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Paris council debates tax rate as appraisals rise; asks manager to seek revenue‑neutral budget
Summary
At a Sept. 3 special meeting, Paris residents and council members pressed the city about an apparent blanket 8% increase in Lamar County appraisals and whether the city should keep its tax rate; council directed the city manager to try to return a budget that is revenue‑neutral for existing properties.
The Paris City Council held a special meeting Sept. 3 to conduct the first public hearing on the city’s proposed 2019–20 tax rate and to receive public comment on the city manager’s proposed budget. Chair opened the hearing and invited discussion.
Steve Ekstrom, a Paris resident, said he and his wife recently appealed their property appraisal and were told by an appraisal‑board volunteer that appraisals across Lamar County had been increased a blanket 8% at the comptroller’s instruction. “Has anyone seen this in writing?” Ekstrom asked, saying he had not seen a signed directive and urging the council and legal staff to investigate whether the change was lawful. Ekstrom added: “This just does not smell good to me.”
Why it matters: Council and staff…
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