City increases the tax rate by 4.89%; approves search committee for interim city manager

The City of Breckenridge approved the budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year and includes a 4.89% tax increase for the upcoming year. The new budget was adopted during the Tuesday, September 1 meeting inside the City Offices Chamber.

Although the new tax rate is an increase from last year’s budget, the new tax rate will bring no new revenue to the City of Breckenridge.

“It’s basically stating that the property taxes from last year’s budget will raise a negative 4.89 percent or negative three percent,” Heather Robertson-Caraway, co-interim City Manager said. “Of that amount $5,127.47 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the roll. Ultimately, the tax rate we’re adopting is based on the truth and taxation worksheet provided to us from the state comptrollers office, that we have to complete. It tells us that when we adopt that rate, we are going to collect the same amount as we collected last year, but will be about five dollars shy of last year.”

With the budget year beginning on Thursday, October 1, and ending Thursday, September 30, 2021, the city has appropriated $4,169,850 out of the General Fund for maintenance and operating.

City commissioners also took action on accepting an offer for financial assistance from the Breckenridge Industrial Foundation and agreed to contract Strategic Government Resources. The commissioners did have a no vote as Rob Durham, City Commissioner for Place 2 voted against the majority. The assistance will aid in locating a new interim city manager.

The foundation would cover the $100,000 cost of financing a new interim city manager and is a proposal, needing approval from the Breckenridge Industrial Foundation.

The city commissioners formed an advisory committee to review interim city manager candidates from SGR and will consist of Mayor Bob Sims, David Wimberley, City Commissioner for Place 3, Heather Robertson-Caraway, the co-interim city manager, and two members from the Breckenridge Industrial Foundation.

According to the Strategic Government Resource firms website, the purpose of the firm is to “help local governments become more successful by recruiting, assessing, and developing innovative, collaborative, authentic leaders.”

This will not be the City of Breckenridge’s first attempt using the firm, Strategic Government Resources, to assist in the search for a city manager. The city used the firm in 2011 and received mixed results.

The city hired Brad Lee Newton for the position of city manager but removed him from duty after a six-month evaluation into his role. With just a few months into the position, the city paid the remainder of Newton’s annual salary of $82,000.

Along with benefits, the city also provided a city vehicle, a cell phone, and reimbursement for professional dues and travel.