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“I feel that I have left the city of Smithville in a better position than I found it and I am thankful for the opportunity.”
— Robert Tamble, Smithville city manager
SMITHVILLE — City Manager Robert Tamble announced last week he will retire in November, closing out his tenure after finalizing a reduced tax bump in what he has called an “arduous” budget season.
City officials said Tamble, who first took on the role in 2014, will continue to serve in his current capacity as city manager, airport manager and emergency management coordinator through Nov. 3. He said he hopes to ensure a smooth succession and transition for Smithville.
“It has been an honor to serve as your city manager for the past 11 years,” Tamble said in the announcement. “I feel that I have left the city of Smithville in a better position than I found it and I am thankful for the opportunity.”
City Council met in executive session Sept. 8 to begin planning for Tamble’s successor. Officials said they have begun working with an executive search firm to help find an interim city manager until a permanent, qualified replacement is hired.
City operations and projects will continue uninterrupted, according to officials.
BUDGET BREAKDOWN
Council members approved a $16.5 million balanced budget and a property tax increase of 64 cents per $100 valuation during its final budget workshop Sept. 10. The rate is five cents higher than the fiscal year 2024-25 rate and is expected to cost the average resident about $90 a year. The budget represents a 4.4% decrease from last year, according to officials.
The council faced backlash earlier this summer after considering a tax hike of more than 15%. To reduce the increase, members identified new revenue sources, such as the sale of city equipment and trimmed expenses.
“The tax note is basically how we were able to make some of these cuts,” City Manager Robert Tamble said.
In August, the council authorized issuing a $3 million tax note. At last week’s meeting, financial adviser Andrew Friedman of Samco Capital Markets announced the note had sold at a favorable interest rate.
“The interest rate we assumed when we were looking at this last month was 4%, but we’re locking an interest rate of 2.8%, so great result there,” Friedman said. Council members ultimately identified $59,750 in additional revenue, including higher fees for electric permits and water and sewer taps, to help match the five-cent tax increase. According to Tamble, the city was also able to reduce expenses by more than $87,000 by lowering training costs and scaling back purchases.
After returning from closed session, new Place 2 Councilman Brandon Dunham moved to adopt the budget and tax rate. He added that department heads would soon be asked to propose a 1.75% across-the-board cut.
“Right now, the budget is going to be adopted as-is … but in December, we’re going to be making a move to do an amended budget,” Dunham said.
Reports show the city’s average taxable value of a single-family home dropped 2.35% to $251,837 this year, and the number of tax exemptions for seniors rose from 464 to 500 — about a $154,000 shortfall in tax revenue.
