City Council Votes on Controversial Property Tax Increase

In a recent city council meeting, officials discussed the fiscal budget for the upcoming year, revealing a projected revenue of $273 million against expenditures of $271 million, resulting in a fund balance increase of $1.6 million. The projected ending fund balance stands at $99 million.

The council moved to ratify a property tax revenue increase of $5.6 million, equating to an 8.81% rise, with $5.2 million allocated for maintenance and operations (MNO) and approximately $393,000 earmarked for debt service. The proposed tax rate for the fiscal year 2025 is set at $0.606573 per $100 valuation, which includes $0.5107 for MNO and $0.1466 for debt service, generating a total of $70 million in revenue.

Council members noted a historical decline in the tax rate, which had previously peaked at around $0.7498 in recent years, now reduced to approximately $0.6208.

The meeting also addressed the adoption of a five-year capital improvement program (CIP) for fiscal years 2025 through 2029, which includes an additional $418,498 for the Stagecoach project, bringing the total funding for fiscal year 2025 to $37.6 million.

During the public comment segment, residents raised concerns regarding infrastructure and drainage issues, particularly in the \"donut hole\" areas, which have seen little progress despite previous commitments. One resident highlighted the lack of a recent flood study, noting that the population has significantly increased since the last assessment in 2008.

Another resident questioned the prioritization of certain road projects in the CIP, arguing that roads with higher traffic and safety concerns were being overlooked in favor of less critical projects. The council was urged to reconsider the allocation of funds and the planning process to better address the community's pressing infrastructure needs.

The council is expected to take a record vote on the budget and tax rate in the coming sessions, with ongoing discussions about the implications of the proposed changes for residents and city services.