![]() The board then discussed the issue at a special meeting on Friday, in which they passed a budget with expenses exceeding anticipated revenue. The budget eventually was balanced and approved without funds to pay the administrator. Credit: Brenda Bazán / San Antonio ReportĬommissioner Guzman suggested taking the remainder from the capital improvement budget for Naff’s salary, which the mayor declined to do because it would have put upfront payments for the sewer project in jeopardy. and City Administrator Valerie Naff listen during a budget meeting on Nov. When it appeared there wouldn’t be enough money in the budget to pay the city administrator a salary of $65,000, the board returned to looking at the budget line by line, shaving off about $21,000 in expenses. Homer pushed a discussion about payroll tax and city salary/wages to the final item. Amid frequent interruptions by people attending the meeting and the mayor trying to maintain order, several changes were made to reconcile the two. ![]() Without a ratified budget, the city has ostensibly been shut down for weeks despite a board budget workshop held in July.Īt the recent budget hearing, the board passed a published budget by reviewing it line-by-line against a budget previously proposed by the city administrator. That meeting came only after several previously scheduled meetings were canceled or discontinued due to the amount of public notice given and space requirements for public comments. One of the city’s most lingering and contentious issues - the city budget - was taken up by the board on Nov. The commissioners voted during an October meeting to take no action until the signatures could be verified. If approved, the board would have five alderman seats and a mayor, and give greater clarity to their roles. The board recently considered a citizen-led petition to let voters decide if Von Ormy should become a Type A General Law municipality. Homer has been at odds with all three over governance issues, balancing the 2023-24 city budget and taxation. Naff was hired in April just prior to the election the position was unbudgeted. Neither responded to a request for comment. He succeeded Sally Martinez, who served for six years following Von Ormy’s early years as a “ libertarian experiment,” when a previous administration sought to avoid big-city taxes and regulations.Ĭommissioners Sammy Martinez and Ramon Guzman Jr. Credit: Brenda Bazán / San Antonio Reportīusinessman and Houston native Casey Homer, age 33, was elected mayor in May. Community members of Von Ormy listen to Mayor Casey Homer during a city budget meeting on Nov. But Von Ormy’s city attorney interprets the rules to mean the mayor cannot make a motion during meetings or vote unless there’s a tie. Under Type C, Texas statutes are vague when it comes to their roles and responsibilities. Von Ormy is a Type C General Law municipality that is governed by a mayor and two city commissioners. ![]() In 2021, the median household income was $33,000 the median property value was $64,000, and the homeownership rate was almost 77%. Incorporated in 2008, Von Ormy has a population of about 1,200 with a median age of 37, according to Data USA. Named after Norbert Von Ormay, a Prussian count who moved his court to the area in 1880, Von Ormy is a 2-square-mile city that lies between the Medina River and Loop 1604 West along the Interstate 35 corridor. ![]() Von Ormy has been kind of left out of that for forever.” No new taxes “Because without sewer, it’s hard for us to grow and we want to grow, we want development, we want economic development.”Ĭity Administrator Valerie Naff said the prospect of sewer, a service other parts of Clay-Flores’ precinct are still waiting on, is very exciting. When the commissioner met with the residents of Von Ormy, they told her sewer service was their greatest need. The $3 million grant from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was championed by Precinct 1 Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores and supports the planning, acquisition and design of the system to make it shovel-ready. In September, Bexar County commissioners approved an agreement between the county and the City of Von Ormy that provides funds for the design of regional sewage infrastructure that will serve about 400 households. It’s the kind of infrastructure development that has for years bypassed this southwest corner of Bexar County - leading to economic instability and a volatile government body in Von Ormy. But it wasn’t until recently that the municipality that built up around the farmstead was approved for modern-day sewer service.
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