BURTON FACES TAX RATE QUESTIONS

  

The Burton City Council faces a big question concerning the city’s property tax rate for the coming year.

Burton city officials are looking to replace a backup city water well, which would run over a quarter-million dollars.

The city is attempting to revive an old water well after lightning caused damage in January. The city is currently using a second well which was drilled in 2012 using block grants, but knows a backup well is needed.

Block grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development may not be available at this time.

Washington County Tax Appraiser Willy Dilworth told the Burton City Council if they stay at the current tax rate of 50 cents per $100 valuation, they will only raise about $105,000 for debt retirement, of which Burton already pays approximately $83,000 annually.

Mayor David Zajicek says they have talked about applying for grants for a new well.  Burton has received more than $1.4 million in Community Development block grants since 1984 for various projects, but such grants may not be available.

Dilworth told the council they could possibly raise that rate to 60 cents, but that would require public notices and two public hearings prior to adopting a tax rate in September.

Dilworth told the council he would have more concrete numbers in August.

Burton and other entities will set a tax rate prior to tax statements going out October first.