BY KAMERYN GRIESSER, ZACHARIA WASHINGTON & CHLOE YOUNG
1 candidate les for open Liberty Hill seat Michael Helbing was the only candidate to submit an application for the vacant Place 2 on Liberty Hill City Council as of the Sept. 6 ling deadline. Jacquetta Thayer submitted an application initially but withdrew it. What happened A special election was called Aug. 9 to ll the Place 2 vacancy on council, which is occupied by Council Member Will Crossland. Crossland has been disqualied to hold oce due to a residency requirement. He informed council that “he no longer resides in city limits and has no intention to return within the time of the remaining term,” which will expire in May 2025, according to the city. A city representative said the election was canceled, and the race will not appear on the Nov. 7 ballot.
Lower tax rate still results in higher tax bills Despite City Council approving a lower tax rate for scal year 2023-24, Leander residents will still see, on average, an increase to their property tax bill due to rising property values. By the numbers On Sept. 8, Leander City Council approved a tax rate of $0.417282 per $100 valuation for FY 2023-24, which is 3.48% lower than last year’s tax rate. With the newly approved tax rate, homeowners in Williamson County will see a $123.09 increase, on average, to their annual property tax bill, according to the city. This is roughly $60 less than the average bill if council had approved the maximum tax rate of $0.432325 per $100 valuation. Homeowners in Travis County will see, on average, a $209.73 increase on their property tax bill, which is about $100 less than the increase that was re¢ected under the maximum tax rate.
Fund nances The approved tax rate supports a $317 million budget approved by council Sept. 7. The budget includes eight separate funds, including:
$95.4 million Utility capital projects fund
$67.5 million General fund $51.8 million General capital projects funds $49.8 million Utility fund $27.5 million Special revenue funds $20.6 million General debt service fund
$2.3 million Golf fund $2.1 million Internal service funds
SOURCE: CITY OF LEANDER COMMUNITY IMPACT
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LEANDER LIBERTY HILL EDITION
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