In a nutshell
City Council voted 6-1 to approve the final reading of the tax rate of $0.6554 per $100 valuation, which marks a more than $0.06 decrease in the tax rate over the past four years.
The details
The $114 million budget includes a 1% increase in expenditures over fiscal year 2022-23. The increase includes market-competitive raises for the city’s 907 employees, capital improvement projects and public safety programs, according to agenda documents.
The budget also proposes a 14% water rate increase, which would set the average household back an additional $12.40 per month, according to agenda documents. This increase is driven by public water infrastructure projects, such as the $175 million Surface Water Treatment Plant.
Those opposed
Council Member Alex Kamkar, who voted against the budget, said that he felt the city should do more to give homeowners relief by increasing the homestead exemption rate as nearby Alvin has done.
Other council members disagreed that increasing the homestead exemption rate would be best for the city.
“Alvin is a poor example, because after they did that, they promptly increased their tax rate,” Council Member Layni Cade said.
One more thing
The city was awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association.
City Council will discuss its homestead exemption rate at the council meeting Oct. 23.
