Public meeting on city tax Sept. 21 HUTTO — The public will have its chance to comment on the city budget and proposed tax rate at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21 at Hutto City Hall, 500 W. Live Oak St.
This will be the first reading of the budget using the new proposed tax rate of $.45/$100 valuation. The 45-cent proposed rate was earlier approved by the council as the highest rate they were comfortable charging, though several council members said the final rate could be lower.
The proposed rate is higher than the 2022 rate of $.42198 and higher than the no new revenue rate of $.402114.
The higher rate could represent a double-hit for homeowners in Hutto, who could potentially have to pay more taxes due to increased home value in addition to an increased tax rate.
According to the city, the average taxable value of a residence increased 11.56% from 2022 to 2023, from an average appraisal of $279,086 to $311,358.
Using the 2022 appraisal and rate, an average homeowner paid $1,177.69. Using the increased value for 2023 and the proposed $.45 tax rate, that same homeowner could owe $1,401.11, a 17.33% increase in their tax bill.
Homeowners who have homestead exemptions could see a slightly lower raise in taxes because of limits to their taxable property valuation increase.
After discussions and consensus at the Sept. 21 meeting, the council is set to give final approval to the budget and tax rate at a meeting on Sept. 28.
Another traffic signal on US 79 under discussion The city says engineers are analyzing the feasibility of adding another traffic signal on US 79 west of CR 132. The new traffic stop would aid entry and exit into the Cottonwood Properties.
This would be in conjunction with a planned overpass at CR 132 that will take traffic north and south over US 79 and the railroad tracks. CR 132 is scheduled to develop into a major north-south thoroughfare with up to six lanes connecting Chandler Road to FM 1660 South.
Hutto city engineers are working with city council, the Hutto Economic Development Corp and Texas Department of Transportation on the design options for the road and overpass.
Special school board meeting Wednesday
Hutto Independent School District board of trustees will meet today to discuss approving a resolution regarding the public necessity to address the Texas Commissioner of Education’s “misapplication of A-F accountability ratings.”
The meeting starts at 6:00 p.m. at the HISD administration building, 200 College St.
Changes to how the A-F ratings are evaluated spurred seven Texas school districts to file a lawsuit in August against Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath.
According to the lawsuit, changes the Texas Education Agency are making to the A-F system are going to cause districts to fall a letter grade or more, even if the district has performed better than the previous year. The suit claims lower grades for districts can impact enrollment, which reduces the amount of state funding received.
Fritz Park renovation discussion Thursday
The city council will meet with Parks and Recreation Director Jeff White at a work session on Thursday, Sept. 21 to discuss the Fritz Park renovation concept and components. The workshop is in the Executive Conference Room at City Hall, 500 W. Live Oak St.
The renovation has been somewhat controversial with the mayor and some community watchdogs wondering whether the money earmarked for the park could be better spent on other city amenities.
The park overhaul is estimated at $9.73 million, which includes funding from a 2018 voter-approved bond.
