City Council made this decision Tuesday night amid many unhappy residents who are still recovering from the Fourth of July floods.
KERRVILLE, Texas — The city of Kerrville has approved a nearly 8% increase in property taxes.
City Council made this decision Tuesday night amid many unhappy residents who are still recovering from the Fourth of July floods.
Since Kerrville was issued a disaster declaration, the city used state law to calculate property tax rates on a different scale that doesn’t require voter approval.
For the past several months, the city has been going back and forth on what to do, because the typical 3.5% increase on property taxes would only bring the city a little more than $330,000.
If they did this, one council member said they wouldn’t be able to maintain their general fund account for infrastructure and general needs in the city.
With the 8% increase, homeowners would be paying an average of $72 dollars a year, and many spoke out against the change.
“The rub from the citizen standpoint is seeing a leader vote to put a burden on us that they aren’t sharing themselves,” said one resident. “I’m challenging you to back up what you’re asking us to do by donating.”
Another resident said, “And, right now, this tax increase is basically a gut punch to the flood victims in the city.”
Property owners affected by the Hill Country floods will have until Oct. 20, 2025, to file a disaster exemption for these taxes.
We’ve also learned that Camp Mystic will partially reopen next summer.
Camp officials made the announcement in an email sent directly to the victim’s families.
The area of the camp that did not flood will reopen by next summer, while the areas near the Guadalupe River will remain closed. 27 campers and counselors were killed by the fast-rising river July Fourth.
Officials also stated a memorial will be built to the 27 who died.
They also acknowledged they’ll be making safety changes passed during the recent special session.