Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:28:00

Quinlan Council Adopts Budget, Proposed Tax Rate

Terry Britt, Staff Writer

The Quinlan City Council approved a proposed tax rate of 55 cents per $100 property valuation, a decision reached Monday at its regular meeting.

For an owner with $50,000 of taxable property value, the rate would mean a tax bill of $275.

A public hearing on the proposed rate was set for Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. at Quinlan City Hall.

In making his recommendation, city consultant Billy Green said the rate represents a 10-cent reduction, but would still subject the city to a possible rollback election.

Green said the rollback tax rate stands at 49.5 cents.

"The 55-cents rate allows us to sustain services people have indicated they wanted," he said.

The council members, required to take a record vote, were unanimous in opting for the 55-cents rate.

That action followed the council’s adoption of the 2008-2009 fiscal year budget totaling $2,733,404.99.

The new budget is up from the 2007-2008 total of $2,469,967.46. The largest expense increase is in public service, which jumped nearly $190,000 from a year ago.

In a separate vote, the council ratified the property tax increase reflected in the approved budget. Green explained new Texas House Bill requirement called for cities to take that action for any revenue increase, whether it stems from a tax rate increase or property value increase.

Also in Monday’s meeting, the council briefly discussed a letter from property owner Mary Bullard regarding distance requirements on her property recently annexed into the city.

Green said a problem with state distance guidelines for the building on one of three lots was outlined in the letter. Council member Carolyn Strickland suggested Bullard re-plat the lots, adding, "We can’t move her property line."

Green and the council also had a short discussion about the future Huffines development and the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) the property is within.

Green said he had recently been contacted by a Huffines representative but added he saw no changes to the company’s development plans. The council took no action on the matter.