The Advocate and Democrat

A property tax increase for Sweetwater residents appears to be a certainty when the City Commission votes on the budget during a called meeting at 5 p.m. Monday.

The only question remaining is how much of tax increase will residents see when the final vote comes Monday.

On June 7, four of five city commissioners agreed a 9-cent property tax hike was needed for the budget year that begins July 1.

A 9-cent increase would take the property tax rate in Sweetwater from $1.05 per $100 of assessed property value to $1.14. The tax rate had been $1.32 until a recent state reappraisal dropped the rate to $1.05.

By law, a city or county government cannot bring in more tax money due to a state reappraisal.

Commissioners can still vote to raise the rate from the new state certified tax rate, which Sweetwater commissioners are expected to do Monday.

The tax hike was needed to nearly balance the budget after commissioners made additions to the original budget Mayor Jim Stutts proposed in May.

Only Commissioner David Cleveland voted against the 9-cent hike June 7, saying he would rather see a 10-cent increase instead.

Each penny in property taxes brings in $13,000 in revenue to the city.

During the called meeting Monday, commissioners are expected to discuss what to do with the city’s $415,000 industrial park fund.

Some commissioners have suggested considering putting that money back into the general fund.

Mayor Jim Stutts has said he would like to see the money kept available to use for economic development instead of putting it in the general fund for operating expenses.

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