Sugar Land City Council approved a $272.6 million 2020 budget at its meeting Sept. 17 and along with it, they approved a tax rate hike of 33.4 cents, the city announced in a press release Thursday.
The city says these changes would "directly benefit residents and enhance the quality of life in Sugar Land with little change in the average residential tax bill."
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What this means for residents' wallets
Residential Tax:
"Overall the average residential tax bill will only increase $24, or approximately 2 percent, due to a strategic increase to the homestead exemption from 10 percent to 12 percent approved by the City Council in June," the city wrote in the release.
Water Utility Rates:
The city has also instituted a 5% increase to water and wastewater rates and a 10% increase to surface water fees in January 2020. This means residents' monthly bills will see an approximate 7% increase which amounts to an average $5 more per month.
Solid Waste Rates:
Solid waste rates will increase by 2.5% — from $18.91 to $19.38 — consistent with the contract for services.
What this means for program funding
- The city will give priority to increasing funding for infrastructure, rehabilitation for streets, sidewalks, facilities, parks and drainage
- They will continue to invest in technology to enhance traffic and mobility responsiveness
- They will supplement traffic safety resources
- They will prioritize the final phases of projects previously approved by voters
You can find more information about this on the Sugar Land city website.