Government - page 19

The City of Orange is hosting a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget on August 29, 2023, at 5:30 pm at Orange City Council Chambers at 220 N. 5th Street in Orange.

This budget will raise more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget by an amount of $757,305, which is an 8.73% increase from last year’s budget. TThe property tax revenue to be
raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $90,488.

All interested persons are invited to attend and present their views at the hearing. Written comments may be mailed or delivered to the Director of Finance, City Hall,
812 N. 16th Street (PO Box 520) Orange, Texas 77631-0520, prior to the meeting.

As many of us know, here in southeast Texas, August is the time we focus on the Gulf. Many of us have experienced hurricanes, floods, tornados, and industrial disasters, and we are reminded by our county and city officials to have a plan in these cases.

Materials are available online and packets are located at the Orange County Emergency Management at 11475 FM 1442, Orange, TX 77630 and have been distributed throughout the year, but remember, you may need to modify your plans based on your family’s needs. Registering for the STAN helps us be updated on emergencies and major events happening in our area.

If you need more guidance, each of our communities has personnel who train year-round to manage emergencies and assist residents. Contact your local emergency management office for more information.

So, what now? Hopefully, you have a plan to keep your family safe. Pets may be considered by us to be family; however, domesticated animals require other considerations when preparing for emergencies.

Some accommodations you seek may not accept or have facilities for your pets. If by chance you need to go to a temporary shelter: identification, leashes, shot records, and if possible, portable kennels are key. Places such as this have limited space and pet will need to be housed in a separate facility from you. If your pet has been separated from you due to unforeseen events, visible identification with your contact information, and a microchip may help in a quicker reunion with your pet after an emergency.

Livestock owners who can transport their livestock prior to an emergency should be prepared and know the places and contact numbers of the facilities they choose to go to. Consider the amount of food and water needed to travel with your animal. As with pets, you may be separated from your animal. Visible markings, as well as microchips will aid in a quicker reunion with your animal.

Make sure your animals are in good health and updated on their vaccinations prior to transport. Best practice is to check with your vet about what vaccines are needed to be boarded, or sheltered in a facility with other pets. Keep their records with you.

Here a list of websites that will help you make a plan that fits your needs:

• Texas Animal Health Commission
• AgriLifeLearn.com
• Orange County Disaster Rebuild
• Texas Department of Emergency Management
• Ready.gov Plan Ahead for Disasters

Thanks to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Orange County for the helpful tips!

Due to the extended drought conditions we are currently experiencing, the City of Bridge City is asking residents to voluntarily reduce their water usage. This action is called for in the Drought Contingency Plan adopted by the City in September 2016 to help ensure we can maintain service to all our citizens. Per the Plan, the city is instituting our Stage 1 Response, which is a voluntary reduction in total usage.

Some of the requirements of the Stage 1 Response include voluntary water use restrictions to limit the irrigation of landscaped areas to Sundays and Thursdays for customers with a street address ending in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8), and Saturdays and Wednesdays for customers with street addresses ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, 9). It is also better for the vegetation if the watering is done between the hours of midnight and 10:00 am or 8:00 pm to midnight on designated watering days.

The Response Plan is being implemented as a precautionary measure to ensure that we have adequate supplies of water for domestic use and fire protection. And remember, all of Orange County is under a Burn Ban at this time.

City of Orange water customers are requested to voluntarily limit the irrigation of landscaped areas to Sundays and Thursdays for customers with a street address ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 ) and Saturdays and Wednesdays for water customers with a street address ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9), and to irrigate landscapes only between the hours of midnight and 10:00 am and 8:00 pm to midnight on designated watering days. This is considered a Stage 1 water shortage condition.

This follows a mandatory order in the city of Beaumont’s Stage 3 of the City’s Drought Contingency Plan. The City of Beaumont is requiring all customers to conserve water and minimize or discontinue water use for non-essential purposes during this time and is finig those who don’t comply.

The City Orange request is voluntary and implemented as a cautionary measure due to the extended drought conditions in the region. City of Orange Mayor Spears commented, “We are trying to be proactive and reduce our water usage throughout the city. Let’s cut back so that if there is a problem during this time, we will be in a better position to handle it.”

Spears adds, “For a second comparison, the City of Orange has a population of around 19,000 people vs the City of Beaumont which has a population of over 112,000. Their consumption levels are much higher than what is currently being used here in our city limits; therefore, they have had to issue a stronger response to the situation at hand. Please understand that this is a proactive approach to addressing the possibility of an inclement situation, and it’s my job to ensure that we are always prepared! Hopefully this will be over soon and I ask that everyone understand our precautionary measures to prevent any possible adverse effects to the city’s services.”

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is reminding shoppers they can save money on clothes and school supplies during the state’s sales tax holiday on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Aug. 11-13, 2023.

State law exempts sales tax on qualified items – such as clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks – priced below $100, saving shoppers about $8 on every $100 they spend. The dates of the sales tax holiday and list of tax-exempt items are set by the Texas Legislature.

“As Texans prepare for the back-to-school bell, this is the perfect time to take advantage of the opportunity to save money on everything from blue jeans to ballpoint pens,” Hegar said. “As the father of three, I know how these expenses can add up.”

The Comptroller’s office estimates that shoppers will save $136 million in state and local sales tax during this sales tax holiday.

Apparel and school supplies that may be purchased tax-free are listed on the Comptroller’s website at TexasTaxHoliday.org.

During the annual sales tax holiday, qualifying items can be purchased tax-free online or by telephone, mail, custom order, or any other means (including in-store purchases) when either:

• the item is both delivered to and paid for by the customer during the exemption period; or,
• the customer orders and pays for the item, and the seller accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period ends.

Texas’ sales tax holiday weekend has been an annual event since 1999.