We mentioned last week on our station the Navasota budget, and he decrease in the tax rate for next year. While it is god on paper, you still may see some rise in costs.
City Manager Jason Weeks stopped by our station Tuesday to talk about the budget, which was presented to city council Monday. He says hat decrease in the tax rate came about thanks the rising value of property in Navasota.
“Those assessed values came in around an 18% increase, so we had a significant increase in property values. Even lowering the tax rate, though, will add a little bit of increase to homeowners,” said Weeks. “The average home value is around $168,000, compared to $145,000 the previous year. That means there will be an increase of around $110 per year for the average home.”
In breaking it down, it means a $9 a month increase
This years budget is around $36 million in total. Navasota Police will add 3 patrol officers plus a dispatcher, then Navasota fire will add a firefighter.
Also set aside is $1.5 million for employee salary and retention, an issue which has been a thorn in the city’s side for some time.
“When I met with about 85% t 90% of our employees, the number one thing was ‘you are not paying me enough….I am going to stay around, as long as my pay goes up, or I will look somewhere else.’ So, in hearing that…it was one of my goals to make sure the employees are being paid fairly. There has been significant turnover, so if we do not have that competitiveness…we will not be able to keep our employees,” said Weeks.
Embedded in the budget are costs for a new water tower, water storage, a gas system, and a potential new sign project to help guide tourism int the downtown area.
There is also funds programmed to help out some city events, such as the MLK Parade or Easter Egg hunt.