Gonzales suggests rollback tax rate

With one councilmember absent, Gonzales City Council voted to propose the rollback rate of $0.3380 per $100 of taxable value be adopted as the maximum ad valorem tax rate for the 2019-20 fiscal year. Councilmember Bobby O’Neal was the one absence from the Aug. 8 meeting.

The rollback rate is the calculated maximum rate allowed by law without voter approval. Though the rate would not be subject to a petitioned election if approved, it is subject to two public hearings, which the council set both at 6 p.m. on Aug. 27 and Sept. 5 respectively. Both public hearings will take place at the Gonzales Municipal Building, 820 North Saint Joseph St., Gonzales, Texas.

The proposed rollback rate is a 19.99 percent increase over the previous year’s rate of $0.3050 per $100 of taxable value and was selected over the 2019 effective tax rate of $0.2817 per $100 of taxable value.

Other news from the meeting:

• Following a comment-less public hearing, council authorized City Manager Tim Patek to submit and, if awarded, accept a Texas General Land Office grant for Hurricane Harvey damages. The amount allocated to the city is $852,300 and it is to be used for infrastructure improvements related to damage caused by the storm. The city plans to use the grant to pay part of a waste water line repair project.
• Minutes from the July 11 and July 25 meetings were approved.
• Amendments to the City of Gonzales Personnel Policy Manual were authorized.
• The council received the July 2019 financial report, quarterly investment report and quarterly debt report.
• Patek briefed council on procedures and processes for the sale of a billboard at Victoria College and the vacant property next to the college.
• The Come and Take It agreement will be presented to council on Aug. 27.
• Patek announced a districtwide clean-up weekend. District 3 is the first to hold the event and is scheduled for Aug. 26-30, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Aug. 31, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.