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(Back
to Questions and Answers)
Weekly list of Questions from the Star
Community Newspapers in 2008..
Week 7: City Budget (each Question 100 words Max).
QUESTION
1. What areas of the budget can be improved?
ANSWER: At this point, it appears that the budget is maintained very well. The reality
is that there may not be any fat to remove from an already skinny budget. The
lengthy and detailed budget report shows every department and how expenditures
are used. Once I am on the council, I will be able to look at it more in depth
as we go through the process which takes about six months every year. However,
if there is room for improvement, then we should shave off what we can.
QUESTION
2. What ideas do you have to get residents more involved in the budget process?
ANSWER: The council meets twice a month (usually the first and third Mondays) with a
work session before the meeting. Residents will have to get more involved by
actually attending the regular council meetings to see what is being discussed.
The agenda is available online a few days before the meeting or they can pick
one up from the City Secretary’s office. Reviewing the agenda and giving their
input at the Council meetings will be a good way to get involved – especially
during the budget process. There are also a number of boards that residents can
volunteer to be on.
QUESTION
3. What conditions would you vote for a property tax rate increase?
ANSWER: If a budget increase is needed to sustain an increase in population or the
county lowers the appraised values, then the city portion will have to be raised
to meet the necessary budget. There is a direct relation to the City Property
Tax Rate and Appraised Property Values. The city has lowered their tax rate
because rising property values have increased the revenue more than is needed
for the managed budget. The total Property Tax Rate of 2.32871% is a combination
for LISD, City of Lewisville, and the County: LISD receives 70.43%, Lewisville
19.62%, and County 9.96%.
QUESTION
4. What items would you like to see added which are not in the 2007-08 budget,
and how would you propose to add those without a tax rate increase?
ANSWER: I would like Lewisville to have more police and 287g training, to be part of a
regional task force to help control the problem with illegal immigration. When a
budget is well managed and expenses are tight to keep the budget as slim as
possible, then there may be no way to avoid a tax rate increase. However, we can
stop giving away tax abatements for new buildings that would have been built
anyway. Also, as the total property value in Lewisville increases there will be
more revenue without increasing the tax rate.
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