Blue Ridge adopts 2024–25 budget; proposed tax rate set at 0.429606

City staff presented the proposed 2024–25 budget and explained the tax-rate calculations before the council approved Ordinance 2025-0916-001. Using an example average taxable homestead value of $98,411, staff said the tax at the proposed rate of 0.429606 would be $423, compared with $520 at the 2024 rate of 0.528548 — a $97 (18.6%) reduction for that example homeowner. Staff also said the city’s total levy rose because the taxable base increased to about $126,847,173 in 2025, not because the rate rose.

The chair introduced the ordinance and a council member moved to approve the budget ordinance; the motion was seconded and carried on voice vote (the transcript does not include a roll-call tally). Staff noted that the proposed rate is at the voter-approval rate and below the no-new-revenue rate, so the council was not required to call an election on the rate. Council members did not request immediate amendments; the budget ordinance was adopted as presented in the meeting record.