After 12 residents shared their thoughts about a proposed street fee a week earlier, no one spoke during Tuesday’s City of Snyder tax increase public hearing.
The Snyder City Council held the first of two public hearings on the city’s proposed tax rate Tuesday. The second public hearing is scheduled for Monday.
The council is expected to take the final votes on the budget, utility rates and taxes on Aug. 26.
That meeting will also have a public hearing on the budget before those votes.
The proposed rate, 48 cents per $100 valuation, is one cent higher than this year’s rate and if approved would generate an additional $175,775 in revenue, compared to the current year, for the proposed more than $8.2 million general fund budget.
A $201,005 deficit is expected to be filled by drawing from the city’s reserves of more than $7 million.
The council took first votes and approved several budget-related items, including the budget, a $5.64 increase in the monthly base water fee, a $5 increase in the monthly sanitation fee and the tax rate.
Michael Ulm, who is planning to build a house at 1603 Preston Trail, received a tax abatement on city taxes, but the vote wasn’t unanimous. Mayor Tony Wofford broke the tie after council members Terry Martin and Thomas Strayhorn voted against the abatement.
Council members Steve Rich and Bill Harris voted for the abatement. Vernon Clay and Steve Highfield did not attend Tuesday’s meeting.
The council also accepted bids for six additional properties sold through an online auction. The bids ranged from $175 to $1,000 and total $2,775. The bids must also be approved by other taxing entities that have liens on the properties.
The council discussed repurchasing the fire truck that was sold to Lone Star when the city bought its last fire truck.
The new truck was destroyed in a fire last month.
Lone Star has agreed to re-sell the truck to the city for $28,000 and will then purchase it back.
Insurance will reimburse the city for the difference between the repurchase and subsequent sell-back.
The new replacement truck is expected to be delivered in six to eight months, according to Fire Chief Perry Westmoreland.
Insurance is paying for the new truck. The $28,000 purchase falls below the level that requires council approval, so there will be no vote on repurchasing the truck.
During the public comment period, Development Corporation of Snyder Executive Director Brooke Proctor updated the council on a recent regional Chrysler Automotive meeting held in Snyder and the compliments she received about Snyder from attendees.
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