Property owners in Orange will see a tax increase this year for the first time in three years. The Orange City Council Tuesday unanimously in a roll-call vote agreed to set a tax rate of 71 cents and 774 one-thousandth of a cent per $100 valuation. It’s less than a penny more than last year.
However, because of an overall increase in property appraisals, the city could raise the same tax income as last year with a tax rate of 66 cents and 937 one-thousandth of a cent per $100.
With the new rate, the owner of a $100,000 house with homestead exemption and no increase in property appraisal will pay about $6.68 a year more.
No citizen comments were made Tuesday during a public hearing on the rate.
A second public hearing on the tax rate will be held at the regular September 12 meeting at 9:30 a.m. The vote on the tax rate is set for the council meeting on September 26 at 5:30 p.m.
In other business, the council, without comment, unanimously approved the preliminary plat for businessman David Hinds’ upscale development Oak Alley. Hinds did not attend. The plans are for 16 two-story houses in the New Orleans architectural style to be built off West Allie Payne Road.
City Manager Dr. Shawn Oubre said Hinds is presenting the final plat to the Orange Planning and Zoning Commission on September 5. City council members often attend the commission meetings.
The council also held a closed-door executive session to review the contract of the city manager. However, the council took no action on his contract.
In addition, the council in closed session discussed contract negotions with the police and firefighters unions. The previous three-year contract has expired. The council took no action.
The council agreed at the end of the meeting to cancel a budget workshop that was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
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