Sense & Nonsense - What to Do - Reduce The Cost of Living in Brady

Main Menu

Utilities

Official City of Brady Website

City of Brady Home Page
Everything on the official website can be accessed from the Home page. The other links shown here are just to save you some time by going directly to the item of interest.
Document Center
Most City public documents appear in the Document Center. Check it before making a public records request.
Council Packets
These are briefing notes from the City Manager for City Council members to prepare for coming agenda items. They are not in chronological order so be sure to check dates.
Agendas
City Council Agendas are posted here at least 72 hours before meetings.
Minutes
Minutes of previous City Council Meetings are posted here after they have been approved. There is a time lag between the meeting and the approval of minutes.
Check Registers
All City expenditures will appear here.

Other Brady Websites

BradyTexas.com
Hotels, Real Estate, Job Listings, and much more local information on this city guide.
WeBitch4u
Blog by Gary Ray covering selected issues of interest to citizens of Brady and McCulloch County.
Brady Standard Herald
Weekly Newspaper published in Brady, Texas.
Chamber of Commerce Website
Official website of the Brady/McCulloch County Chamber of Commerce.

Weather Conditions, Forecasts and Alerts

From The National Weather Service for:

Brady - Mason - Menard - Eden - Melvin - Voca - Pontotoc - San Saba - Rochelle - Lohn - Doole - Mercury

Sense & Nonsense Featured Link

U.S. National Debt Clock

Up to the minute statistics you can use

Practically speaking, if it is not affordable then it is not available. That applies to everything, including public services.

Local government entities are strangling the people of Brady with things they don't want or need while failing to provide necessities at an affordable price.The Brady City Council is the worst offender when it comes to foolish spending and poor priorities. They spend more money than the County, Hospital and School combined.

The obvious affordability problem for citizens is Utility Distribution Charges. The real problem is undisciplined spending and borrowing. Property and sales taxes barely cover the cost of debt service now. Think about that for a minute. Taxes just barely cover current debt payments - nothing else.

The City Council just decided to build a new Sewer Treatment plant. September 20, City Attorney Susan Horton said that it would cost $11 million, half of which would be free money from "The Man". But she deceived us once again. On Oct 1, the City Council said it would cost $17 million. Early estimates indicate that bringing the Drinking Water utility into compliance will cost at least $22 million. If (big if) grant money is available to pay for half of these projects, the City will have to borrow another $19.5 million on top of what they already owe. That means sharply higher Utility Distribution Charges that many citizens cannot afford.

The City finds itself between the devil and the deep blue sea - strangle Brady with high living costs or fail to provide basic public services necessary for a City to exist. What can be done?

Any individual or business that has ever been buried by debt knows the answer. It is simple, but not easy. Here is what Brady must do to survive as a city:

Eliminate ALL expenditures that are not absolutely essential for survival.
Shut down all money losing projects
Pay debt as quickly as possible
Borrow as little as possible if credit is still available. Operate on current income only
Burn into every mind that debt is the problem, not the solution

Every successful business or individual has had to do this or will have to do it during the course of a lifetime. The City of Brady can do it too. It just takes discipline and leadership.