The Public Hearing for the Euless Budget will be held August 28 at 7:00 PM

The preliminary City of Euless Budget for 2012-2013 has been prepared and will be discussed in a Public Hearing at the August 28, City Council Meeting.  All Citizens have an opportunity to voice questions or make requests for changes at that time.   The City Council can make changes but will approve a final budget at this meeting.  The tax rate requires two readings before the City Council and a second public hearing on that subject will be held at a Special City Council Meeting called for September 4, at 7:00 PM.  The City Council is scheduled to approve the tax rate at its meeting on September 11, 2012.

I would encourage each citizen to review the Budget.  The Preliminary Budget for 2012-2013, as well as the Budgets for prior years can be accessed at    http://www.eulesstx.gov/finance/docs.htm     You can review this prior to the Public Hearing and formulate questions you may have.  You may call individual City Council Members for answers to your questions prior the Public Hearing and you will certainly have an opportunity for input at that meeting.

Highlights of the proposed budget are detailed below:

♦ The property tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year is proposed to remain flat at 47.00¢ per $100 of assessed valuation.

♦ There are no cuts in programs or services for citizens.

♦ Baseline budget includes a proposed salary plan of 3.25%.

♦ The water base rate is proposed to increase 50¢ on a 5/8” meter with a 6.3% increase on other meter sizes. The water volume rate continues the tiered rate structure with a slight increase on the top two tiers.

♦ Wastewater rates are also proposed to increase, 50¢ on the base rate and 13¢ on the volume rate, which is primarily related to increased costs from Trinity River Authority for wastewater treatment.

♦ The water and wastewater operating fund includes a transfer to Capital Improvement Program which continues efforts to cash flow an appropriate level of system infrastructure improvements.

♦ Recommended supplemental programs include the addition of two police officers in the General Fund. In addition, three Police Officers are recommended in the Public Safety Special Revenue Fund, but are subject to resource availability.

Your City Staff and City Council have worked hard to produce a Budget that will effectively meet the needs of our Citizens and not impose a tax rate increase nor unrealistic fee increases for the coming year. 

One issue which may be somewhat confusing is a notice required by the Texas Legislature in regard to property taxes.  This notice requires some discussion.  The first thing you will see when looking at the Budget will be this statement:

THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY $418,253 OR 3.51%, AND OF THAT AMOUNT, $61,992 IS TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL THIS YEAR.

Because total property tax revenue will increase, in this case, because of changes in assessment values of property, the Legislature considers that Euless taxes have increased.  In reality, the tax rate is unchanged and the only tax increase is because of property value increases.  And if one is over 65 years of age, the City of Euless tax will not increase beyond that amount assessed for his/her 65^th year.  This is a subject which requires much explanation.  Your City Council considers a tax rate with no increases to be a good thing.  Texas law makes requirements for disclosure which are the basis for the statement above.  

Please call any City Council Member with your questions.  We are proud of this Budget and commend it to you.   You can reach me at 817-267-5775.