Fulshear Council Doesn’t Budge; Mayor’s Purchasing Authority Remains At $5,000

A move to increase the Fulshear mayor’s purchasing authority fell short of approval during this week’s city council meeting.

Currently, the mayor can make purchases of up to $5,000; anything beyond that requires city council approval.

Mayor Pro-Tem J.B. Collins proposed making the change, saying the purchasing cap is hindering operations in the growing community.

“The restriction of $5,000 that we put on the mayor; I think that limit is elementary right now. Right now, we have things that need to be acted on quickly,” Collins said.

He cited last year’s hurricane season as an example.

“If we were to have had a real disaster here and we would have had to use the community center, or there was something we needed to buy, or if we needed to feed our people, we would have needed that” purchasing authority, Collins said.

He also said the limit could slow making urgent repairs to city infrastructure, such as a major street failure.

“That $5,000 wouldn’t be enough,” Collins explained.

He said, in some cases, waiting to call a council meeting would hinder getting repairs done quickly.

“Right now, I’d just like to put a little more trust in our mayor and try to extend the amount we have limited him to,” Collins said.

Earlier in the meeting, during the public comments period, former mayor pro-tem Bill Archer said he would be opposed to giving the mayor unlimited purchasing authority.

“I think this is a real bad idea. I just really feel very strongly that there needs to be a limit on the amount the mayor can spend at his discretion,” Archer said. “I wouldn’t have any objection to raising the amount, but as far as removing the limits, absolutely not. That’s a horrible idea.”

Mayor James Roberts stressed he was not the one asking for the limit to be raised or removed. He also said the city has never exceeded its approved budget.

“The limitation does not bother me one iota,” Roberts said. “We do a budget; the budget is approved and we live within it.”

Roberts added the limitation does occasionally hamper city operations and the council needed to give the mayor the ability to spend budgeted funds to meet the needs of the community.

“I think you need to give the mayor some trust or you need to vote him out,” Roberts told the council. “It doesn’t bother me; I only have a few months left (in office). I’m not asking for this change.”

Council Member Laverne Patterson said she needed more information before making a decision.

“I think this needs to be tabled so there’s a better clarification of what this involves. I think this needs to be discussed some more,” Patterson said.

Councilman Stephen Gill agreed, recommending the council consider the change during upcoming budget planning process.

“I wouldn’t feel comfortable right now voting for this,” Gill said.

The council voted to table the proposal until the budgetary impact could be considered.