ROCKDALE, Texas (KRHD – The Rockdale City Council proposed a new tax rate at a workshop Tuesday, and some residents are upset after learning of a possible increase.

• The City Council proposed a tax rate of 85 cents per $100 of value for 2024-2025.
• This represents an increase of nearly 5 cents, as the current tax rate is just over 80 cents per $100 of value.
• City Manager Tim Kelty says the amount was increased in response to growth and development in the city.
• The sentence is not yet final, but the city will hold a public hearing on Monday at 5:30 p.m.

TRANSCRIPT OF THE MESSAGE:

““No, that doesn’t work for me,” said Thomas Waters, a Rockdale resident.

“The same problem we’ve had for 50 years. I’m 73,” said Alvina Randall of Rockdale.

Frustration is the first reaction of neighbors like Alvina Randall and Thomas Waters after learning that they may have to pay more taxes next year.

“Last year you paid $5,000 in taxes. This year it’s $7,000 for me,” Randall said.

The City of Rockdale is proposing a new tax rate of 85 cents per $100 of value.

That’s almost five cents more than the current rate.

“It just keeps going up,” Randall said.

City Manager Tim Kelty says this is a response to growth.

“When that happens, we need to stay ahead of that wave and that curve so that the quality of service to residents doesn’t decline,” Kelty said.

Services such as public safety, parks and recreation, road repair and more.

“I think the two most important priorities of the City Council are public safety and building code enforcement and managing the growth of the city. So we have included funds in the budget to increase the salaries of our police officers,” he said.

Both understand the need for services, but –

“It’s tough when you’re on a fixed income and trying to make ends meet,” Randall said.

“They go out and raise taxes on the people who are here and trying to make a living in the city,” Waters said.

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