Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Tax Rate topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts 0.6975 tax rate after public hearing; officials say priority is public safety
Summary
After a public hearing and several members of the public urged caution on city spending, the Temple City Council adopted a property tax rate of $0.6975 per $100 valuation — an increase the council said was needed to fund public safety and solid-waste services.
The Temple City Council approved a property tax rate of $0.6975 per $100 of valuation during its Aug. 21 meeting, a measure council members said was aimed at preserving public safety and essential services amid rapid growth.
During a public hearing on the budget and tax rate, several residents criticized city spending and expressed concerns about the city's long-term debt. One speaker said the city's outstanding municipal debt was "about $437,950,000" and urged the council to prioritize essential services over what he described as "frivolous projects." Another noted rental-cost impacts on seniors should taxes rise.
City finance staff reviewed the budget calendar and calculations required under state truth-in-taxation law and the city charter. Miss Bernard told the council the proposed tax rate of 0.6975 is composed of 0.373 for maintenance and operations and 0.3245 for debt service. She also summarized valuation figures the council used: a total adjusted value of roughly $10.1 billion, a reinvestment-zone value of about $1.567 billion, and a total taxable value reported at approximately $11.736 billion. Staff presented estimated tax-levy numbers of roughly $38.2 million for maintenance and operations and about $29 million for interest and sinking, for a combined levy near $67.2 million.
Council members said staff reduced an earlier proposed rate and cut expenditures to reach the adopted figure. Council Member Pilkington, who moved the tax-rate motion, said council prioritized public safety and essential services in trimming the budget. "We prioritized public safety. That was very important to us and that was number one on the list," Pilkington said during the meeting.
After discussion, Pilkington moved to adopt the rate of 0.6975; Mayor Pro Tem Walker seconded. The council voted 5-0 to approve the tax rate and to proceed with the budget-adoption process. Staff reminded the public the final budget and tax-rate adoption public hearing would be held Aug. 28 at 10 a.m., and that elevators would be operating for public access.
What it does and next steps: The adopted rate is higher than last year's 0.6265 but below the initial 0.75 rate included in the filed budget. Staff said the adopted rate reflects reductions the council directed in work sessions. The August 28 meeting will include the final public hearing and adoption vote on the budget and tax rate.
Votes at a glance: Council approved the tax-rate motion and the related first readings on the tax roll and tax rate during the Aug. 21 meeting; all budget- and tax-rate items on the agenda passed by unanimous 5-0 votes.
No ordinance language beyond the readings was adopted at this meeting; the council set the final public hearing for Aug. 28 at 10 a.m.
