Tyler Adopts Budget

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has voted unanimously to adopt the proposed 2010-2011 budget that is $4.8 million less than the prior year budget and that will bring the tax rate to the effective rate of 20.8 cents per $100 valuation. “Since 1994, Tyler’s tax rate has decreased by more than 60 percent,” said Mayor Barbara Bass. “We have one of the lowest tax rates in the state as well as having about the same number of employees that we had in the mid-1980s. I am extremely proud of the work the City has done to keep our expenses down while providing exemplary public safety and services to the citizens of Tyler.”

The budget proposal is the culmination of eight months’ work by the City’s budget committee and departments in response to significantly lower sales tax revenue and slightly depressed property values. Some citizens wanted the tax rate to be even lower. But Councilmember Donald Sanders summed up the Council’s sentiment by saying, “I am proud of the work the staff has done in these trying economic times. We have maintained service levels and are taking care of concerns the citizens have.” You can go to http://ww.cityoftyler.org to read more.