City officials are preparing to present a new budget plan that holds the line on the property tax rate but increases some fees and costs for residents, according to a proposal set for discussion at Tuesday’s special city commission meeting.
The proposal outlines the addition of 25 new staff positions, including 12 firefighters, two parks and maintenance workers, and two digital evidence technicians, at a cost of approximately $2.4 million. The new hires are part of a broader investment in public safety and infrastructure, with about $166,000 earmarked to fully equip the incoming firefighters.
Despite keeping the city’s tax rate steady at 6.032 per $1,000 of taxable value, most property owners will still see higher city bills. That’s because rising property values are driving up the taxable base. For the average single-family homeowner with a taxable value of $346,876, their property tax bill would rise by $57…