The City of Brownsboro voted to lower the ad valorem tax rate for Brownsboro citizens. The tax rate was lowered from the previous tax rate by three cents per $100 valuation. The decision came as part of the Thursday, August 14, regularly scheduled Brownsboro City Council meeting.

Brownsboro Mayor Ronny Harris said, "We've pretty well already done this by setting our budget."

This tax rate will be added to the I and S tax rate of 15.35.

An ad valorem tax decrease of three cents means a savings of about $15 for those with a $50,000 house in Brownsboro. This is an 11 percent reduction from the last ad valorem tax rate.

Council member Doug Shaffer made the motion to approve the 2008 effective tax rate, Mayor Pro-tem Randal Clayton seconded.

The council took a look at city expenditures and the budget report.

Harris said, "Water and sewer is up for the city; city funds are down some, but these will be building back up real soon."

On water and sewer revenues for July, the city took in over $2,100 more than expected. Fines and fees are up quite a bit as well, as are city sales taxes.

Clayton made the motion to

approve the expenditures, financial status and budget report, Shaffer seconded.

Following the report from the July council meeting, the city voted to change from Stream Energy to TXU Energy.

"The City is really disappointed in the service of Stream Energy and will not recommend Stream Energy as an electric provider," Harris said.

The change will save the city money on energy, and a motion +

was made and seconded by Council Member Glen Vest and Clayton, respectively, to approve a three-year deal with TXU Energy.

Brownsboro voiced its support on a resolution for the discontinuation of the diversion of transportation use revenues to non-transportation areas.

The resolution, which stated "additional congestions wasted 2.9 billion gallons of fuel and cost over $78 billion in time and fuel", resolves to no longer divert money from existing transportation revenues to nontransportation uses.Clayton made the motion toapprove this resolution.

City Attorney Leslie McLean has resigned to work for the Smith County District Attorney's Office. The resignation, effective August 31. The motion also included action to hire Jay Mills to fill the open position.

Finally, the council voted to approve a request to put a mobile home between CR 3516 and Highway 31.