tax rate

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Cottonwood Shores City Council threw their support into opposition to a gravel and concrete crusher operation in South Burnet County but again set aside a contentious debate in a meeting Oct. 5.

The council was in accord Sept. 21 when members approved the proposed property tax rate of $0.5438 per $100 valuation. That will be divided 33.21 cents for maintenance and operation (M&0) and 21.17 cents for the interest and sinking fund (I&S).

Also approved in that meeting was the 2017-2018 budget--$898,728 in general fund expenditures and $837,686 in utility fund expenditures—totaling $1,736,414.

The council has been divided over the need for an ordinance banning the feeding of deer and has looked at program proposed as an alternative that would educate residents on the need. That was set aside Sept. 21 and did not reappear on the agenda of the first meeting in October.

By Phil Reynolds

The Highlander

Llano County commissioners adjusted the proposed 2018 budget downward by $1,748 before finally approving it, but only after no one showed up at a Monday, Sept. 11, hearing on the budget.

The action sets the county’s budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. It’s $574,042 more than the budget set for this year, an increase of of nearly 3.9 percent.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Burnet County commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the same tax rate the county had last year — 0.3969, or 39.69 cents per $100 valuation — at their regular meeting at the Burnet County Courthouse on Tuesdy, Sept. 12.

Commissioners also voted unanimously to adopt a $37,634,576 budget for fiscal year 2018. The budget includes a last-minute increase of $1,400 for Veterans Service Officer Bill Worley after commissioners voted unanimously to increase his contractual pay from $13,000 to $14,400.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

The City of Horseshoe Bay will hold the first of two public hearings on a proposed 2017 tax rate this Tuesday, Aug. 29, during their regular City Council meeting in the City Council Chambers, 1 Community Drive, Horseshoe Bay.

The Horseshoe Bay City Council is proposing the same tax rate for 2017 as it had in 2016 at 26 cents per $100 valuation. This includes a maintenance and operations (M&O) rate of 22 cents per $100 valuation and an interest and sinking (I&S or debt service) rate of 4 cents per $100 valuation.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Public hearings Tuesday, Aug. 15, unveiled a final proposed budget based on a tax rate slightly lower than the effective rate and including proposed utility fee increases lower than anticipated for Fiscal Year 2017-2018 in the City of Marble Falls.

Finance Director Margie Cardenas presented a budget for programs and services of $32 million with general fund expenditures of $10.404 million.

According to the council decision Aug. 1, Cardenas and her staff based the budget on an ad valorem tax rate of .6340, or 63.4 cents per $100,000, lower than the current rate of .6483. Nonetheless, the rate will apply to a certified tax valuation that has risen about eight percent to $726 million for an increase.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Granite Shoals City Council has faced a challenging year of unknowns surrounding costs of road repair, but another issue fanning the flames of financial woes has been rising fire department costs.

At their meeting Tuesday, Aug. 8, it was clear council members and staff consider a new stream of financial support from surrounding communities the only remedy.

Granite Shoals Fire Rescue provides fire protection for the adjacent City of Highland Haven and the large, outlying rural communities of Burnet County Emergency Service District #3 (ESD3), each looking at the end of a contract for services that ends Sept. 30.

“My view is, they need to pay their fair share,” said City Manager Ken Nickel, looking specifically at ESD3. “They collect 7.5 cents per $100,000 valuation from their property owners. They have a fund balance of $400,000.

Council proposes tax rate, discusses deer ordinance

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Rex Holloway can now say he received the Cottonwood Shores Citizen of the Year Award on the city's 30th Anniversary.

Cottonwood Shores incorporated Aug. 8, 1987, but only in the last three years has it begun honoring the volunteers who have done much of the work to keep improving the city.

In Holloway's case, that includes serves on the city's Board of Adjustment and as vice chairman of the Parks Committee.

“He has worked tirelessly for new playground equipment, and the addition of the splash pad and Memorial Day's grand opening with hotdogs and tee shirts for the kids,” said City Administrator Sheila Moore. “He also attends most city council meetings.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Marble Falls City voted to propose a fraction-smaller rate than recommended by city staff for a reduction of $1,260 in property tax income in the Fiscal Year 2017-2018.

The new rate and a proposed budget of approximately $10.1 million will have a public hearing Aug. 15 and possible adoption Sept. 5.

Unlike most cities, Marble Falls is a city of public works driven by its economic engine. Sales tax makes up about 60 percent of income and property tax, about 20 percent. Money from bonds, grants, utilities and fees form most of the remaining income.

Staff had proposed adoption of the effective tax rate, a rate lower than the current rate that equaled the same income as the last. The current rate is 0.6483 (64.83 cents) per $100 valuation. The effective rate would be 0.6341 (63.41 cents) per $100 and the proposed rate chosen was 0.6340 (63.40 cents) per $100.

By Melissa Kanz

The Highlander

Horseshoe Bay residents will see a slight increase on their property taxes after city council members voted to increase the tax to offset utility costs. Members also approved the 2017 budget.

Increasing from $0.25 per $100 valuation to $0.26 per $100 valuation, the city is expected to use the funds exclusively for its rate stabilization fund, which will then be used to offset some of the utility increase.

“This is something council has been considering. The issue was what we have and what we need to balance the budget. It was inevitable that it could be greater,” Horseshoe Bay Mayor Steve Jordan said.

The increase comes after council members were advised there would be around 9 percent increase in utilities to include water and wastewater.

By Lew K. Cohn

Managing Editor

The Highlander

Depending on the value of their property, Marble Falls Independent School District taxpayers may see their individual taxes increase for the 2016-2017 school year, but they will be paying the same tax rate they have for the past several years.

MFISD trustees voted 5-0 on Monday, Aug. 29, to set a maintenance and operations tax rate of $1.0533 per $100 valuation and an interest and sinking tax rate of 22.67 cents per $100 valuation for a total tax rate of $1.28. It is the fifth year in a row the district has set its tax rate at $1.28 per $100 valuation.

School board members also approved an additional $1,123,595 in revenue and expenditures for the fiscal 2017 budget after learning that property values for the district had come in higher than expected.