After adoption of the budget ordinance, a second vote to ratify the increase in property tax revenues included in the budget must be taken as required by Section 102.007(c) of the Texas Local Government Code for budgets adopted after September 1, 2007:
“Adoption of a budget that will require raising more revenue from property taxes than in the previous year requires a separate vote of the governing body to ratify the property tax increase reflected in the budget. A vote under this subsection is in addition to and separate from the vote to adopt the budget or a vote to set the tax rate required by Chapter 26, Tax Code, or other law.”
Chapter 102 of the Texas Local Government Code also sets out language to be included, verbatim, in any budget adopted after September 2013, and in the posted and published notices of the related public hearing. Accordingly, the following statement has been included in the budget and in the required notices to comply with the new law:
“This budget will raise more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget by an amount of $19,161,893 which is 1.72 percent increase from last year’s budget. The property tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $31,989,944.”
Approval of this item ratifying the increase in property tax revenues reflected in the budget, as required by State law, is recommended.
Cc: Marta Crinejo, Mayor’s Office
Ronald Lewis, City Attorney