Crockett council hears budget constraints as city weighs capital requests

City staff laid out FY2023 capital requests and warned the council that rising appraised values do not automatically translate into increased tax revenue because of state caps.

The city’s preliminary appraised values were reported to have increased from roughly $302 million to $330 million, but staff said state rules cap allowable revenue growth to about 3.5% over last year’s revenue; staff estimated that cap would translate to roughly $49,500 in additional property‑tax revenue for the city. At the same time, operational costs are rising: staff projected fuel could climb 25–30% next year and noted the city’s current fuel budget of about $140,000 is already projected to exceed $156,000 this year.

Multiple department heads outlined capital needs. The fire chief asked council to consider hiring paid firefighters, citing safety standards and declining volunteer numbers; the chief also said the city will pursue FEMA SAFER grants to underwrite positions. Police staff requested replacing up to three aging patrol Tahoes, with per-unit prices now near $66,000–$68,000. Public works described failing road equipment and the need for an asphalt compactor (government contract price cited at $48,354) and replacement dump trucks; staff warned equipment downtime delays street repairs.

Staff emphasized limited funding choices: use of cash reserves for one‑time capital purchases, utility-rate increases to fund utility‑side purchases, or placing revenue measures before voters. Councilors expressed concern about mandates and prioritized compliance items; no final budget decisions were made at the meeting, and staff will return with more detailed procurement and funding options.