City Council Discuss Proposed Tax Rates
The Marlin City Council met Tuesday, September 16, in a Special Called Meeting at 6:00 pm. Elected officials present were Mayor Susan Byrd, Mayor Pro Tem Joe Mark Taylor, Terence McDavid, Scottie Henderson andb Cecil Sparks. Morris Watson, Michael Milnes and James Parker, City Attorney were not in attendance. City Secretary Maryann Waddle was present. Mayor Byrd announced the resignation of Council member Michael Milnes, Pct. 1. The Council accepted the resignation.
Mayor Byrd moved to appoint William Roe to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term of the office. Second by Mayor Pro Tem Joe Mark Taylor, the motion carried. Roe, who recently was elected as a Marlin school board member, explained the Dual Office Holding and Incompatibility Law which prohibits a public servant from holding two or more public offices simultaneously inTexas. He will submit his letter of intent to the school district.
The second reading of an ordinance approving and adopting the 20252026 fiscal year City of Marlin Budget, considering and taking action to approve and adopt the ordinance to approve the budget was motioned by Mayor Byrd and second by Mayor Pro Tem Joe Mark Taylor. The motion carried. Mayor Byrd moved to discuss, consider and approve ratification of the property tax increase reflected in the 2025-2026 fiscal year budget. Second by Council member Scottie Henderson, the motion carried. Mayor Byrd moved to approve the Debt Service Component of the Tax Rate of $0.10793 per $100 of taxable valuation of property. Second by Mayor Pro Tem Taylor, the motion carried.
Mayor Byrd moved to conduct the second reading of an ordinance adopting a tax rate and levying Ad Valorem Taxes for the City of Marlin for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Second by Council member Scottie Henderson, the motion carried.
As required by House Bill 1522, a posting of meeting at which a govern- ment body will discuss or adopt a budget for the governmental body, must include a taxpayer impact statement showing, for the median-valued homestead property, a comparison of the property tax bill in dollars pertaining to the property for the current fiscal year to an estimate of the property tax bill in dollars for the same property for the upcoming fiscal year.
The City of Marlin has proposed a budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and intends to adopt its budget on or before September 29, 2025. If adopted by the City, the Estimated Property Tax Bill for the upcoming fiscal year will be increased to $0.80798. It was noted that due to upcoming changes, the budget has to be flexible and may be amended by the Council at any time. Citizens were reminded once tax statements are received, to dispute, there is a 30-day time frame to visit with the Appraisal Office, not City Hall.