By Jeremy A. Corley

Managing Editor

The Melissa City Council had a public hearing on the city's proposed budget, amended the transportation impact fees ordinance and approved changes to the 4A board's bylaws during Tuesday's regular meeting.

The council heard a presentation from City Administrator Jason Little on the city's proposed budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year. The proposed tax rate is 61 cents per $100 of property valuation, the same rate as the last two years.

"There's not going to be any expansion of services, but there aren't going to be any major cuts either," Little said. "The money just wasn't there."

He said flat property values and lower revenues from sales taxes and operating fund interest rates left the city without the ability to expand this year.

"We didn't lose value, but we didn't really gain any," Little said.

No residents spoke during the public hearing. The budget and tax rate will be formally approved at the council's Sept. 14 regular meeting.

The council approved the reduction of the maximum transportation impact fee rate for non-residential properties from 25 percent of the fee study rate to 15 percent of the rate. The council will review the rate annually.

Council members voted 4-1 to amend the bylaws for the city's Industrial and Economic Development (4A) Board.

The maximum number of council members who can serve on the board was removed so that the council can act as the interim 4A board. The number of seats on the board also was raised from five to six.

The council appointed itself as the interim 4A board.

Councilman Dan Trott voted against the bylaw changes and the installation of the council as the interim 4A board.

Also during Tuesday's meeting, the council:

Agreed to have the mayor work out the details concerning payment of a $27,000 transportation impact fee incurred by Cute as a Button Child Care Learning Center.

The amount will be lowered to match the new 15 percent maximum for transportation impact fees, and the owners will be allowed to pay off the new amount over the course of their five-year building lease.

Approved landscaping and parking variance requests from Cute as a Button.

Heard comments from David Dorman concerning the history and possible sale of the Scott-Barker House.

Approved an extension of the city's bank depository contract with Valliance Bank in McKinney.

Approved an ordinance prohibiting swimming, boating and fishing in waterways on public property.