Edinburg council to vote on tax rate

The Edinburg City Council will consider adopting an increase in the tax rate and levy for the upcoming fiscal year at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

During a special meeting Sept. 10, the council conducted a second public hearing on the new proposed tax of 0.6850 cents per $100 valuation for Fiscal Year 2020, which begins Oct.1. The first of two public hearings took place Sept. 3.

The proposed tax rate is a five-cent increase from last year’s rate of 0.6350 per $100 valuation. The increase in taxes was approved by voters during the Nov. 6, 2018, bond issue election. The purpose of the tax increase was for the construction of streets and drainage improvements throughout the city. 

“The voters overwhelmingly voted to approve the increase in tax rate by 5%,” said City Manager Juan G. Guerra. “Seventy percent of the people that voted, voted strongly in favor for projects that they were aware were going to increase their rates. All we’re doing is we’re following through with the current standard of maintaining a tax rate and just adding the 5 cents that the voters voted on.” 

“We haven’t worked on drainage in Edinburg in forever,” said David Torres, councilmember and Mayor Pro-Tem. “As long as we’re using the money for what they approved us to do and we do it as best as possible, with as much cost savings and maximize everything.”

Torres said he understands the residents of Edinburg might not take a liking to the tax rate increase and as a taxpayer himself, wishes the council could reduce taxes all the time. 

“In order for us to be able to catch up and do those things, [taxes are] the only way we’re going to do it,” he said. 

Fern McClaugherty, of the Objective Watchers of the Legal System and a resident of Edinburg, is against the proposed tax rate.

  During the first public hearing, McClaugherty spoke against it and asked the city council to lower it by one cent. 

“The average person out there that works and is trying to pay their taxes, trying to get enough money to keep their kids clothed, fed and a roof over their heads, it gets harder every year,” she said. 

Guerra said the city has to maintain infrastructure.

“We have to, in essence, do these types of projects, which aren’t that attractive to the general public, but it’s part of the responsibility of managing a city,” he said.  “You have to provide certain infrastructure to certain segments of the community, if they’re a big tax-paying base or not. It’s a matter of respect to the residents and [having] a well-managed city.”

Tuesday’s meeting will take place in the City Hall, 415 W. University Dr. Edinburg.