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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN 08.04.2008 CC-SThe City Council of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met in Special Session on the above date with Mayor George Garver presiding. Council Present. Patty Eason, Gabe Sansing, Bill Sattler, Pat Berryman, Dale Ross, Ben Oliver CouncilAbsent: Keith Brainard Staff Present. Paul Brandenburg, City Manager; Tom Yantis, Assistant City Manager; Jim Briggs, Assistant City Manager for Utility Operations; Patricia E. Carls, City Attorney; Sandra D. Lee, City Secretary; Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration; Leticia Zavala, Controller A Consideration and possible action to place the adoption of the proposed 2008 Tax Rate on a future agenda, and to set dates for two public hearings -- Micki Rundell, Director of Finance and Administration Rundell said this agenda item is a requirement in the State Truth in Taxation process. With a slide presentation, she gave Council the following information: the 2008 Assessed Valuation consists of a certified valuation of $4.1 billion; an average home value of $193,263; an Effective Tax Rate of $0.35078; and the proposed 2008 Tax Rate of $0.35622. She said the Texas Tax Code requires a record vote on setting the public hearing dates and states the maximum amount that would be considered for a vote at a future Council Meeting. She explained that Council could go below that rate, but not above that rate. She demonstrated the tax rate components and gave Council three options. Sansing asked if there is anything still pending. Brandenburg noted the TMRS rate is the only item still pending, but the budget doesn't depend on that amount. Sansing said he would like to see extra money to include some of the items that were not included this year. Motion by Eason, second by Oliver to place the adoption of the tax rate of $0.37144 cents per $100 valuation, equaling $0.21575 cents for Maintenance and Operation and $0.15569 cents for debt service, as an action item at the August 28, 2008 Special Council Meeting to be held at 4:00 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, at the northeast corner of Seventh and Main Streets, Georgetown, Texas, in order to leave options open, such as including transportation. Berryman said she thinks that is a solution that can't be considered this year. There was further discussion. Berryman said what will come out in the paper will be true, but what the people read will be something that is higher than they ever anticipated. She said she sees that as a bad move if we want to have a bond election this fall. Sansing said he agrees it might look bad, but he said he would like to see extra money to include some of the items that were not included this year. Oliver said he agrees that the rollback rate would give them room to consider what else is needed in this budget, and of course, the final rate will not be that high, but will give the Council some room to look through the list before it becomes official. Ross said he would never consider an increase. Berryman said she got constituent input when she was asked to respond to the priority survey. She said the survey was excellent and contained information valuable to make the decision. Eason said she got a lot of feedback from her constituents, and said she would like to have the opportunity to work on the rate until the deadline, in order to make sure everything possible was handled. Garver asked about the difference in costs for the average home using Option 1 or Option 2. Rundell said it would be $28.65 per $100 valuation for an average home value of $193,000. Ross said we can't assume that the City works in a vaccuum, and suggested the City take into account the possible tax rate for the School District and the County. Garver asked to do a comparison for the average home of $183,000 last year. Rundell City Council Meeting Minutes/August 4, 2008 Page 1 of 2 Pages .• said the owner of that home paid $640 last year, and the difference with the ronroack would be $59.31, or with the City Manager's proposed tax rate it would increase by $28.65. Eason said she has no intention of going to the full rollback rate, but that is a limit to work under. Ross noted that the increase would be 9%. Vote on the motion: Tied 3-3 Mayor voted to deny. Denied: 4-3 Motion by Sansing, second by Ross to vote to place adoption of a tax rate of $0.35622 cents per $100 valuation, equaling $0.20053 cents for Maintenance and Operation and $0.15569 cents for debt service, as an action item at the August 28, 2008 Special Council Meeting to be held at 4:00 p.m. at City council Chambers, at the northeast corner of Seventh and Main Streets, Georgetown, Texas. Vote on the motion: Approved 7-0. Motion by Ross, second by Sansing to set two public hearings, as required by law, to be held on Tuesday, August 12, at 6:00 p.m. and on Monday, August 25, at 4:00 p.m. at City Council Chambers, at the northeast corner of Seventh and Main Streets, Georgetown, Texas. Vote on the motion: Approved 7-0. Garver The meeting was adjourned at 04:38 PM. City Council Meeting Minutes/August 4, 2008 Page 2 of 2 Pages Attest. f k n` City Secretary Sandra Lee