Roanoke City Council keeps property tax rate consistent for another year

For a 25th consecutive year, property owners in Roanoke will have consistency with their tax bill as the City Council voted Sept. 7 to once again adopt a property tax rate of $0.37512 per $100 of assessed value for fiscal year 2021-22.

The council also approved its annual operating budget at the called special meeting.

“We've got one of the lowest tax rates in the area and, for the amount of amenities that we're able to offer and keep the same low tax rate, we found that's a pretty positive thing for our citizens to continue that,” Roanoke Mayor Carl “Scooter” Geirisch said after the meeting adjourned.

The approved rate includes a maintenance and operations rate of $0.194431 per $100 of assessed value and a debt services rate of $0.180689, according to city’s budget proposal document.

The approved budget anticipates general fund revenues of $23.24 million—a 6.85% increase from FY 2020-21’s original budget. General fund operating expenses are proposed at $23.03 million, an increase of 6.1% from the previous year, according to city documents.

Per budget documents, the increase in operating expenses can be attributed to increases in city employee compensation and health care benefits “as well as rising costs in maintenance, supplies, utilities and rebate agreements.”