Cedar Park city officials unveiled a 2012–13 budget proposal Aug. 2 that would keep residential property tax rates consistent with the previous year.

City staff began the budgeting process with the assumption that property taxes will remain at $0.493501 per $100 of valuation, Assistant City Manager Josh Selleck told City Council. Any additional expenses the city takes on will be made up by increased sales tax dollars, he said.

Helping to balance the budget is Cedar Park's highest rate of growth since 2007, Selleck said. He estimated Cedar Park grew 5.1 percent in total assessed value during the 2011–12 budget cycle and added 1,497 new residences—or approximately 4,500–5,000 people, Selleck said.

But despite the encouraging growth statistics, Selleck said staff used conservative estimates when predicting sales tax returns for the upcoming budget year, which begins in October.

In total, the city is allotting $31.96 million for fiscal year 2013, up from $29.38 million spent last year.

The council on Aug. 9 unanimously agreed to not increase the tax rate any higher and scheduled budget public hearing for Aug. 23 and Sept. 6.