Blossom passes budget for the new fiscal year | News

The council chose to table action on the $1,141,349.60 budget until Monday due to Mayor Jeff Stover’s absence. It passed a $.422863 property tax rate during a meeting Sept. 21.

The council members that did attend — Mayor Pro Tem Brad Sessums, Elizabeth May and Charlotte Burge — did not have many questions before approving.

May asked if road repairs the council approved earlier this year had made it into the budget, but City Secretary Stacy Prestridge said they did not.

“Well, no, because if we put everything that was approved, then it wouldn’t be a balanced budget,” she told May.

Following required public hearings for proposed ordinances, council members nixed Ordinance 23-04, which would have allowed tiny homes, and approved Ordinance 23-05, regulating business lighting.

After the votes, two residents spoke during the citizen comments portion of the meeting, with Dave Irek asking where to find more information about ordinances and other items discussed during council meetings.

“We as citizens are trying to help the city,” Irek told council members. “We’re here to help, but there never seems to be interaction. Where do I get the ordinances? Because I looked on the website, and there’s two ordinances for the last 20 years that are available on the website.”

Prestridge directed Irek to inspect proposed and passed ordinances at City Hall and to reach out directly to council members with questions.

While the City maintains a website at www.blossomtexas.gov, copies of the city budget, financial reports, council meeting agendas and minutes are not accessible.