Pattison City Council unanimously approved the city’s roughly $475,000 budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year which includes almost $68,000 to purchase the old Waller County Precinct 4 Annex at 3410 First Street and convert it into a new City Hall.

“I would like to tell council that the $150,000 is an estimate. We might not need to spend all that,” Pattison Mayor Joe Garcia said.

Other higher-end line items on the budget include $40,000 for payroll, $30,000 to maintain city streets, $25,000 for attorney services, $10,000 each for drainage maintenance and professional services, $8,000 for utilities, $7,500 for parks maintenance and $12,000 for permitting and inspections expenses.

According to a copy of the budget provided by the City Secretary’s Office, the city will receive about $150,000 in anticipated sales tax revenue, its largest income line item. Below that is about $57,600 in Texas Department of Emergency Management grant funding, $50,000 in franchise revenue, $15,000 in professional fees and $12,000 in building permit revenues. Other items, including the city’s reserve funds of about $185,000 bring the city to a balanced budget overall.

Garcia said City Council will have workshops to take into account community input on renovations to the new City Hall building which will likely include improvements to the restrooms at the facility. Other items will be considered to ensure the facility meets the city’s operational needs.

Council also heard a presentation from representatives from development firm RJ Miller regarding the proposed Riverwood Farms subdivision. The new development is expected to be in development soon said Michael Foley, an RJ Miller representative. The total acreage for the subdivision is about 174 acres and lots are expected to be 50-60 feet wide, Foley said. The developer is working on land plans and looking at options to establish utilities in the new community.

“It’s too early to tell what home prices may be,” Foley said.

Fluctuations in the housing market, supply line concerns and other factors make it difficult to anticipate the cost of new homes prior to more details for the development being finalized, he explained.

Council members also:

• Approved meeting minutes for the month of September and the finance report for October.
• Approved adding about 12,057 acres of land to the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction in three separate motions.
• Conditionally approved waivers for small buildings at the Garden of Prana project at 34582 Royal Road provided the Fire Marshall has no objections to the small buildings not having fire control systems.
• Asked the city attorney to review options to push for the removal or concealment of propane tanks stored at the intersection of FM 359 and Durkin Road near Royal Elementary School.
• Approved the replat of a portion of the Quinteros Subdivision located at 4685 Sterling Road.