Falls City council members took care of an assortment of items during their regular September 13 meeting, including the adoption of a tax rate for the next fiscal year.

Both the city’s utility and general operations budgets were finalized and adopted by council, and the effective tax rate of 76.74 cents per $100 property valuation was adopted. The rate is slightly lower than the rate council adopted last year, but coupled with rising property values in the city, it is expected to generate the same amount of revenue.

After setting their next fiscal cycle in motion, council members didn’t waste any time putting the budget to use. They authorized purchasing a 2006 pickup truck from Southway Ford in San Antonio for city utility crew use. The vehicle will replace an older truck that council members say is too costly to keep running reliably.

"We have one that’s a ’93, I think. Every time we turn around, we’ve got some type of repair that needs to be done on it," Mayor Vi Malone said.

The new vehicle will cost around $12,000.

Council also authorized San Antonio-based business All-Pro to clean out their five lift stations. The business was contracted for the $2,300 cleaning job because of their ability to dispose of sludge in accordance with environmental laws.

Bids were not awarded for street repairs during the meeting, though. Council chose to have a special meeting September 20 to discuss the bids and possibly award the job.

They also rejected all bids submitted for the town’s hay lease, which grants one lessee the rights to cut, bale, and sell hay growing on city property. The city will advertise for bids on the lease again in hopes of getting back more favorable propositions.

Council members also took one step further in accepting free money from the state. They set up signatories and authorized the mayor to appoint a labor standards officer for the town’s 2006 Texas Community Development Block Grant.

The $25,000 grant which requires $12,500 in local matching funds, will go toward replacing sewer lines all throughout town. Council currently is waiting on the funds to be released from the state before advertising for bids on the project.