File photo
File photo
Galveston City Council approved a new property tax rate for 2021 and set a date to review the proposed 2021 city budget.
The budget includes investments in water and street infrastructure, public safety and drainage. The budget also contains a 90-day emergency reserve fund that covers operating expenses according to Galvestontx.gov. A public hearing of the budget will be held Sept. 10.
The tax rate proposed by the City Council is $0.56 per $100 valuation. This is slightly lower than the current rate of $0.579885.
Changes to the 2021 budget are mostly the result of salary increases for public safety personnel who represent more than one-third of the city's workforce. The city's workforce is down six employees from the same time last year. All city workers will receive a cost-of-living salary adjustment. City sales taxes have taken a hit because of the COVID-19 pandemic and are down $2 million from the previous year.
Nearly $180 million of capital improvements are proposed for fiscal years 2021-25, including upgrades to water infrastructure, streets, sewer and drainage infrastructure. Also included are the installation of a pilot pump station along Harborside Drive to alleviate flooding.
The next Galveston City Council Meeting will be Aug. 27. The proposed budget, capital improvement plan and other financial documents are available for review online.
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