7 Jan 2023 The city's budget for 2023 consist of $1,959,404 in the General Fund and $3,002,500 in the Utility Fund.
10 Jan 2023 $638k, 33%, of the 2023 General Fund revenue is from contingency or transfer from Utility Fund. This is not sustainable.
$475k, 24% of the revenue is generated by sales tax. $469k, 24%, of the revenue is generated by ad valorem (property) tax. The remaining 19% of the revenue is generated by miscellanious items.
The potential of the top three revenue providers, 81%, increasing at the same rate as the annual costs are highly unlikely. We are in a financial crisis.
March 17,2026
$871,000 Loss
Last year’s loss, next year’s plan.
In the Year End 2025 Financial statements Ranger received $4,248,542 in revenues in the General and Utility Funds. Unfortunately they expended $5,119,710. This left the year ending with a loss of $871,168. The October 14, 2025 Ranger Commissioner Meeting Packet included the financial statement dated October 8 reflects the Year End position of the Ranger's Financials. The report has many anomalies and inconsistencies. The General Fund and Utility Fund Total Revenue is located on page 3. The Total Expenditures of both funds and Total Losses are located on Page 12.
To further address the losses, the Audit dated January 27, 2026 and included in the Commissioner's Meeting of February 9th, paints an even more dire situation. Page 14 reveals a General Fund "Deficiency" of $1,275,950. Page 17 reveals a Utility Fund loss of $156,987. Page 22 states "For the year ended September 30, 2025, General fund revenues were $534,996 under budget and expenditures were $957,211 over budget, resulting in an unfavorable budget variance of $1,492,207 in the General fund’s fund balance from the final budget."
February 8, 2026, I sent an email asking the Mayor to address several issues prior to the auditor presentation. This was to no avail.
March 17, 2026
Revenue came in short, but the next budget got bigger
Budget Irresponsibility.
Ranger budgeted revenue $4,687,652 in FY 24-25. They ended up only generating $4,248,542 in revenue, falling short by $439,110. They then budgeted revenues in FY25-26 of $5,126,031. This is beyond reason. Ordinance 24-09-023-C shows FY24-25 Budget. September,2025 Financials in the October 14, 2025 Meeting shows actual revenues on Page 3. Ordinance 25-09-08-A shows the FY 25-26 Budget, albeit totaled incorrectly.
March 17,2026
Budget reviewed. Performance avoided.
The Financial Performance is never addressed.
In the Month Ending February 2026 a quick review of Ranger's Financial Statements revealed a significant short fall of revenues, $1,590,900. The email to the Mayor did not illicit a response in an open meeting with the commissioner. The mayor simply claimed that the commission would soon review a mid-year budget asif that had been the plan all along. None of the commissioners , nor anyone else, addressed the financials. This has been the norm for this council. Previous councils reviewed the financials in the meeting. Typically this had been done by the City Secretary or City Manager. It seems that no one knows the financial situation of the city, and more importantly, do not care. After further review, I believe that counting the "transfer from Utility" reflect that particular revenue twice. Therefore, I'd evaluate the Total budget less $728,810. This would make the shortfall only $862,090. Surpisingly close to last years total shortfall. They will speak of the budget, but not of either their revenues or expenditures compared to that budget.
March 20, 2026
Unauthorized Reserve Fund Raid
No Open Meeting, Big Spending
2024-2025 improper Depletion of Funds, including Reserve Funds. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Ranger expended a net of $728,988 without proper actions in an open meeting. These Funds are Municipal special reserve funds that are designated financial accounts used by cities to manage risks, stabilize budgets, and fund specific long-term projects or emergency disaster expenses. These funds are distinct from general funds, often protected from immediate spending to ensure fiscal stability, and are key to managing infrastructure or debt obligations.