(Credit: City of Pflugerville)
On Tuesday, the City Council set the tax rate and approved the 2018-2019 fiscal year budget.
The City Council adopted a reduced property tax rate of $0.4976, down 4.23 cents from, $0.5399 resulting in a city property tax bill decrease of $13 for the average homeowner. New residential and commercial properties and an increase in average property values over the prior year, contributed to the increase in city revenue of approximately $1.4 million. The city’s portion of a resident’s total tax bill is approximately 20{41b94ed60641855d30e715a04518d04419c2f56ef405d11541f9f93e1967c2b2}.
The city’s expense budget totals $142.8 million.
Sales tax collections are proposed to increase as a result of continuing commercial development and population growth, up to $9.4 million for FY19 from $8.6 million in FY 18. Sales tax comprises 25{41b94ed60641855d30e715a04518d04419c2f56ef405d11541f9f93e1967c2b2} of general fund revenues and helps reduce the city’s reliance on property taxes.
Budget highlights:
- 22 new positions – The budget includes 22 new positions including two facilities maintenance technicians, systems administrator, field technician, administrative technician, building inspector I, senior development engineer, GIS analyst, parks operations superintendent, two part-time parks operations technicians, part-time library technician, kennel technician supervisor, animal control officer, public safety answering point (PSAP) coordinator, dispatcher, lieutenant, patrol officer. Two utility systems workers, utility maintenance technician and treatment plant operator.
- Police – Body-worn cameras and replacement of handheld radios and equipment is included in the budget.
- Transportation projects – A turn lane on Cameron Road at 1849 Park. Transportation Master Plan and design for several operational improvement projects around the city including FM 685/Copper Mine Overpass, FM 685 and Kelly Lane; E. Pecan at Biltmore Avenue and Pecan turn lane improvements at FM 685.
- Streets and Drainage – Funding allocated for the initial tasks of a drainage master plan, the Pavement Maintenance Program and sidewalk repairs citywide.
- Utility Projects- Two tank rehabilitation projects are budgeted and the expansion of the City Wastewater Treatment Plant will continue.
- Current Capital improvement projects to be completed in the next fiscal year – The Animal Services Intake facility, Heatherwilde and Windermere Subdivision Streets, Weiss Lane Improvements and 1849 Park Phase 1B are all currently under construction and expected to be complete in FY 2019. Pfennig Lane widening and reconstruction and Wilbarger Creek Park are currently under design and expected to begin in FY 2019.
