Council to receive proposed property tax rates from city

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

During a workshop on Thursday at 5 p.m. the Copperas Cove city council will receive the proposed ad valorem tax rates for the fiscal year 2017-2018 based on the certified property values for Copperas Cove. 

The workshop will be held at the Economic Development Corporation building, located at 210 S. 1st St. 

The city’s current property tax rate is 79.7908 cents per $100 valuation, which has been the same for two years. 

Last year, there was an “anomaly,” as described at that time by the Ryan Haverlah, the city’s budget director/deputy city manager, when the proposed rollback tax rate was 77.170 cents per $100, less than the proposed effective tax rate of 79.1973 cents per $100.

The rollback rate is the maximum property tax rate allowed by law without voter approval based on certified property values. This rate would raise the same amount of property taxes from the prior year, plus 8 percent. This 8 percent rate is the subject of discussion during the current special session of the Texas legislature. 

Last year, when the council approved keeping the tax rate at 79.7908 cents, it ran the risk of opening the door for Copperas cove voters to petition for a property tax election, which did not occur. 

The council will also hold discussions regarding the 2017-2018 budget for the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation. 

Thursday’s workshop comes after Wednesday’s noon meeting of the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation board, also at the EDC building. 

It is scheduled to make a decision regarding its legal representation, have further budget discussions, and also receive reports about current economic development prospects.