Sugar Land Sun - News
City to hold public hearing Tuesday for property tax rate
By AUDREY M. MARKS
Residents wanting to voice their opinion on the proposed tax rate in Sugar Land get their opportunity Tuesday night.
A public hearing for the proposed tax rate for the coming fiscal year is slated for 6 p.m. Aug. 26.
City Manager Allan Bogard proposed a $169.2 million city budget, that included a flat property tax rate of 30 cents per $100 valuation remain unchanged.
According to the public hearing notice if council keeps the tax rate the same, the average Sugar Land homeowner will be billed $731.03.
Because of an increase in property values the city is trying to offset rising property values by increasing the homestead tax exemption by 2 percent, Doug Adolph, city spokesman said Monday.
City council approved a 7 percent homestead exemption earlier this summer for the 2008 tax year.
During the presentation of the budget in July, Bogard attributed the increase in property tax values for residents to the rash of new homes that have been built in the past year. The ones creating the biggest impact are the new homes those valued at $400,000 and above, he said.
According to city calculations initial average home values were $244,543 in 2007. In 2008 homes value jump to $265,389 creating a bigger tax bill of about $40.
Tuesday’s public hearing is the first of two to be held before the city council weighs in. The second public hearing will be held Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.
The council is expected to adopt the new budget on Sept. 16. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and runs until Sept. 30, 2009.
Tuesday’s public hearing will be held in City Council Chambers at City Hall, 2700 Town Center Blvd. North.
A public hearing for the proposed tax rate for the coming fiscal year is slated for 6 p.m. Aug. 26.
City Manager Allan Bogard proposed a $169.2 million city budget, that included a flat property tax rate of 30 cents per $100 valuation remain unchanged.
According to the public hearing notice if council keeps the tax rate the same, the average Sugar Land homeowner will be billed $731.03.
Because of an increase in property values the city is trying to offset rising property values by increasing the homestead tax exemption by 2 percent, Doug Adolph, city spokesman said Monday.
City council approved a 7 percent homestead exemption earlier this summer for the 2008 tax year.
During the presentation of the budget in July, Bogard attributed the increase in property tax values for residents to the rash of new homes that have been built in the past year. The ones creating the biggest impact are the new homes those valued at $400,000 and above, he said.
According to city calculations initial average home values were $244,543 in 2007. In 2008 homes value jump to $265,389 creating a bigger tax bill of about $40.
Tuesday’s public hearing is the first of two to be held before the city council weighs in. The second public hearing will be held Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.
The council is expected to adopt the new budget on Sept. 16. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and runs until Sept. 30, 2009.
Tuesday’s public hearing will be held in City Council Chambers at City Hall, 2700 Town Center Blvd. North.
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