A decrease in sales tax revenue has resulted in the Missouri City council dropping a proposed homestead exemption from the May 8 Special Election Ballot in order to fund the addition of five to seven officers in the police department.
City Manager Frank Simpson said that the city saw a decrease of about $70,000 in sales tax revenue in January and February, and should the trend continue, the city would not be able to fund the new officers.
“I think everyone realizes it has been a challenging time for most people and the city has been no different,” said Simpson, who also said the city’s reduction of $650,000 from the current budget did not result in a decrease in city services and programs, but additional cuts in the upcoming budget could.
“We do not have a problem with crime in our community, we are very proud of that fact,” said Simpson, calling the police department exceptional. “We are saying to keep it there we know we need some more officers. If the sales tax continues to drop we cannot afford the homestead exemption and more police officers.”
One police officer costs the city about $73,000 per year, which includes salary, benefits, equipment and training.
Mayor Allen Owen called the homestead exemption a “political hot potato” during election years, and noted that the exemption would save the average taxpayer about $25 per year.
“It ain’t no big deal,” said Owen. “The citizens have proved public safety is at the top of their interest. I think the citizens of Missouri City would rather put their $25 towards five more police officers on the street. If I am wrong, I guess come May they can vote me out of office.”
3. March 2010 at 7:25 pm
We have a homeowners exemption in Sugar Land. What’s wrong with them?
3. March 2010 at 4:03 pm
What’s even more insulting is the FACT that they don’t trust the taxpayers/homeowners enough to even place it on the ballot. This is a mayor who calls himself conservative while supporting lobbyist that fight appraisal cap and rate cap reform efforts at the legislature. These are the sheep in wolves cloths hiding behind the American flag. When they thought they might have challengers they made sure the media new they were going to place it on the ballot and now that they think no one will file they pulled it off the ballot.
Remember last year when the city purchases bottom land from one of their favorite developers who is on the mayor and several council members CFRs for full market value for about the same price as this exemption would have offered? Sure it is always about police and fire, never their special interest EDC member projects.
C’est La Vie
3. March 2010 at 3:52 pm
Bad move, you should give the resident homeowners a discount, you don’t have to make it 20% but you could start somewhere like 3%