Georgetown sets maximum voter-approval tax rate and schedules public hearings on budget and tax rate

The Georgetown City Council set the maximum property tax rate the city may adopt and scheduled the statutorily required public hearings on the tax rate and budget.

Budget manager Myra Cantu told the council the action sets the ceiling the city may adopt at future budget hearings; it is not the final adopted tax rate. “This item before you today is to set the maximum tax rate. As a reminder, this is not necessarily setting the tax rate for next year. This is setting the upper limit threshold of what we can adopt,” Cantu said.

Council action: By roll call the council set the maximum property tax rate at 35.3152¢ per $100 of assessed value — split as 11.4022¢ for maintenance and operations and 23.9130¢ for debt service — and scheduled public hearings on Aug. 26 and Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. at City Council Chambers. The motion to set the maximum rate carried 7–0; the motion to set the public hearing date also passed unanimously.

Why it matters: Setting the maximum tax rate on this schedule begins the formal process required by state law for budget and tax-rate adoption. The council will consider the budget and a proposed tax rate at upcoming hearings; final adoption occurs after notice and public hearings.

Next steps: Staff will publish required notices and present the budget and proposed tax-rate ordinance at the public hearings on the dates set by council.