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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEuless Today Budget Edition 2003/2004EULE S. The City Magazine 2003/2004 Budget Edition 7Celcome to the cool, fall days filled with activities galore. Please check our Community Services and Libary calendars and the local TV Channel 16 to participate in our great events. The City Council is pleased to present a budget that continues to provide the best services for our citizens with no city tax increase and no increase in our water and sewer rates. The decrease in the ad valorem tax rate is the highlight of Euless' 2003/2004 Fiscal Budget. It's only two-tenths of a cent, but it brings our tax rate down to 49.5¢ per $100 valuation. And with ever- increasing demands on household budgets, our goal was to decrease the tax burden on our citizens. Although the economy has not improved significantly, we were successful in holding down costs while maintaining our high level of services. Throughout the next budget year, we will be striving to complete some major projects that will further enhance our already shining image in the area. Mayor Mary Lib Saleh Tax Rate Impact FY 2004 Average Home Value (2003) $118,437 Less: Homestead Exemption, 20% $23,687 Adjusted Value $94,750 Annual Tax Burden: $469.01 or monthly $39.08 Over 65 Average Home Value (2003) $109,076 Less: Homestead Exemption, 20% $21,815 Adjusted Value $87,261 Less: Over 65 Exemption —$35,000 Net Value 52,261 Annual Tax Burden: or monthly $258.69 $21.56 Note: Home values are based on July 2003 average home values provided by Tarrant Appraisal District. (a) Euless' average home value. (b) Average home value of senior citizen property in the City of Euless. (c) Bedford has no homestead exemption. Source: Tarrant Appraisal District Web Site Tax Rate & Exemption Comparisons�� City 2004 Homestead Senior Citizen Tax with Homestead Tax with Sen. Citizen Average Home Value Tax Rate Exemption Exemption Exemption on Exemption on 911/02 $118,437a $109,076b Bedfordc 0.389 0% $50,000 $461 $230 $138,211 Hurst 0.499 20% $35,000 $473 $261 $114,543 N. R. Hills 0.570 15% $36,000 $574 $323 $120,252 Grapevine 0.366 20% $60,000 $347 $100 $171,848 Euless 0.495 20% $35,000 $469 $259 $118,437 (a) Euless' average home value. (b) Average home value of senior citizen property in the City of Euless. (c) Bedford has no homestead exemption. Source: Tarrant Appraisal District Web Site When it is finished next summer, Main Street will be a beautiful new entrance to our city. Pedestrian -friendly and well -lighted, the new Main Street corridor will be a model for other cities. The Preserves at McCormick Park, which are currently under construction, will boast ponds, a boardwalk, a fishing pier, an outdoor classroom and a wetland exhibit area. We will also be breaking ground on Phase III of The Parks at Texas Star on Saturday, November 8. At this Veteran's Day event, we will be honoring our Euless veterans when we turn the dirt on "Veterans Field" — the latest addition to our already famous ballfields. But the big unveiling will be Saturday, December 6. That is when we will host the Grand Re -Opening of Euless City Hall. The reconstructed home of the city's administrative offices, the new City Hall will be a beautiful sight — both inside and out. In the recent constitutional amendment election, voters passed several amendments that affect municipalities. Proposition 6 permits the refinancing of a home equity loan with a reverse mortgage. This amendment may prove very useful to our residents who have paid off their mortgages. Proposition 10 authorizes the Legislature to permit a person to take office without an election if the person is the only candidate to qualify in an election for that office. This amendment could possibly be a cost-saving measure. Proposition 5 allows the exemption from ad valorem taxation of travel trailers not held or used for the production of income and Proposition 13 permits cities to establish an ad valorem tax freeze on residence homesteads of the disabled and of seniors over 65 years of age. The City Council, the City Staff and I look forward to continuously improving our community. From improvements in infrastructure to Arbor Daze, from recreational opportunities to revenue -generating operations, we're Building A Better Tomorrow for our citizens. C-A� 60,000 50,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 Population Growth Sales Tax Per Capita (General Fund) Total Sales Tax City Sales Tax Per Capita Bedford (1.5¢) $8,232,309 170 Hurst (10) $8,033,813 219 N.R. Hills (10) $8,277,696 138 Grapevine (10) $14,939,771 343 Euless (1.25¢) $5,600,737 113 Note: Data from FY02 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. $20,417,358 Expenditures Per Capita (General Fund) TotalM Expenditures City Expenditures Per Capita Bedford $21,183,399 $439 Hurst $17,649,057 $480 N.R. Hills $27,735,398 $464 Grapevine $37,176,011 $853 Euless $20,417,358 $410 Note: Data from FY02 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. +r '' 40,850 41,10 42,900 44,700 45,550 46,166 47,950 49,750 38,149 39,980 1990 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Note: Population for non -census years calculated by North Central Texas Council of Governments. EULE§uay If you have questions or comments about this edition of Euless Today, please contact the Mayor's Office at 817-685-1419. ET H E C I T V O F SS