City council to consider weighty matters Monday night

New budget, new tax rate, new water rate proposal …

The Kennedale City Council will meet in regular session Monday, September 17, at Kennedale City Hall, 405 Municipal Drive. A work session is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. followed by the regular session at 7 p.m. {{more: continue …}}

Items on the agenda include consideration of an increase in the exemption for property tax for residents 65 and older and the disabled; the adoption of the city operating budget for the city fiscal year Oct 1, 2018 through October 1, 2019; the adoption of a new property tax rate of $0.7675 that supports the 2018-19 budget; and, the adoption of a revised water/sewer rate schedule.

It is not clear that the budget and tax rate that is up for adoption and the proposed senior exemption increase and the water/sewer rate decrease have been reconciled.

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senior exemption increase ?

On the table is a proposal to increase the current senior and disabled property owner tax exemption from the current $50,000 to $60,000. This exemptions could cost the city an estimated $30,000 to $ 40,000 annually.

water/sewer basic rates decrease ?

The proposal is not a reworking of all of the current rates but just the first level or the base rate. It is predicated on the current and budgeted surplus in the water funds.?

• basis charge for sewer – drop from the $36 to $30.

• basis charge for ? in lines (most residential lines) – drop from $26.00 to $20.00 per month.?

• basic charge for senior/disabled in the ? inch category – drop from $26.00 to $20 and would include a $7.50 credit per month/billing cycle.

• the minimum category (0-5,000 gallons) for monthly water use – drop from $2.85 to $2.75 per 1000 gallons.

caution urged …?

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City staff has ask the council to consider that the negotiations with the City of Arlington for the operation of Kennedale’s water/sewer system? are still on-going and it maybe premature to risk the current surplus in the water funds until a deal is struck. In addition, the city staff is concerned that the loss of revenue from exemptions would end up having to cover by others or in loss/reduction of some city services in the long run as the population ages.

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See more @ City of Kennedale Agendas/Packets