Selma council keeps tax rate at $0.1879 per $100, ratifies higher collections under 2024–25 budget

The Selma City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 91,724 on Sept. 17, 2024, keeping the city property-tax rate at $0.1879 per $100 of assessed valuation and later ratifying the increase in total property-tax collections reflected in the 2024–25 budget.

Donnie, a city staff member, told the council that "the current tax rate for property in Selma is 0.1879 per 100 evaluation" and that the proposed rate supported by the approved 2024–25 operating budget remains "0.1879 per $100 evaluation." He said the ordinance "affects this property tax rate" and recommended council approve it. He also noted that adopting the ordinance "does require a record voice vote of all members of council."

The council moved quickly from the public hearing — which drew no registered speakers — to a staff presentation and a motion to adopt the ordinance. An unidentified council member moved to approve Ordinance No. 91,724 "as presented" and to adopt the tax rate of 0.1879 (described in staff remarks as "effectively a 2.06% increase"). Councilman Washington seconded the motion.

Council members then cast their votes. Mr. Pulaski spoke before voting, praising local economic activity — including a new Costco — and crediting staff management for helping hold the rate down. In his remarks he said the situation was "not just sales money" and framed the result as a combination of growth and prudent fiscal management. The presiding officer announced the vote was unanimous in favor of the ordinance.

On the following agenda item, staff asked the council to ratify the property-tax increase reflected in the 2024–25 City of Selma budget. Donnie explained that, under state law, a "property tax increase" is defined by the amount of tax revenue the city will collect, not by the tax rate applied; he said projected additional collections result from rising property values and from new properties added to the tax roll. Mrs. Harris moved to ratify the increase; an unidentified council member criticized the motion language as "a bunch of malarkey" before Councilman Haddish seconded. The council approved the ratification by unanimous voice vote.

Both votes were recorded as unanimous in favor; the presiding officer closed by noting the meeting’s business was concluded and adjourning the special meeting at about 5:05 p.m.

What the votes mean: the city’s statutory tax rate remains $0.1879 per $100 of assessed value. Because property valuations and new development increased the tax base, the city projects it will collect more in property-tax revenue in 2024–25 even though the rate itself was not raised. Staff described that projected revenue increase as effectively a 2.06% change tied to the adopted budget.

Next steps: the ordinance was adopted and the budget ratification completed; no additional hearings or votes on this item were announced during the meeting.