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Longview schedules Aug. 21 public hearing after residents urge no tax increase
Summary
After multiple residents urged the City of Longview to avoid raising property taxes, the council approved a resolution setting a public hearing for Aug. 21 on the proposed tax rate and discussed options for employee raises and budget cuts to avoid raising revenue.
Residents packed the public‑comment period of a City of Longview council meeting to urge officials not to raise property taxes and to prioritize tighter budgeting for the city’s services. The council voted to set a public hearing for Aug. 21 on the proposed tax rate and approved the consent agenda that included that resolution.
Several speakers asked the council to find savings before asking residents to pay more. “Thousands of citizens deserve a raise,” one resident said, adding that “property taxes are squeezing families out of their homes.” Homeowner Ryan Nichols told the council he “fully support[s] giving [first responders] the pay raises they’ve earned,” but urged a line‑by‑line audit of city expenditures and asked for the line‑item details behind the proposed increase.
The city manager said staff has already cut $1.6 million from the recommended budget and flagged a potential $1,500,000 shortfall tied to a business personal property tax exemption going to voters. He also noted that roughly two‑thirds of the city’s general operating budget is for public‑safety salaries and benefits, a driver of the proposed compensation adjustments.
Council members said they want to find ways to pay employees without increasing property‑tax revenue. One council member asked staff to return after the meeting with several options, including a flat percentage raise plus a $1,000 “kicker” targeted to lower‑wage employees. The mayor clarified that the resolution passed that night set a public hearing for Aug. 21 and was not a final vote on the tax rate.
The council set an additional budget discussion for Aug. 14 to review options and review raise scenarios before the public hearing. The consent agenda, which included the public‑hearing resolution, passed on a voice vote after a motion by Councilmember Wade and a second by Councilmember Newstead.
The council adjourned and reminded residents of the Aug. 14 budget session and the Aug. 21 public hearing where the tax‑rate vote may occur.
