SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 • INDEPENDENT • Page 3 News Stafford’s debt fully covered; Are you listening Tea Party? says Stafford mayor By BARBARA FULENWIDER percent sales tax are expected Emergency services are City’s Animal Shelter propos- tinues to maintain healthy Even though Stafford to provide the lion’s share of the next largest city ex- al; review of the arrangement cash balances with more Mayor Leonard Scarcella de- $13.28 million. pense, so the budget allocates with Missouri City on Sta-Mo than $16,700,000 in the scribed the city’s budget plan- Other taxes and fees will $5,400,000 to its police de- Park and evaluation of recy- bank and SEDC’s more than ning as “very testy” in this provide up to $7 million and partment and $1,400,000 to cling as result of Stafford’s $6,400,000. economic climate, he said the just over $6 million of that its fi re department. Another new garbage contract. “Most agree,” he said, “the city is fi nancially healthy and will go to the general fund, $168,000 is budgeted for the The Stafford Centre “will one component that has pro- will continue to pay as it goes. Scarcella said. emergency management divi- require about $475,000 from pelled this city further than The mayor delivered his The city’s 19 hotels and sion. the hotel occupancy tax to anyone expected in 1995 has annual budget message at motels will provide another Stafford’s street department supplement revenues of been the elimination of the city council’s Sept. 7 meeting $850,000 thanks to the hotel will get almost $1,844,000 $1,230,000 for operations,” property tax. Still there Tea and began with the country’s occupancy tax, which helps and the Parks Department, the mayor said. Party?” he asked for the sec- bleak national fi nancial state support the Stafford Centre $880,000. Major infrastruc- He noted that thanks to vot- ond time in his budget mes- before turning to Stafford and and Civic Center productions ture projects in the 2012 bud- ers approving the one half sage. how the city is impacted by and festivals. get include Dulles Avenue and Scarcella percent sales tax more than “This budget is given as a the nation’s problems. While that tax has grown, Brand Lane improvements at a decade ago, the SEDC has clear illustration of attempt- “Stafford has generated a interest income, which was off all debt, “we are doing the a total cost of $1,550,000. An- “literally changed the face ing to live within our means, strong and diverse economy, once a signifi cant revenue next best thing – escrowing other $275,000 will go to ex- and image of Stafford. With not mortgaging our future, which by carefully manag- source for Stafford, has fallen the full remaining balance of tend Staffordshire Road from revenues of $6,200,000 and and in doing so confound the ing its resources and closely from nearly several hundred principal and interest owed, Fifth Street to Scanlin Road if expenditures of $3,700,000 tax and spend gurus who ad- monitoring its expenditures, thousand dollars annually to namely $460,330, so that the the city can get state partici- Stafford will continue to im- vocate betting on the come has been able to excel in good this year’s $56,000 total inter- city will not have to commit pation. press observers beyond what and living on borrowed mon- times, thus allowing sustain- est from $24 million. another dollar to pay its bond- Budgeted amounts for gen- many believe a city as small ey. We’ll bank on doing it ability during serious eco- Stafford has collected no ed indebtedness.” eral administration, fi nance, as Stafford can achieve.” our way – pay as we go,” the nomic downturns.” property taxes for the past Scarcella said this makes SMETV, the Civic Center Scarcella said Stafford con- mayor concluded. In spite of many hurdles, 17 years. Instead the city has Stafford one of “few govern- and the municipal court total he said, the 2012 city budget used money in the sales tax mental entities in the nation $3,669,000. maintains, “and in some in- debt service fund to retire to have its total general obli- The city swimming pool stances elevates the standards outstanding bonded indebted- gation debt fully covered. Are will cost $260,000 to oper- Stafford has achieved.” ness, buy equipment and fund you listening Tea Party?” he ate and enhance and is “10 The major components of capital projects. asked. times what it will produce the budget are no city proper- Last year, for the fi rst time, On the expenditure side of in income,” Scarcella said. ty taxes, maintaining quality a portion of it was used to re- the ledger, and because cities “However, it provides a much services, eliminating general duce the general fund short- are in the business of provid- appreciated activity for our obligation debt, enhancing fall. Again this year $1.5 mil- ing services, personnel ac- citizens – especially the chil- the city’s appearance, laying lion will be used to cut the count for $9.9 million of the dren. Now to get our neigh- off no employees, providing overrun in the general fund, general fund costs. No one bors who use it to pay a fair superior employee health care the mayor said. will be added to the payroll, price.” and retirement benefi ts and Scarcella also pointed out the mayor said, but all on it Scarcella said that one spe- continuing to make major in- that over the past decade Staf- will get “at least a two percent cial project in the budget “of frastructure improvements. ford has been counting down raise or more.... Health care profound importance is secur- The city budget along with to 2014 when it would pay off and prescription drug cover- ing our water rights for the that of the Stafford Economic all outstanding general obli- age for all employees will future” so council included Development Corp. (SEDC) gation debt. Even though the cost slightly more than $1.6 $25,000 for that evaluation. totals just under $28 million – bond indentures, the terms million and retirement and “Other matters that require the same as last year’s budget. by which bonds are issued, related benefi ts total $1.3mil- attention include $5,000 for Revenues from the city’s two prohibit the city from paying lion. each: review of Missouri Local media personality spreads his wings to Hollywood Local media personality and radio host Michael Garfi eld, also known as The High-Tech Texan®, will appear on the ABC in a storyline arc set to air the week of Sept. 19. Texans Insurance & Financial Group, Inc The arc will feature Academy Award winning actor James 101 Southwestern Blvd, Ste 230 Franco and will center around the wedding of the characters Ja- Sugar Land, TX 77478-3535 son Morgan () and Sam McCall (). PH (281)277-7800 Michael Garfi eld began his broadcasting career in the late FAX (281)277-7801 [email protected] 1990s and has established a strong presence in the radio and television industry in Houston and other cities across Texas. He has appeared in numerous TV commercials, but recently made the leap to Hollywood this summer by landing a role on ABC’s longest running soap opera General Hospital. “I have been a fan of General Hospital since the early 80s, so the opportunity to act on that soundstage fi lled with so much history was really an incredible experience for me,” said Gar- fi eld. “Not to mention acting in scenes with puts a little bit of pressure on you to bring your A game!” Garfi eld will appear on three episodes starting to air the week of Sept. 19. General Hospital airs in Houston on KTRK-ABC13 at 2 p.m CT. For more information about Michael go to www.hightech- texan.com. Brightwater Garden Club The Brightwater Garden Club will meet on Monday, Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Brightwater Clubhouse, Brightwater at West- shore Drive, Missouri City. Vita Goodell, Executive Director of the Fort Bend Women’s Center, will give an update on the facility and its needs. The Brightwater Garden Club has had a long history of supporting the center including providing Easter baskets and Thanksgiving dinner annually for residents of the shelter. The meeting is open to the public. For more informa- tion call 281-403-9269. James Franco and Michael NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALE NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALE NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALE Garfi eld, (on the fl oor) in THE STATE OF TEXAS THE STATE OF TEXAS THE STATE OF TEXAS a scene from the TV soap COUNTY OF FORT BEND COUNTY OF FORT BEND COUNTY OF FORT BEND By virtue of an Order of Sale issued out of the By virtue of an Order of Sale issued out of the By virtue of an Order of Sale issued out of General Hospital. Honorable 268TH DISTRICT COURT of FORT Honorable 240TH DISTRICT COURT of FORT the Honorable 434TH DISTRICT COURT BEND County on the 22nd day of August, BEND County on the 23rd day of August, of FORT BEND County on the 15th day 2011 by the Clerk thereof, in the case of 2011 by the Clerk thereof, in the case of of August, 2011 by the Clerk thereof, in FORT BEND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FORT BEND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL the case of FORT BEND INDEPENDENT DISTRICT VS. JULIAN PENA ALVAREZ in DISTRICT VS. SHEILA A. RANSOM in SCHOOL DISTRICT VS. ESCOTO D, Cause # 09-DCV-176042 and to me, as Cause # 09-DCV-176809 and to me, as THOMAS, DBA AGAPE MOVERS, in CONSTABLE directed and delivered, I will CONSTABLE directed and delivered, I will Cause # 09-DCV-171027 and to me, as proceed to sell, at 10:00 0’ Clock AM on proceed to sell, at 10:00 0’ Clock AM on CONSTABLE directed and delivered, I will the 4th day of October, 2011, which is the the 4th day of October, 2011, which is the proceed to sell, at 10:00 0’ Clock AM on PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE fi rst Tuesday of said month, at the Offi cial fi rst Tuesday of said month, at the Offi cial The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend the 4th day of October, 2011, which is the door of the Courthouse of said FORT BEND door of the Courthouse of said FORT BEND fi rst Tuesday of said month, at the Offi cial County, Texas has set a public hearing on County, in the City of RICHMOND, Texas, the County, in the City of RICHMOND, Texas, the Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. for door of the Courthouse of said FORT BEND (281)277-7800 following described property, to wit: following described property, to wit: County, in the City of RICHMOND, Texas, the acceptance of the traffi c control plan for TRACT 1: GEO: 4600001144240907 TRACT 1:GEO:8100040070260907/810 Mission Sierra Section 5, Precinct 3. following described property, to wit: LOTS 4 AND 5 IN THE SOUTH 112 OF 0040070260 LOT TWENTY-SIX (26), IN TRACT 1: GEO: 8503010050350901 BLOCK 114 OF MAGNOLIA PLACE, A BLOCK (1). OF TOWNE WEST SECTION The hearing will be held in the Commis- LOT 35, BLOCK 5, FINAL PLAT OF SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, FOUR(4) AN ADDITION IN FORT BEND VILLAGES OF TOWN CENTER, SECTION 1, Texans Insurance & Financial Group, Inc sioners Courtroom, 309 South Fourth TEXAS ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR COUNT, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE St., Suite 700, William B. Travis Bldg., PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME NAP OR PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT Richmond, Texas. You are invited to at- 2, PAGE 6 OF THE MAP RECORDS OF IN VOLUME 22, PAGE 54, OF THE MAP THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NO(S) 101 Southwestern Blvd, Ste 230 tend and state your approval or objec- FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS; BEING THE RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. 901/A AND 901/B OF THE PLAT RECORDS tion on this matter. SAME PROPERTY IDENTIFIED ON THE Levied on the 30th day of August, 2011 OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS,Levied Sugar Land, TX 77478-3535 PLAINTIFF’S TAX ROLLS AS ACCOUNT NO. as the property of SHEILA A. RANSOM to on the 26th day of August, 2011 as the Submitted by, 4600001144240907. satisfy a judgment amounting to $9,332.24 property of ESCOTO D. THOMAS to satisfy Dianne Wilson Levied on the 29th day of August, 2011 as representing delinquent taxes, penalties, a judgment amounting to $11,592.03 [email protected] Fort Bend County Clerk the property of JULIAN PENA ALVAREZ to interest, and attorney’s fees through representing delinquent taxes, penalties, satisfy a judgment amounting to $9,820.31 the date of judgment, plus all costs of interest, and attorney’s fees through PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE representing delinquent taxes, penalties, court, costs of sale, and post judgment the date of judgment, plus all costs of The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend interest, and attorney’s fees through the penalties and interest recoverable by law court, costs of sale, and post judgment County, Texas has set a public hearing on date of judgment, plus all costs of court, in favor of FORT BEND INDEPENDENT penalties and interest recoverable by law Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. for costs of sale, and post judgment penalties SCHOOL DISTRICT; FORT BEND COUNTY in favor of FORT BEND INDEPENDENT acceptance of the traffi c control plan for and interest recoverable by law in favor MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT # 2, FORT SCHOOL DISTRICT; FORT BEND COUNTY Long Meadow Farms Section 13 and Sec- of FORT BEND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL BEND COUNTY/ FORT BEND COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT # 21 FORT tion 15, Precinct 3. DISTRICT; FORT BEND COUNTY. EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICT #5. BEND COUNTY; CITY OF SUGAR LAND. The hearing will be held in the Commis- ALL BIDDERS MUST COMPLY WITH ALL BIDDERS MUST COMPLY WITH ALL BIDDERS MUST COMPLY WITH sioners Courtroom, 309 South Fourth SECTION 34.015 OF THE TEXAS SECTION 34.015 OF THE TEXAS SECTION 34.015 OF THE TEXAS St., Suite 700, William B. Travis Bldg., PROPERTY TAX CODE. PROPERTY TAX CODE. PROPERTY TAX CODE. Richmond, Texas. You are invited to at- GIVEN UNDER MY HAND THIS 29th day GIVEN UNDER MY HAND THIS 30th day GIVEN UNDER MY HAND THIS 26th day tend and state your approval or objec- August, 2011. August, 2011. August, 2011. tion on this matter. ROB COOK, CONSTABLE ROB COOK, CONSTABLE ROB COOK, CONSTABLE Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Submitted by, Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Dianne Wilson Sergeant J. M. HUTSON#1310 Sergeant J. M. HUTSON#1310 Sergeant J. M. HUTSON#1310 Deputy Constable Fort Bend County Clerk Deputy Constable Deputy Constable