Many West U residents will see a decrease in their property tax rate, following unanimous approval by city council to adopt a tax rate of $.37411 per $100 valuation. The tax rate is the same as last year.
The proposed rate represents a tax decrease because of changes in property valuations.
The average West U homeowner will see a decrease in taxes by $46.06, City Manager Michael Ross said.
Mayor Bob Fry said each council member ran for city council saying they wanted to decrease taxes and the staff “took it to heart.”
Ross said this is the first time in his 10 years with the city that taxes have decreased.
“I appreciate staff’s work in delivering this, this year,” Ross said.
Council also approved its budget, which accounts for $29,783,050 in revenues and plans for $32,144,973 in expenditures.
Property taxes account for 51 percent of the city’s revenue.
The proposed general fund budget, which funds almost all city services, accounts for about $13.9 million in revenues and $14.6 million in expenditures.
The largest portion of the general fund, or 66 percent, accounts for personnel and benefits.
To keep pace with comparable cities in Texas, the budget includes a one percent structure adjustment and salary increase for employees effective Jan. 1, 2012. The budget also includes a merit increase of one-and-a-half percent based on performance on the employee’s anniversary date as recommended by the supervisor.
The city’s contribution rate to the Texas Municipal Retirement System has dropped from 15.71 percent to 10.40 percent.
Required contributions to TMRS are budgeted at $663,800, which is down 33.02 percent, according to the budget.
The city’s contribution rate is based on its plan provisions in effect as of March 1; the actuarial assumptions and methods adopted by the TMRS Board at their May 20 meeting based on the results of the four-year experience study (comparison of actual to expected plan experience during the period from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2009); the restructured funds under the recently passed SB350 legislation; and the reserve fund distribution smoothed interest credit.
Council reduced funding for the TMRS last year by eliminating the cost of living adjustment (COLA). Eliminating the COLA resulted in a savings of $204,000.
The fiscal year for the 2011 budget is Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.
Although I appreciate the fact that the Central Committee is not raising taxes, it’s a bald faced lie to say the city is cutting taxes. The 2010 rate was $0.37411 – the same as is being approved tonight.
Also, it appears that this news story has only one source – the government. That kinda makes this like propaganda.
Miscellaneous:
The tax rate of .37411 seems really low compared to one I saw attached to a house in the Katy Area of 2.6. The flyer went so far as to comment on the low tax rate.
There was a suggestion previously made by a resident that the Cities of West U and Southside could consolidate some services and save money. In looking at Texas Proposition 5 to be voted on November 8, it looks to me like this is what #5 is referring to.
The Town Center public hearing will be held Nov. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 3800 University Blvd.
The .3741% tax rate is just for West U and I didn’t include the other taxing entities. The 2.6% tax rate on the house in the Katy Area is the total tax rate while the total tax rate for West U is 2.2596%.
GoldBacon must not be from West U (not very good at math). When the tax rate stays the same and the appraised property values drop by 1/2 percent you have a DECREASE in taxes. The Harris County Appraisal District is the entity that determines the property values, not the City.
Not everybody’s appraisals went down. For those people, taxes did not decrease. And yes I do reside in West University.
That’s probably why they said that “the average West U homeowner will see a decrease in taxes”, and not “each and every homeowner” would.
Yeah but the city bureaurats are taking credit for something they’re not responsible for. Further, the propaganda piece clearly states:
“The proposed rate represents a tax decrease because of changes in property valuations.”
Without qualification.
We need to continue to hammer council to lower the tax rate, so that they can deliver on the promise(s) they made, instead of letting them have a pass for something that is not their doing.
It’s obvious you do not want to accept the fact that it was truly exceptional for West U to decide to collect less taxes. With the decrease in appraised values they just as easily could have defended raising the tax rate the exact amount that would have collected the same tax as the year before but they chose to collect less. They did deliver on their promises and this warrants universal praise.
But I think I’ll go outside to talk to the rock, it will understand better.
less taxes and a lower rate are two separate issues. i’m with panties on this one.