Item 6K
M E M O R A N D U M
August 27, 2024
To: Alison Ortowski, City Manager
From: Sharen Jackson, Chief Financial Officer
Subject: Ordinance No. 1286, 1st Reading, Tax Levy Ordinance
Action
Requested: The purpose of this item is to seek Council approval on the
tax levy at a tax rate of $0.305.
Background
Information: The FY 2025 budget submitted to the City Council proposes
a tax rate of $.305 per $100 of a property’s taxable value.
State law requires the city to adopt the tax rate in two
components. Part of the tax rate, $0.055 (18%) per $100, pays
for the retirement of debt due during the 2025 budget year.
The remainder of the tax rate, $0.25 (82%) per $100, is used
to support the General Fund operations of the City.
On July 25th, the Tarrant and Denton Appraisal Districts
certified the appraised values of all properties in Southlake to
City management. The total taxable value in the City is
$11,275,155,717 (net of TIF value), which is the value of
properties as of January 1, 2024. Upon adoption of a tax rate
upon the second reading, the City’s tax collector, Tarrant
County, will be notified of the adopted rate. Tarrant County will
then apply the tax rate to the taxable values of properties in
Southlake and generate tax statements after October 1, 2024.
This year's proposed tax rate ($0.305) falls below the no new
revenue rate ($0.305956) and will reduce property tax
revenues from the same properties in FY 2024 and FY 2025.
The proposed budget also includes tax relief through a 20%
homestead exemption and a $0.014 rate reduction.
Item 6K
Financial
Considerations: FY 2025 proposed tax rate reduction of $0.014 with a total tax
rate of $0.305. The tax rate allocation of $0.25 for general fund
operations and $0.055 for debt service. As previously
mentioned, this will provide a distribution of 82% of the rate
for operations and 18% for debt service.
Strategic Link: F1 Safeguarding the public trust through a commitment to
thoughtful planning and responsible, conservative financial
management.
Citizen Input/
Board Review: Public hearing is scheduled for September 3rd and
September 17th.
Legal Review: None required
Alternatives: If the ordinance is not approved and adopted, the existing tax
rate and related allocation between maintenance, operations,
and debt service would remain in force until otherwise
provided.
Supporting
Documents: Ordinance No. 1286
Staff
Recommendation: Approval of Ordinance No. 1286, on 1st reading, levying ad
valorem taxes at the rate of $.305 for the Fiscal Year
beginning October 1, 2024, and ending September 30, 2025.
ORDINANCE NO. 1286
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, FIXING AND LEVYING MUNICIPAL AD
VALOREM TAXES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1,
2024 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2025, AND FOR EACH YEAR
THEREAFTER UNTIL OTHERWISE PROVIDED, AT THE RATE OF
$0.305 PER ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00) ASSESSED VALUE
ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF
THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, AS OF JANUARY 1, 2024, TO
PROVIDE REVENUES FOR THE PAYMENT OF CURRENT EXPENSES
AND TO PROVIDE AN INTEREST AND SINKING FUND ON ALL
OUTSTANDING DEBTS OF THE CITY; DIRECTING THE ASSESSMENT
THEREOF; PROVIDING FOR DUE AND DELINQUENT DATES
TOGETHER WITH PENALTIES AND INTEREST THEREON;
PROVIDING FOR PLACE OF PAYMENT; PROVIDING FOR APPROVAL
OF THE TAX ROLLS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL;
PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF INCONSISTENT ORDINANCES;
PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND DECLARING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Southlake, Texas (hereinafter
referred to as the "City") hereby finds that the tax for the fiscal year beginning
October 1, 2024, and ending September 30, 20 25, hereinafter levied for current
expenses of the City and the general improvements of the City and its property
must be levied to provide the revenue requirements of the budget for the ensuing
year; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has approved, by a separate ordinance
adopted on the 17th day of September 2024, the budget for the fiscal year
beginning October 1, 2024, and ending September 30, 2025; and
WHEREAS, all statutory and constitutional requirements concerning the
levying and assessing of ad valorem taxes have been complied with.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS:
Section 1. That all of the above premises are found to be true and correct
and are incorporated into the body of this Ordinance as if copied in their entirety.
Section 2. That there is hereby levied and ordered to be assessed and
collected for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024, and ending September 30,
2025, and for each fiscal year thereafter until it be otherwise provided by and
ordained on all taxable property, real, personal and mixed, situated within the
corporate limits of the City of Southlake, Texas, and not exempt from taxation by
the Constitution of the State and valid State laws, an ad valorem tax rate of $0.305
for the general operations of the City on each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00)
assessed value of taxable property, and shall be apportioned and distributed as
follows:
a. For the purpose to defray the current expenses of the municipal
government of the City, a tax of $0.25 on each One Hundred Dollars
($100.00) assessed value of all taxable property. THIS TAX RATE
WILL RAISE LESS TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND
OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE.
THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE CHANGED BY 0.23%
PERCENT AND WILL REDUCE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE
AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY
$14.00.
b. For the purpose to create a sinking fund to pay the interest and
principal on all outstanding debt of the City, not otherwise provided
for, a tax of $0.055 on each one Hundred Dollars ($100.00) assessed
value of all taxable property, within the City which shall be applied to
the payment of such interest and maturities of all outstanding debt.
Section 3. That all ad valorem taxes shall become due and payable on
December 31, 2024, and all ad valorem taxes for the year shall become delinquent
after January 31, 2025. There shall be no discount for payment of taxes prior to
January 31, 2025. A delinquent tax shall incur all penalty and interest authorized
by State law Sections 33.01 and 33.11 of the Property Tax Code, to-wit: a penalty
of six percent (6%) of the amount of the tax for the first calendar month it is
delinquent plus one percent (1%) for each additional month or portion of a month
the tax remains unpaid prior to July 1st of the year in which it becomes delinquent.
Provided, however, a tax delinquent by July 1st incurs a total penalty of
twelve percent (12%) of the amount of the delinquent tax without regard to the
number of months the tax has been delinquent. A delinquent tax shall also accrue
interest at a rate of one percent (1%) for each month or portion of a month the tax
remains unpaid. Taxes that remain delinquent on July 1, 2025, incur an additional
penalty of twenty percent (20%) of the amount of taxes, penalty, and interest due;
such additional penalty is to defray costs of collection due to contract with the City's
attorney pursuant to Section 6.30 of the Property Tax Code.
Section 4. Taxes are payable at the office of Tarrant County Tax Collector .
The City shall have available all rights and remedies provided by law for the
enforcement of the collection of taxes levied under this ordinance.
Section 5. That the tax rolls, as presented to the City Council, together with
any supplement thereto, be, and the same are hereby approved.
Section 6. That any and all ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations,
policies, or provisions inconsistent or in conflict with the provisions of this
Ordinance are hereby expressly repealed and rescinded to the extent of the
inconsistency or conflict.
Section 7. If any section, article, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or
word in this Ordinance, or application thereto any person or circumstances is held
invalid or unconstitutional by a Court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall
not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance; and the City
Council hereby declares it would have passed such remaining portions of this
Ordinance despite such invalidity, which remaining portions shall remain in full
force and effect.
Section 8. That the necessity of and levying municipal ad valorem taxes of
the City for the next fiscal year as required by the laws of the State of Texas,
requires that this Ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after its
passage, and it is accordingly so ordained.
PASSED AND APPROVED on first reading this _____ day of
_________________, 2024.
_____________________
Shawn McCaskill, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________
Amy Shelley
City Secretary
PASSED AND APPROVED on second reading this _____ day of
_________________, 2024.
_____________________
Shawn McCaskill, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________
Amy Shelley
City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________
City Attorney
Date:_____________________
Adopted:__________________
Effective:________________