TRINITY — For the second time in two years, the Trinity City Council approved a nickel tax rate increase in property taxes.
The new rate, approved at a special meeting on Wednesday, is now 7 cents per $100 property valuation, an increase over last year’s rate of 6.5 cents. Council member Bubba Smith voted against the increase.
City Manager Tracy Hutto said that the additional funds will help fund police vehicles and public works equipment, as well as go into general fund.
Also at the meeting, the council approved an increase of 5 percent in water and sewer rates.
Hutto said that the reason for the increase was twofold: there was an increase in the rates from the Trinity River Authority, and according to numerous annual audits, water rates need to be increased because the water department is running a deficit of roughly $500,000 each year.
The change was to base rates for customers inside and outside the city limits, which is the initial service charge and up to 2,000 gallons of water, Hutto said. Rates for water use of more than 2,000 gallons did not get adjusted.
Relatedly, water credits that had been offered to council members, firefighters, and retired firefighters and widows were removed. Hutto said it was found that was against state law.
The council did approve an increase in its contributions to firefighter retirements, up from $50 from $36, she said.
The council also approved a hike in trash rates due to an increase from EcoWaste Solutions.
