Proposed 3% tax hike would mean slight increase for property owners

It’s budget season at city hall, and the tax levy is looking to inflate.

At a work session following Monday’s meeting, the Austin City Council will discuss the proposed budget and tax levy for 2013. The proposal, which was formed taking council discussion at past meetings into account, includes a tax levy increase of 3.14 percent.

That increase would bring in an extra $125,000. At Austin’s current number of property owners, that levy increase would raise the annual taxes on a home valued at $105,000 by about $12. The levy is split up among property owners, however, meaning that if Austin continues typical growth at a rate of 2-3 percent per year, the addition would be less than $5 for that same household.

The amount of Local Government Aid the city will receive in 2013 is already set at about $7.12 million, the same as it was for 2012. Market Value Credit, which used to go to every community in the state, was eliminated last year and won’t cause any changes this year.

A rough breakdown of the city’s expenditures in 2012 found wages and benefits make up 60 percent of costs to the city’s general fund. Professional services, insurance and utilities accounted for the next largest chunk, coming in at 16 percent. Equipment repairs followed close by at 12 percent, and supplies and other items made up the rest.

A proposed budget and tax levy, after further discussion, are scheduled to be approved at the Sept. 4 City Council meeting. Until then, no budget items or tax levy are finalized. After Sept. 15, the city is not permitted to raise the tax levy.

Awarding bids

The council will vote on whether to award bids to four airport projects: runway pavement repairs, taxiway crack repairs, taxiway joint sealing and guidance signs for the taxiway. Bids will also be awarded for construction of the pedestrian trail that will run from Younkers to Target across 14 Street NW and for city employee life insurance.

Other business

During the City Council meeting and the work session to follow, the council will also decide whether to:

—deny a request to remove two-hour parking signs from Fifth Place NW at the request of The Donut Connection, which cited difficulties finding long-term parking for the people who live and work in the area.

—accept the findings that establish David Davenport’s dog as a dangerous dog and order the dog be put down.

—authorize the Planning and Zoning Department the power to contract for the removal of junk, illegally-stored vehicles and non-conforming swimming pools at three Austin properties: 2413 10th Ave. SW, 1100 10th Ave. SW and 601 Eighth St. NE.

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