The Dublin City Council officially approved to drop the city tax rate during a special meeting on Thursday.
Although the rate was dropped from $.9638 per $100 valuation to $.9001, it will still raise more taxes ($35.50 on a $100,000) due to the increase in appraised land values. The tax rate was unanimously passed with Lee Jones and Eric Bullard absent.
The 2021-22 budget was also unanimously passed following a public hearing in which no one signed up to speak. It was reported that budget looked better than previous years with a little extra revenue thanks in part to grants that can cover some city projects.
The council also approved a vehicle allowance of $400 per month to public works director Cory James. James has used his own truck in the frequent travel associated with his job for several years and has not had an allowance in reimbursing him for its usage. It was remarked that other department heads had vehicle allowances as well.
Council member Darrell Curry moved to set a monthly vehicle allowance of $400, noting that the department was going to get vehicles in the future. He asked the allowance be reviewed when vehicles were received to see if James could use a city vehicle then.
Council members also unanimously approved the 2021-22 program budget for the Dublin Economic Development Corporation. EDC Executive Director Karen Wright reported that all projects of the EDC will be funded fully by local sales tax and that for any project of $10,000 or more, EDC will have to get approval from the City Council.
Council also unanimously re-approved the city’s investment policy with Tex-Pool and appointed the Dublin Citizen as the official newspaper of the City of Dublin.