The Dublin City Council approved the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget and tax rate during its regular meeting Monday, Sept. 9.
Councilmembers met Friday, Sept. 6 for the final budget workshop and spoke for about an hour, presenting any questions they had for answers.
During the meeting, City Manager Bobby Mendez reported they were being presented with a balanced budget. (It was also announced that public works had a full staff for the first time in eight years.)
This balanced budget is passed on a tax rate of $.6883 per $100 valuation, down from the 2023-24 rate of $.8021. Although the rate is decreased, the rise in appraised property values means the tax rate is effectively raised by 7.98 percent. This raise will translate to an extra $60.70 annually in taxes on a $100,000 home.
Both the budget and tax rate were unanimously approved Monday after public hearings in which no one spoke. (Councilmember Barrett Joiner was absent.)
Dublin Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Noah Cullis also presented the EDC budget, which was unanimously accepted by council. EDC budgets are fueled entirely by sales tax collections and announce an amount available for projects, but don’t have a way of predicting the applications they’ll receive. City businesses and projects can apply for reimbursement grants throughout the year from this budget.
Councilmembers unanimously accepted keeping the city’s current investment policy through Tex-Pool. Several remarked the rate of return has been good through the organization which makes investments on behalf of its clients.
Dublin Mayor David Leatherwood also presented Jonna Alvarado of Three Oaks Assisted Living with a proclamation recognizing Sept. 8-14 as National Assisted Living Week.
The council also voted: to reschedule the Oct. 14 meeting to Oct. 7 so as not to coincide with Columbus Day; and accept The Dublin Citizen as the official newspaper of the city of Dublin.
An official newspaper designation is legally required to indicate where an entity will place its legal notices.