What you need to know
City Council voted 5-1 to approve a tax rate of $0.63 per $100 valuation of a home, which is lower than the city’s maximum tax rate the council approved in August, but higher than the city’s no-new-revenue rate of $0.619439, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
Council member Rushi Patel voted against the tax rate.
Why it matters
For a Pearland home with a median taxable value of $372,103, the difference in the tax bill between the no-new-revenue rate and the approved rate is around $40, according to agenda documents.
Compared to last year, a $0.63 tax rate would be about $12 less than last year for a home of the same value, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
Meanwhile, the city’s projected revenue is expected to increase from last year by 6.13%, while expenditures will increase by 2.43%, according to previous reporting.
Those opposed
Several residents at the meeting asked City Council to adopt a rate no higher than the no-new-revenue rate of $0.619439, citing economic pressures such as rising appraisals and a projected 5.5% water rate increase.
Others asked the city to consider cuts to new hires included in the budget to reduce the tax burden for residents. The approved budget accounts for 14 new city staff hires, according to agenda documents.
“Show us you understand what this jar of pennies truly means to the families you represent,” Pearland resident Veronica Longoria said.
