Council to set maximum tax rate today

City Council will consider approving a resolution setting the maximum proposed property tax rate at 46.51 cents per $100 at today’s budget meeting. That’s two cents above the rollback rate of 44.51 cents, the highest rate the city can charge without the possibility of triggering a rollback election. Council will not make a final decision on the tax rate until Sept. 11, however, the first day of budget adoption. The extra two cents Council would consider collecting is part of Mayor Steve Adler’s plan to assist the Austin Independent School District in meeting its budget needs in the face of ever-increasing state recapture. Adler and Council Member Ellen Troxclair had a philosophical argument about the Robin Hood financing method at last week’s budget session, which could be a partial preview of today’s conversation.