August 23, 2017 at 7:00 PM - Special Joint Meeting

1. Establish a Quorum and Call to Order

1.A) Announcement by the President and Mayor whether a quorum is present, that the meeting has been duly called, notice of the meeting has been posted for the time and manner required by law, and welcoming those in attendance.

1.B) Invocation

1.C) Posting of the Colors - Stafford High School Army JROTC

1.D) Pledge of Allegiance - led by Col. Thomas Ehlinger

1.E) National Anthem 

2. Roll call of SMSD Trustees and Stafford City Council Members.

3. Opening remarks by Mayor outlining the basic approach to follow for this joint meeting under Texas Education Code 11.303.

4. Opening remarks by the School Board President concerning the 2017-18 budget, tax rates, and budget process.

5. Presentation by SMSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Bostic and Chief Financial Officer Daniel Flores on proposed budget and proposed tax rate.

6. Presentation by Mayor of City's contribution to SMSD, and to City's and Stafford taxpayers' support provided in SMSD 2017-18 budget, and observations on budget and tax rate and other items.

7. Presentation by the Board President regarding 2017-2018 proposed budget and other related items.

8. Comments and questions by elected officials pertaining to presentations.

9. Public hearing to receive comments regarding SMSD proposed budget and proposed tax rate.

10. Discussion by SMSD Trustees, City Council, and SMSD Administration on comments by the public.

11. Consideration, discussion and possible action(s) by SMSD Trustees and City Council to approve the 2017-18 SMSD budget and related actions.

11.A) Consider approval of 2017-18 SMSD budget by SMSD Board and related actions.

11.B) Consider approval by the SMSD Board to suspend the rule requiring a motion and second to take further action.

11.C) Call for a roll-call vote and brief comments from the members of the SMSD Board and members of City Council to approve the 2017-18 SMSD budget as presented.

12. Consideration, discussion and possible action(s) by SMSD Trustees and City Council to approve and establish the ad valorem tax rate necessary for the support and maintenance of schools and the ad valorem tax rate necessary for the purpose of paying the interest and providing a sinking fund for the payment of bond indebtedness of the Stafford Municipal School District for the tax year 2017 to fund school budget year 2017-18 and related actions.

12.A) Consideration and possible action by SMSD Board of Trustees to approve a tax rate of $1.04005 for the support and maintenance of schools for tax year 2017 and related actions.

12.B) Consideration and possible action by SMSD Board of Trustees to approve a tax rate of $0.19 for the purpose of paying the interest and providing a sinking fund for the payment of bonded indebtedness of the SMSD for the tax year 2017 and related actions.

12.C) Presiding officers call for a vote from the members of the Board and members of City Council to approve the tax rate of $1.04005 for the support and maintenance of schools for tax year 2017 and related actions.

12.D) Presiding officers call for a vote from the members of the Board and members of City Council to approve the tax rate of $0.19 for the purpose of paying the interest and providing a sinking fund for the payment of bonded indebtedness of the SMSD for the tax year 2017 and related actions.

13. Consideration and possible action by City Council to adopt an ordinance providing for the assessment, levy, and collection of ad valorem taxes by the City of Stafford, Texas, for the use and benefit of the Stafford Municipal School District for the tax year 2017 to fund the school budget year 2017-18; providing the date on which such taxes shall be due and payable; providing for penalty and interest on all taxes not timely paid; repealing all ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith; and containing a severability clause.

14. Brief closing remarks by SMSD representatives and City representatives.

15. Adjournment