State of the City: ‘We’ve had a good year’ [The Huntsville Item, Texas]

Oct. 18--HUNTSVILLE -- During his nearly 30-minute speech at the Walker County Storm Shelter on Thursday for the first "State of the City" address, City Manager Matt Benoit took the opportunity to update citizens on Huntsville's accomplishments over the past year.

Benoit reviewed the city's economic challenges and achievements, from passing a budget in September without increasing taxes, to issuing $5 million more in commercial building permits so far this year than in 2012.

At least 100 people were in attendance, according to the sign-in sheet. City departments such as public works, finance, police, and communications set up displays for citizens to receive information and visit with questions.

The Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce worked with Mayor Mac Woodward and city staff for a joint effort to allow Benoit to present information about the city's accomplishments. Benoit worked directly with Neighborhood Resources Director Dr. Sherry McKibben to get each department represented at the event.

"We worked on getting the address together and the major topics (Benoit) was going to discuss," said Deputy City Secretary Kristin Edwards, who was also part of the planning process. "Obviously we're very grateful for the opportunity to display these events, the accomplishments of all the departments. The staff works so hard every day. It was so nice to able to show our citizens what the city is doing for them."

Huntsville City Council passed a $58.5 million budget Sept. 17, which maintained the existing tax rate at .4206 cents per $100 valuation, following a year in which the city raised taxes by 4 percent with nearly a $1 million shortfall.

Passing the budget without increasing taxes, for Benoit and the city's finance departments, was also the result of slashing $400,000 from the health insurance fund.

"We understand very clearly we are to be stewards of the taxpayer dollar and we intend to stay in that direction for a long time," Benoit said. "We have only planned rate increase in the water fund. We do have merit increases for our hard-working employees. They're bright, intelligent and smart. Quite frankly, I find out more and more they all do better when I just stay out of the way."

Benoit was encouraging about the city's economic development opportunities going forward. In 2012, Huntsville issued $9.5 million in commercial building permits. That figured has jumped to around $15 million with three months left in the year.

"That equates to about $650,000 of general fund property tax revenue that lands in our coffers immediately, and that goes without talking about any of the sales tax that these commercial building permits generate," Benoit said. "This is a good year for Huntsville."

Benoit also discussed the efforts of the Sam Houston Houston Statue Visitor Center and the attention received in May after logging more than one million visitors.

Enhancements to the Huntsville Police Department, adding three officer positions in the budget, and accepting the SAFER grant to allow for expanded coverage from the fire department with four extra positions.

HPD is in the process of establishing accreditation with the Texas Police Chief Association to become a recognized law enforcement agency. The acknowledgment is for the law enforcement agencies that exhibit the best practices.

"I like doing these kinds of things," Benoit said. "I think it tests us. I think we learn about ourselves. I'm very excited to complete this process, hopefully in November."

The neighborhood resources department, natural beautification of Huntsville, infrastructure, public works, parks and recreation and various city projects were mentioned.

Benoit spent a couple of minutes discussing the housing grant programs. With the city's neighborhood stablization efforts, 12 homes were built over the past year and sold to nine moderate or low income families.

Among those in attendance Thursday night were council members Lydia Montgomery, Joe Emmett, Tish Humphrey, Mayor Woodward and Mayor pro tem Don Johnson. Walker County Judge Danny Pierce and Sam Houston State University Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Jaimie Hebert were also in attendance.

"The turnout obviously is incredible," Edwards said. "It's gratifying and wonderful to see this many citizens come out and want to know about what the city's doing and just show the interest. That's really important, that our citizens are interested and they're aware of what the city has to offer them."

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