City to raise assessment rates

Published 10:43 am Wednesday, January 8, 2014

The city of Austin will likely raise residential and commercial assessment rates this year to continue its goal of assessing about half of its street reconstruction projects to residents.

Public Works Director Steven Lang presented the city’s assessment rates and schedule to the council during its Mondaywork session to inform the council about street reconstruction project costs. On average, the city assesses about 25 percent of street reconstruction project costs to residents.

Lang proposed raising residential rates by $1.50 per linear foot — increasing 4-inch and 6-inch sidewalk block per square foot costs by 40 cents as well. Commercial reconstruction rates will likely increase by $2.25 per linear foot as well. The Austin City Council will discuss the issue during its Jan.21 public meeting.

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The council will also hold hearings on Feb. 18 for this year’s street reconstruction projects. Lang told the council the city would only do about 25 to 30 blocks of street reconstruction this year, compared to the normal 40 blocks, due to ongoing flood control construction throughout 2014.

The city has scheduled reconstruction projects on the following streets:

—Eighth Avenue Southwest from 12th to 18th Street.

—Eighth Street Northeast from Eighth to 10th Avenue and Eighth Avenue Northeast to the railroad in the same area.

—Eighth Avenue Northwest from 17th to 18th Street and 17th Avenue from Fourth to Eighth Street.

—The Kaufman Park area, from Ninth Avenue Southeast (abandoned railroad to Eighth Street), 10th Avenue Southeast (railroad to Eight Street), 11th Avenue Southeast (railroad to Eighth Street), Sixth Street Southeast (Eighth to 10th Avenue) and Seventh Street Southeast (Eighth to 11th Avenue),

—Seventh Street Norhteast (Second to Fourth Avenue) and Third Avenue Northeast (Seventh to Eighth Street).