Increased services increase taxes

Increased services increase taxes

Written by Mandy Hobby Saturday, 07 October 2006

Local rates get hike to fund library, fire station

Leander and Cedar Park city councils passed their 2006-2007 budgets last month, as well as set new tax rates. Cedar Park’s tax rate will stay the same at $0.51807 cents per $100 dollars of valued property, while Leander will raise taxes for the first time in four years from $0.548291 to $0.5983 cents to accommodate growth. Both budgets allocate funds for growing departments like public safety, transportation projects and pay adjustments for city employees.

Leander’s Budget

According to Leander City Manager Biff Johnson, the tax increase is necessary to fund local services the city is providing; services like a new state-of-the-art 17,000 sq. ft. library expected to open at the end of this month on Bagdad Road. The library is funded by bonds passed in 2004, but its maintenance and operation are included in the new budget.

“This new facility will change the way citizens will be able to use their local library system,” Johnson said. “It will be fully automated, innovative with a coffee shop and conference rooms.”

Citizens can also look forward to a new fire station opening in the next month in the Grand Mesa area. The city’s third station will employ six new firefighters. The budget allows for $1.1 million towards a new ladder truck, equipment and operation of the new station.

The budget will also accommodate an increased cost of living by giving a 3.5 percent pay increase for all city employees.

Cedar Park’s Budget

Cedar Park’s new budget includes five new fire department positions to prepare for the opening of the fourth fire station next year, four new police department positions, four additional full time and two part time city employees.

Brenda Eivens, Cedar Park city manager, said that this year’s budget is not just about increasing services, but also maintaining them. As an example, a new position was added to the city staff in the information technology department in order to maintain a department that continues to grow with the city.

“The public might not recognize the need for this position, but we looked at the time and need of technology,” Eivens said. “They deal with city technology concerns 24 hours a day and seven days a week. We needed to make sure we were staying on top of such a big need.”

Eivens also pointed out a need the council and city staff saw for more community events and involvement. This year’s budget allocates funds for the sole purpose of initiating a Founder’s Day Parade and Art in the Park Festival.

“One of the council’s goals this year is to build community identity,” Eivens said. “What we hear from residents and the feedback we receive is usually at community events. We want to create a place for people to come together in the community.”

Transportation

Both cities have designated roads set aside for expansion and maintenance. In Leander, the city hopes to expand CR 272 and East Crystal Falls Parkway to five lanes to cater to the heavily traveled roads.

Cedar Park projects highlighted in the budget include the extension of New Hope Road from Lakeline Blvd. to FM 1431 and also the widening of Brushy Creek Road to four lanes.

The extension of New Hope will be the first phase of a plan to build a community park and pool in the northwest area of Cedar Park expected to open in 2008. Eivens said the new park and pool will balance out services for the city since Milburn Park serves citizens mostly on the southwest side of town.

“The new northwest park and pool will create amenities and facilities in the northwest part of town so people do not have to drive across town for city recreation,” Eivens said.

Both cities are also allocating monies for street maintenance and rehabilitation. Leander will increase funding for its streets rehabilitation program and Cedar Park will invest about $85,000 for street maintenance like micro sealing and overlaying.

Cedar Park

General Fund Expenditures

• Administration $866,240
• City Council $32,700
• City Manager $541,060
• City Secretary $104,952
• Finance $476,836
• Information Technology $784,801
• Human Resources $335,861
• Municipal Court $403,022
• Police $5,903,375
• Animal Control $180,838
• Public Information Office $103,721
• Economic Development $366,237
• Engineering/Public Works $786,594
• Building Inspection $692,552
• Planning & Transportation $651,430
• Fire $4,598,606
• Street $1,498,231
• Parks & Recreation $2,017,775
• Library $1,036,535
• Maintenance $231,120
• Legal Department $453,845

Highlights

• Fire Department
  • Hiring three lieutenants, two firefighters
  • New fire station to open early 2008
  • New technical rescue equipment
• Police Department
  • Hiring one sergeant, two lieutenants, one officer, one K9 officer
  • Installing three mobile data terminals
• City Employees
  • Entry level pay and overall compensation increased for city employees
• Transportation
  • Extension of New Hope Road from Lakeline Blvd. to FM 1431
  • Widening Brushy Creek Road to four lanes
  • Increased funding for street rehabilitation program
• Participation in Williamson County
  • Regional Animal Shelter
  • Initiate Founder’s Day Parade
  • Initiate Art in the Park Festival

Leander

General Fund Expenditures

• Administrative $481,272
• City Secretary $140,649
• Finance $267,683
• Special Services $1,357,500
• City Council $55,499
• Economic Development $136,746
• Municipal Court $123,780
• Municipal Court Judge $31,300
• Planning and Community Development $215,460
• Street Maintenance $751,796
• Engineering $361,936
• Parks $452,973
• Police Administration $487,238
• Law Enforcement $1,300,497
• Communications $357,319
• Animal Control $97,360
• Fire Department $1,091,536
• Building Inspections $281,036
• Non-departmental $2,191,785

Highlights

• Fire Department
  • $1.1 million for ladder truck, equipment and operation of new fire station
• Police Department
  • $1.3 million for new police station
  • Street Maintenance: $751, 796
• Transportation
  • Expanding CR 272 to five lanes
  • Expanding East Crystal Falls Parkway to five lanes
• City Employees
  • 3.5 percent raise for city employees