CITY COUNCIL APPROVES PROPOSED TAX RATE INCREASE

  

The first step toward higher taxes for Brenham property owners was taken by the Brenham City Council during their meeting this (Thursday) afternoon.

Staff members proposed that the council adopt a tax rate of 50.7 cents per hundred dollar valuation, which is 3.4 cents higher than the current tax rate for the City of Brenham.  That amounts to a 7.64 percent increase in taxes paid by individuals and businesses who own property within the city limits.  The tax rate increase is expected to generate an additional $277,230 to help fund a proposed $60.4 million budget for the City of Brenham.  Next year’s budget is actually $2.3 million less than the current year’s budget which included construction of the new library and animal shelter.

Brenham City Manager Terry Roberts says the tax increase is needed to fund the addition of three paid firefighters to the Fire Department.  Roberts says their salaries, benefits and equipment add about $185,000 to the budget.  He says the remainder of the tax increase will generate money to be used for street paving.

The council also set the dates for the public hearings on the proposed tax increase.  The two required hearings will take place on Thursday, August 18th and Thursday, September 1st.