The Odessa City Council will be holding public hearings Tuesday on proposed increases to residents’ property taxes and water, sewer and solid waste rates. Council members will also formally adopt the city’s ‘23-24 Fiscal Year budget.
Councilmember Chris Hanie will also ask his fellow council members to pass a resolution that states the City of Odessa will not enforce any mandates imposed by the federal government or the State of Texas.
According to materials provided to the council, Hanie believes the state and the city were “subjected to injustices in the form of overreaching government-imposed mandates” during the pandemic. He further stated “unquantifiable” damage was done to citizens “mentally, emotionally and financially” because of the mask mandate and compulsory lockdowns.
Hanie contends the government overreached and violated citizens’ right to control their own body and a resolution needs to be passed so it doesn’t happen again.
According to materials provided to the city council, staff is recommending the city raise the tax rate to $0.483791 from $0.474372 per $100 valuation.
Even with the increase, it remains lower than the amount that would require voter approval or $0.522978.
According to Interim Director of Finance Seth Boles, the increase will bring in roughly $2.5 million or 5% more than last year and of that amount $1.9 million will come from new property added to the tax roll this year.
The final vote on the proposed tax rate will be held Sept. 26.
According to the city, residents will see a 6% increase in the water and sewer rates and a 3.5% increase in solid waste rates.
The city’s proposed budget shows total current revenues of $269,555,712 and total financing sources of $516,862,613. Total expenditures are expected to be $276,732,308.
During the council’s work session at 3 p.m., they’ll discuss the possibility of separating the animal services division from the Odessa Police Department.
Documents provided to the council indicate Kelley Hendricks, the city’s animal shelter manager, believes removing the division from under OPD control will “promote a streamlined and focused approach” and “improve the overall quality of life for both human and animal residents.”
She said there would not be a fiscal impact on the city.
Boles will also discuss how the city can use American Rescue Plan Act money during the work session.
