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Message from the City Manager
August 16, 2024
There is no doubt that August is a busy time for our community, especially with the start of the school year. It’s also a busy time for the City as we prepare for the next fiscal year’s budget, which begins on October 1st.
On August 13th, the City Council held a workshop before the Regular Council Meeting to discuss two key topics, including the upcoming budget and the proposed development of Honey Rock Ranch. The workshop focused on how the City plans to allocate resources and provided insights into the Honey Rock Ranch development, which represents growth for our community. The City is proposing to maintain its current maintenance and operation tax rate at $0.6131 per $100 of assessed value and will adopt the budget and tax rate at the Council Meeting on September 10th.
During the Regular Council Meeting, three items were approved that I would like to highlight for you. First, the Council approved appointing Joshua Milam and Habib Erkan, Jr. to the Burnet Economic Development Corporation Board (BEDC). The BEDC is dedicated to promoting economic growth and development within the City of Burnet. Two great examples of this focus coming to fruition are the current Tractor Supply at the East Side Commercial Park on Highway 29 East, which is set to celebrate its grand opening October 3-6, and the Marriott TownePlace Suites, which is under development on Highway 281 South near the airport.
Next, the Council approved an updated edition of the International Fire Code. The Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) assesses the building codes in effect in a community and how the community enforces its building codes, with special emphasis on mitigating losses from natural hazards. As Chief Ingram stated during the Council Meeting, the concept is simple: municipalities with well-enforced, up-to-date codes should demonstrate better loss experience, and insurance rates can reflect that. Because of the hard work and focus of our Fire Administrative Team, our Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating is currently a 2. An ISO rating is a score from 1 to 10 that indicates how well a city or community is equipped to respond to fires. An ISO rating of 1 represents superior property fire protection, while a rating of 10 indicates that the area's fire suppression program does not meet the ISO's minimum criteria. A lower ISO rating typically results in lower insurance premiums for homeowners, meaning a better rating can save residents money on their insurance.
Finally, the Council approved the City’s Charter as amended in May 2024. A city charter is a legal document that acts like a constitution for a city. It outlines how the city government is organized, defines the powers and responsibilities of city officials, and sets the rules for how the city operates. Essentially, it's the blueprint for how the city is run. The approved amended Charter was based on a series of amendments approved by voters during the May 4, 2024, Charter Amendment Special Election. You can find the Charter in the City of Burnet Code of Ordinances on the City’s website at www.cityofburnet.com.
As you are aware, the City recently faced Stage 4 watering restrictions, and we want to extend our thanks to the community for its cooperation. The 15-hour Stage 4 watering restrictions were ultimately a precautionary measure, as normal water production resumed well before water levels became critical. During this time, the City posted information on social media and sent out emails and text messages via Voyent Alert!, the mass communication app that replaced Code Red. We heard from some citizens that they did not receive any of the alerts. Communication with our citizens is a priority, and if you want to make sure that you receive future alerts, please take a moment to register with Voyent Alert! by going to us.voyent-alert.com. Registering is simple and quick.
In conclusion, we appreciate the community’s ongoing support and engagement as we navigate these important issues. As always, we encourage you to participate in upcoming meetings, stay informed, and share your thoughts with us.
