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Richwood tax rate to go down
Published September 19, 2009
RICHWOOD — City residents will not see their tax rate go up, but their water and sewer bills are a different story.
Richwood City Council approved its budget and the 69-cent per $100 of assessed property value tax rate to fund it at its meeting Monday.
The total proposed operating budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year is $1.6 million, an increase of more than $87,000 from the current year, City Administrator Glenn Patton said.
“It’s good,” Mayor Michael Johnson said. The budget will allow the city to grow, he said.
Though City Council approved the tax rate staying the same, the average home value has increased in Richwood from $111,182 to $120,795. As a result, tax bills will increase an average of $66 by keeping the rate the same, Patton said.
This additional revenue will go toward a 2 percent raise for most employees based on merit, as well as savings for capital improvements and economic development, Patton said. The employee raises will add $17,000 to the budget, he said.
As a part of the budget, City Council approved placing $30,000 in an economic development account that can be used within the next several years to prepare for industry or business locating in the city, such as by running utilities to undeveloped property, Patton said.
“I have a passion for economic development,” Johnson said. “Hopefully we can find some industry or a good business to bring into the city.”
Another $30,000 will be put aside for capital improvement projects to be done when the comprehensive plan is completed by Texas A&M University, Patton said.
The water and sewer rates were increased to offset the rate increase to the city by the Brazosport Water Authority, Patton said. The increase also will help pay for Richwood’s portion of repairing the Old Angleton Road sewer line that runs from Richwood to Clute, he said.
Effective Oct. 1, Richwood residents will pay $13 a month for the first 3,000 gallons of water, a 50-cent increase from the current rate. Residents will pay $11 a month for the first 3,000 gallons of sewer, also a 50-cent increase.
Water and sewer rates also increased for usage above 3,000 gallons.
Katlynn Lanham covers Richwood for The Facts. Contact her at 979-237-0150.
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