Just An Average Citizen

05/27/2026

This week is council week! Check this out. It matters.

05/26/2026

Today is the last day to vote in the primary runoff.

Runoffs typically have lower voter turnout, so your voice matters more!

Elections matter!

Don’t worry! June 1-9 starts the last runoff for City Council Place 4 with that Election Day happening on June 13! That’s where you can vote for me for city council!

Please share this to help remind people to vote!

05/23/2026

Breaking it down so you can know what was discussed if you didn’t watch the entire pre-budget workshop.

Here’s another important number. Rate increases are coming in the next fiscal year.

Did you know that the sewer fee has not covered any capital improvement projects in several years? There are about $29 million of capital improvement projects that are needing to be addressed in sewer alone with hundreds of millions in water(totaling over $300 million presented last year during the budget retreat.).

Deferred maintenance is not an ideal operating plan. We spend so much more money not keeping infrastructure maintained with a plan to replace it on a regularly schedule basis by either having to resort to bonds or other more costly methods.

Please share to help educate and inform on what transparency could look like.

05/22/2026

What project do you think is on this list?

These are numbers that you need to know. I would dare say that there are over $300 million worth of projects that were shared at the meeting. I say that is because there was no actual number given for the amount of street repairs that are needed, just a list of projects.

Remember that doesn’t include water and sewer. When the general fund budget is being talked about, the water and sewer budget is not included in the those numbers. There are also capital improvements projects in the water and sewer as well that are not included in the almost $300 million.

Please share this to help educate and inform others.

05/22/2026

Are you starting to understand how to hear what they’re saying when they mention the tax rate? Are you surprised about all rates coming our way? 

05/21/2026

These are good dates to know! Do you know why?

City staff is preparing for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget process with Pre-Budget Workshop this Wednesday at 8:30am. Read more about the budget cycle at https://bit.ly/4tPREvP

05/21/2026

Remember this? They are pulling their slick sales pitch already to raise our taxes. You need to understand the No New Revenue rate or you might be hoodwinked into being okay with raising your taxes and not knowing what is happening. I updated the info, so feel free to watch again. It will take a few passes at this to truly get it!

05/19/2026

Just like that, the City still is doing business that we need to pay attention to and understand what’s going on. I’m trying a new format to see if I can help make it easier to engage and understand all that that’s disgusting during this long format day.

This is one of the best ways to hear from council what they are thinking about different topics on various priorities this city plans to address in the upcoming budget decided in July, finalized in August.

Why it didn’t happen until May 20th makes ZERO sense to me when it is usually February/Match. This leaves very little time to produce an actual budget. Hopefully it will be discussed why the timing is so much later since there has been zero explanation.

Watching it is encouraged but challenging for most people. So I thought I’d try something different. We’ll see if this helps you. We need to find a way to make this information accessible

It’s a great time to email council your desires before Wednesday at [email protected].

Please share this so others can be more informed what directions are being discussed!

05/19/2026

Trying something new. Follow the post to keep up with what’s discussed!

This is one of the best ways to hear from council what they are thinking about different topics on various priorities this city plans to address in the upcoming budget decided in July, finalized in August.

Why it didn’t happen until May 20th makes ZERO sense to me when it is usually February/Match. This leaves very little time to produce an actual budget. Hopefully it will be discussed why the timing is so much later since there has been zero explanation.

Watching it is encouraged but challenging for most people. So I thought I’d try something different. We’ll see if this helps you. We need to find a way to make this information accessible

It’s a great time to email council your desires before Wednesday at [email protected].

Please share this so others can be more informed what directions are being discussed!

05/19/2026

Run off is June 13 and early voting is June 1-9.

Decisions are regularly being made without your input or participation that affect you and your family here in Abilene. Are you ready for your voice to make an impact right here at home? You can by voting for Tammy Fogle for your next City Council member on June 13!

Please share to help get the word out about the run off for city council elections on Saturday, June 13 or early voting June 1-9!

Now is your chance to give input on what direction Abilene will go by voting in this low turnout election where every vote will truly count. Bring a friend with you to vote!

Elections matter! Vote for Tammy Fogle for City Council Place 4!

05/15/2026

Anyone who’s been following what I’ve been doing knows that I do my best to not only understand what happens at City Council, but I tried to explain it to you so that you can follow along as well. When I’m lost and unprepared for the actions they’re taking because they have done such a good job hiding it, it should cause great concern to any citizen in our community. I hope you’ll make sure to take time to understand what just happened so that we can do our part to let the City Council we’re not OK with this type of behavior.