August 26, 2022 - The Center City Council met on August 22, 2022 and adopted the Tax Rate of $0.602640 per $100 which is slightly lower than the voter-approval tax rate of $0.602641. The voter-approval rate is the highest tax rate the city may adopt without holding an election to seek voter approval of the rate.
Prior to the City voting on the tax rate, a public hearing was held for citizens to express their support or opposition to the proposed tax rate. No citizen comments were made during the public hearing. Council reconvened and Council Member Terry Scull made a motion for the proposed tax rate, “I move that property tax rate be increased by the adoption of the tax rate of $0.602640 which is effectively a 5.36% increase in the tax rate.” The motion carried.
For the City of Center, the now approved tax rate is a decrease of -0.016593 or -2.68% over the 2021 tax rate of $0.61233. However, because the average homestead taxable value saw an increase of 10.60%, the overall taxes increased on the average homestead by 7.64%. According to the ordinance, the Appraisal District presented the city with a report of the value of all property situated within the City of Center, Texas subject to ad valorem taxes, a total certified valuation of $337,390,920. Of the total property valuation, the total tax levy on all properties for 2022 is $2,002,693 and the new rate will increase the city’s revenue by $109,522 or 5.79%.
For a more information regarding property taxes, visit https://shelby.truthintaxation.com/property-search.
In April 2022, the Shelby County Appraisal District notified property owners they would see an increase in valuations for the year. To read the press release, click here. For homeowners needing assistance for delinquent property taxes, click here for more information.
During the meeting, the City of Center approved Ordinance 2022-7 (Adoption of FY23 Budget) which begins October 1 and approved Ordinance 2022-9 (Establishing Rates and Fees for FY 2023). The notable changes to the budget includes increased spending and the reduced tax rate. In the approved budget and rates and fees for the year, there were no residential utility increases. However, commercial utility rates were increased by less than 1% and commercial monthly garbage service fees were increased 5%. The monthly residential garbage service fees were adjusted to $23.95 or a 3% increase. Rentals of the Civic Center and the Community house were also adjusted to a higher rate although the new rates are still lower than average rental rates according to a regional survey.
Click here to view the FY2023 Budget online on the City of Center's website.
Municibid was used to auction off three vehicles and the council approved the top bid amounts for each of the vehicles. A 2005 Ford 1/2 Ton Pickup sold for $2,217; a 2012 Ford 3/4 Ton Pickup sold for $9,800; and a 2017 Chevrolet F150 4 Wheel Drive sold for $15,300. The total amount for all three vehicles was $27,317. City Manager Chad Nehring said, “We ended up putting these on an online auction, Municibid. It has been used for a couple of years and we’ve just never experimented with it. It wasn’t readily usable; however, we will be putting a piece of equipment or vehicle on that for auction from here forward.” Mayor Chadwick did advise, “The public has access to that same thing so a local person can still bid on it just as anything else.”
Council approved Change Order #1 (South Elevated Storage Tank Project). The change order was made upon the engineer’s recommendation to modify the connection point of the tank into the system. The change will minimize connection problems and potential future maintenance issues. The cost of the change order is $47,350.
A budget change for the Civic Center to install new carpet was also approved by council. The Civic Center which opened in 2010, has areas showing wear and tear. The total cost for replacing all the carpet in the Civic Center is $34,000.
Restroom at Perry Sampson Park nearing completion.
Backside view of new restroom at Perry Sampson Park.
Items of interest mentioned during the meeting included Sales Tax for August 2022 being $389,688 which is up by 7.98% over August of 2021; lake water levels have improved since the rain, however, they are still low; the Broadband project which will be on the EDC’s next meeting agenda; the Street Works project should get started around the end of September; Perry Sampson Park restrooms are near completion; Poultry Plaza at the Civic Center is finished; and SWEPCO Smart Meter deployment is underway.
Illegal dumping site under Loop 500 overpass at Noble Street had large debris removed by the county.
Council member Leigh Porterfield commented on the AT&T cell tower being up behind the Civic Center saying, “There is hope on the horizon maybe.”
Council member Joyce Johnson asked about the clean up which has been done of large trash and debris under the overpass of Loop 500 at Noble Street. Mayor Chadwick advised the County Judge and Commissioners receive credit for the clean up job.
The meeting adjourned.
Crews working on installing the tower on August 19, 2022.
