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Tempe raises taxes - again - That's why they call it the Peoples Republic of Tempe
Tempe council raises property-tax rate by Dianna M. Náñez - Jun. 21, 2011 11:04 AM Arizona Republic On Thursday, the Tempe City Council took a number of actions, including increasing the city's property-tax rate. Agenda: agenda ISSUE Adopt fiscal year 2011-12 property-tax rate. WHAT IT MEANS Tempe's combined property-tax rate was raised to $1.79 from $1.40 per $100 of assessed valuation. The primary rate, which primarily funds operation costs such as salaries, increased from 52 cents to 66 cents. The secondary rate, which funds repayment of bond debt to maintain city infrastructure, was raised from 88 cents to $1.13. State statute required Tempe to post its "truth in taxation" notice informing residents that the city expects to collect about $250,287 in primary property taxes over last year. The median Tempe home value in 2011 is $149,500, according to the County Assessor's Office. This year's property taxes on median-value home at $1.40 rate: $209.30. This year's property taxes on median-value home at $1.79 rate: $267.61. VOTE Approved 7-0. ISSUE Approve strategy for Tempe transit system cuts and restructuring. WHAT IT MEANS The council decided to cut the fiscal year 2011-12 transit budget by $1.5 million to $1.6 million, rather than by $3.3 million. The smaller cut spared Orbit circulator shuttle [thank god, the homeless people still ride for free] and light-rail services [and we still have light rail corporate welfare for the downtown area] but restructured and reduced Valley Metro bus services. [which means the hard working people who pay for the bus get screwed] The majority of the cuts will take place July 25. VOTE Approved by consensus. ISSUE Approve engineering contract for Tempe Town Lake west-end dam replacement study. WHAT IT MEANS The contract provides $367,971 for Gannett Fleming Inc. to identify and validate dam and gate options for replacing Town Lake's west-end rubber dam. This amount would only fund the first phase of the engineering services contract with the company. VOTE Approved 7-0. |