By Mayor Peggy Kreuger
Welcome back to school! The town council and staff have spent the summer working on the budget and are very proud to present a balanced budget with no tax increases.
We will be voting on the budget in our September Council meeting and will have the second public hearing at 6 p.m. on September 8. The tax rate for tax year 2015-2016 remains unchanged from 2014 at $0.3975 per $100 of assessed value.
This is going to be a great year with the leadership of the new Argyle High school principal, James Hill. The town staff and officials are looking forward to working together. I had the privilege to meet with Mr. Hill and discuss a new board that we want to establish together with Liberty Christian School.
We are working on the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council that will be a group of high school juniors and seniors who are recommended by teachers and citizens of Argyle that have an interest in learning about local government.
We will offer a program in which the student council will meet with city officials to learn more about their city functions and familiarize them with town operations. We want to give these students the opportunity to learn the process of passing an ordinance, looking at budgets and learning that each person of a town does have an impact. We are presently putting the program together and will give more details later.
The Town of Argyle is currently accepting applications for service on our various boards. The deadline to submit applications is September 30 and the council will consider the appointments at their October 27 meeting.
The council makes appointments to the following boards:
Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) – The P&Z is an advisory board to the town council that makes recommendations regarding amendments to the comprehensive plan, changes of zoning for real property, zoning and subdivision ordinance amendments, zoning to be given to newly annexed areas, approval of plats of subdivisions and other planning-related matters.
The P&Z also serves as the tree preservation board and the capital improvements advisory committee. The P&Z consists of seven qualified town voters (must be resident and taxpayer) appointed by the town council for staggered two-year terms. Currently the P&Z meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. There are three positions up for appointment or reappointment.
Argyle Economic Development Corporation (EDC) – The EDC acts as a separate political entity that reports to the town council. It is through the board’s discretion that projects are planned and funded using a portion of the town’s sales tax. This board establishes a budget every year that must be approved by the town council.
The EDC consists of seven regular directors that are residents of the town or of Denton County. The town council may also appoint advisory directors that may participate in discussions of the board, but have no voting rights. Currently the EDC meets the second Thursday of each month in the evening. There are four positions up for appointment or reappointment.
Crime Control and Prevention District (CCPD) – The CCPD board has the authority to finance all the costs of a crime control and prevention program, including the costs for personnel, administration, expansion, enhancement and capital expenditures. The CCPD is governed by seven directors that reside within the town appointed by the town council for staggered two-year terms. The board currently meets at 9 a.m. on the third Thursday of the month. There is one position up for appointment.
Keep Argyle Beautiful Board (KAB) – The purpose of the KAB is to assist the town council in establishing a town wide policy for litter prevention, beautification and minimization of the impact of solid waste in the Town of Argyle. The KAB is comprised of five members, with at least three members being residents of the Town of Argyle. Currently, the KAB meets at 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month. There are three positions up for appointment or reappointment.
Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) – The ZBA has the authority to hear and decide special exceptions to the terms of the zoning ordinance when the ordinance requires the board to do so. The board also may authorize, in specific cases, a variance from the terms of zoning. The ZBA consists of five regular members and up to four alternate members that must be resident citizens, taxpayers and qualified voters of the town. The ZBA meets as needed, typically no more than once per year. There are two regular positions and two alternate positions up for appointment or reappointment.
Applications can be found by visiting the town’s website at www.argyletx.com
Have a great September and please stay informed. Come to the council meetings or call your officials to give us your ideas.
Peggy
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