Trinity OKs budget, delays vote on tax increase

TRINITY — While the Trinity City Council delayed approval of a tax rate increase since the annual audit wasn’t final until last Thursday, discussions show the city is proposing another nickel hike.

At a meeting on Sept. 11, the council approved presenting a rate of .70, or 70 cents per $100 property valuation, an increase over the 2025 rate of .65. Council Member Bubba Smith voted against the measure.

However, state law prohibits governmental entities from approving new tax rates until an audit of the previous year is finalized, which was done on Thursday at the regular meeting.

The council did, however, approve the proposed 2026-27 budget, and set a meeting to approve the rate this Wednesday. Other items to be considered include changes in water, sewer and solid waste rates.

Relatedly, the council passed a proposed budget, as well as approving the tax roll submitted by Trinity County Appraisal District. Additionally, the council approved resolutions regarding interest and sinking debt and deposit requirements for the new fiscal year.

In other business, the council:

• discussed the use of rental property owned by Jessie Harris for helping women;
• accepted the audit from Davis, Heinemann and Co., which showed an unmodified opinion;
• approved the holiday schedule for the new year;
• approved a change to an ordinance regarding suspension of service fees;
• approved an ordinance establishing building permit fees; and
• approved the proposed budget for the Economic Development Corporation.