Local News
Archives
| Arts & Entertainment
| Audio/Video
| Business
| Classifieds
| Columns
| Food
| Forums
| Health & Fitness
| News
| Obits
| Opinions
| People
| Politics
| Science/Technology
| Search
| Sports
| Subscribe
| Travel
| Weather
Published
by the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. CLICK FOR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY
Thursday, July 19, 2001
Council plans to raise utility, property taxes
Extra revenue would pay for improvements, raises
By Neal Falgoust
Caller-Times
Tax increase
Taxable value 2000* 2001
$50,000 $310 $330
$70,106*** 434.62 $462.70
$75,000 $465 $495
$100,000 $620 $660
*Tax rate: 62 cents per $100 value
**Tax rate: 66 cents per $100 value
*** Actual 2000 average home value for 2001 available next week
|
A 4-cent increase in property taxes should give city officials about $2.9 million in extra revenue for city employee pay raises and for a number of projects approved by voters last year.
The increase will bring property tax bills to 66 cents for every $100 of a home's taxable value. A home with a taxable value of $50,000 will be billed $330 - an increase of $20. A home valued at $100,000 will be billed $660 - an increase of $40.
The average home in the city, valued at $70,106 last year, will be billed roughly $463 - an increase of $29.
Homeowners still will bear the greatest burden in paying for the city's general operations, with their taxes covering about 26 percent of the bill. All but about 1 cent of the increase will go to projects approved by voters last year, including the reconstruction of the seawall. The remaining 1 cent will go to paying for a 3-percent cost-of-living increase for city employees and for merit pay increases.
A 2-percent increase in utility rates will generate about $1.3 million in new revenue to pay for capital improvement projects, and increases in animal control fees and sewage and pool inspection fees will bring in about $42,000, city officials said.
The city's $142.7 million general budget will see an increase of roughly 4 percent in spending, up from $137.5 million by the close of this fiscal year.
In a November election, voters overwhelmingly approved several projects to be paid for through bonds.
Those bonds will be paid for through the increase in property taxes.
It was the first time since 1986 that voters approved a bond measure.
Despite the increases in fees and taxes, the council still faces the possibility of having to cut $3 million in spending. Those cuts will depend on whether the city can get the county to take over the operation of city health clinics and whether a new solid waste service charge gets final council approval. The service charge passed its first reading Tuesday.
Mayor Loyd Neal said the council would iron out those issues before passing the budget's final version next week.
"Before we read the second reading of this budget, we will ensure that no stone is left unturned," he said.
Joe O'Brien, a member of the Corpus Christi Taxpayers Association, said he was not satisfied with the city's efforts to spend money responsibly.
"It seems to me that reductions in spending would be appropriate," he said.
Contact Neal Falgoust at 886-4334 or falgoustn@caller.com
| Talk
about this story | Next Story
| Home |
© 2001,
a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.
|
 |
 |
|
