Administrative Services Director Katina Hampton presented an updated overview of the Friendswood City Council's proposed fiscal year 2022-23 budget and tax rate at the Aug. 1 board meeting. The board approved the proposed rate 6-1 with Council Member John Scott opposed. Under the proposed plan, the tax rate would remain at FY 2021-22's rate of $0.487314 per $100 valuation.
For a Friendswood residence valued at the city average of $479,000, city property taxes would cost $1,849. This presents a $153 increase year over year due to a projected 10% increase in residential home values reported by the Galveston Central Appraisal District.
The council previously reviewed an earlier version of the budget at its July 11 meeting. Friendswood's estimated taxable value was originally projected at $4.8 billion but was reduced in the updated plan to $4.6 billion. The updated proposed budget also projects $54 million in new construction value, down from $76 million in the previous year.
A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held Aug. 29 at 5:30 p.m. with the public hearing on the tax rate held Sept. 12 at 6 p.m.
Also at the meeting, the council unanimously approved a contract with Greenscape Six LLC to complete the TxDOT right of way sidewalk installation project. The $71,685 contract will cover sidewalk installation and maintenance in six areas across Friendswood.
