Marble Falls sets slightly higher tax rate

August 07, 2012, 9:40 pm by Adam Troxtell

Marble Falls City Council has approved a tax rate for the 2012-13 fiscal year that matches the one they built a preliminary budget around in workshops earlier in the summer and is slightly more than the current rate.

In a 3-2 vote, council approved the effective tax rate – the rate that produces the same amount of taxes for the city if applied to the same properties taxed last year and this year – of .6483 per $100 valuation. Council members Sharon Pittard, John Packer and Mayor George Russell voted in favor of the effective tax rate, while Reed Norman and Jane Marie-Hurst opposed the move.

"We would be able to do everything we discussed [in budget workshops] if we use the effective tax rate,” Director of Finance Margie Cardenas told city council Tuesday night.

Pittard originally motioned that the city adopt the current tax rate of .6435 per $100, but that vote was struck down 2-3, with Reed and Pittard voting in favor of it and Russell, Packer and Hurst voting against. The slight increase comes from a loss the city receives due to tax exemptions for citizens 65 and older.

For the full story, see Friday's Highlander.

Reader Comments

I find it very interesting that the council wants to blame the elderly for the loss.If I recall one of those council members helped petition to get that exemption. Also what is not mentioned is the loss of revenues due to property devaluations which also occurred.Yes many folks protested their appraisals and got them lowered.Quit Blaming The seniors
August 09, 2012, 12:37pm by Steve

They had to raise taxes to pay for the Patio Police and tape measures for lawn inspections.
August 07, 2012, 9:54pm by Getitright