly. Certification pay is included in this budget for law enforcement for the first time, which enables us to match surrounding agencies. There are 3 certifications local law enforcement personnel can achieve in Texas, the first is an intermediate level, the second is an advanced level and the third is a master’s level.

Each certification will provide $50 per month for each certification obtained by our law enforcement personnel.

• 2-new police cruisers: currently, our police rolling stock is not very safe. FY 2023 will begin an official police rolling stock replacement plan for our patrol cars. We will borrow funds locally for the 2-new patrol cars.

• Street Repair List: with the approved $6 million street bond, Council with assistance from staff and our consulting engineers, will generate a capital improvement plan for streets to be repaired during the FY 2023 warm weather cycle.

• Explore an Emergency Service District: currently, our fire department is underfunded due to our General Fund fiscal stress. Our fire department has outgrown their current fire station, needs new apparatus, has the largest service district in Cass County and needs more revenue to keep providing high-quality fire services. By creating a voter-approved ESD, the ESD will be able to tax independently of the City, generate needed revenue to function at a high level and reduce stress on the General Fund.

• One personnel goal our organization has created is to match our local government competitors in benefits where we can afford to match them. Longevity pay is provided for in the FY 2023 Budget. To be eligible, an employee shall have worked fulltime for a minimum of 3-years. For each year as a full-time employee beginning at 3 years, an employee will receive $5 per year for their service.

• Adopt an ordinance increasing structural integrity and timelines for activities within vacant Downtown structures.

• To continue providing high-quality library and Main Street District services, implementing the fundraising board for these 2-services is necessary to take the fiscal stress off of our General Fund.

Utility

• 4% water and sewer adjustments for inflation. This is a best practice we began in FY 2022, which is to adjust yearly our utility rates to inflation so our customers don’t experience extremely high and quick utility rate increases due to several years of deferred rate increases.

• Begin USDA waterline repair grant/ loan project.

• Implement new meters. Our new meters will enable our utilities to increase revenue to improve services with accurate water consumption readings. A forecasted estimate is an 8-20 percent increase in accuracy.

• Mid-year, explore possibilities of purchasing a Vactron which will increase the efficiency of our utility operations. This is predicated upon our forecasted revenue increases borne from our new meter accuracy and completion of a utility rate analysis.

• Complete sewer study, generating from it, a capital improvement list and financing plan for our sewer infrastructure repairs.

• Perform a utility rate study to ensure we have a high-quality utility department, with a financially sustainable service plan for our citizens.

• Become compliant with past TCEQ violation notices.

• Proactively where possible, continue to reduce water loss in our water distribution system and infiltration and inflow in our sewer collection system. Economic Development Corporation

• Become more proactive and recruit businesses. Currently, we are primarily reactive.

• Generate a visitation and incentive program for existing businesses, encouraging retention and expansion. 70% nationally of all economic development is local expansion.

• Host an existing business appreciation day.

• Perform another Holiday Season, Shop Linden First campaign.

• Increase Christmas decorating.

• Partner with the City with mowing subsidy for the Linden Park, assist with little league ball field improvements and provide assistance to tear down and dispose of dilapidated structures.

• Continue to diversify towards more community development activities which assists in improving quality of life, which encourages population growth and therefore business growth in our community.

• Host business seminars.

• Host a job fair.

• Continue to assist with Main Street façade improvement program.

• Work with Music City Texas to increase their positive economic impact on our community.

• Use Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue to generate tourism pamphlets.

The base of a performance-based budget begins with a vision statement and a SWOT analysis to maximize limited resources and to efficiently implement the desired outcomes. For the second year in a row, we have used performance-based budgeting techniques to efficiently use our limited resources. Our re-confirmed Vision Statement, lead to the generation of this proposed budget.

Our Vision Statement is as follows: The City of Linden will provide high-quality basic services, which allows our community’s Downtown, which is our heart, to stimulate a glowing commercial and residential base, which provides citizens and visitors a friendly, accessible, historic smalltown destination with outstanding family values and venue for music, recreation and retail while being the premier community in Cass County!

As we transition from Year 0 into Year 1 of our Rebuild Linden, Linden is headed in a positive direction. We have begun to build a more solid and sustainable base and environment. These adopted FY 2023 actions will continue to improve services provided to our citizens, and improve the quality of life for our current and future citizens while encouraging visitors.

Join us for National Night Out on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Once again this year, Linden’s National Night Out will be held at the Cass County Law Enforcement and Justice Center at 604 TX Highway 8, Linden, Texas 75563.

National Night Out was started back in 1984 to help bring law enforcement and communities together. When National Night Out began in Linden it was held at the City Park for many years. It was moved to the Law Enforcement and Justice Center a few years ago in order to provide exciting opportunities for the community and to allow for more emergency vehicles to be displayed.

This event is meant to increase awareness about police and first responder programs along with other organizations in our community and to bring the community together.

We will have Game Wardens, the Texas Forestry Service and Smokey the Bear, police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances on display. TXDPS will be there with some of our local Troopers and their vehicles along with a special display of Night and Body Armor by Sgt. David Stewart.

Thanks to some great sponsors, we will have a bounce house and a show car display. There will also be drawing for some awesome door prizes.

The following organizations in our community will be on hand with information pertaining to their jobs and businesses: Texas Department of Transportation Cass County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1/Linden Municipal Court Christus St. Michael Health System Cass County Sheriff Linden Police Department Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Forestry Service Texas Department of State Health Services Cass County Domestic Violence Focus Care-Linden Linden Fire Department County Extension Office Linden Lions Club Linden Main Street Douglassville Fire Department Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) Texas Parks & Wildlife Atlanta Fire Department Avinger Fire Department Reeder-Davis Funeral Home County Seat Café Healthy County Texas A&M Nursing Program Agri-Life Cass County Elected Officials We would also like to thank our generous sponsors: Crump’s Citizen’s National Bank Focus Care-Linden Jim Surratt Motor Company Linden Fuel Center 1st Stop Wine and Spirits There will be hot dogs, popcorn and drinks and fun so bring the kids out to come visit with public officials and community organizations. We look forward to seeing you October 4, 2022.

For questions, contact Judge McMillon’s office at 903-756-5341