Mayor's Message

I recently became aware of a situation I wanted to share with you.  In 2005 the IRS approached then Mayor Buster Brown about establishing a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site in Navarro County.  The reason behind this request was the IRS’ review of tax returns in Navarro County showed a low number of Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC).  In their opinion, the amount being claimed in such a poor county was too low.  In other counties where they had encountered similar situations the establishment of a VITA site had been recommended.  In the counties who implemented a VITA site, the amount of claimed EITC did, in fact, rise.

For the last 12 years Corsicana had a VITA site which helped the low income and the elderly to file tax returns.  This has been offered at the YMCA building on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and at the Kerens Library on Wednesday afternoons.   Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of returns filed by VITA site each year grew.  Before COVID the VITA site had 13 volunteers and in 2021 numbers were down to 7.  VITA has advised me that at least four or five more volunteers are needed to continue serving the number of people requesting tax assistance.

The VITA team asked if I could help them get the word out more volunteers are needed.  So that is what I am doing.  The most important skill is the ability to use a personal computer.  The IRS has provided software which will do most of the calculations once the data is entered in the system.  They also help with training, as all volunteers must pass the Basic Preparers Test administered by the IRS.  Certainly, those who have experience preparing returns would be greatly welcomed as volunteers.  The local VITA team has senior preparers who review all returns prepared at the site before they are transmitted to the IRS.

If you are interested in volunteering you can call Judy Kilgore at 281-682-0928.  She can explain what it takes to be a volunteer, how many hours volunteers usually work, what days you might be available, and other such specific personal information.

If you can help keep this volunteer site going please call Judy and get signed up now.  Remember the 2021 tax season is only a few months away.  Thanks so much for letting me encourage those who can to volunteer.

Please join me at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Corsicana’s new Central Fire Station.  The location is 2975 Drane Road on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

The new facility will provide a safe and modern work area for firefighters.  Firefighters will have access to a fitness center, a new decontamination room and adequate room for equipment, personnel and fire administration.  The design provides improved living quarters, with privacy for all firefighters.  A new station alerting system will improve the response time for emergency calls. 

This impressive new facility is a state of the art fire station and will serve the residents of Corsicana for many years to come.

The next Economic Development Partnership Meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 7, 2021, in the Nancy Roberts Meeting room at the Corsicana Public Library, 100 North 12^th Street.  Any citizen interested in the economic development initiatives is invited to participate.

AGENDA

Reports

•     Good News  -   Mayor Don Denbow

•     Economic Development  -  John Boswell

•     Housing  -  Aric Bonner

•     New Business  -   Darwin Myers

•     Downtown and Tourism – Amy Tidwell

•     Chamber of Commerce Update

Special Topic

•     Update on the Corsicana Commons Project - Wayne Burgdorf, SVN Trinity Advisors

(A quorum of the City of Corsicana City Council may be in attendance.)

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•  The live broadcast of the meeting can be viewed on the City of Corsicana website at:

            www.cityofcorsicana.com

            Choose “Broadcasts”

            Under “Live Broadcasts Meetings” – 

 ---  Click on “Economic Development Meeting” to view the meeting.

(Recorded meetings can also be viewed any time after the meeting at this same location.)