San Marcos City Council To Hold Public Hearing On FY 2021 Budget, Consider 2020 Tax Rate

Terra Rivers | Managing Editor

On Tuesday, the San Marcos City Council will hold a public hearing for the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget and consider approval of the proposed 2020 Tax Rate on the first of two readings.

San Marcos is proposing a budget of $258,714,410 for FY 2021 and a 2020 tax rate of $.5930 of taxable valuation, which is 4.9% higher than the no-new-revenue tax rate.

According to the agenda, the no-new-revenue tax rate (effective rate) is $.5650 per $100 of taxable value.

The City of San Marcos approved a tax rate for FY 2018, FY 2019, and FY 2020 of $.6139 per $100 of taxable value.

The agenda states the tax rate of $.5930 will generate 7.9% more revenue than last year, or $2.7 Million. Of that, $1.5 million will be from new property.

According to the agenda, the average homeowner of a home valued at $200,000 will save $42 per year on their tax bill.

General Fund additions include:

• $500K to sworn Fire and Police as agreed upon in the FY19 Meet & Confer
• Personnel funding allocation for all non-civil service employees effective Oct. 1st
• EMS annual funding and expansion of service increase of $533K
• Annual contracted services increase
• Economic development incentive and TIRZ payments increase $7.9M
  • $5.7M for 75% of sales taxes generated by the Best Buy call center.
• Three Captains and one Firefighter to complete staffing of new station No.6 funded by voter-approved bond proceeds
• Planner
• Historic Preservation Officer 100% dedicated with existing staff
• Two Community Enhancement Technicians and Horticultural Specialist funded by Community Enhancement Fee
• HVAC Service Technician
• Financial Analyst

Electric Fund additions include:

• Complex Meter Technician
• Senior Electrical Engineer
• Electrical Engineering Technician
• Utility Financial Analyst
• Contract Services
• Additional vehicles lease and equipment for new positions
• Professional Development
• Bucket Truck
• Transformer and substation test equipment

Water/Wastewater Fund additions include:

• Water Collection Crew Leader
• Conservation Irrigation Inspector
• Contract Services
• Additional vehicle lease for new positions
• SCAD system upgrades and maintenance
• Tilt camera
• Maintenance skid
• Jet/vacuum truck
• Hydro excavator

Stormwater Fund additions include:

• Street sweeper
• Dump truck
• Track hoe

The proposed budget includes rate adjustments of 5% for Water, 3% for Wastewater, 6.5% for Stormwater, and 3% for Solid Waste and Recycling.

The City Council is slated to hold a public hearing on the 2020 tax rate and will hold the 2^nd public hearing on the budget on Sept. 15.

The council will also ratify the tax rate and vote to adopt the budget following the public hearings on the 15^th.

Related Coverage: 

• San Marcos City Council Discuss Tax Rate Increase Of No-More Than 7%
• Council Approves Resolution For Staff To Calculate 8 Percent Tax Rate
• Thought SB2 Would Help Lower Your Property Taxes? Doesn’t Look Like It. SMTX City Council To Consider 8 Percent Tax Rate