By ARABELLA SERRATA
Special to the NEWS
The San Benito City Commission held a meeting on May 20.
Stephanie Sarrionandia, Finance Director, presented the quarterly finance report for January to June of 2025. The total assets as of March 31, 2025, are $ 21,279,314 compared to the same time last year of $ 20,419,842.
The total liabilities for March of 2025 were $2,737,015, versus the same time in the previous year, with $2,702,217. The total fund balance as of March 2025 is $18,542,299, and the previous year’s was $17,717,625.
The quarterly revenue for 2025 is $4,060,798, compared to $3,443,650 in the previous quarter. The year-to-date actual total revenue is $11,554,930. From March 2024 to 2025, the city collected $ 711,248. 33 in sales tax, with a 5.14% increase from the previous year.
Sarrionandia also presented the key performance indicators for the second quarter from January to March 2025. The city administration had several groundbreakings for new businesses, community recreation programs, and facilitated the application of several grants.
For the second quarter of January to March 2925, the Human Resources department has 12 new hires, 19 terminations, one event, and one employee engagement event.
For the same quarter, the Library department had 6,766 library visits, 30 programs, 200 program attendees, 146 new cards, five community outreach programs, 1,014 adult circulations, 564 juvenile circulations, and 571 digital resources.
For the cultural arts department, there were two exhibit closings and openings each. There were 662 sign-ins for the Cultural Heritage Museum and Cultural Center. There were ten unique events overall, with a total of 1,612 attendees across the events. Some community engagement events featured free film screenings, panel discussions, student performances, and literature-centered activities.
The presentation states a trend with the cultural arts center, displaying a steady growth in followers that is “consistent or an improvement from the previous quarter,” according to the presentation. The social media impact for the cultural arts department saw 115 new Facebook followers, 122,424 page views, and 159 new Instagram followers with 28,712 page views.
The planning and zoning department oversaw 169 garage sales, processed 80 plan reviews, conducted 605 inspections, and had five office and field consultations. For the second 2025 quarter, the Code Enforcement Department had 16 weekly lot notices, five Dilapidated Structure Notices, 26 Junked Vehicle Notices, eight Junked Vehicles Tagged, 22 debris and bushes managed, 53 bandit signs removed, six thank you letters received, seven illegal dumping sites managed, eight stop work orders delivered, 22 properties mowed by city contractors, 64 food establishment inspections, six food trucks and mobile vendors approved, and 60 market days food inspections and events.
In building and permits, $85,260.75 in fees was collected for the second quarter. In general maintenance for the city, work was conducted on the Heaven Park buildings and amphitheater, backflow repairs were made at Stookey and Falligent Park, and the construction of the Freddy Fender Memorial Pergola was initiated. The Parks and Recreation Department oversaw the PONY Baseball Softball League, the annual Hogwaddle event, and the Tu Salud si Cuenta Programs.
The San Benito Public Works Department worked on 16 different streets from January to March. For storm water management, there were nine residential construction projects, 25 residential and commercial construction projects, 20 inlet inspections, six meetings and training sessions, and three community outreach efforts.
For the municipal court, there were 2,152 citations for the San Benito Police Department [SBPD], nine animal control citations, two code enforcement citations, 26 San Benito Consolidated Independent School District [SBCISD] citations, 2967 SBPD violations, 30 Animal Control violations, two code enforcement violations, and 34 SBCISD violations.
For the SBPD reported offenses in the second quarter, there were four rape incidents, five robberies, 17 aggravated assaults, 55 simple assaults, 23 burglaries, 165 theft-larceny, 14 motor-vehicle theft, 7,710 calls for service, 1,413 incident reports, 312 arrests, 153 traffic collisions, 645 citations, and 1,483 warnings.
For the San Benito Fire Department incidents in the second quarter, there were 373 fire incidents, eight structure fires, four vehicle fires, 40 service calls, 33 wildland fires, 129 medical emergencies, 24 vehicle accidents, 63 hazardous conditions, and 122 public assists. The overall fire prevention revenue for the year to date is $55,261.25.
San Benito Water Department activities for the second quarter had 92 sewer backups, six major water breaks, 12 manholes replaced, and two manhole repairs. The City of San Benito’s utilities for the second quarter had 6,555 residential projects, 696 commercial projects, and 127 multi-unit projects.
A managing CPA with Cascos and Associates, Alfred Vera, presented the independent auditor’s report. It was reported that the City had earned an “unmodified opinion” according to Vera.
San Benito City Manager Fred Sandoval announced a State of the City address on June 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the San Benito Cultural Arts Museum. Sandoval reviewed the progress the city had made on paving various roads throughout San Benito. He also mentioned that the city is running a “chlorine burn,” which is releasing chlorine into the city’s water infrastructure to clean the naturally occurring bacterial growth. Sandoval notes that the process began on May 26 and continues for a month afterward. During this time, the water is still safe to consume, although it may have a chlorine odor.
On the consent agenda, the city approved the minutes of the April 22 special joint meeting between the City Commission and the Economic Development Corporation. The second and final reading for a hearing on an ordinance adopting Model Subdivision Rules, which provide standards as mandated by state law for water and wastewater services in subdivisions, was approved. The city suspended the date of the proposal by Texas Gas Service Company to “implement interim grip rate adjustments for gas utility investment in 2024 and requiring delivery of this resolution to the company and legal counsel.” The city approved the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation as part of the Texas Safety Grant for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program.
The city approved the law enforcement application for participation in the State Plan of Operation (SPO) between the San Benito Police Department and the State of Texas. Public infrastructure for the Le Blanc subdivision, including a sanitary sewer system, storm water sewer system, water distribution system, and subdivision paving, was approved.
The city approved the abandonment of the 15-foot-wide alley, which will be converted to a utility easement. The annual payment to Versaterm Public Safety US Inc. for the SBPD’s body camera software system was approved by the city.
The city also approved the purchase of digital control software for the San Benito Municipal Building air conditioning and heating system from Trane U.S. Inc. and two Barnes Choppe submersible pumps with a control panel for the Virginia Lift Station from Dynamic Pump Systems. The city approved a booking agreement with Empowerment Endeavors, LLC, for artists rescheduled for ResaceFest 2025.
The City of San Benito Parks and Recreation master plan for 2025-2035 was approved. There were first hearings for various ordinance amendments. Payment to Renoworks, LLC, for the emergency repair of a collapsed brick manhole at 1172 North Austin Street was approved. Places three and four for the Traffic and Safety Advisory Board were tabled for appointment.
In the executive session, the city approved a consultation with a Delinquent Tax Attorney regarding bids received from a property tax resale. No action was taken regarding a consultation with an attorney regarding various cases involving the city, nor was there a discussion or possible update on retirement benefits.
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