Rowlett adopts 2008-2009 city budget of $81.6 million with no tax increase

by PegNews wire

ROWLETT — The Rowlett City Council approved the 2008-09 fiscal year budget on Tuesday, September 16 that maintains the current property tax rate and provides for a pay raise for employees, new police units and two new ambulances.

"The City Manager and his staff worked long and hard to come up with a workable plan for the budget, to ensure we would not have to raise taxes, or make major cuts in service," said Mayor John Harper. "I’m very proud of the work the staff and the City Council have done to get to this point."

The 2008-09 Fiscal Year budget is approximately $81.6 million. The property tax rate, which provides the bulk of the general fund, will stay the same for the fourth consecutive year at .747173 cents per $100 assessed value. However, many homeowners could see increases in their individual tax bills depending on the change in the taxable value of their property.

This year’s budget was complicated by a general increase in the cost of all supplies, electricity, natural gas, gasoline, and water and sewer rate increases. In addition, a reduction in expected revenue was an added challenge but Interim City Manager George Harris is optimistic about the adopted budget.

“Despite the downturn in the economy, and increases beyond our control, we were able to present a budget that funds employee pay increases as well as a budget that continues to fund road and infrastructure improvements, replaces four vehicles in the police fleet and two ambulances for Fire Rescue,” said Harris.

The approved budget includes across the board raises of three percent for all employees on the open range pay plan and step raises for all public safety personnel, effective October 1, 2008. The City Council also approved implementation and funding of the Public Safety tenure pay plan, effective April 1, 2009. The annualized percentage rate of the tenure pay plan will range from 0%–6%.

Budget Summary:

1. Total adopted budget of $81,618,334

2. No change in employee position count

3. 3% raises for all employees on the open range pay plan and step raises for all public safety personnel effective 10/1/2008

4. Public Safety tenure pay plan effective 04/1/2009

5. Continued funding of road and infrastructure improvements - $3,157,484

6. Replace 4 police vehicles and two replacement MICU’s (ambulances)

7. Tax rate remains flat at 0.747173 per $100 valuation

8. Includes funding for a Downtown Special Events series

9. Includes funding for two positions expected to bring in revenue equal to their cost – a Deputy Marshal and a Meter Maintenance Specialist

With the tax rate remaining the same at .747173 per $100 assessed value, the City of Rowlett is maintaining a comparable tax rate to the surrounding cities. This is vital to the growth of economic development in Rowlett.

Source: City of Rowlett