The Snyder City Council, on Monday, approved a pair of resolutions that will offer tax abatements to homebuilders and incentives for residents who make improvements to their homes.
New residential buildings with a value of at least $50,000 are eligible for a five-year, sliding scale tax abatement. The first year’s city taxes will be fully abated. Each year, 20 percent less of taxes will be abated for the building’s owner.
Larry Crooks, chief appraiser for the Scurry County Appraisal District, told the council that the abatement program will require more work in the appraisal office and said homeowners would have to apply for the abatement each year.
“Sometimes it is a challenge getting them completed and returned,” he said of his office’s experience with other tax-related paperwork.
Crooks also said that as the number of abatements grow, his office may be required to purchase new software, which would be an expense passed along to the city.
“At this point there is no software through our vendor,” he said. “If programming is required, the city would bear the expense, but that’s probably several years down the road.”
Snyder Mayor Tony Wofford read the resolution, which states, “The City of Snyder is committed to an expansion of its tax base, an increase to its population, the promotion of development in all parts of the city and to an ongoing improvement in the quality of life for its citizens.”
The abatement is available for new residential, single-family homes on a permanent foundation, and are transferable one time.
Homebuilders will have to apply for the abatement when they apply for a building permit.
The home improvement incentive will give homeowners who spend at least $20,000 on a home improvement project a one-time payment equal to 10 times the amount the improvement increases the city’s property taxes, up to $3,000.
The improvements must be to an existing home and would include interior and exterior improvements, provided the exterior improvements are physically attached to the existing home.
According to Snyder City Manager Merle Taylor, the goal is to improve the appearance of neighborhoods.
There is no limit to how many homeowners may apply for the incentive, which will be funded through the city’s Chapter 380 fund for economic development.
The council approved the final reading of an ordinance that delegates responsibility of designating new stop and right-of-way intersections to certain city department heads rather than the city council.
The council held a pair of closed sessions, one to discuss real property and the second to conduct the evaluation of Taylor.
After the closed session on real property, during which the council discussed several potential locations for a new city hall, the council voted to conduct an engineering study on the current city hall, which would not require a closed session.
The council took no action after the one hour, 39 minute evaluation of Taylor.
The council approved three bids, two of them for three heavy trucks. The trucks, two dump trucks and a sanitation truck, would be purchased through the buy board for $194,376 and $186,676, respectively. The sanitation truck is slightly over budget, but the dump truck bid is less than the budgeted amount.
The third bid is for work on the water loop project that will include Chemplex and is being partially funded through a Texas Capital Fund grant. A bid of $400,282 was submitted by Starks Construction. The bid is for about three miles of water line and is less than the project budget for the work.
Starks Construction is the contractor who will perform Phase 2 of the city’s $9 million water and sewer line replacement project.
The council discussed firearms in city hall, but according to the city’s attorney, Bryan Guymon, several recent opinions from Attorney General Ken Paxton have raised questions about where firearms are and are not allowed when it comes to courtrooms and court offices.
The Texas Municipal League is presenting a webinar on Feb. 1 to try and offer some clarity. Guymon said he and the Snyder city staff will participate in the webcast.
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