El Paso City Council approves preliminary tax rate

El Paso City Council on Monday unanimously approved a preliminary tax rate that will increase the tax bill of some residents while decreasing it for others.

“This budget also includes a $52.00 tax decrease for seniors and disabled so I think that’s important to note and that actually costs the city to do that because we’re giving up $3.5 million in revenue so the others have to absorb that,” said City Manager Tommy Gonzalez.

In 2011, the City Council increased the tax exemption for disabled and senior residents effective 2016. Now 36% of property owners qualify for a tax decrease and the rest of the taxpayers will have to make up the difference.

Other things driving up costs are the pay and health insurance for firefighters voters approved, paying the debt and maintenance of quality of life bond projects and paying off a big street improvement plan the city took on years ago.

Unlike other years when revenues have fallen short of expectations, the city this time was more conservative in estimating how much money it would get based on valuations from the central appraisal district. Gonzalez said the City will be investing in 25 additional police cadets, a downtown police patrol and 15 more 911 operators to improve response times.

“We jokingly told the council I know you’re used to the bad news of the budget dollars being off but in this case we had a surplus of $3.9 million,” said Gonzalez.

The average El Paso homeowner with a house valued at about $124,000 could see their tax bill increase by $42.00 to a total of $911.00

Residents who have concerns about the budget can speak at three public hearings starting August 4th before the City Council makes a final vote later this summer.