7.
Commissioner Reports & Comments
Commissioner Giles commented on the recent ribbon cutting, noting the great turnout and
thanking everyone who attended. He also thanked residents who have reached out via email
regarding the proposed tax increase, stating that he personally dislikes taxes. However, he
explained that in order to maintain the current level of city services, a tax increase is
necessary. He is continuing to respond to citizen emails and plans to follow up with everyone
who contacted him. He closed by thanking everyone for their engagement.
Vice Mayor Trivett thanked everyone for attending the meeting and for maintaining
communication with the Board. He acknowledged the difficulty of the decisions being made
and emphasized that he is doing his best to listen to every single citizen. He described the
relationship between the community and the Board as one of give and take. Vice Mayor
Trivett also noted the ongoing work with city staff and commended department heads for their
continued efforts in serving the city, both past and present. He expressed pride in the strength
of the community and encouraged everyone to be respectful of their neighbors and to keep
children safe during the upcoming Independence Day celebration, including the event at
Circle P Ranch.
Commissioner Hefner thanked everyone for attending the meeting and extended well wishes
to City Manager Martin for a speedy recovery. He noted that voluntary developer contributions
have increased from $2,500 to $7,500 over the past four years, clarifying that the City does
not receive those funds until the developer makes payment. Commissioner Hefner
acknowledged the large number of emails and phone calls he has received from citizens and
assured them he will respond to everyone. He also spoke about his sponsorship of the tax
freeze ordinance, explaining that the proposal is based on adopting state law provisions.
Commissioner Hefner expressed his support to rehire Rocky Lee. He concluded by
encouraging residents to stay safe in the extreme heat, reminding everyone to check their
backseats for children and pets.
Commissioner Milele presented charts highlighting General Fund expenditures and discussed
the City's budget priorities. She emphasized that the largest portions of the budget are
dedicated to Police, Fire, EMS personnel, and operations. Commissioner Milele shared that
she has been actively responding to citizens via social media, email, and phone calls. She
explained how property taxes originated and provided historical context specific to the City's
tax structure. Additionally, she presented a chart illustrating sales tax revenue trends and
offered further explanation of the property tax rate and what occurred during the first reading
of the budget. She also noted that building activity in the City has recently slowed.
Mayor Maness shared that he has heard from many citizens regarding the proposed tax
changes. He explained that the current county-wide sales tax rate is 9.75%, which is the
maximum allowed. Of that amount, 7% goes to the State, 1.375% is allocated to schools, and
the remaining portion goes to the City which is 1.375%. Mayor Maness stated that while the
City can always explore additional fees. He noted that the City's current $0.11 property tax
rate reflects an ongoing effort to keep costs as low as possible for residents. He emphasized
that the City has been making every effort to manage resources responsibly.
