Argyle taxpayers would see a drop in the tax rate this year if City Council approves the new amount in September.

The proposed fiscal year 2023-24 rate of no more than $0.343111 per $100 of valuation is lower than the rate of $0.365347 from fiscal year 2022-23. Tax rates have been declining in many municipalities because home valuations are rising, and that is the case in Argyle. The average home value in Argyle is $776,794, up from $632,143 in the previous fiscal year, according to town information. The average taxable valuation after the homestead exemption for last fiscal year was $550,544, and for this fiscal year it is $617,339.

Town Administrator Erika McComis said for the average homeowner with a taxable value of $617,339, their town of Argyle tax bill will be $2,119. The average home value prior to the homestead exemption is $776,794.

The proposed general fund budget this year is $6.2 million, which is higher than last year’s $5.9 million.

A public hearing on the tax rate and budget will be at the Aug. 28 meeting with final council approval on the tax rate and budget coming Sept. 5.

What else?

At the meeting, council approved allowing contractor workers to work earlier because of the high temperature and heat index, McComis said later in a phone conversation.

“Council agreed to allow them to start working at 6 [a.m.] instead of 7 [a.m.],” she said.

The town’s code dictates workers begin at 7 a.m. and no earlier, Argyle Director of Community Development Nabila Nur said during the meeting.

She said one other city, Denton, allows construction hours to start earlier in the day during extreme weather conditions.

McComis said contractors can start working right at 6 a.m., allowing the crew to finish work earlier in the day. The projects range from homebuilding to concrete work to stone wall construction. This agreement is for any contractors working in the town of Argyle, she said. The agreement will last until Sept. 30 with a reassessment to be conducted in October.

Also of note

Council after an executive session agreed to make an offer on a property to build a municipal complex. Mayor Rick Bradford said later in an email that he could not divulge any information at this point as negotiations continue on the potential land purchase.

“The more immediate goal right now is to get the police department a new facility,” McComis said.