September 22, 2026 - The Timpson City Council met and adopted the 2026-2027 tax rate during their meeting held on September 15, 2026.
2026-2027 tax rate ordinance 20260915-01 for the use and support of the municipal government of Timpson, indicated a 5.34% increased rate over the previous year. This places a tax of $0.3580 per $100 valuation of property for the maintenance and operation of the general fund.
As stated in the ordinance, this budget will raise $9,163 more revenue in property tax revenue than last year’s budget. Revenue raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $3,167.
A motion by Ronnie Wolfe, councilman, was made to adopt 2026-2027 tax rate ordinance 20260915-01, and his motion received a second from Judd “Tuffy” Green. The motion carried with all in favor.
The council discussed the proposed budget for the city, which is set to be adopted on September 29, 2026.
In reflecting on the proposed budget, which mayor Cedrick Grace indicated shows incurred revenue of $902,400, councilman Wolfe focused on the outstanding balances of loans owed by the city and a street project the Economic Development Corporation and the city partnered in at a cost of $700,000.
“Current balance is $391,380, why couldn’t we pay that thing off with EDC money? Save the interest, I know you start over [from scratch] but you get that out of our pocket $7,111 a month,” said Wolfe.
Debra Smith, a member of the EDC board, commented on the suggestion of using the majority of the EDC funds to pay off the remaining balance of the loan could be a risk and that it will be the summer of 2027 before another street paving project could be accomplished. She also referenced a $90,000 loan made from the EDC to the city for the water treatment plant.
“Taking it all the way down, taking all $300,000 out might be risky because just like loaning y’all the $90,000, if there was an emergency we have taken money out of there before and, you know, used it,” said Smith.
Mayor Grace pointed out to the council as he spoke about what is included in the proposed budget that the purchase of a new bucket truck and a new truck for the city were included. The cost of the bucket truck was budgeted at $60,000 and the cost of the truck was budgeted at $30,000 and was expected to be closer to $25,000 in cost.
Councilwoman Penny Ramsey moved to approve the budget as presented, and councilman Wolfe seconded her motion. The motion carried with all in favor.
The council had five items listed on the consent agenda to consider and councilwoman Ramsey moved to approve the items which were marked A through E and councilman Bert Coan offered a second to her motion. It carried with all in favor.
The most unique of these items was E. which was an EDC agreement to support the Timpson ISD Youth Advisory Council proposal to clean up the disc golf course at SoSo Park, in the amount of $2,624.
YAC members are seen presenting their proposal to the Economic Development Corporation board.
(Submitted photo)
Youth Advisory Council (YAC) members presented a proposal to the EDC, at a meeting previous to the council meeting, to repair the Timpson Disc Golf course inside SoSo Park. With the approval of the council, the project is expected to be quick.
YAC leaders are: James Jimenez, Student Advisor; Charles Weaver, Student Advisor; Jaxton Jolley, Team Leader; and Vernett Richardson, president.
At the start of the meeting, council members had the opportunity to speak on issues not included in the meeting agenda and the only member utilizing this time was Ronnie Wolfe.
Wolfe shared results of his investigations into city financial loan obligations held by “the bank,” and he referenced financial data that had been provided to the council.
The first loan that Wolfe listed was $700,500 for street repairs with a remaining balance of $391,380, and monthly payments of $7,111. According to Wolfe, that loan has a maturation date of September 10, of 2031. According to Wolfe, the second loan he listed is for $102,000 at 4.99% interest, with a current balance of $84,922 and monthly payments of $2,841, with an end date of May 5, 2029. The third loan listed by Wolfe was for $57,509 (interest rate not included) with a remaining balance of $37,280 and payments of $1,700 per month. Wolfe stated that loan has an end date of May 21, 2027.
Lastly, Wolfe said a $1.4 million loan for water meters and a scrubber system will begin in October. According to Wolfe, that will require monthly payments from the city of $10,000.
“The city has indebted itself, if you consider that last one and you’ve got to, because you’ve got to have almost $2 million in indebtedness. So that’s not reflected in the financial statements. Also we have on the positive side, we have two CDs at the bank with a $200,000 CD and a $110,000 CD,” said Wolfe.
Wolfe said the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has collected $117,483 from October 2025 through September 2026 at about $10,500 a month and the EDC has on-hand $434,570.
“These loans, the payments on those loans, those stacked notes concern me somewhat and I want to present that to the council,” said Wolfe.
Wolfe finished by highlighting that there has been a lot of discussion over paving another $1 million worth of streets, and that it would be “stupid” to add an additional expense like that on top of the current indebtedness.
Misty Burgess, City Secretary, later clarified that the information Wolfe was referencing was included in their financial report.
Paula Mullins, Utility Billing Secretary and Municipal Clerk, announced to the council that she will be retiring in 19 months from the meeting. This was to provide the council with ample time to prepare, and she described what a prospective employee would need to do to perform her duties. Should it be necessary, she even expressed her willingness to be hired on part-time to assist the new employee in taking on her duties.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:18pm.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Consent Agenda items: A. Minutes from the Regular Meeting held August 18, 2026 B. Minutes from the Special Meeting held August 28, 2026 C. Financial Statements for the month of August 2026 D. Accounts Payable for the month of September 2026 E. EDC agreement to support the Timpson ISD Youth Advisory Council proposal to clean up the disc golf course at SoSo Park, in the amount of $2,624. 2. 2026-2027 Tax Rate and Ordinance 20260915-01. Read the proposed ordinance regarding the proposed tax rate and percentage of increase. 3. 2026-2027 Proposed Budget for Water/Sewer, Electric, and General Operating Fund including the Streets, Parks, Cemetery, TVFD, and Payroll. Final Budget to be adopted at the September 29th Special Meeting. 4. 2026-2027 Holiday Schedule. 5. The Light & Champion newspaper as the official printed news media for the City of Timpson, as required by TEX LOC. GOV’T CODE § 52.004(a). 6. The meeting adjourned at 6:18pm.
