COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – The College Station City Council will be taking its final look and final vote on the proposed tax rate and budget at Thursday’s meeting.
The city is looking to approve a budget of around $540 million, and a tax rate of $0.513086 per $100 of valuation.
City leaders said it’s necessary to keep up with fast-paced growth.
“I’m happy that we have the resources and the citizens have been providing the resources so we can move forward on a number of parks projects, road construction and so forth,” College Station Mayor John Nichols said.
Although the budget is increasing from last year, the tax rate remains unchanged. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean paying less in taxes. Rising property values mean more money out of taxpayers’ pockets, regardless of the unchanged rate.
“As we experience incredible growth, the city budget has to grow along with it, and it’s incumbent on us to make sure that we do that in the most fiscally responsible way that we can,” Councilman Bob Yancy said.
The budget and tax rate aren’t the only financial items up for consideration. The city is also voting on its fee schedule.
These are costs for things like permits, electricity and water, and passes to city pools. Residents may see a rise in utility bills as a 1.9% increase was proposed.
If the council approves these items, they’ll go into effect when the city’s next fiscal year begins.
“October 1, that is when that budget will go into effect, and that is when that tax rate and those utility rate changes will go into effect as well,” Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Jeff Kersten said.
Public hearings for the budget and tax rate will take place before the votes. The open meeting takes place at 6 p.m. at College Station City Hall.
Residents who wish to speak about the budget or tax rate can do so by registering online by 2 p.m. Thursday.
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