Budget, tax rate on Council’s docket

Next fiscal year’s budget is up for discussion at this week’s City Council meeting. 

On Tuesday evening, the San Marcos City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2020 budget, and will consider approval of an ordinance adopting the budget on the first of two readings. If the budget ordinance is adopted on first reading, it will move to a second and final reading on Sept. 17. 

The proposed budget will maintain the current tax rate of 61.39 cents on each $100 of taxable value of real property that is not exempt from taxation. 

In other business, Council will consider approval of My Historic SMTX, the City’s Historic Resources Survey. 

Likewise, Council will consider approval of Resolution 2019-169R, which would approve a contract for the purchase of 0.584 acres at 1331 Old Ranch Road 12 for $311,915.67. The acreage is adjacent to the San Marcos Cemetery and would be used for future expansion of the cemetery. 

Council will hold a public hearing to discuss a proposed ordinance, which would increase water rates by 5% and wastewater rates by 3%. Following the public hearing, Council may choose to adopt the ordinance on the first of two readings, with a second reading on September 17. 

Likewise, Council will hold another public hearing to discuss an ordinance which would raise rates for residential and multifamily customers of municipal solid waste programs, also known as Resource Recovery. According to a notice, the ordinance “will increase Resource Recovery rates for single family solid waste, recycling and green waste curbside service; multi‐family recycling; and other programs related to solid waste service and landfill diversion.” Council may choose to adopt the ordinance on the first of two readings, with a second reading on September 17. 

An additional public hearing will be held to discuss the proposed tax rate of 61.39 cents on each $100 of taxable value of real property that is not exempt from taxation. 

Council will a hold a discussion in relation to three recommendations on behalf of the Neighborhood Commission. The commission recommends that council install speed display signs in all the school zones of San Marcos, change the City Development Code to define and protect heritage trees and make changes to the City Ordinances regarding the Neighborhood Commission. 

Council will also discuss in-kind City sponsorship for the Downtown Diez y Seis Festival, which will be held on Sept. 14. 

Tuesday’s meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at 630 E. Hopkins St.