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The Record TheRecordLive.com
Vol. 57 No. 52
Distributed FREE To The Citizens of Bridge City and Orangefield
Week of Wednesday, April 20, 2015
Bridge City leads Orange County in sales tax increase things out. We are still ahead on what should be a normal payment for this time. We have had a lot of sales tax being added to the city with the new apartment complex and new housing being constructed. The economy in Bridge City is pretty strong right now.” In February of this year, Bridge City received more
Tommy Mann Jr. For The Record
Despite recent figures, sales tax revenue, as a whole has been on the increase for most of 2016 in Orange County and especially in Bridge City. Sales tax revenue may have increased across the state based on the most recent information provided by the State Comptroller, but figures were down overall in Orange County based on the most recent release of sales tax revenue. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced recently he will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts $591.4 million in local sales tax allocations for April, 2.6 percent more than in April 2015. These allocations are based on sales made in February by businesses that report tax monthly. A total of $791,454.48 would be sent to the seven incorporated cities of Orange County, which is nearly six percent below figures for the year to date. “The cities of Dallas, Austin, Sugar Land and Fort Worth saw substantial increases in sales tax allocations that helped stop a four-month streak of declining sales tax allocations for the state over-
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Cardinals Reception Friday Staff Report For The Record
Bridge City ISD is happy to announce its first Silver Cardinals Reception on Friday, April 22, from 9-11 a.m. in the BCISD Administration Boardroom, 1031 W. Roundbunch Rd., Bridge City. BCISD Superintendent Todd Lintzen invites all retired Bridge City ISD taxpaying residents and BCISD retirees to this community partnership program. The following is BCISD’s Mission Statement. “The mission of Bridge City Independent School District, a progressive family/community-supported educational system, is to provide a comprehensive well-balanced instructional program in a safe learning environment to ensure the development of caring, responsible, productive graduates capable of contributing in a global society.”
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than $157,000 which was a 6 percent increase of February 2015. In March, the city received a sales tax payment of more than $101,000 which was a 3 percent increase compared to March of 2015. The most recent payment of more than $124,000 falls right in line with a typical sales tax payment and shows the economy in Bridge City is holding
steady, if not continuously improving over 2015 figures. “I’m usually the first one to know when things are not going very well in our business community,” said B.J. Hanneman of the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce. “The businesses will usually contact me and tell me if things are BRIDGE CITY Page 3A
Mutton Bustin’ Fun For All Bridge City City Manager Jerry Jones.
all,” Hegar said. “Energy-centric cities such as Houston and Midland continue to see decreases in sales tax allocations.” When previous sales tax payments have been so dramatically different, as is the case with Bridge City and possibly Orange, there is usually a discrepancy which needs to be resolved between cities in the same county or maybe an incorrect payment amount was sent to another municipality and needs to be adjusted. Bridge City received a smaller than usual payment this month, as it received approximately $124,000 for April, or a
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decrease of more than $195,000, or 61.05 percent, from April of last year. The city is 26.23 percent behind for the year to date. However, the amount of more than $320,000 it received in April of 2015 was an overpayment by the state comptroller and is not typical of the normal monthly allotment. “The reason the amount is so different is because last year was an adjustment made by the State Comptroller’s office,” said Jerry Jones, City Manager of Bridge City. “The city had been shorted on several payments, and that adjustment was made to even
Eco-Fest celebrates environment Saturday Tommy Mann Jr. For The Record
Celebrate the environment and have a little fun this weekend in Orange County. Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, located at 2111 W. Park Avenue in Orange, is once again the site for Eco-Fest, a day of fun and educational activities while celebrating the environment and enjoying Mother Nature. The event will be held from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday, April 23, and all activities are included with regular admission. According to Noelle Jordan, Environmental Education Coordinator for Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, Eco-Fest began in 2008 as a way for the facility to recognize Earth Day and encourage active participations from area residents and Stark Cultural Venues members. “Eco-Fest is always one of our most popular activities every year, especially when the
weather is great,” Jordan said. “It’s educational and fun and there are so many things to see and do that it makes it a great day for the family.” Arguably the most popular activity each year at Eco-Fest is the butterfly release, which is a delight for both children and adults. Shangri La allows guests, especially children, the opportunity to release butterflies back into the environment and is regularly attended by hundreds of spectators each year. “This the event people always talk about and want to be a part of,” Jordan added. “It’s so much fun for everyone because you are actually involved.” The butterfly release is scheduled at 3:30 p.m., Saturday. Supplies are limited and guests are encouraged to arrive early for the release on the Great Lawn. Vendors will be on site offering information on a variECO-FEST Page 3A
Youngsters compete for prizes during Mutton Bustin’ fun at the Orange County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo over the weekend. Little cowboys and cowgirls climbed on a sheep and held on for the ride. It was all part of the fun at this years event held at the Orange County Rodeo Arena on on FM 105. RECORD PHOTOS: Lawrence Trimm
Also on hand at this year’s rodeo was the famed “Whiplash” smallest cowboy in the world.
Commissioners approve pre-project for Vidor loop Tommy Mann Jr. For The Record
Although the much debated Loop 299 project is not an official project at this time, Commissioners approved a measure Tuesday pertaining to pre-planning work by an outside agency. Orange County Commissioners met Tuesday afternoon in a special session of court to handle much routine business,
but one of the key agenda items during Tuesday’s session including the highly debated Loop 299 project which, in theory, would create an alternate route from Interstate 10 in the Rose City-area northward to Pine Forest and one proposed plan even has called for the creation of a toll road project. The purpose of Tuesday’s action is to allow the group
Strategic Planning and Program Development, Inc., (SPPDI), which is experienced in innovative funding measures for government entities, to begin the very early phase of preplanning to even determine if the project is fundable. “This is just a work authorization to be executed under the contract we have in place and move forward on the preproject phase,” Young said.
“This will allow us to start discussions with TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) and to start the process with financial packages on how to fund the project.” Orange County Judge Brint Carlton inquired as to how this work authorization would impact the county financially under the contract with SPPDI, which was put in place in late-February.
“The is no financial obligation from Orange County at this time, and there will be none if the project is not approved to move forward,” Young added. In other news, the office of David Peck, Orange County Justice of the Peace of Precinct 1, will soon be assuming the task of keeping Vital Statistics COUNTY Page 3A