City of Copperas Cove prepares for town hall meetings ahead of November tax rate election

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

The City of Copperas Cove is preparing for three town hall meetings, during which presentations will be given on the upcoming tax rate election, coming up on Nov. 5. 

The town hall meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 19 at noon. 

The meetings will take place at the Copperas Cove Civic Center. 

During Tuesday’s Copperas Cove city council workshop, City Manager Ryan Haverlah walked the city council through a draft of the presentation that the city will share with residents at these meetings. 

The fate of “competitive” market rate adjustments for public safety and fire personnel hinges on the election. 

If voters approve the tax rate, the generated $1.1 million in funds would reduce the pay gap between Copperas Cove and other area cities and agencies.

Copperas Cove property owners would see an average of $8.25 per month, with this tax rate approval. If the tax rate does not pass, the average tax decrease to property owners would be 33 cents per month.   

In August, the Copperas Cove city council adopted the no-new-revenue tax rate of $0.661043 per $100, valuation which is higher than the voter approval rate of $0.608079 per $100 valuation.
According to documentation, the tax rate will effectively be raised by 16.71 percent and will raise taxes for maintenance and operations on a $100,000 home by approximately $64.02 annually.

If voters approve this tax rate, all the above staff will get these pay increases at the start of the fiscal year, or Oct. 1, 2024. 

Both the no-new-revenue and voter approval rates are lower than the current year’s tax rate, which is $0.672652 per $100 valuation.

The City has also prepared a one-page flyer with information for voters.

Haverlah said that this does not change the tax for those who have their taxes frozen, such as the over 65 or disabled. 

He also reminded the council that the city along with its officials may not advocate for or against the measure, but simply provide information to local voters.