Edinburg City Council decreases property tax rate
Juan “JJ” Marquez (standing) is recognized by the Edinburg City Council as Telecommunicator Officer of the Year. Also shown are Mayor Pro Tem David White (from left), Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr. and Councilmember Johnny Garcia. Ryan Lugo/THE RIDER
The Edinburg City Council has approved a $155 million budget for Fiscal Year 2024 and adopted a 1-cent decrease in the property tax rate.
The tax rate will be reduced from 64 cents to 63 cents per $100 valuation, according to a Sept. 6 news release from the City of Edinburg.
During the council meeting last Tuesday, Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr. told residents in attendance the budget reduces the property “tax rate to 63 cents, which will be the lowest tax rate since 1991.”
The decision to decrease the tax rate is to provide relief to Edinburg residents and businesses amid economic challenges, according to the news release.
“I do want to state that this doesn’t mean we’re reducing services,” Garza said. “Actually, we’re going to add services through the different areas that are included in the budget.”
Key parts in the budget include:
–no increase in residential solid waste collection rates
–no increase in water and sanitary sewer rates
–a 7.64% increase in the contribution the city will make to the health insurance for full-time employees, according to Roxanne Lerma, director of communications for the City of Edinburg.
–a $20,000 increase in funding for the Recreation Department for the purchase of specialized athletic equipment for the El Tule Facility
“It’s important that residents know that we did take everything [into] consideration,” Garza said. “I mean, the budget includes our property tax, sales tax and fees for service, but we have to look at everything that’s available because our needs are so much.
“Our city is growing, and we need to address a lot of things that this does allow us to still fund $2.6 million in street improvements,” he said.
In other business, the council approved two resolutions. One adds $5.3 million to the Capital Lease Program; the other $2.6 million to the American Rescue Plan Act budget for new projects, according to a news release from the City of Edinburg.
“This allows us to fund over $5 million in additional new projects as well,” Garza said. “Under the Capital Lease Program this includes [funding] restrooms at some … parks.”
He said Frontier Park, Pioneer Park, Bicentennial Park and Memorial Park will soon have new restroom facilities.
“This includes investing in a new [pothole] patch truck,” Garza said. “We’re also adding some turf fields.”
Residents who wish to review the budget can access it on the City of Edinburg website.
“Based on what’s been approved tonight, not only the budget, Capital Lease and now the [American Rescue Plan Act], the total funding for Edinburg 2040 Committee is $5.3 million,” Garza said.
The Edinburg 2040 Committee is a community-driven planning initiative to develop a long-range vision for the city, according to the City of Edinburg website.
At the start of the meeting, Garza signed a proclamation recognizing Sept. 25, 2023, as National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims.
“This national remembrance day is an essential way of promoting public awareness and remembering our loved ones,” he said.
“In 2022, the Rio Grande Valley experienced about 40 murders, affecting about 400 close relatives and an estimated 2,017 homicides in Texas, leaving over 20,170 affected … a number higher than that of direct homicide victims,” Garza said.
Robert Garcia, founder of the Rio Grande Valley Family and Friends of Murdered Children, was joined by fellow members of the group to witness the signing of the proclamation.
Garcia honored the victims by saying their names during the meeting.
“We have what we call the empty chair,” he said. “… It never becomes less empty during the holidays without our loved ones. I know what deep sorrow means, but I also recognize the unspeakable joy of living together in each other’s hands.”
