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RSSCity tax rate to remain the same
DECATUR - The Decatur City Council agreed informally Monday not to increase the city's bill to property taxpayers.
Several councilmen agreed that they look forward to a rollback in the city's tax bill in coming years, but not yet.
A majority of council members voiced support for City Manager Steve Garman's plan to "stabilize" the city's tax rate at $1.27 per $100 of equalized assessed valuation.
Under the plan, homeowners would pay the city the same amount as they did last year, barring property reassessments. The owner of a $75,000 home would continue to pay the city about $317.50.
Garman calls the plan a voluntary tax cap. He envisions a property tax reduction from the city in a couple of years as major development projects come on the tax rolls.
The city's portion is only about 14 percent of a homeowner's overall property tax bill, which includes taxes collected for several taxing districts. The council must set the city's annual tax levy by the end of the year and is expected to vote on the issue in December.
Garman likened his plan to the supply-side economic policies championed by the Reagan administration in the 1980s.
"In a very real way, that's exactly what this is," Garman said. "You can stabilize the tax rate, and even lower the tax rate, if you grow the base, if you allow the economy to do that for you."
Mayor Paul Osborne, Councilman Mike McElroy and Councilwoman Betsy Stockard voiced support for the plan. Councilman Dan Caulkins said he supports the plan "somewhat reluctantly" and intends to hold Garman's "feet to the fire" to reduce taxes as soon as possible.
"When we look at the tax base, it's the taxpayers who are actually making this investment, not the city," Caulkins said. "And we really owe it back to the taxpayers to give them a lower tax rate because it's their tax money that we're using."
Councilman Michael Carrigan said he's undecided and Councilman Patrick Laegeler was absent. Councilman Shad Edwards voiced opposition to the plan, which he says uses "fuzzy math" and a "voodoo rate system."
Edwards said taxpayers "suffered" a sizeable tax increase last year because the city set the rate at $1.27 per $100 equalized assessed valuation. Edwards said the EAV, or the total dollar value of property within the city, continues to trend upward.
"This year, instead of providing any type of tax relief because the EAV is expected to go up, we're keeping the rate the same, and we're going to bring in more money," Edwards said.
Mike Frazier can be reached at mfrazier@herald-review.com or 421-7985.
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