Lantana boards approve budget, set tax rate

The two Lantana Fresh Water Supply District boards at their September meetings approved their respective 2012-13 budgets and property tax rates.

Expected revenues for FWSD #6 and #7 for the 12 month period starting Oct. 1 are $10.8 million and combined expenses are budgeted at $10.6 million, with a majority of the expenses consisting of municipal bond payments.

Most of the bonds are estimated to be paid off in FWSD #6 in the year 2027 and FWSD #7 in 2035, according to District Controller Rich Harned.

Lantana’s FWSD ad valorem tax rate will remain unchanged at $1 per $100 of property valuation.

The boards passed an increase in the water/sewer/trash rates effective Oct. 1 that will cost the average resident an additional $4 per month.

“The water rate was increased to exactly cover the increase in the rate we pay the Upper Trinity Regional Water District for our water. The increase is a literally a “wash,” said FWSD #7 board member Jim Lieber.

In other action, the districts contracted with the Denton County Sheriff’s Department for a crossing guard at Stacee Lane and Lantana Trail during the morning rush hour at a cost of $100 per day.

The intersection is used by students attending Blanton Elementary School and Harpool Middle School.

Board members approved a budget of up to $10 thousand to pay for the crossing guard each school morning until Christmas break.

A traffic study to determine if stop signs should be added to four intersections along Lantana Trail is expected to commence in early October.

The intersections under consideration for four-way stops are Stacee Lane, Rayzor Road, Branch Crossing, and Bonham Parkway. 

The study will also look at pedestrian traffic and 10 year traffic projections.

Results of the study are expected to be reviewed by the boards at their November meeting.

The districts’ engineering firm, Huitt-Zollars, will conduct the study at a cost of $15,500.

Board members also reviewed a proposal from the Denton County Sheriff’s Department for two dedicated deputies to patrol the community 80 hours per week.

The costs associated with the proposal would be approximately $200 thousand the first year and around $160 thousand the following year.

Board members agreed to let the Public Safety Subcommittee study the issue further and bring a recommendation back to the board.

The boards discussed the feasibility of constructing a district building in Lantana sometime in the future. The district offices are currently located in leased space in Bartonville Town Center, outside the district.

No action was taken and a building fund has not been established.